Поющие в терновнике

           "Icouldkillyou!"shegroundfrombetweenherteeth,blinkingawaytears.

           "No,Herzchen,please!Don’tbeangry!Comeandbemyhostess,thenyoucaninspectthepremisestoyourheart’scontent."

           "Suitablychaperonedbyfivemillionotherguests,ofcourse!What’sthematter,Rain,don’tyoutrustyourselfalonewithme?Orisitmeyoudon’ttrust?"

           "Youwon’tbeaguest,"hesaid,answeringthefirstpartofhertirade."You’llbemyhostess,whichisquitedifferent.Willyoudoit?"

           Shewipedthetearsawaywiththebackofherhandandsaidgruffly,"Yes."

           Itturnedouttobemoreenjoyablethanshehaddaredhope,forRain’shousewastrulybeautifulandhehimselfinsuchagoodmoodJustinecouldn’thelpbutbecomeinfectedbyit.Shearrivedproperlythoughalittletooflamboyantlygownedforhistaste,butafteraninvoluntarygrimaceatfirstsightofhershocking-pinkslippersatin,hetuckedherarmthroughhisandconductedheraroundthepremisesbeforetheguestsarrived.Thenduringtheeveninghebehavedperfectly,treatingherinfrontoftheotherswithanoffhandintimacywhichmadeherfeelbothusefulandwanted.Hisguestsweresopoliticallyimportantherbraindidn’twanttothinkaboutthesortofdecisionstheymusthavetomake.Suchordinarypeople,too.Thatmadeitworse.