Поющие в терновнике

           "Butseriously,Jus,youworryme.I’dratherhaveyouwhereIcanseeyoufromtimetotime.Otherwisewho’sgoingtobethevoiceofyourconscience?"

           Hesliddownbetweenahoplite’shelmetandanawesomemaskofthePythonesstoapositiononthefloorwherehecouldseeher,coilinghimselfintoaneconomicalball,outofthewayofallthefeet.Therewereonlytwostars’dressingroomsattheCullodenandJustinedidn’trateeitherofthemyet.Shewasinthegeneraldressingroom,amongtheceaselesstraffic.

           "BloodyoldCardinaldeBricassart!"shespat."IhatedhimthemomentIlaideyesonhim!"

           Danechuckled."Youdidn’t,youknow."

           "Idid!Idid!"

           "No,youdidn’t.AuntAnnetoldmeoneChristmashol,andI’llbetyoudon’tknow."

           "Whatdon’tIknow?"sheaskedwarily.

           "Thatwhenyouwereababyhefedyouabottleandburpedyou,rockedyoutosleep.AuntAnnesaidyouwereahorriblecrankybabyandhatedbeingheld,butwhenheheldyou,youreallylikedit."

           "It’saflaminglie!"

           "No,it’snot."Hegrinned."Anyway,whydoyouhatehimsomuchnow?"

           "Ijustdo.He’slikeaskinnyoldvulture,andhegivesmethedryheaves."

           "Ilikehim.Ialwaysdid.Theperfectpriest,that’swhatFatherWattycallshim.Ithinkheis,too."

           "Well,fuckhim,Isay!"

           "Justine!"

           "Shockedyouthattime,didn’tI?I’llbetyounevereventhoughtIknewthatword."

           Hiseyesdanced.