Поющие в терновнике

           "You’rebecomingarealoldwoman,Meggie.Stop!"

           "Ican’t,Ican’t!AndIamanoldwoman."

           "Nonsense,you’rejustinbriskmiddleage.Wellandtrulyyoungenoughtohoponthatplane."

           "Oh,leavemealone!"saidMeggiesavagely,andpickedupherbook.

           OccasionallyacrowdwithapurposeconvergesuponRome.Nottourism,thevoyeuristicsamplingofpastgloriesinpresentrelics;notthefillinginofalittlesliceoftimebetweenAandB,withRomeapointonthelinebetweenthosetwoplaces.Thisisacrowdwithasingleunitingemotion;itburstswithpride,foritiscomingtoseeitsson,nephew,cousin,friendordainedapriestinthegreatbasilicawhichisthemostveneratedchurchintheworld.Itsmembersputupinhumblepensiones,luxuryhotels,thehomesoffriendsorrelatives.Buttheyaretotallyunited,atpeacewitheachotherandwiththeworld.Theydotheroundsdutifully;theVaticanMuseumwiththeSistineChapelatitsendlikeaprizeforendurance;theForum,theColosseum,theAppianWay,theSpanishSteps,thegreedyTreviFountain,thesonetlumière.Waitingfortheday,fillingintime.TheywillbeaccordedthespecialprivilegeofaprivateaudiencewiththeHolyFather,andforthemRomewillfindnothingtoogood.

           Thistimeitwasn’tDanewaitingontheplatformtomeetJustine,asithadbeeneveryothertime;hewasinretreat.Instead,RainerMoerlingHartheimprowledthedirtypavinglikesomegreatanimal.