ColleenMcCullough-荆棘鸟TheThornBirds

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1、.TheThornBirdsbyCOLLEENMCCULLOUGHAVONBOOKSAdivisionofTheHearstCorporation959EighthAvenueNewYork,NewYork10Copyright(c1977byColleenMcCulloughPublishedbyarrangementwithHarperandRow,Publishers,Inc.LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:76-26271ISBN:Allrightsreserved,whichincludestherighttoreproducethisbooko

2、rportionsthereofinanyformwhatsoever.ForinformationaddressHarperandRow,Publishers,Inc.,10East53Street,NewYork,NewYork10FirstAvonPrinting,June,1PrintedinCanadaforbigsisterJeanEasthopeCONTENTSONE1915-1917Meggie3TWO1921-1928Ralph65THREE1929-1932Paddy215FOUR1933-1938Luke283FIVE1938-1953Fee427SIX1954-1965

3、Dane525SEVEN1965-1969Justine655Thereisalegendaboutabirdwhichsingsjustonceinitslife,moresweetlythananyothercreatureonthefaceoftheearth.Fromthemomentitleavesthenestitsearchesforathorntree,anddoesnotrestuntilithasfoundone.Then,singingamongthesavagebranches,itimpalesitselfuponthelongest,sharpestspine.An

4、d,dying,itrisesaboveitsownagonytoout-carolthelarkandthenightingale.Onesuperlativesong,existencetheprice.Butthewholeworldstillstolisten,andGodinHisheavensmiles.Forthebestisonlyboughtatthecostofgreatpain.Orsosaysthelegend.ONE1915-1917MEGGIE1OnDecember8th,1915,MeggieClearyhadherfourthbirthday.Aftertheb

5、reakfastdisheswereputawayhermothersilentlythrustabrownpaperparcelintoherarmsandorderedheroutside.SoMeggiesquatteddownbehindthegorsebushnexttothefrontgateandtuggedimpatiently.Herfingerswereclumsy,thewrappingheavy;itsmelledfaintlyoftheWahinegeneralstore,whichtoldherthatwhateverlayinsidetheparcelhadmir

6、aculouslybeenbought,nothomemadeordonated.Somethingfineandmistilygoldbegantopokethroughacorner;sheattackedthepaperfaster,peelingitawayinlong,raggedstrips.Agnes!Oh,Agnes!shesaidlovingly,blinkingatthedolllyingthereinatatterednest.Amiracleindeed.OnlyonceinherlifehadMeggiebeenintoWahine;allthewaybackinMa

7、y,becauseshehadbeenaverygoodgirl.Soperchedinthebuggybesidehermother,onherbestbehavior,shehadbeentooexcitedtoseeorremembermuch.ExceptforAgnes,thebeautifuldollsittingonthestorecounter,dressedinacrinolineofpinksatinwithcreamlacefrillsalloverit.RightthenandthereinhermindshehadchristeneditAgnes,theonlyna

8、mesheknewelegantenoughforsuchapeerlesscreature.Yetovertheen-3suingmonthsheryearningafterAgnescontainednothingofhope;Meggiedidntownadollandhadnoidealittlegirlsanddollsbelongedtogether.Sheplayedhappilywiththewhistlesandslingshotsandbatteredsoldiersherbrothersdiscarded,gotherhandsdirtyandherbootsmuddy.

9、ItneveroccurredtoherthatAgneswastoplaywith.Strokingthebrightpinkfoldsofthedress,granderthananyshehadeverseenonahumanwoman,shepickedAgnesuptenderly.Thedollhadjointedarmsandlegswhichcouldbemovedanywhere;evenherneckandtiny,shapelywaistwerejointed.Hergoldenhairwasexquisitelydressedinahighpompadourstudde

10、dwithpearls,herpalebosompeepedoutofafoamingfichuofcreamlacefastenedwithapearlpin.Thefinelypaintedbonechinafacewasbeautiful,leftunglazedtogivethedelicatelytintedskinanaturalmattetexture.Astonishinglylifelikeblueeyesshonebetweenlashesofrealhair,theiririsesstreakedandcircledwithadarkerblue;fascinated,M

11、eggiediscoveredthatwhenAgneslaybackfarenough,hereyesclosed.Highononefaintlyflushedcheekshehadablackbeautymark,andherduskymouthwaspartedslightlytoshowtinywhiteteeth.Meggieputthedollgentlyonherlap,crossedherfeetunderhercomfortably,andsatjustlooking.ShewasstillsittingbehindthegorsebushwhenJackandHughie

12、camerustlingthroughthegrasswhereitwastooclosetothefencetofeelascythe.HerhairwasthetypicalClearybeacon,alltheClearychildrensaveFrankbeingmartyredbyathatchsomeshadeofred;Jacknudgedhisbrotherandpointedgleefully.Theyseparated,grinningateachother,andpretendedtheyweretroopersafteraMaorirenegade.Meggiewoul

13、dnothaveheardthemanyway,soengrossedwassheinAgnes,hummingsoftlytoherself.Whatsthatyouvegot,Meggie?Jackshouted,pouncing.Showus!Yes,showus!Hughiegiggled,outflankingher.Sheclaspedthedollagainstherchestandshookherhead.No,shesmine!Igotherformybirthday!Showus,goon!Wejustwanttohavealook.Prideandjoywonout.Sh

14、eheldthedollsoherbrotherscouldsee.Look,isntshebeautiful?HernameisAgnes.Agnes?Agnes?Jackgaggedrealistically.Whatasoppyname!WhydontyoucallherMargaretorBetty?BecauseshesAgnes!Hughienoticedthejointinthedollswrist,andwhistled.Hey,Jack,look!Itcanmoveitshand!Where?Letssee.No!Meggiehuggedthedollcloseagain,t

15、earsforming.No,youllbreakher!Oh,Jack,donttakeheraway-youllbreakher!Pooh!Hisdirtybrownhandslockedaboutherwrists,closingtightly.WantaChineseburn?Anddontbesuchacrybaby,orIlltellBob.Hesqueezedherskininoppositedirectionsuntilitstretchedwhitely,asHughiegotholdofthedollsskirtsandpulled.Gimme,orIlldoitreall

16、yhard!No!Dont,Jack,pleasedont!Youllbreakher,Iknowyouwill!Oh,pleaseleaveheralone!Donttakeher,please!Inspiteofthecruelgriponherwristssheclungtothedoll,sobbingandkicking.GotitHughiewhooped,asthedollslidunderMeggiescrossedforearms.JackandHughiefoundherjustasfascinatingasMeggiehad;offcamethedress,thepett

17、icoatsandlong,frillydrawers.Agneslaynakedwhiletheboyspushedandpulledather,forcingonefootroundthebackofherhead,makingherlookdownherspine,everypossiblecontortiontheycouldthinkof.TheytooknonoticeofMeggieasshestoodcrying;itdidnotoccurtohertoseekhelp,forintheClearyfamilythosewhocouldnotfighttheirownbattl

18、esgotscantaidorsympathy,andthatwentforgirls,too.Thedollsgoldenhairtumbleddown,thepearlsflewwinkingintothelonggrassanddisappeared.Adustybootcamedownthoughtlesslyontheabandoneddress,smearinggreasefromthesmithyacrossitssatin.Meggiedroppedtoherknees,scrabblingfranticallytocollecttheminiatureclothesbefor

19、emoredamagewasdonethem,thenshebeganpickingamongthegrassbladeswhereshethoughtthepearlsmighthavefallen.Hertearswereblindingher,thegriefinherheartnew,foruntilnowshehadneverownedanythingworthgrievingfor.Frankthrewtheshoehissingintocoldwaterandstraightenedhisback;itdidntachethesedays,soperhapshewasusedto

20、smithying.Notbeforetime,hisfatherwouldhavesaid,aftersixmonthsatit.ButFrankknewverywellhowlongitwassincehisintroductiontotheforgeandanvil;hehadmeasuredthetimeinhatredandresentment.Throwingthehammerintoitsbox,hepushedthelankblackhairoffhisbrowwithatremblinghandanddraggedtheoldleatherapronfromaroundhis

21、neck.Hisshirtlayonaheapofstrawinthecorner;heploddedacrosstoitandstoodforamomentstaringatthesplinteringbarnwallasifitdidnotexist,hisblackeyeswideandfixed.Hewasverysmall,notabovefivefeetthreeinches,andthinstillasstriplingsare,butthebareshouldersandarmshadmusclesalreadyknottedfromworkingwiththehammer,a

22、ndthepale,flawlessskingleamedwithsweat.Thedarknessofhishairandeyeshadaforeigntang,hisfull-lippedmouthandwide-bridgednosenottheusualfamilyshape,buttherewasMaoribloodonhismotherssideandinhimitshowed.Hewasnearlysixteenyearsold,whereBobwasbarelyeleven,Jackten,Hughienine,StuartfiveandlittleMeggiethree.Th

23、enherememberedthattodayMeggiewasfour;itwasDecember8th.Heputonhisshirtandleftthebarn.Thehouselayontopofasmallhillaboutonehundredfeethigherthanthebarnandstables.LikeallNewZealandhouses,itwaswooden,ramblingovermanysquaresandofonestoryonly,onthetheorythatifanearthquakestruck,someofitmightbeleftstanding.

24、Arounditgorsegreweverywhere,atthemomentsmotheredinrichyellowflowers;thegrasswasgreenandluxuriant,likeallNewZealandgrass.Noteveninthemiddleofwinter,whenthefrostsometimeslayunmeltedalldayintheshade,didthegrassturnbrown,andthelong,mildsummeronlytinteditanevenrichergreen.Therainsfellgentlywithoutbruisin

25、gthetendersweetnessofallgrowingthings,therewasnosnow,andthesunhadjustenoughstrengthtocherish,neverenoughtosap.NewZealandsscourgesthunderedupoutofthebowelsoftheearthratherthandescendedfromtheskies.Therewasalwaysasuffocatedsenseofwaiting,anintangibleshudderingandthumpingthatactuallytransmitteditselfth

26、roughthefeet.Forbeneaththegroundlayawesomepower,powerofsuchmagnitudethatthirtyyearsbeforeawholetoweringmountainhaddisappeared;steamgushedhowlingoutofcracksinthesidesofinnocenthills,volcanoesspurnedsmokeintotheskyandthealpinestreamsranwarm.Hugelakesofmudboiledoilily,theseaslappeduncertainlyatcliffswh

27、ichmightnotbetheretogreetthenextincomingtide,andinplacestheearthscrustwasonlyninehundredfeetthick.Yetitwasagentle,graciousland.BeyondthehousestretchedanundulatingplainasgreenastheemeraldinFionaClearysengagementring,dottedwiththousandsofcreamybundlescloseproximityrevealedassheep.Wherethecurvinghillss

28、callopedtheedgeofthelightblueskyMountEgmontsoaredtenthousandfeet,slopingintotheclouds,itssidesstillwhitewithsnow,itssymmetrysoperfectthateventhoselikeFrankwhosawiteverydayoftheirlivesneverceasedtomarvel.Itwasquiteapullfromthebarntothehouse,butFrankhurriedbecauseheknewheoughtnottobegoing;hisfathersor

29、derswereexplicit.Thenasheroundedthecornerofthehousehesawthelittlegroupbythegorsebush.FrankhaddrivenhismotherintoWahinetobuyMeggiesdoll,andhewasstillwonderingwhathadpromptedhertodoit.Shewasntgiventoimpracticalbirthdaypresents,therewasntthemoneyforthem,andshehadnevergivenatoytoanyonebefore.Theyallgotc

30、lothes;birthdaysandChristmasesreplenishedsparsewardrobes.ButapparentlyMeggiehadseenthedollonheroneandonlytripintotown,andFionahadnotforgotten.WhenFrankquestionedher,shemutteredsomethingaboutagirlneedingadoll,andquicklychangedthesubject.JackandHughiehadthedollbetweenthemonthefrontpath,manipulatingits

31、jointscallously.AllFrankcouldseeofMeggiewasherback,asshestoodwatchingherbrothersdesecrateAgnes.Herneatwhitesockshadslippedincrinkledfoldsaroundherlittleblackboots,andthepinkofherlegswasvisibleforthreeorfourinchesbelowthehemofherbrownvelvetSundaydress.Downherbackcascadedamaneofcarefullycurledhair,spa

32、rklinginthesun;notredandnotgold,butsomewhereinbetween.Thewhitetaffetabowwhichheldthefrontcurlsbackfromherfacehungdraggledandlimp;dustsmearedherdress.Sheheldthedollsclothestightlyinonehand,theotherpushingvainlyatHughie.Youbloodylittlebastards!JackandHughiescrambledtotheirfeetandran,thedollforgotten;w

33、henFranksworeitwaspolitictorun.IfIcatchyouflaminglittletwerpstouchingthatdollagainIllbrandyourshittylittlearses!Frankyelledafterthem.HebentdownandtookMeggiesshouldersbetweenhishands,shakinghergently.Here,heretheresnoneedtocry!Comeonnow,theyvegoneandtheyllnevertouchyourdollyagain,Ipromise.Givemeasmil

34、eforyourbirthday,eh?Herfacewasswollen,hereyesrunning;shestaredatFrankoutofgreyeyessolargeandfulloftragedythathefelthisthroattighten.Pullingadirtyragfromhisbreechespocket,herubbeditclumsilyoverherface,thenpinchedhernosebetweenitsfolds.Blow!Shedidasshewastold,hiccupingnoisilyashertearsdried.Oh,Fruh-Fr

35、uh-Frank,theytoo-too-tookAgnesawayfromme!Shesniffled.Herhuh-huh-hairallfaileddownandsheloh-loh-lostalltheprettywiddlepuh-puh-pearlsinit!Theyallfailedinthegruh-gruhgrassandIcantendthem!Thetearswelledupagain,splashingonFrankshand;hestaredathiswetskinforamoment,thenlickedthedropsoff.Well,wellhavetofind

36、them,wontwe?Butyoucantfindanythingwhileyourecrying,youknow,andwhatsallthisbabytalk?Ihaventheardyousaywiddleinsteadoflittleforsixmonths!Here,blowyournoseagainandthenpickuppoor.Agnes?Ifyoudontputherclotheson,shellgetsunburned.Hemadehersitontheedgeofthepathandgaveherthedollgently,thenhecrawledaboutsear

37、chingthegrassuntilhegaveatriumphantwhoopandheldupapearl.There!Firstone!Wellfindthemall,youwaitandsee.Meggiewatchedheroldestbrotheradoringlywhilehepickedamongthegrassblades,holdingupeachpearlashefoundit;thensherememberedhowdelicateAgnessskinmustbe,howeasilyitmustBurn,andbentherattentiononclothingthed

38、oll.Theredidnotseemanyrealinjury.Herhairwastangledandloose,herarmsandlegsdirtywheretheboyshadpushedandpulledatthem,buteverythingstillworked.AtortoiseshellcombnestledaboveeachofMeggiesears;shetuggedatoneuntilitcamefree,andbegantocombAgnesshair,whichwasgenuinehumanhair,skillfullyknottedontoabaseofglue

39、andgauze,andbleacheduntilitwasthecolorofgildedstraw.Shewasyankinginexpertlyatalargeknotwhenthedreadfulthinghappened.Offcamethehair,allofit,danglinginatousledclumpfromtheteethofthecomb.AboveAgnesssmoothbroadbrowtherewasnothing;nohead,nobaldskull.Justanawful,yawninghole.Shiveringinterror,Meggieleanedf

40、orwardtopeerinsidethedollscranium.Theinvertedcontoursofcheeksandchinshoweddimly,lightglitteredbetweenthepartedlipswiththeirteethablack,animalsilhouette,andaboveallthiswereAgnesseyes,twohorribleclickingballsspearedbyawirerodthatcruellypiercedherhead.Meggiesscreamwashighandthin,unchildlike;sheflungAgn

41、esawayandwentonscreaming,handscoveringherface,shakingandshuddering.ThenshefeltFrankpullatherfingersandtakeherintohisarms,pushingherfaceintothesideofhisneck.Wrappingherarmsabouthim,shetookcomfortfromhimuntilhisnearnesscalmedherenoughtobecomeawareofhownicehesmelled,allhorsesandsweatandiron.Whenshequie

42、tened,Frankmadehertellhimwhatwasthematter;hepickedupthedollandstaredintoitsemptyheadinwonder,tryingtorememberifhisinfantuniversehadbeensobesetbystrangeterrors.Buthisunpleasantphantomswereofpeopleandwhispersandcoldglances.Ofhismothersfacepinchedandshrinking,herhandtremblingasitheldhis,thesetofhershou

43、lders.WhathadMeggieseen,tomakehertakeonso?HefanciedshewouldnothavebeennearlysoupsetifpoorAgneshadonlybledwhenshelostherhair.Bleedingwasafact;someoneintheClearyfamilybledcopiouslyatleastonceaweek.Hereyes,hereyedMeggiewhispered,refusingtolookatthedoll.Shesabloodymarvel,Meggie,hemurmured,hisfacenuzzlin

44、gintoherhair.Howfineitwas,howrichandfullofcolor!IttookhimhalfanhourofcajolingtomakeherlookatAgnes,andhalfanhourmoreelapsedbeforehecouldpersuadehertopeerintothescalpedhole.Heshowedherhowtheeyesworked,howverycarefullytheyhadbeenalignedtofitsnuglyyetswingeasilyopenedorclosed.Comeonnow,itstimeyouwentins

45、ide,hetoldher,swingingherupintohisarmsandtuckingthedollbetweenhischestandhers.WellgetMumtofixherup,eh?Wellwashandironherclothes,andglueonherhairagain.Illmakeyousomeproperhairpinsoutofthosepearls,too,sotheycantfalloutandyoucandoherhairinallsortsofways.FionaClearywasinthekitchen,peelingpotatoes.Shewas

46、averyhandsome,veryfairwomanalittleundermediumheight,butratherhard-facedandstern;shehadanexcellentfigurewithatinywaistwhichhadnotthickened,inspiteofthesixbabiesshehadcarriedbeneathit.Herdresswasgreycalico,itsskirtsbrushingthespotlessfloor,itsfrontprotectedbyanenormousstarchedwhiteapronthatloopedaroun

47、dherneckandtiedinthesmallofherspinewithacrisp,perfectbow.Fromwakingtosleepingshelivedinthekitchenandbackgarden,herstoutblackbootsbeatingacircularpathfromstovetolaundrytovegetablepatchtoclotheslinesandthencetothestoveagain.SheputherknifeonthetableandstaredatFrankandMeggie,thecornersofherbeautifulmout

48、hturningdown.Meggie,IletyouputonyourSunday-bestdressthismorningononecondition,thatyoudidntgetitdirty.Andlookatyou!Whatalittlegrubyouare!Mum,itwasntherfault,Frankprotested.JackandHughietookherdollawaytotryandfindouthowthearmsandlegsworked.Ipromisedwedfixitupasgoodasnew.Wecan,cantwe?Letmesee.Feeheldou

49、therhandforthedoll.Shewasasilentwoman,notgiventospontaneousconversation.Whatshethought,nooneeverknew,evenherhusband;sheleftthediscipliningofthechildrentohim,anddidwhateverhecommandedwithoutcommentorcomplaintunlessthecircumstancesweremostunusual.Meggiehadheardtheboyswhisperingthatshestoodinasmuchaweo

50、fDaddyastheydid,butifthatwastrueshehiditunderaveneerofimpenetrable,slightlydourcalm.Sheneverlaughed,nordidsheeverlosehertemper.Finishedherinspection,FeelaidAgnesonthedressernearthestoveandlookedatMeggie.Illwashherclothestomorrowmorning,anddoherhairagain.Frankcangluethehaironafterteatonight,Isuppose,

51、andgiveherabath.Thewordswerematter-of-factratherthancomforting.Meggienodded,smilinguncertainly;sometimesshewantedsobadlytohearhermotherlaugh,buthermotherneverdid.ShesensedthattheysharedaspecialsomethingnotcommontoDaddyandtheboys,buttherewasnoreachingbeyondthatrigidback,thoseneverstillfeet.Mumwouldno

52、dabsentlyandfliphervoluminousskirtsexpertlyfromstovetotableasshecontinuedworking,working,working.WhatnoneofthechildrensaveFrankcouldrealizewasthatFeewaspermanently,incurablytired.Therewassomuchtobedone,hardlyanymoneytodoitwith,notenoughtime,andonlyonepairofhands.ShelongedforthedaywhenMeggiewouldbeol

53、denoughtohelp;alreadythechilddidsimpletasks,butatbarelyfouryearsofageitcouldntpossiblylightentheload.Sixchildren,andonlyoneofthem,theyoungestatthat,agirl.Allheracquaintancesweresimultaneouslysympatheticandenvious,butthatdidntgettheworkdone.Hersewingbaskethadamountainofsocksinitstillundarned,herknitt

54、ingneedlesheldyetanothersock,andtherewasHughiegrowingoutofhissweatersandJacknotreadytohandhisdown.PadraicClearywastohometheweekofMeggiesbirthday,purelybychance.Itwastooearlyfortheshearingseason,andhehadworklocally,plowingandplanting.Byprofessionhewasasheererofsheep,aseasonaloccupationwhichlastedfrom

55、themiddleofsummertotheendofwinter,afterwhichcamelambing.Usuallyhemanagedtofindplentyofworktotidehimoverspringandthefirstmonthofsummer;helpingwithlambing,plowing,orspellingalocaldairyfarmerfromhisendlesstwice-a-daymilking.Wheretherewasworkhewent,leavinghisfamilyinthebigoldhousetofendforthemselves;not

56、asharshanactionasitseemed.Unlessonewasluckyenoughtoownland,thatwaswhatonehadtodo.Whenhecameinalittleaftersunsetthelampswerelit,andshadowsplayedflickeringgamesaroundthehighceiling.Theboyswereclusteredonthebackverandaplayingwithafrog,exceptforFrank;Padraicknewwherehewas,becausehecouldhearthesteadycloc

57、kingofanaxefromthedirectionofthewoodheap.HepausedontheverandaonlylongenoughtoplantakickonJacksbacksideandclipBobsear.GoandhelpFrankwiththewood,youlazylittlescamps.AndithadbetterbedonebeforeMumhasteaonthetable,ortherellbeskinandhairflying.HenoddedtoFiona,busyatthestove;hedidnotkissorembraceher,forher

58、egardeddisplaysofaffectionbetweenhusbandandwifeassomethingsuitableonlyforthebedroom.Asheusedthejacktohauloffhismud-cakedboots,Meggiecameskippingwithhisslippers,andhegrinneddownatthelittlegirlwiththecurioussenseofwonderhealwaysknewatsightofher.Shewassopretty,suchbeautifulhair;hepickedupacurlandpulled

59、itoutstraight,thenletitgo,justtoseeitjiggleandbounceasitsettledbackintoplace.Pickingthechildup,hewenttositintheonlycomfortablechairthekitchenpossessed,aWindsorchairwithacushiontiedtoitsseat,drawnclosetothefire.Sighingsoftly,hesatdowninitandpulledouthispipe,carelesslytappingoutthespentdottleoftobacco

60、initsbowlontothefloor.Meggiecuddleddownonhislapandwoundherarmsabouthisneck,hercoollittlefaceturneduptohisassheplayedhernightlygameofwatchingthelightfilterthroughhisshortstubbleofgoldenbeard.Howareyou,Fee?PadraicClearyaskedhiswife.Allright,Paddy.Didyougetthelowerpaddockdonetoday?Yes,alldone.Icanstart

61、ontheupperfirstthinginthemorning.Lord,butImtired!Illbet.DidMacPhersongiveyouthecrotchetyoldmareagain?Tooright.Youdontthinkhedtaketheanimalhimselftoletmehavetheroan,doyou?Myarmsfeelasiftheyvebeenpulledoutoftheirsockets.IswearthatmarehasthehardestmouthinEnZed.Nevermind.OldRobertsonshorsesareallgood,an

62、dyoullbetheresoonenough.Cantbesoonenough.Hepackedhispipewithcoarsetobaccoandpulledataperfromthebigjarthatstoodnearthestove.Aquickflickinsidethefireboxdooranditcaught;heleanedbackinhischairandsuckedsodeeplythepipemadebubblingnoises.Howsitfeeltobefour,Meggie?heaskedhisdaughter.Prettygood,Daddy.DidMumg

63、iveyouyourpresent?Oh,Daddy,howdidyouandMumguessIwantedAgnes?Agnes?HelookedswiftlytowardFee,smilingandquizzingherwithhiseyebrows.Isthathername,Agnes?Yes.Shesbeautiful,Daddy.Iwanttolookatherallday.Shesluckytohaveanythingtolookat,Feesaidgrimly.JackandHughiegotholdofthedollbeforepoorMeggiehadachancetose

64、eitproperly.Well,boyswillbeboys.Isthedamagebad?Nothingthatcantbemended.Frankcaughtthembeforeitwenttoofar.Frank?Whatwashedoingdownhere?Hewassupposedtobeattheforgeallday.Hunterwantshisgates.Hewasattheforgeallday.Hejustcamedownforatoolofsomesort,Feeansweredquickly;PadraicwastoohardonFrank.Oh,Daddy,Fran

65、kisthebestbrother!HesavedmyAgnesfrombeingkilled,andhesgoingtoglueherhaironagainformeaftertea.Thatsgood,herfathersaiddrowsily,leaninghisheadbackinthechairandclosinghiseyes.Itwashotinfrontofthestove,buthedidntseemtonotice;beadsofsweatgatheredonhisforehead,glistening.Heputhisarmsbehindhisheadandfellintoadoze.ItwasfromPadraicClearythathischildrengottheirvariousshadesofthick,wavingred