Поющие в терновнике

           Dusttodust.Living’sforthoseofuswhofailed.GreedyGod,gatheringinthegoodones,leavingtheworldtotherestofus,torot.

           "Itisn’tforanyofustosayhowlongwe’lllive,"saidMeggie."Jussy,thankyousomuchfortellingmeyourself,forphoning."

           "Icouldn’tbeartothinkofastrangerbreakingthenews,Mum.Notlikethat,fromastranger.Whatwillyoudo?Whatcanyoudo?"

           WithallherwillMeggietriedtopourwarmthandcomfortacrossthemilestoherdevastatedgirlinLondon.Hersonwasdead,herdaughterstilllived.Shemustbemadewhole.Ifitwaspossible.InallherlifeJustineseemedonlytohavelovedDane.Nooneelse,evenherself.

           "DearJustine,don’tcry.Trynottogrieve.Hewouldn’thavewantedthat,nowwouldhe?Comehome,andforget.We’llbringDanehometoDrogheda,too.Atlawhe’smineagain,hedoesn’tbelongtotheChurchandtheycan’tstopme.I’llphoneAustraliaHouserightaway,andtheembassyinAthensifIcangetthrough.Hemustcomehome!I’dhatetothinkofhimlyingsomewherefarfromDrogheda.Hereiswherehebelongs,he’llhavetocomehome.Comewithhim,Justine."

           ButJustinesatinaheap,shakingherheadasifhermothercouldsee.Comehome?Shecouldnevercomehomeagain.IfshehadgonewithDanehewouldn’tbedead.Comehome,andhavetolookathermother’sfaceeverydayfortherestofherlife?No,itdidn’tbearthinkingof.

           "No,Mum,"shesaid,thetearsrollingdownherskin,hotlikemoltenmetal.