Поющие в терновнике

           Mymotheris,Isuppose."

           Therewasapause."Thisisverydifficult,MissO’Neill.Ifyou’renotthenextofkin,we’vewastedvaluabletime."Thepolitesympathygavewaytoimpatience."Youdon’tseemtounderstandthere’sarevolutiongoingoninGreeceandtheaccidenthappenedinCrete,evenmoreremoteandhardtocontact.Really!CommunicationwithAthensisvirtuallyimpossibleandwehavebeeninstructedtoforwardthenextofkin’spersonalwishesandinstructionsregardingthebodyimmediately.Isyourmotherthere?MayIspeaktoher,please?"

           "Mymother’snothere.She’sinAustralia."

           "Australia?Lord,thisgetsworseandworse!Nowwe’llhavetosendacabletoAustralia;moredelays.Ifyouarenotthenextofkin,MissO’Neill,whydidyourbrother’spassportsayyouwere?"

           "Idon’tknow,"shesaid,andfoundshehadlaughed.

           "Givemeyourmother’saddressinAustralia;we’llcableheratonce.Wehavetoknowwhattodowiththebody!Bythetimecablesgetbackandforth,thiswillmeanatwelve-hourdelay,Ihopeyourealizethat.It’sgoingtobedifficultenoughwithoutthismix-up."

           "Phoneher,then.Don’twastetimewithcables."

           "Ourbudgetdoesnotextendtointernationalphonecalls,MissO’Neill,"saidthatstiffvoice."Now,willyoupleasegivemeyourmother’snameandaddress?"

           "Mrs.MeggieO’Neill,"Justinerecited,"Drogheda,Gillanbone,NewSouthWales,Australia."Shespelledouttheunfamiliarnamesforhim.