Вино из одуванчиков

           AuffmannandhisHappinessMachine,MissFernandMissRobertaandtheirGreenMachine.Now,Charlie,whatyouhandingme?"

           "ATimeMachine!"pantedCharlieWoodman,pacinghim."Mother’s,scout’s,Injun’shonor!"

           "Travelsinthepastandfuture?"JohnHuffasked,easilycirclingthem.

           "Onlyinthepast,butyoucan’thaveeverything.Hereweare."

           CharlieWoodmanpulledupatahedge.

           Douglaspeeredinattheoldhouse."Heck,that’sColonelFreeleigh’splace.Can’tbenoTimeMachineinthere.He’snoinventor,andifhewas,we’dknownaboutanimportantthinglikeaTimeMachineyearsago."

           CharlieandJohntiptoedupthefront-porchsteps.Douglassnortedandshookhishead,stayingatthebottomof:thesteps.

           "Okay,Douglas,"saidCharlie."Beaknucklehead.Sure,ColonelFreeleighdidn’tinventthisTimeMachine.Buthe’sgotaproprietaryinterestinit,andit’sbeenhereallthetime.Weweretoodarneddumbtonotice!Solong,DouglasSpaulding,toyou!"

           CharlietookJohn’selbowasthoughhewasescortingalady,openedthefront-porchscreenandwentin.Thescreendoordidnotslam.

           Douglashadcaughtthescreenandwasfollowingsilently.

           Charliewalkedacrosstheenclosedporch,knocked,andopenedtheinsidedoor.Theyallpeereddownalongdarkhalltowardaroomthatwaslitlikeanunderseagrotto,softgreen,dim,andwatery.

           "ColonelFreeleigh?"

           Silence.

           "Hedon’thearsogood,"whisperedCharlie."Buthetoldmetojustcomeoninandyell.