Поющие в терновнике

           Helaybackonthecoatandputhisarmsbehindhishead,smilingatherlazily."Howoldareyou,thirty?Inthosedisgracefulclothesyoulookmorelikeascrubbyschoolgirl.Ifyoudon’tneedmeinyourlifeforanyotherreason,Justine,youcertainlydoasyourpersonalarbiterofelegance."

           Shelaughed."IadmitwhenIthoughtyoumightpopupoutofthewoodworkIdidtakemoreinterestinmyappearance.IfI’mthirty,though,you’renospringchookyourself.Youmustbefortyatleast.Doesn’tseemlikesuchahugedifferenceanymore,doesit?You’velostweight.Areyouallright,Rain?"

           "Iwasneverfat,onlybig,sosittingatadeskallthetimehasshrunkme,notmademeexpand."

           Slidingdownandturningontoherstomach,sheputherfaceclosetohis,smiling."Oh,Rain,it’ssogoodtoseeyou!Nooneelsegivesmearunformymoney."

           "PoorJustine!Andyouhavesomuchofitthesedays,don’tyou?"

           "Money?"Shenodded."Odd,thattheCardinalshouldhaveleftallofhistome.Well,halftomeandhalftoDane,butofcourseIwasDane’ssolelegatee."Herfacetwistedinspiteofherself.Sheduckedherheadawayandpretendedtolookatonedaffodilinaseaofthemuntilshecouldcontrolhervoiceenoughtosay,"Youknow,Rain,I’dgivemyeyeteethtolearnjustwhattheCardinalwastomyfamily.Afriend,onlythat?Morethanthat,insomemysteriousway.Butjustwhat,Idon’tknow.IwishIdid."

           "No,youdon’t."Hegottohisfeetandextendedhishand.