Поющие в терновнике

           Iwasn’twillingtodoasRalphaskedandlookoutforyou.Iwantedmymemories…nothingbutmymemories.Whereasyou’venochoice.Memoriesareallyou’vegot."

           "Well,they’reacomfort,oncethepaindiesdown.Don’tyouthinkso?Ihadtwenty-sixwholeyearsofDane,andI’velearnedtotellmyselfthatwhathappenedmustbeforthebest,thathemusthavebeensparedsomeawfulordealhemightnothavebeenstrongenoughtoendure.LikeFrank,perhaps,onlynotthesame.Thereareworsethingsthandying,webothknowthat."

           "Aren’tyoubitteratall?"askedFee.

           "Oh,atfirstIwas,butfortheirsakesI’vetaughtmyselfnottobe."

           Feeresumedherknitting."Sowhenwego,therewillbenoone,"shesaidsoftly."Droghedawillbenomore.Oh,they’llgiveitalineinthehistorybooks,andsomeearnestyoungmanwillcometoGillytointerviewanyonehecanfindwhoremembers,forthebookhe’sgoingtowriteaboutDrogheda.LastofthemightyNewSouthWalesstations.Butnoneofhisreaderswilleverknowwhatitwasreallylike,becausetheycouldn’t.They’dhavetohavebeenapartofit."

           "Yes,"saidMeggie,whohadn’tstoppedknitting."They’dhavetohavebeenapartofit."

           ***

           SayinggoodbyetoRaininaletter,devastatedbygriefandshock,hadbeeneasy;infactenjoyableinacruelway,forshehadlashedbackthen—I’minagony,sooughtyoutobe.ButthistimeRainhadn’tputhimselfinapositionwhereaDearJohnletterwaspossible.