Поющие в терновнике

           WhyweretherosesalwaysoutwhenhecamebacktoDrogheda?ItwasOctober,highspring.Ofcoursetheywereout.Thetimewasright.

           "Sanctus…sanctus…sanctus…"

           BewarnedthattheHolyofHoliesisuponyou.MyDane,mybeautifulson.Itisbetterso.Iwouldn’thavewantedyoutocometothis,whatIalreadyam.WhyIsaythisforyou,Idon’tknow.Youdon’tneedit,youneverneededit.WhatIgropefor,youknewbyinstinct.Itisn’tyouwhoisunhappy,it’sthoseofushere,leftbehind.Pityus,andwhenourtimescome,helpus.

           "Ite,Missaest…Requiescatinpace…"

           Outacrossthelawn,downpasttheghostgums,theroses,thepeppertrees,tothecemetery.Sleepon,Dane,becauseonlythegooddieyoung.Whydowemourn?You’relucky,tohaveescapedthiswearylifesosoon.Perhapsthat’swhatHellis,alongterminearth-boundbondage.Perhapswesufferourhellsinliving…

           Thedaypassed,themournersdeparted,theDroghedapeoplecreptaboutthehouseandavoidedeachother;CardinalRalphlookedearlyatMeggie,andcouldnotbeartolookagain.JustineleftwithJeanandBoyKingtocatchtheafternoonplaneforSydney,thenightplaneforLondon.Heneverrememberedhearingherhuskybewitchingvoice,orseeingthoseoddpaleeyes.FromthetimewhenshehadmethimandMeggieinAthenstothetimewhenshewentwithJeanandBoyKingshehadbeenlikeaghost,hercamouflagepulledcloselyaroundher.