Вино из одуванчиков

           "Don’t!Don’t!"

           Thewomanlayasifshehadfloatedthere,herfacemoon-lit,hereyeswideandlikeflint,hertonguestickingfromhermouth.

           "She’sdead!"saidFrancine."Oh,she’sdead,dead!She’sdead!"

           Laviniastoodinthemiddleofathousandwarmshadowswiththecricketsscreamingandthefrogsloud.

           "We’dbettergetthepolice,"shesaidatlast.

           Holdme.Lavinia,holdme.I’mcold,oh,I’veneverbeensocoldinallmylife!"

           LaviniaheldFrancineandthepolicemenwerebrushingthroughthecracklinggrass,flashlightsduckedabout,voicesmingled,andthenightgrewtowardeight-thirty.

           "It’slikeDecember.Ineedasweater,"saidFrancine,eyesshut,againstLavinia.

           Thepolicemansaid,"Iguessyoucangonow,ladies.Youmightdropbythestationtomorrowforalittlemorequestioning."

           LaviniaandFrancinewalkedawayfromthepoliceandthesheetoverthedelicatethingupontheravinegrass.

           Laviniafeltherheartgoingloudlyinherandshewascold,too,withaFebruarycold;therewerebitsofsuddensnowalloverherflesh,andthemoonwashedherbrittlefingerswhiter,andsheremembereddoingallthetalkingwhileFrancinejustsobbedagainsther.

           Avoicecalledfromfaroff,"Youwantanescort,ladies?"

           "No,we’llmakeit,"saidLaviniatonobody,andtheywalkedon.Theywalkedthroughthenuzzling,whisperingravine,theravineofwhispersandclicks,thelittleworldofinvestigationgrowingsmallbehindthemwithitslightsandvoices.