Вино из одуванчиков

           "No,no,no,no,no!"

           Douglas,eyesshut,sawspottedleopardspadinthedark.

           "Tom!"Thenquieter."Tom...doeseveryoneintheworld...knowhe’salive?"

           "Sure.Heck,yes!"

           Theleopardstrottedsoundlesslyoffthroughdarkerlandswhereeyeballscouldnotturntofollow.

           "Ihopetheydo,"whisperedDouglas."Oh,Isurehopetheyknow."

           Douglasopenedhiseyes.Dadwasstandinghighabovehimthereinthegreen-leavedsky,laughing,handsonhips.Theireyesmet.Douglasquickened.Dadknows,hethought.Itwasallplanned.Hebroughtushereonpurpose,sothiscouldhappentome!He’sinonit,heknowsitall.AndnowheknowsthatIknow.

           Ahandcamedownandseizedhimthroughtheair.SwayedonhisfeetwithTomandDad,stillbruisedandrumpled,puzzledandawed,Douglasheldhisstrange-bonedelbowstenderlyandlickedthefinecutlipwithsatisfaction.ThenhelookedatDadandTom.

           "I’llcarryallthepails,"hesaid."Thisonce,letmehauleverything."

           Theyhandedoverthepailswithquizzicalsmiles.

           Hestoodswayingslightly,theforestcollected,full-weightedandheavywithsyrup,clenchedhardinhisdown-slunghands.