Поющие в терновнике

           "Oh,it’stoogoodtobetrue!"shegaspedwhenshecouldspeakagain,wipingthetearsfromthecornersofhereyeswithatremblinghand."Theincredibleirony!Ashesofroses,hesaidthatnightridingtotheborehead.AndIdidn’tunderstandwhathemeant.Ashesthouwert,untoashesreturn.TotheChurchthoubelongest,totheChurchthoushaltbegiven.Oh,it’sbeautiful,beautiful!GodrotGod,Isay!Godthesod!TheutmostEnemyofwomen,that’swhatGodis!Everythingweseektodo,Heseekstoundo!"

           "Oh,don’t!Oh,don’tMum,don’t!"Heweptforher,forherpain,notunderstandingherpainorthewordsshewassaying.Histearsfell,twistedinhisheart;alreadythesacrificehadbegun,andinawayhehadn’tdreamed.Butthoughheweptforher,notevenforhercouldheputitaside,thesacrifice.Theofferingmustbemade,andtheharderitwastomake,themorevaluableitmustbeinHiseyes.

           Shehadmadehimweep,andneverinallhislifeuntilnowhadshemadehimweep.Herownrageandgriefwereputawayresolutely.No,itwasn’tfairtovisitherselfuponhim.Whathewashisgeneshadmadehim.OrhisGod.OrRalph’sGod.Hewasthelightofherlife,herson.Heshouldnotbemadetosufferbecauseofher,ever.

           "Dane,don’tcry,"shewhispered,strokingtheangrymarksonhisarm."I’msorry,Ididn’tmeanit.Yougavemeashock,that’sall.OfcourseI’mgladforyou,trulyIam!HowcouldInotbe?Iwasshocked;Ijustdidn’texpectit,that’sall."Shechuckled,alittleshakily.