Поющие в терновнике

           "IthinkI’vebeenstruckbyaretributoryboltoflightning."

           "What?"

           "Youwereright,bothofyou.YousaidI’dlosehim.Ididn’tbelieveyou,IactuallythoughtIcouldbeatGod.ButtherewasneverawomanbornwhocouldbeatGod.He’saMan."

           FeepouredMeggieacupoftea."Here,drinkthis,"shesaid,asifteahadtherestorativepowersofbrandy."Howhaveyoulosthim?"

           "He’sgoingtobecomeapriest."Shebegantolaugh,weepingatthesametime.

           Annepickeduphersticks,hobbledtoMeggie’schairandsatawkwardlyonitsarm,strokingthelovelyred-goldhair."Oh,mydear!Butitisn’tasbadasallthat."

           "DoyouknowaboutDane?"FeeaskedAnne.

           "I’vealwaysknown,"saidAnne.

           Meggiesobered."Itisn’tasbadasallthat?It’sthebeginningoftheend,don’tyousee?Retribution.IstoleRalphfromGod,andI’mpayingwithmyson.Youtoldmeitwasstealing,Mum,don’tyouremember?Ididn’twanttobelieveyou,butyouwereright,asalways."

           "IshegoingtoSaintPat’s?"Feeaskedpractically.

           Meggielaughedmorenormally."That’snosortofreparation,Mum.I’mgoingtosendhimtoRalph,ofcourse.HalfofhimisRalph;letRalphfinallyenjoyhim."Sheshrugged."He’smoreimportantthanRalph,andIknewhe’dwanttogotoRome."

           "DidyouevertellRalphaboutDane?"askedAnne;itwasn’tasubjecteverdiscussed.

           "No,andIneverwill.Never!"

           "They’resoalikehemightguess."

           "Who,Ralph?He’llneverguess!ThatmuchI’mgoingtokeep.