Поющие в терновнике

           Itwasn’tlikegoingtoManlyontheferryatall,thoughtheyfollowedthesamepathpastNeutralBayandRoseBayandCremorneandVaucluse;no.ForthistimeitwasoutthroughtheHeads,beyondthecruelcliffsandthehighlacefansoffoam,intotheocean.Twelvethousandmilesofit,totheothersideoftheworld.Andwhethertheycamehomeagainornot,theywouldbelongneitherherenorthere,fortheywouldhavelivedontwocontinentsandsampledtwodifferentwaysoflife.

           Money,Justinediscovered,madeLondonamostalluringplace.NotforherapennilessexistenceclingingtothefringesofEarl’sCourt—"KangarooValley"theycalleditbecausesomanyAustraliansmadeittheirheadquarters.NotforherthetypicalfateofAustraliansinEngland,youth-hostelingonashoestring,workingforapittanceinsomeofficeorschoolorhospital,shiveringthin-bloodedoveratinyradiatorinacold,damproom.Instead,forJustineamewsflatinKensingtonclosetoKnightsbridge,centrallyheated;andaplaceinthecompanyofClydeDaltinhamRoberts,TheElizabethanGroup.

           WhenthesummercameshecaughtatraintoRome.Inafteryearsshewouldsmile,rememberinghowlittleshesawofthatlongjourneyacrossFrance,downItaly;herwholemindwasoccupiedwiththethingsshehadtotellDane,memorizingthoseshesimplymustn’tforget.Thereweresomanyshewasboundtoleavesomeout.

           WasthatDane?Thetall,fairmanontheplatform,wasthatDane?Hedidn’tlookanydifferent,andyethewasastranger.Notofherworldanymore.