Поющие в терновнике

           Sherearedback,stunnedandoutraged,thenshookherhead,half-smilingasifattheanticsofsomeinanimateobjectbeyondherpowertoinfluence;thenshetrembled,lickedherlips,seemedtocometoadecisionandsatupstraightandstiff."Doyoureallylovemysonasifhewereyourown,Ralph?"sheasked."Whatwouldyoudoforasonofyours?Couldyousitbackthenandsaytohismother,No,I’mverysorry,Ican’tpossiblytakethetimeoff?Couldyousaythattothemotherofyourson?"

           Dane’seyes,yetnotDane’seyes.Lookingather;bewildered,fullofpain,helpless.

           "Ihavenoson,"hesaid,"butamongthemany,manythingsIlearnedfromyourswasthatnomatterhowharditis,myfirstandonlyallegianceistoAlmightyGod."

           "Danewasyoursontoo,"saidMeggie.

           Hestaredatherblankly."What?"

           "Isaid,Danewasyoursontoo.WhenIleftMatlockIslandIwaspregnant.Danewasyours,notLukeO’Neill’s."

           "It—isn’t—true!"

           "Ineverintendedyoutoknow,evennow,"shesaid."WouldIlietoyou?"

           "TogetDaneback?Yes,"hesaidfaintly.

           Shegotup,cametostandoverhimintheredbrocadechair,tookhisthin,parchmentlikehandinhers,bentandkissedthering,thebreathofhervoicemistingitsrubytomilkydullness."Byallthatyouholdholy,Ralph,IswearthatDanewasyourson.HewasnotandcouldnothavebeenLuke’s.ByhisdeathIswearit."

           Therewasawail,thesoundofasoulpassingbetweentheportalsofHell.