Поющие в терновнике

           "It’ssomethingmuchnicer."

           "Whatcouldbenicerthanfallinginlove?"

           "Almostanything,Ithink.Idon’twanttoneedanyonelikethat,ever."

           "Perhapsyou’reright.It’scertainlyacripplinghandicap,takenontooearly.Sowhatismuchnicer?"

           "Findingafriend."Herhandrubbedhis."Youaremyfriend,aren’tyou?"

           "Yes."Smiling,hethrewacoininthefountain."There!ImusthavegivenitathousandD-marksovertheyears,justforreassurancethatIwouldcontinuetofeelthewarmthofthesouth.SometimesinmynightmaresI’mcoldagain."

           "Yououghttofeelthewarmthoftherealsouth,"saidJustine."Ahundredandfifteenintheshade,ifyoucanfindany."

           "Nowonderyoudon’tfeeltheheat."Helaughedthesoundlesslaugh,asalways;ahangoverfromtheolddays,whentolaughaloudmighthavetemptedfate."Andtheheatwouldaccountforthefactthatyou’rehard-boiled."

           "YourEnglishiscolloquial,butAmerican.Iwouldhavethoughtyou’dhavelearnedEnglishinsomeposhBritishuniversity."

           "No.IbegantolearnitfromCockneyorScottishorMidlandstommiesinaBelgiancamp,anddidn’tunderstandawordofitexceptwhenIspoketothemanwhohadtaughtittome.Onesaid‘abaht,’onesaid‘aboot,’onesaid‘about,’buttheyallmeant‘about.’SowhenIgotbacktoGermanyIsaweverymotionpictureIcould,andboughttheonlyrecordsavailableinEnglish,recordsmadebyAmericancomedians.