Вино из одуванчиков

           Johnlookedatthesky.

           Don’t!thoughtDouglas.

           "Looksmorelikethree-thirty,four,"saidJohn."BoyScout.Youlearnthemthings."

           Douglassighedandslowlyturnedthewatchahead.

           Johnwatchedhimdothis,silently.Douglaslookedup.Johnpunchedhim,nothardatall,inthearm.

           Withaswiftstrokeaplunge,atraincameandwentsoquicklytheboysallleapedaside,yelling,shakingtheirfistsafterit,DouglasandJohnwiththem.Thetrainroareddownthetrack,twohundredpeopleinit,gone.Thedustfolloweditalittlewaytowardthesouth,thensettledinthegoldensilenceamongthebluerails.

           Theboyswerewalkinghome.

           "I’mgoingtoCincinnatiwhenI’mseventeenandbearailroadfireman,"saidCharlieWoodman.

           "IgotanuncleinNewYork,"saidJim."I’llgothereandbeaprinter."

           Dougdidnotasktheothers.Alreadythetrainswerechantingandhesawtheirfacesdriftingoffonbackobservationplatforms,orpressedtowindows.Onebyonetheyslidaway.Andthentheemptytrackandthesummerskyandhimselfonanothertrainruninanotherdirection.

           Douglasfelttheearthmoveunderhisfeetandsawtheirshadowsmoveoffthegrassandcolortheair.

           Heswallowedhard,thengaveascreamingyell,pulledbackhisfist,shottheindoorballwhistlinginthesky."Lastonehome’sarhino’sbehind!"

           Theypoundeddownthetracks,laughing,flailingtheair.TherewentJohnHuff,nottouchingthegroundatall.AndherecameDouglas,touchingitallthetime.