Поющие в терновнике

           He’slyinginanunmarkedgravesomewhere!Ican’tgetavisaforGreece,noonewantstohelp,it’schaos.Whatarewegoingtodo,Mum?"

           "MeetmeinRome,Justine,"saidMeggie.

           EveryonesaveAnneMuellerwastherearoundthephone,stillinshock.Themenseemedtohaveagedtwentyyearsinthreedays,andFee,shrunkenbirdlike,whiteandcrabbed,driftedaboutthehousesayingoverandover,"Whycouldn’tithavebeenme?Whydidtheyhavetotakehim?I’msoold,soold!Iwouldn’thavemindedgoing,whydidithavetobehim?Whycouldn’tithavebeenme?I’msoold!"Annehadcollapsed,andMrs.Smith,MinnieandCatwalked,slepttears.

           Meggiestaredatthemsilentlyassheputthephonedown.ThiswasDrogheda,allthatwasleft.Alittleclusterofoldmenandoldwomen,sterileandbroken.

           "Dane’slost,"shesaid."Noonecanfindhim;he’sbeenburiedsomewhereonCrete.It’ssofaraway!HowcouldherestsofarfromDrogheda?I’mgoingtoRome,toRalphdeBricassart.Ifanyonecanhelpus,hecan."

           ***

           CardinaldeBricassart’ssecretaryenteredhisroom.

           "YourEminence,I’msorrytodisturbyou,butaladywishestoseeyou.Iexplainedthatthereisacongress,thatyouareverybusyandcannotseeanyone,butshesaysshewillsitinthevestibuleuntilyouhavetimeforher."

           "Issheintrouble,Father?"

           "Greattrouble,YourEminence,thatmuchiseasytosee.ShesaidIwastotellyouhernameisMeggieO’Neill."