Вино из одуванчиков

           "Okay,don’tlookmad.Itwas’sucker’orwhatever.Buttherewereotherwords..."

           "Mme.Tarot,itsaid.Tom,Igotitnow!Mme.Tarot’sreal,livedalongtimeago,toldfortunes.Isawherpictureonceintheencyclopedia.PeoplecamefromalloverEuropetoseeher.Well,don’tyoufigureitnowyourself?Think,Tom,think!"

           Tomsatbackdownonthelion’sback,lookingalongthestreettowherethearcadelightsflickered.

           "That’snottherealMrs.Tarot?"

           "Insidethatglassbox,underallthatredandbluesilkandallthatoldhalf-meltedwax,sure!Maybealongtimeagosomeonegotjealousorhatedherandpouredwaxover;jherandkeptherprisonerforeverandshe’spasseddownthelinefromvillaintovillainandwounduphere,centurieslater,inGreenTown,Illinois—workingforIndian-headpenniesinsteadofthecrownheadsofEurope!"

           "Villains?Mr.Black?"

           "Name’sBlack,shirt’sblack,pants’reblack,tie’sblack.Movievillainswearblack,don’tthey?"

           "Butwhydidn’tsheyelllastyear,theyearbefore?"

           "Whoknows,everynightforahundredyearsshe’sbeenwritingmessagesinlemonjuiceoncards,buteverybodyreadherregularmessage,nobodythought,likeus,torunamatchoverthebacktobringouttherealmessage.LuckyIknowwhatsecoursmeans."

           "Okay,shesaid,‘Help!’Nowwhat?"

           "Wesaveher,ofcourse."

           "StealheroutfromunderMr.Black’snose,huh?Andwindupwitchesourselvesinglassboxeswithwaxpouredonourfacesthenexttenthousandyears."