Вино из одуванчиков

           Douglassquinted.

           Whocouldsaywheretownorwidenessbegan?Whocouldsaywhichownedwhatandwhatownedwhich?Therewasalwaysandforeverthatindefinableplacewherethetwostruggledandoneofthemwonforaseasontopossessacertainavenue,adeli,aglen,atree,abush.Thethinlappingofthegreatcontinentalseaofgrassandflower,startingfaroutinlonelyfarmcountry,movedinwardwiththethrustofseasons.Eachnightthewilderness,themeadows,thefarcountryfloweddown-creekthroughravineandwelledupintownwithasmellofgrassandwater,andthetownwasdisinhabitedanddeadandgonebacktoearth.Andeachmorningalittlemoreoftheravineedgedupintotown,threateningtoswampgarageslikeleakingrowboats,devourancientcarswhichhadbeenlefttotheflakingmerciesofrainandthereforerust.

           "Hey!Hey!"JohnHuffandCharlieWoodmanranthroughthemysteryofravineandtownandtime."Hey!"

           Douglasmovedslowlydownthepath.Theravinewasindeedtheplacewhereyoucametolookatthetwothingsoflife,thewaysofmanandthewaysofthenaturalworld.Thetownwas,afterall,onlyalargeshipfilledwithconstantlymovingsurvivors,bailingoutthegrass,chippingawaytherust.Nowandagainalifeboat,ashanty,kintothemothership,lostouttothequietstormofseasons,sankdowninsilentwavesoftermiteandantintoswallowingravinetofeeltheflickerofgrasshoppersrattlinglikedrypaperinhotweeds,becomesoundproofedwithspiderdustandfinally,inavalancheofshingleandtar,collapselikekindlingshrinesintoabonfire,whichthunderstormsignitedwithbluelightning,whileflash-photographingthetriumphofthewilderness.