Поющие в терновнике

           Bob,whowasthelifeforceoftheunit,theBossofDrogheda,butinsuchanunobtrusiveway;Jack,whomerelyseemedtofollowBobaround,ormaybeitwasjustthattheygotalongsowelltogether;Hughie,whohadastreakofmischieftheothertwodidnot,andyetsoverylikethem;JimsandPatsy,thepositiveandnegativesidesofaself-sufficientwhole;andpoorquenchedFrank,theonlyonewhoseemedplaguedbyfearandinsecurity.AllofthemsaveJimsandPatsyweregrizzlednow,indeedBobandFrankwerewhite-haired,buttheydidn’treallylookverydifferentfromthewaysherememberedthemasalittlegirl.

           "Idon’tknowwhetherIoughttogiveyouabeer,"Bobsaiddoubtfully,standingwithacoldbottleofSwaninhishand.

           Theremarkwouldhaveannoyedherintenselyevenhalfadayago,butatthemomentshewastoohappytotakeoffense.

           "Look,love,Iknowit’sneveroccurredtoyoutooffermeonethroughthecourseofoursessionswithRain,buthonestlyI’mabiggirlnow,andIcanhandleabeer.Ipromiseitisn’tasin."Shesmiled.

           "Where’sRainer?"Jimsasked,takingafullglassfromBobandhandingittoher.

           "Ihadafightwithhim."

           "WithRainer?"

           "Well,yes.Butitwasallmyfault.I’mgoingtoseehimlaterandtellhimI’msorry."

           NoneoftheUnkssmoked.