Поющие в терновнике

           Yetbehindwhatshesawinhiseyesonherbehalfshesensedashadowydoubt,onlyperhapsdoubtwastoostrongaword;morelikeanxiety.MostlyhewassureMumwouldunderstandeventually,buthewashuman,thoughallsavehetendedtoforgetthefact.

           "Jus,willyoudosomethingforme?"heaskedashelethergo.

           "Anything,"shesaid,meaningit.

           "I’vegotasortofrespite,tothinkaboutwhatI’mgoingtodo.Twomonths.AndI’mgoingtodotheheavythinkingonaDroghedahorseafterI’vetalkedtoMum—somehowIfeelIcan’tsortanythingoutuntilafterI’vetalkedtoher.Butfirst,well…I’vegottogetupmycouragetogohome.Soifyoucouldmanageit,comedowntothePeloponnesewithmeforacoupleofweeks,tickmeoffgoodandproperaboutbeingacowarduntilIgetsosickofyourvoiceIputmyselfonaplanetogetawayfromit."Hesmiledather."Besides,Jussy,Idon’twantyoutothinkI’mgoingtoexcludeyoufrommylifeabsolutely,anymorethanIwillMum.Youneedyouroldconsciencearoundoccasionally."

           "Oh,Dane,ofcourseI’llgo!"

           "Good,"hesaid,thengrinned,eyedhermischievously."Ireallydoneedyou,Jus.Havingyoubitchinginmyearwillbejustlikeoldtimes."

           "Uh-uh-uh!Noobscenities,FatherO’Neill!"

           Hisarmswentbehindhishead,heleanedbackonthecouchcontentedly."Iam!Isn’titmarvelous?AndmaybeafterI’veseenMum,IcanconcentrateonOurLord.Ithinkthat’swheremyinclinationslie,youknow.SimplythinkingaboutOurLord."