Поющие в терновнике

           Thecryshewasgoingtogivetoattracthisattentiondiedunuttered;shedrewbackalittleinherseattowatchhim,forthetrainhadhaltedonlyafewfeetbeyondwherehestood,blueeyesscanningthewindowswithoutanxiety.Itwasgoingtobeaprettyone-sidedconversationwhenshetoldhimaboutlifesincehehadgoneaway,forsheknewnowtherewasnothirstinhimtosharewhatheexperiencedwithher.Damnhim!Hewasn’therbabybrotheranymore;thelifehewaslivinghadaslittletodowithherasitdidwithDrogheda.Oh,Dane!What’sitliketolivesomethingtwenty-fourhoursofeveryday?

           "Hah!ThoughtI’ddraggedyoudownhereonawild-goosechase,didn’tyou?"shesaid,creepingupbehindhimunseen.

           Heturned,squeezedherhandsandstareddownather,smiling."Prawn,"hesaidlovingly,takingherbiggersuitcaseandtuckingherfreearminhis."It’sgoodtoseeyou,"headdedashehandedherintotheredLagondahedroveeverywhere;Danehadalwaysbeenasportscarfanatic,andhadownedonesincehewasoldenoughtoholdalicense.

           "Goodtoseeyou,too.Ihopeyoufoundmeanicepub,becauseImeantwhatIwrote.IrefusetobestuckinaVaticancellamongaheapofcelibates."Shelaughed.

           "Theywouldn’thaveyou,notwiththeDevil’shair.I’vebookedyouintoalittlepensionnotfarfromme,buttheyspeakEnglishsoyouneedn’tworryifI’mnotwithyou.AndinRomeit’snoproblemgettingaroundonEnglish;there’susuallysomeonewhocanspeakit."