Поющие в терновнике

           "Yes,"shesaid,"Ibelieveyou."

           "IcametoseeyoubecauseJustineneedsyourhelpandcannotaskforit,"heannounced."Youmustconvincehersheneedstotakeupthethreadsofherlifeagain—notaDroghedalife,butherownlife,whichhasnothingtodowithDrogheda."

           Heleanedbackinhischair,crossedhislegsandlitanothercigarette."Justinehasdonnedsomekindofhairshirt,butforallthewrongreasons.Ifanyonecanmakeherseeit,youcan.YetIwarnyouthatifyouchoosetodososhewillnevercomehome,whereasifshegoesonthewaysheis,shemaywellendupreturningherepermanently.

           "Thestageisn’tenoughforsomeonelikeJustine,"hewenton,"andthedayiscomingwhenshe’sgoingtorealizethat.Thenshe’sgoingtooptforpeople—eitherherfamilyandDrogheda,orme."Hesmiledatherwithdeepunderstanding."ButpeoplearenotenoughforJustineeither,Mrs.O’Neill.IfJustinechoosesme,shecanhavethestageaswell,andthatbonusDroghedacannotofferher."Nowhewasgazingathersternly,asifatanadversary."Icametoaskyoutomakesureshechoosesme.Itmayseemcrueltosaythis,butIneedhermorethanyoupossiblycould."

           ThestarchwasbackinMeggie."Droghedaisn’tsuchabadchoice,"shecountered."Youspeakasifitwouldbetheendofherlife,butitdoesn’tmeanthatatall,youknow.Shecouldhavethestage.Thisisatruecommunity.