Вино из одуванчиков

           Laviniacalledbackthroughthesoftoceanofdarkness:"TotheEliteTheatertoseeCHARLIECHAPLIN!"

           "Won’tcatchusoutonnonightlikethis,"wailedMissFern."NotwiththeLonelyOnestranglingwomen.Lockourselvesupinourclosetwithagun."

           "Oh,bosh!"Laviniaheardtheoldwomen’sdoorbangandlock,andshedriftedon,feelingthewarmbreathofsummernightshimmeringofftheoven-bakedsidewalks.Itwaslikewalkingonahardcrustoffreshlywarmedbread.Theheatpulsedunderyourdress,alongyourlegs,withastealthyandnotunpleasantsenseofinvasion.

           "Lavinia,youdon’tbelieveallthatabouttheLonelyOne,doyou?"

           "Thosewomenliketoseetheirtonguesdance."

           "Justthesame,HattieMcDolliswaskilledtwomonthsago,RobertaFerrythemonthbefore,andnowElizabethRamsell’sdisappeared..."

           "HattieMcDolliswasasillygirl,walkedoffwithatravelingman,Ibet."

           "Buttheothers,allofthem,strangled,theirtonguesstickingouttheirmouths,theysay."

           Theystoodupontheedgeoftheravinethatcutthetownhalfintwo.Behindthemwerethelithousesandmusic,aheadwasdeepness,moistness,firefliesanddark.

           "Maybeweshouldn’tgototheshowtonight,"saidFrancine."TheLonelyOnemightfollowandkillus.Idon’tlikethatravine.Lookatit,willyou!"

           Lavinialookedandtheravinewasadynamothatneverstoppedrunning,nightorday;therewasagreatmovinghum,abumblingandmurmuringofcreature,insect,orplantlife."