printf '%s\n' 'a\ b c' | { read a b; printf '%s\n' "x${a}x${b}x"; }
printf '%s\n' 'a b\ c' | { read a b; printf '%s\n' "x${a}x${b}x"; }
printf '%s\n' 'a\ b c' | { read a b; printf '%s\n' "x${a}x${b}x"; }
printf '%s\n' 'a b\ c' | { read a b; printf '%s\n' "x${a}x${b}x"; }