Вино из одуванчиков

           ForalittlewhileIwantedtorememberthethunder.Ihearitstill,onsummerafternoonslikethiswhentherainshapesoverthelake;afearsome,wondroussound...oneIwishyoumighthaveheard..."

           ThedimlightfilteredthroughColonelFreeleigh’snosewhichwaslargeandlikewhiteporcelainwhichcuppedaverythinandtepidorangeteaindeed.

           "Isheasleep?"askedDouglasatlast.

           "No,"saidCharlie."Justrecharginghisbatteries."

           ColonelFreeleighbreathedswiftly,softly,asifhe’drunalongway.Atlastheopenedhiseyes.

           "Yes,sir"saidCharlie,inadmiration.

           "HelloCharlie."Thecolonelsmiledattheboyspuzzledly.

           "That’sDougandthat’sJohn,"saidCharlie.

           "How-de-do,boys."

           Theboyssaidhello.

           "But—"saidDouglas."Whereisthe—?"

           "Mygosh,you’redumb!"CharliejabbedDouglasinthearm.Heturnedtothecolonel."Youweresaying,sir?"

           "WasI?"murmuredtheoldman.

           "TheCivilWar,"suggestedJohnHuffquietly."Doesherememberthat?"

           "DoIremember?"saidthecolonel."Oh,Ido,Ido!"Hisvoicetrembledasheshutuphiseyesagain."Everything!Except...whichsideIfoughton..."

           "Thecolorofyouruniform—"Charliebegan.

           "Colorsbegintorunonyou,"whisperedthecolonel."it’sgottenhazy.Iseesoldierswithme,butalongtimeago1stoppedseeingcolorintheircoatsorcaps.IwasborninIllinois,raisedinVirginia,marriedinNewYork,builtahouseinTennesseeandnow,verylate,hereIam,goodLord,backinGreenTown.