Поющие в терновнике

           ButItellyou,ifIthoughtforoneminutemybodywouldsurviveI’dberightonthatplane."

           "GotoRomeandseeRalphdeBricassartsmirking?I’dratherbedead!"

           "Oh,Meggie,Meggie!Whymustyoutakeoutyourfrustrationsonhim,andonyourson?Yousaiditonceyourself—it’syourownfault.Sobeggaryourpride,andgotoRome.Please!"

           "Itisn’taquestionofpride."Sheshivered."Oh,Anne,I’mfrightenedtogo!BecauseIdon’tbelieveit,Ijustdon’t!MyfleshcreepswhenIthinkaboutit."

           "Andwhataboutthefacthemightn’tcomehomeafterhe’sapriest?Didthateveroccurtoyou?Hewon’tbegivenhugechunksofleavethewayhewasintheseminary,soifhedecidestoremaininRomeyoumaywellhavetotakeyourselfthereifyoueverwanttoseehimatall.GotoRome,Meggie!"

           "Ican’t.IfyouknewhowfrightenedIam!It’snotpride,orRalphscoringoneoveronme,oranyofthethingsIsayitistostoppeopleaskingmequestions.Lordknows,ImissbothmymensomuchI’dcrawlonmykneestoseethemifIthoughtforaminutetheywantedme.Oh,Danewouldbegladtoseeme,butRalph?He’sforgottenIeverexisted.I’mfrightened,Itellyou.IknowinmybonesthatifIgotoRomesomethingwillhappen.SoI’mnotgoing."

           "Whatcouldhappen,forpity’ssake?"

           "Idon’tknow…IfIdid,I’dhavesomethingtobattle.Afeeling,howcanIbattleafeeling?Becausethat’sallitis.Apremonition.Asifthegodsaregathering."

           Annelaughed.