Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

           Withtheplanksinplace,Chalmerbackedthetractorupontothetruckbed.Afterhehauledtheplanksbackin,DannywaitedwhileChalmerpoppedanothercanofbeer,finishingitbeforehewasreadytotakeoff.

           Tommy,whohadseenwhathappened,tookthespot.Thatsonofabitchin’tractorfrightenedDanny.Thattractorhadtogo.Quickly,whileChalmersheadwasturned,Tommyclimbedupintothetruckbed,pulledtheU-pinoutandpoppedtheclutchintoneutral.AsChalmerwentaroundtothedriver’sseat,TommyjumpeddownandflippedtheU-pinintothebushes.Thenhegotinthefront,staredstraightaheadandwaited.HeknewtheminuteChalmermadeoneofhisjack-rabbitstarts,thatnewyellowtractorofhiswouldbegone.

           ChalmerstartedoutslowlyanddrovewithoutastopintoBremen.Nothinghappened.TommythoughtitwouldgoaftertheystoppedinfrontoftheGeneralMillsplant.ButChalmerpulledawayrealeasyanddroveallthewayintoLancaster.Allright,thoughtTommy,it’llhappenthefirsttimehestopsforaredlight.

           IthappenedinLancaster.Whenthelightturnedgreen,Chalmertookoffsquealinghistires,andTommyknewthetractorwasgone.Hetriedtokeephisfacestraight,buthecouldn’t.Helookedaway,towardthewindow,sotheoldfartwouldn’tseehisgrin.Whenheglancedback,hesawthelittleyellowtractortumblingbackdownthestreet,endoverend.ThenhesawChalmerlookinginhisrear-viewmirror,hismouthwideopen.