Поющие в терновнике

           OnthebeachthetwoEnglishmenhadrisentotheirfeetandwerereluctantlyapproachingthewater.

           Heflippedoverontohisbellyandflashedthroughthewater,closerandcloser.Panickedarmsreachedforhim,clungtohim,draggedhimunder;hemanagedtogriponewomanaroundthewaistlongenoughtostunherwithaswiftcliponthechin,thengrabbedtheotherbythestrapofherswimsuit,shovedhiskneehardintoherspineandwindedher.Coughing,forhehadswallowedwaterwhenhewentunder,heturnedonhisbackandbegantowinghishelplessburdensin.

           ThetwoPommieswerestandingshoulder-deep,toofrightenedtoventureanyfarther,forwhichDanedidn’tblamethemintheleast.Histoesjusttouchedthesand;hesighedinrelief.Exhausted,heexertedalastsuperhumaneffortandthrustthewomentosafety.Fastregainingtheirsenses,theybeganscreamingagain,thrashingaboutwildly.Gasping,Danemanagedagrin.Hehaddonehisbit;thePomscouldtakeovernow.Whileherested,chestheaving,thecurrenthadsuckedhimoutagain,hisfeetnolongerbrushedthebottomevenwhenhestretchedthemdownward.Ithadbeenaclosecall.Ifhehadn’tbeenpresenttheywouldcertainlyhavedrowned;thePomshadn’tthestrengthorskilltosavethem.But,saidavoice,theyonlywantedtoswimsotheycouldbenearyou;untiltheysawyoutheyhadn’tanyintentionofgoingin.Itwasyourfaulttheywereindanger,yourfault.