Поющие в терновнике

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           CardinaldeBricassartcharteredaprivateplaneinAthens;he,MeggieandJustinebroughtDanehometoDrogheda,thelivingsittingsilently,thedeadlyingsilentlyonabier,requiringnothingofthisearthanymore.

           IhavetosaythisMass,thisRequiemformyson.Boneofmybone,myson.Yes,Meggie,Ibelieveyou.OnceIhadmybreathbackIwouldevenhavebelievedyouwithoutthatterribleoathyouswore.Vittorioknewtheminuteheseteyesontheboy,andinmyheartI,too,musthaveknown.Yourlaughbehindtherosesfromtheboy—butmyeyeslookingupatme,astheyusedtobeinmyinnocence.Feeknew.AnneMuellerknew.Butnotwemen.Weweren’tfittobetold.Forsoyouwomenthink,andhugyourmysteries,gettingyourbacksonusfortheslightGoddidyouinnotcreatingyouinHisImage.Vittorioknew,butitwasthewomaninhimstilledhistongue.Amasterlyrevenge.

           Sayit,RalphdeBricassart,openyourmouth,moveyourhandsintheblessing,begintochanttheLatinforthesoulofthedeparted.Whowasyourson.Whomyoulovedmorethanyoulovedhismother.Yes,more!Forhewasyourselfalloveragain,inamoreperfectmold.

           "InNominePatris,etFilii,etSpiritusSancti…"

           Thechapelwaspacked;theywerealltherewhocouldbethere.TheKings,theO’Rourkes,theDavieses,thePughs,theMacQueens,theGordons,theCarmichaels,theHopetons.AndtheClearys,theDroghedapeople.Hopeblighted,lightgone.Atthefrontinagreatlead-linedcasket,FatherDaneO’Neill,coveredinroses.