Вино из одуванчиков

           Nofleshlycitadelstrongenoughtowithstandthescrabblingassaultofmidnights?Doubtsflushedhim.Icecreamlivedagaininhisthroat,stomach,spineandlimbs;hewasinstantlycoldasawindoutofDecembergone.

           Herealizedthatallmenwerelikethis;thateachpersonwastohimselfonealone.Oneoneness,aunitinasociety,butalwaysafraid.Likehere,standing.Ifheshouldscream,ifheshouldhollerforhelp,woulditmatter?

           Blacknesscouldcomeswiftly,swallowing;inonetitanicallyfreezingmomentallwouldbeconcluded.Longbeforedawn,longbeforepolicewithflashlightsmightprobethedark,disturbedpathway,longbeforemenwithtremblingbrainscouldrustledownthepebblestohishelp.Eveniftheywerewithinfivehundredyardsofhimnow,andhelpcertainlywas,inthreesecondsadarktidecouldrisetotakealltenyearsfromhimand—

           Theessentialimpactoflife’slonelinesscrushedhisbeginning-to-tremblebody.Motherwasalone,too.Shecouldnotlooktothesanctityofmarriage,theprotectionofherfamily’slove,shecouldnotlooktotheUnitedStatesConstitutionortheCityPolice,shecouldnotlookanywhere,inthisveryinstant,saveintoherheart,andthereshewouldfindnothingbutuncontrollablerepugnanceandawilltofear.Inthisinstantitwasanindividualproblemseekinganindividualsolution.Hemustacceptbeingaloneandworkonfromthere.

           Heswallowedhard,clungtoher.Oh,Lord,don’tletherdie,please,hethought.Don’tdoanythingtous.Fatherwillbecominghomefromlodgemeetinginanhourandifthehouseisempty—

           Motheradvanceddownthepathintotheprimevaljungle.Hisvoicetrembled."Mom,Doug’sallright.Doug’sallright.He’sallright.Doug’sallright!"