Поющие в терновнике

           Inhislittleroomattheinn,thesquareblackcasewhichhousedhispriestlyimplementshadnotbeenopened;itwaitedwithhissuitcasefordirectionsastowhereitshouldbesent.

           ***

           WhenthephonerangatnineinthemorningJustinerolledover,openedablearyeyeandlaycursingit,vowingshewouldhavethebloodythingdisconnected.Becausetherestoftheworldthoughtitonlyrightandpropertocommencewhatevertheydidatnineinthemorning,whydidtheyassumethesameofher?

           Butitrang,andrang,andrang.MaybeitwasRain;thatthoughttippedthebalancetowardconsciousness,andJustinegotup,sloppedreelingouttothelivingroom.TheGermanparliamentwasinurgentsession;shehadn’tseenRaininaweekandhadn’tbeenoptimisticaboutherchancesofseeinghimforatleastanotherweek.Butperhapsthecrisishadresolved,andhewascallingtotellherhewasonhiswayover.

           "Hello?"

           "MissJustineO’Neill?"

           "Yes,speaking."

           "ThisisAustraliaHouse,intheAldwych,youknow?"ThevoicehadanEnglishinflection,gaveanameshewastootiredtohearbecauseshewasstillassimilatingthefactthatthevoicewasnotRain’s.

           "Okay,AustraliaHouse."Yawning,shestoodononefootandscratcheditstopwiththesoleoftheother.

           "Doyouhaveabrother,aMr.DaneO’Neill?"

           Justine’seyesopened."Yes,Ido."

           "IsheatpresentinGreece,MissO’Neill?"

           Bothfeetsettledintotherug,stoodbraced."Yes,that’sright."