Поющие в терновнике

           "Hello,pusskins,"saidJustine,ticklingtheblue-greycatinhisscarletlap."She’snice,isn’tshe?"

           "Indeedsheis."

           "What’shername?"

           "Natasha."

           Thedooropened,butnottoadmittheteatrolley.Aman,mercifullycladasalayman;onemoreredsoutane,thoughtJustine,andI’llbellowlikeabull.

           Buthewasnoordinaryman,evenifhewasalayman.TheyprobablyhadalittlehouseruleintheVatican,continuedJustine’sunrulymind,whichspecificallybarredordinarymen.Notexactlyshort,hewassopowerfullybuiltheseemedmorestockythanhewas,withmassiveshouldersandahugechest,abigleoninehead,longarmslikeashearer.Ape-mannish,exceptthatheexudedintelligenceandmovedwiththegaitofsomeonewhowouldgraspwhateverhewantedtooquicklyforthemindtofollow.Graspitandmaybecrushit,butneveraimlessly,thoughtlessly;withexquisitedeliberation.Hewasdark,buthisthickmaneofhairwasexactlythecolorofsteelwoolandofmuchthesameconsistency,couldsteelwoolhavebeencrimpedintotiny,regularwaves.

           "Rainer,youcomeingoodtime,"saidCardinalVittorio,indicatingthechaironhisotherside,stillspeakinginEnglish."Mydear,"hesaid,turningtoJustineasthemanfinishedkissinghisringandrose,"Iwouldlikeyoutomeetaverygoodfriend.HerrRainerMoerlingHartheim.Rainer,thisisDane’ssister,Justine."

           Hebowed,clickinghisheelspunctiliously,gaveherabriefsmilewithoutwarmthandsatdown,justtoofarofftoonesidetosee.