Вино из одуванчиков

           AndDouglasread:

           "Hey,nonnyno!Menarefoolsthatwishtodie!Is’tnotfinetodanceandsingWhenthebellsofdeathdoring?Is’tnotfinetoswiminwine,Andturnuponthetoe,AndsingHey,nonnyno!Whenthewindsblowandtheseasflow?Hey,nonnyno!"

           "Isthatallitsays?"saidTom.

           "Atthebottomisamessage:‘PREDICTION:Alonglifeandalivelyone.’"

           "That’smorelikeit!Nowhowaboutoneforme?"

           Tomputhiscoinin.Thewitchshuddered.Acardfellintohishand.

           "Lastoneoffthepremisesisthewitch’sbehind,"saidTomcalmly.

           Theyranoutsofast,theproprietorgaspedandclutchedforty-fivecopperpenniesinonefist,thirty-sixintheother.

           OutsidetheglareoftheuneasystreetlightsDouglasandTommadeaterriblediscovery.

           Thetarotcardwasempty,therewasnomessage.

           "Thatcan’tbe!"

           "Don’tgetexcited,Doug.It’sjustaplainoldcard;weonlylostapenny."

           "It’snotjustaplainoldcard,it’smorethanapenny,it’slifeanddeath."

           UndertheflutteringmothlightinthestreetDouglas’sfacewasmilkyashestaredatthecardandturnedit,rustling,tryingsomehowtoputwordsonit.

           "Sheranoutofink."

           "Sheneverrunsoutofink!"

           HelookedatMr.Blacksittingtherefinishingoffhisbottleandcursing,notknowinghowluckyhewas,livinginthearcade.Please,hethought,don’tletthearcadefallapart,too.