Вино из одуванчиков

           Strangethehotroomswiththesweatingpeoplepressedtightlybackintothembehindthebronzeknobsandknockers.Baseballbatsandballslayupontheunfootprintedlawns.Ahalf-drawn,white-chalkgameofhopscotchlayonthebroiled,steamedsidewalk.Itwasasifsomeonehadpredictedfreezingweatheramomentago.

           "We’recrazybeingoutonanightlikethis,"saidHelen.

           "LonelyOnewon’tkillthreeladies,"saidLavinia."There’ssafetyinnumbers.Andbesides,it’stoosoon.Thekillingsalwayscomeamonthseparated."

           Ashadowfellacrosstheirterrifiedfaces.Afigureloomedbehindatree.Asifsomeonehadstruckanorganaterribleblowwithhisfist,thethreewomengaveoffascream,inthreedifferentshrillnotes.

           "Gotyou!"roaredavoice.Themanplungedatthem.Hecameintothelight,laughing.Heleanedagainstatree,pointingattheladiesweakly,laughingagain.

           "Hey!I’mtheLonelyOne!"saidFrankDillon.

           "FrankDillon!"

           "Frank!"

           "Frank,"saidLavinia,"ifyoueverdoachildishthinglikethatagain,maysomeoneriddleyouwithbullets!"

           "Whatathingtodo!"

           Francinebegantocryhysterically.

           FrankDillonstoppedsmiling."Say,I’msorry."

           "Goaway!"saidLavinia."Haven’tyouheardaboutElizabethRamsell—founddeadintheravine?Yourunningaroundscaringwomen!Don’tspeaktousagain!"

           "Aw,now—"

           Theymoved.Hemovedtofollow.

           "Stayrightthere,Mr.LonelyOne,andscareyourself.GotakealookatElizabethRamsell’sfaceandseeifit’sfunny.