Вино из одуванчиков

           IwasintheravineandIwashere,rightinthemiddleofitall."

           TomandCharlie,inturn,ignoredDouglas.

           "Forthatmatter,"saidTom."Idon’treallythinktheLonelyOneisdead."

           "Youwereherethismorningwhentheambulancecametobringthatmanoutonthestretcher,weren’tyou?"

           "Sure,"saidTom.

           "Well,thatwastheLonelyOne,dumb!Readthepapers!Aftertenlongyearsescaping,oldLaviniaNebbsupandstabbedhimwithahandypairofsewingscissors.Iwishshe’dmindedherownbusiness."

           "Youwantshe’dlaiddownandlethimsqueezeherwindpipe?"

           "No,buttheleastshecould’vedoneisgallopoutofthehouseanddownthestreetscreaming‘LonelyOne!LonelyOne!’longenoughtogivehimachancetobeatit.Thistownusedtohavesomegoodstuffinitupuntilabouttwelveo’clocklastnight.Fromhereon,we’revanillajunket."

           "Letmesayitforthelasttime,Charlie;IfiguretheLonelyOneain’tdead.Isawhisface,yousawhisface,Dougsawhisface,didn’tyou,Doug?"

           "What?Yes.Ithinkso.Yes."

           "Everybodysawhisface.Answermethis,then:DiditlookliketheLonelyOnetoyou?"

           "I..."saidDouglas,andstopped.

           Thesunbuzzedintheskyforaboutfiveseconds.

           "Mygosh..."whisperedCharlieatlast.

           Tomwaited,smiling.

           "Itdidn’tlookliketheLonelyOneatall,"gaspedCharlie."Itlookedlikeaman."