Вино из одуванчиков

           "BeforeIgo,Lee,proveyoudon’tgivenightmarestoinnocentsons!"

           SilentlyLeoAuffmannledhiswifeintothetwilight.Shestoodbeforetheeight-foot-tall,orange-coloredbox.

           "That’shappiness?"shesaid."WhichbuttondoIpresstobeoverjoyed,grateful,contented,andmuch-obliged?"

           Thechildrenhadgatherednow.

           "Mama,"saidSaul,"don’t!"

           "IgottoknowwhatI’myellingabout,Saul."Shegotinthemachine,satdown,andlookedoutatherhusband,shakingherhead."It’snotmeneedsthis,it’syou,anervouswreck,shouting."

           "Please,"hesaid,"you’llsee!"

           Heshutthedoor.

           "Pressthebutton!"heshoutedinathisunseenwife.

           Therewasaclick.Themachineshiveredquietly,likeahugedogdreaminginitssleep.

           "Papa!"saidSaul,worried.

           "Listen!"saidLeoAuffmann.

           Atfirsttherewasnothingbutthetremorofthemachine’sownsecretlymovingcogsandwheels.

           "IsMamaallright?"askedNaomi.

           "Allright,she’sfine!There,now...there!"

           AndinsidethemachineLenaAuffmanncouldbeheardsaying,"Oh!"andthenagain,"Ah!"inastartledvoice."Lookatthat!"saidhishiddenwife."Paris!"andlater,"London!TheregoesRome!ThePyramids!TheSphinx!""TheSphinx,youhear,children?"LeoAuffmannwhisperedandlaughed.

           "Perfume!"criedLenaAuffmann,surprised.

           Somewhereaphonographplayed"TheBlueDanube"faintly.

           "Music!I’mdancing!"

           "Onlythinksshe’sdancing"thefatherconfidedtotheworld.