Поющие в терновнике

           TheyjustnaturallyassumedNewSouthWaleswasthesamesizeastheNorthIslandofNewZealand.AndtherewasGillanbone,uptowardthetopleft-handcorner;aboutthesamedistancefromSydneyasWanganuiwasfromAuckland,itseemed,thoughthedotsindicatingtownswerefarfewerthanontheNorthIslandmap.

           "It’saveryoldatlas,"Paddysaid."AustraliaislikeAmerica,growinginleapsandbounds.I’msuretherearealotmoretownsthesedays."

           Theywouldhavetogosteerageontheship,butitwasonlythreedaysafterall,nottoobad.NotliketheweeksandweeksbetweenEnglandandtheAntipodes.Alltheycouldaffordtotakewiththemwereclothes,china,cutlery,householdlinens,cookingutensilsandthoseshelvesofpreciousbooks;thefurniturewouldhavetobesoldtocoverthecostofshippingFee’sfewbitsandpiecesintheparlor,herspinetandrugsandchairs.

           "Iwon’thearofyourleavingthembehind,"PaddytoldFeefirmly.

           "Areyousurewecanaffordit?"

           "Positive.Astotheotherfurniture,Marysaysshe’sreadyingtheheadstockman’shouseandthatit’sgoteverythingwe’relikelytobeneeding.I’mgladwedon’thavetoliveinthesamehouseasMary."

           "SoamI,"saidFee.

           PaddywentintoWanganuitobookthemaneight-berthsteeragecabinontheWahine;strangethattheshipandtheirnearesttownshouldhavethesamename.TheywereduetosailattheendofAugust,sobythebeginningofthatmontheveryonestartedrealizingthebigadventurewasactuallygoingtohappen.