Поющие в терновнике
Chapter 2
Allhisanger,frustrationandinferioritycameintoafightwithhim,andtheyweremorethanthebiggest,strongestlocalcouldcontendwith,alliedastheyweretoabodyinsuperbphysicalcondition,anexcellentbrain,viciousnessandindomitablewill.
Thebiggerandtoughertheywere,themoreFrankwantedtoseethemhumbledinthedust.Hispeerstrodawidedetouraroundhim,forhisaggressivenesswaswellknown.Oflatehehadbranchedoutoftheranksofyouthsinhissearchforchallenges,andthelocalmenstilltalkedaboutthedayhehadbeatenJimCollinstoapulp,thoughJimCollinswastwenty-twoyearsold,stoodsixfeetfourinhissocksandcouldlifthorses.Withhisleftarmbrokenandhisribscracked,FrankhadfoughtonuntilJimCollinswasaslobberingmassofbloodiedfleshathisfeet,andhehadtobeforciblyrestrainedfromkickingthesenselessfacein.Assoonasthearmhealedandtheribscameoutofstrapping,Frankwentintotownandliftedahorse,justtoshowthatJimwasn’ttheonlyonewhocould,andthatitdidn’tdependonaman’ssize.
Asthesireofthisphenomenon,PaddyknewFrank’sreputationverywellandunderstoodFrank’sbattletogainrespect,thoughitdidnotpreventhisbecomingangrywhenfightinginterferedwiththeworkintheforge.Beingasmallmanhimself,Paddyhadhadhisshareoffightstoprovehiscourage,butinhispartofIrelandhewasnotdiminutiveandbythetimehearrivedinNewZealand,wheremenweretaller,hewasamangrown.
