Вино из одуванчиков

           Hejerkedhiscoldhandouttofindthetelephone.Itwasstillthere!Hecrusheditagainsthischestforamoment,blinking.

           "Idon’tlikethatdream,"hesaidtohisemptyroom.

           Atlast,hisfingerstrembling,heliftedthereceiverandcalledthelong-distanceoperatorandgaveheranumberandwaited,watchingthebedroomdoorasifatanymomentaplagueofsons,daughters,grandsons,nurses,doctors,mightswarmintoseizeawaythislastvitalluxuryhepermittedhisfailingsenses.Manydays,orwasityears,ago,whenhishearthadthrustlikeadaggerthroughhisribsandflesh,hehadheardtheboysbelow...theirnameswhatwerethey?Charles,Charlie,Chuck,yes!AndDouglas!AndTom!Heremembered!Callinghisnamefardownthehall,butthedoorbeinglockedintheirfaces,theboysturnedaway.Youcan’tbeexcited,thedoctorsaid.Novisitors,novisitors,noItvisitors.Andheheardtheboysmovingacrossthestreet,hesawthem,hewaved.Andtheywavedback."Colonel...Colonel..."Andnowhesatalonewiththelittlegraytoadofaheartfloppingweaklyhereorthereinhischestfromtimetotime.

           "ColonelFreeleigh,"saidtheoperator."Here’syourcall.MexicoCity.Erickson3899."

           Andnowthefarawaybutinfinitelyclearvoice:

           "Bueno.""Jorge!"criedtheoldman

           "SenorFreeleigh!Again?Thiscostsmoney."

           "Letitcost!Youknowwhattodo."

           "Si.Thewindow?"

           "Thewindow,Jorge,ifyouplease."

           "Amoment,"saidthevoice.