Поющие в терновнике

           Theblueeyeswereverykind,tender;Justinefeltherhacklesrising,thinkingDanepitiedher.

           "Whydon’tyoumarryRainer?"heaskedsuddenly.

           Herjawdropped,shegasped."He’sneveraskedme,"shesaidfeebly.

           "Onlybecausehethinksyou’dsayno.Butitmightbearranged."

           Withoutthinking,shegrabbedhimbytheear,assheusedtodowhentheywerechildren."Don’tyoudare,youdog-collaredprawn!Notoneword,doyouhear?Idon’tloveRain!He’sjustafriend,andIwanttokeepitthatway.Ifyousomuchaslightacandleforit,IswearI’llsitdown,crossmyeyesandputacurseonyou,andyourememberhowthatusedtoscarethelivingdaylightsoutofyou,don’tyou?"

           Hethrewbackhisheadandlaughed."Itwouldn’twork,Justine!Mymagicisstrongerthanyoursthesedays.Butthere’snoneedtogetsoworkedupaboutit,youtwit.Iwaswrong,that’sall.IassumedtherewasacasebetweenyouandRain."

           "No,thereisn’t.Aftersevenyears?Breakitdown,pigsmightfly."Pausing,sheseemedtoseekforwords,thenlookedathimalmostshyly."Dane,I’msohappyforyou.IthinkifMumwashereshe’dfeelthesame.That’sallitneeds,forhertoseeyounow,likethis.Youwait,she’llcomearound."

           Verygentlyhetookherpointedfacebetweenhishands,smilingdownatherwithsomuchlovethatherownhandscameuptoclutchathiswrists,soakitinthrougheverypore.Asifallthosechildhoodyearswereremembered,treasured.