Поющие в терновнике

           Ihatetoaskyoutofindyourownwayhome,butinlessthananhourIhavetomeetsomeveryimportantgentlemeninatop-secretplace,towhichImustgoinmyowncar,drivenbythetriple-A-security-clearancedFritz."

           "Cloakanddagger!"shesaidgaily,concealingherhurt."NowIknowwhythosesuddentaxis!Iamtobeentrustedtoacabby,butnotthefutureoftheCommonMarket,eh?Well,justtoshowyouhowlittleIneedataxioryoursecurity-clearancedFritz,I’mgoingtocatchthetubehome.It’squiteearly."Hisfingerslayratherlimplyaroundhers;sheliftedhishandandhelditagainsthercheek,thenkissedit."Oh,Rain,Idon’tknowwhatI’ddowithoutyou!"

           Heputthehandinhispocket,gottohisfeet,cameroundandpulledoutherchairwithhisotherhand."I’myourfriend,"hesaid."That’swhatfriendsarefor,nottobedonewithout."

           Butonceshepartedfromhim,Justinewenthomeinaverythoughtfulmood,whichturnedrapidlyintoadepressedone.Tonightwastheclosesthehadcometoanykindofpersonaldiscussion,andthegistofithadbeenthathefelthermotherwasterriblylonely,growingold,andthatsheoughttogohome.Visit,hehadsaid;butshecouldn’thelpwonderingifhehadactuallymeantstay.Whichratherindicatedthatwhateverhefeltforherinthepastwaswellandtrulyofthepast,andhehadnowishtoresurrectit.