Поющие в терновнике

           Don’tgettheideaithappensoften,itdoesn’t,andIgatherwhenitdoesRainistheringleader,sohe’salongtowatchoutforthem,thenaivelotofrawprawns.ButIdidlaughtothinkofDane’shaloslippingduringthecourseofaflamencodancewithadaffodil.

           IttookDaneeightyearsinRometoattainhispriesthood,andattheirbeginningnoonethoughttheycouldeverend.YetthoseeightyearsusedthemselvesupfasterthananyoftheDroghedapeoplehadimagined.Justwhattheythoughthewasgoingtodoafterhewasordainedtheydidn’tknow,exceptthattheydidassumehewouldreturntoAustralia.OnlyMeggieandJustinesuspectedhewouldwanttoremaininItaly,andMeggieatanyratecouldlullherdoubtswithmemoriesofhiscontentwhenhecamebackeachyeartohishome.HewasanAustralian,hewouldwanttocomehome.WithJustineitwasdifferent.Noonedreamedshewouldcomehomeforgood.Shewasanactress;hercareerwouldfounderinAustralia.WhereDane’scareercouldbepursuedwithequalzealanywhereatall.

           Thusintheeighthyeartherewerenoplansastowhatthechildrenwoulddowhentheycamefortheirannualholiday;insteadtheDroghedapeoplewereplanningtheirtriptoRome,toseeDaneordainedapriest.

           ***

           "Wefizzledout,"saidMeggie.

           "Ibegyourpardon,dear?"askedAnne.

           Theyweresittinginawarmcorneroftheverandareading,butMeggie’sbookhadfallenneglectedintoherlap,andshewasabsentlywatchingtheanticsoftwowilly-wagtailsonthelawn.