Поющие в терновнике

           "You’llgetacoldinyourkidneys,"hesaid,takingoffhiscoatandspreadingitliningsideuponthegroundsotheycouldsitonit.

           "Howdidyoufindmehere?"sheasked,wrigglingontoabrownsatincorner.

           "Mrs.KellytoldmeyouhadgonetoKew.Therestwaseasy.IjustwalkeduntilIfoundyou."

           "IsupposeyouthinkIoughttobefallingalloveryouingladness,tra-la?"

           "Areyou?"

           "SameoldRain,answeringaquestionwithaquestion.No,I’mnotgladtoseeyou.IthoughtI’dmanagedtomakeyoucrawlupahollowlogpermanently."

           "It’shardtokeepagoodmanupahollowlogpermanently.Howareyou?"

           "I’mallright."

           "Haveyoulickedyourwoundsenough?"

           "No."

           "Well,that’stobeexpected,Isuppose.ButIbegantorealizethatonceyouhaddismissedmeyou’dneveragainhumbleyourpridetomakethefirstmovetowardreconciliation.WhereasI,Herzchen,amwiseenoughtoknowthatpridemakesaverylonelybedfellow."

           "Don’tgogettinganyideasaboutkickingitouttomakeroomforyourself,Rain,becauseI’mwarningyou,Iamnottakingyouoninthatcapacity."

           "Idon’twantyouinthatcapacityanymore."

           Thepromptnessofhisanswerirritatedher,butsheadoptedarelievedairandsaid,"Honestly?"

           "IfIdid,doyouthinkIcouldhavebornetokeepawayfromyousolong?Youwereapassingfancyinthatway,butIstillthinkofyouasadearfriend,andmissyouasadearfriend."

           "Oh,Rain,sodoI!"

           "That’sgood.AmIadmittedasafriend,then?"

           "Ofcourse."