Поющие в терновнике

           "Allrightthen,MissO’Neill,I’lltrytodefinethetermforyou.Someonewhoterrifiesothers;rollsoverthetopofpeople;feelssostrongonlyGodcandefeat;hasnoscruplesandfewmorals."

           Shechuckled."Itsoundslikeyou,tome.AndIhavesotoogotmoralsandscruples.I’mDane’ssister."

           "Youdon’tlookabitlikehim."

           "More’sthepity."

           "Hisfacewouldn’tsuityourpersonality."

           "You’reundoubtedlyright,butwithhisfaceImighthavedevelopedadifferentpersonality."

           "Dependingonwhichcomesfirst,eh,thechickenortheegg?Putyourshoeson;we’regoingtowalk."

           Itwaswarm,andgrowingdark;butthelightswerebrilliant,therewerecrowdsitseemednomatterwheretheywalked,andtheroadswerejammedwithshriekingmotorscooters,tinyaggressiveFiats,Goggomobilslookinglikehordesofpanickedfrogs.Finallyhehaltedinasmallsquare,itscobblesworntosmoothnessbythefeetofmanycenturies,andguidedJustineintoarestaurant.

           "Unlessyou’dpreferalfresco?"heasked.

           "Providedyoufeedme,Idon’tmuchcarewhetherit’sinside,outside,orhalfwaybetween."

           "MayIorderforyou?"

           Thepaleeyesblinkedalittlewearilyperhaps,buttherewasstillfightinJustine."Idon’tknowthatIgoforallthathigh-handedmasterful-malebusiness,"shesaid."Afterall,howdoyouknowwhatIfancy?"

           "SisterAnnacarriesherbanner,"hemurmured."Tellmewhatsortoffoodyoulike,then,andI’llguaranteetopleaseyou.