The Thorn Birds

Meggie returns quietly to Drogheda with Justine, riding with Bluey Williams, the mail man, in his mail truck. As they near the homestead, Bluey senses Meggie’s wish for silence. Meggie look at the familiar landscape with deep affection—the sparse, brown land, the wildlife, the dusty air, and the skeletons of old trees. When they arrive, Mrs. Smith greets Meggie with laughter and tears. When Fiona comes to see what is going on, Meggie announces that she has come home for good and that she is expecting another child. Fiona accepts the news with calm approval, and Meggie is given her old room with a second room set aside for Justine and the coming baby.

Meggie soon settles back into life at Drogheda. Bob, who has grown more like Paddy, welcomes her warmly, as do Jack and Hughie. The drought is the worst in memory, with two years passing without rain and rabbits devastating the grasslands. Bob and the others explain the difficulties they face keeping the sheep alive, and Meggie offers to help by riding the paddocks. Additionally, Jims and Patsy have left school to work at Drogheda full-time.

Meggie mourns the loss of her old horses, but Bob buys her two new part-thoroughbred hacks from Martin King. Riding again gives her great happiness despite the grim conditions of the land. Rabbits have worsened the drought damage by stripping the grass cover. Meggie learns to trap rabbits without hesitation, understanding the necessity of killing for survival. She and Bob both lament the damage caused by the introduction of rabbits from England, which had no natural predators in Australia and upset the land’s delicate balance.

As Meggie’s pregnancy progresses, she spends more time indoors, sewing and knitting for the new baby while observing Justine. Unlike her easygoing babyhood, Justine grows into a solemn, self-willed child who resists affection from both Meggie and Mrs. Smith. She walks and talks early, but she remains aloof, already demonstrating a strong and independent character. Meggie begins to recognize the strength of spirit that seems to have come from a powerful mixture of Cleary, Armstrong, and O’Neill bloodlines.

On October 1, Meggie gives birth to a son she names Dane. The labor is quick and relatively painless, and unlike with Justine, she is able to nurse him. Dane is fair-haired and blue-eyed, bearing an unmistakable resemblance to Ralph rather than Luke, though Meggie takes comfort in the fact that Luke and Ralph look similar. She decides never to reveal Dane’s true parentage, viewing him as her lasting link to Ralph. Meanwhile, Ralph arrives in Rome and meets Cardinal Vittorio. He confesses his sins and prepares for his future duties amid the growing threat of war in Europe.