Поющие в терновнике

           Itisaterriblethingtocreateaman,andmoreterribletocreateamanlikethis.Soamazinglymale,soamazinglybeautiful.

           RalphdeBricassart,plusalittleofherself.Howcouldshenotbemovedatseeinginitsextremeyouththebodyofthemanwhohadjoinedinlovewithher?Sheclosedhereyes,embarrassed,hatinghavingtothinkofhersonasaman.Didhelookatherandseeawomanthesedays,orwasshestillthatwonderfulcipher,Mum?Goddamnhim,Goddamnhim!Howdaredhegrowup?

           "Doyouknowanythingaboutwomen,Dane?"sheaskedsuddenly,openinghereyesagain.

           Hesmiled."Thebirdsandthebees,youmean?"

           "Thatyouknow,withJustineforasister.Whenshediscoveredwhatlaybetweenthecoversofphysiologytextbookssheblurteditallouttoeveryone.No,ImeanhaveyoueverputanyofJustine’sclinicaltreatisesintopractice?"

           Hisheadmovedinaquicknegativeshake,hesliddownontothegrassbesideherandlookedintoherface."Funnyyoushouldaskthat,Mum.I’vebeenwantingtotalktoyouaboutitforalongtime,butIdidn’tknowhowtostart."

           "You’reonlyeighteen,love.Isn’titabitsoontobethinkingofputtingtheoryintopractice?"Onlyeighteen.Only.Hewasaman,wasn’the?

           "That’sit,whatIwantedtotalktoyouabout.Notputtingitintopracticeatall."

           Howcoldthewindwas,blowingdownfromtheGreatDivide.Peculiar,shehadn’tnoticeduntilnow.Wherewasherrobe?"Notputtingitintopracticeatall,"shesaiddully,anditwasnotaquestion.

           "That’sright.