Поющие в терновнике

           Whooneartheversaidpeoplemostmoveddon’tweep?Theydon’tknowanythingaboutit."Ishallstayhereandwork.I’llcomehomewithDane,butthenI’mgoingback.Ican’tliveonDrogheda."

           Forthreedaystheywaitedinapurposelessvacuum,JustineinLondon,MeggieandthefamilyonDrogheda,stretchingtheofficialsilenceintotenuoushope.Oh,surelyaftersolongitwouldturnouttobeamistake,surelyifitwastruetheywouldhaveheardbynow!DanewouldcomeinJustine’sfrontdoorsmiling,andsayitwasallasillymistake.Greecewasinrevolt,allsortsofsillymistakesmusthavebeenmade.Danewouldcomeinthedoorandlaughtheideaofhisdeathtoscorn,he’dstandtheretallandstrongandalive,andhe’dlaugh.Hopebegantogrow,andgrewwitheveryminutetheywaited.Treacherous,horriblehope.Hewasn’tdead,no!Notdrowned,notDanewhowasagoodenoughswimmertobraveanykindofseaandlive.Sotheywaited,notacknowledgingwhathadhappenedinthehopeitwouldprovetobeamistake.Timelatertonotifypeople,letRomeknow.

           OnthefourthmorningJustinegotthemessage.Likeanoldwomanshepickedupthereceiveroncemore,andaskedforAustralia.

           "Mum?"

           "Justine?"

           "Oh,Mum,they’veburiedhimalready;wecan’tbringhimhome!Whatarewegoingtodo?AlltheycansayisthatCreteisabigplace,thenameofthevillageisn’tknown,bythetimethecablearrivedhe’dalreadybeenspiritedawaysomewhereanddisposedof.