Поющие в терновнике

           OneoftheUnksmusthavedeliveredthelettertoherroom,foritwaslyingonthebedsidetable,apale-blueairletterwithQueenElizabethinitsuppercorner.

           "DarlingJustine,"wroteClydeDaltinham-Roberts,"Comebacktothefold,you’reneeded!Atonce!There’sapartgoingbegginginthenewseason’srepertoire,andatinylittledicky-birdtoldmeyoujustmightwantit.Desdemona,darling?WithMarcSimpsonasyourOthello?Rehearsalsfortheprincipalsstartnextweek,ifyou’reinterested."

           Ifshewasinterested!Desdemona!DesdemonainLondon!AndwithMarcSimpsonasOthello!Theopportunityofalifetime.HermoodskyrocketedtoapointwherethescenewithRainlostsignificance,orratherassumedadifferentsignificance.Perhapsifshewasvery,verycarefulshemightbeabletokeepRain’slove;ahighlyacclaimed,successfulactresswastoobusytosharemuchofherlifewithherlovers.Itwasworthatry.Ifhelookedasifheweregettingtooclosetothetruth,shecouldalwaysbackoffagain.TokeepRaininherlife,butespeciallythisnewRain,shewouldbepreparedtodoanythingsavestripoffthemask.

           Inthemeantime,newslikethisdeservedsomesortofcelebration.Shedidn’tfeeluptofacingRainyet,buttherewereotherpeopleonhandtosharehertriumph.Sosheputonhershoes,walkeddownthecorridortotheUnks’communalsittingroom,andwhenPatsyletherinshestoodwitharmsspreadwide,beaming.

           "Breakoutthebeer,I’mgoingtobeDesdemona!"sheannouncedinringingtones.