Поющие в терновнике

           Rather,hewassodistantshefeltasifsheweresittingwithapapereffigy,one-dimensionalandanxioustobeofffloatinginthebreeze,farfromherken.Asifhehadsaidgoodbyetoheralready,andthismeetingwasasuperfluity.

           "Haveyouhadaletterfromyourmotheryet?"heaskedpolitely.

           "No,butIdon’thonestlyexpectone.She’sprobablybereftofwords."

           "WouldyoulikeFritztotakeyoutotheairporttomorrow?"

           "Thanks,Icancatchacab,"sheansweredungraciously."Iwouldn’twantyoutobedeprivedofhisservices."

           "Ihavemeetingsallday,soIassureyouitwon’tinconveniencemeintheslightest."

           "IsaidI’dtakeacab!"

           Heraisedhiseyebrows."There’snoneedtoshout,Justine.Whateveryouwantisallrightwithme."

           Hewasn’tcallingherHerzchenanymore;oflateshehadnoticeditsfrequencydeclining,andtonighthehadnotusedtheoldendearmentonce.Oh,whatadismal,depressingdinnerthiswas!Letitbeoversoon!Shefoundshewaslookingathishandsandtryingtorememberwhattheyfeltlike,butshecouldn’t.Whywasn’tlifeneatandwellorganized,whydidthingslikeDanehavetohappen?PerhapsbecauseshethoughtofDane,hermoodsuddenlyplummetedtoapointwhereshecouldn’tbeartositstillamomentlonger,andputherhandsonthearmsofherchair.

           "Doyoumindifwego?"sheasked."I’mdevelopingasplittingheadache."