Вино из одуванчиков

           "ATimeMachine."

           Thecolonellookedattheboysforafullfiveseconds.Nowitwashisvoicethatwasfullofawe.

           "Isthatwhatyouboyscallme?""Yes,sir,Colonel."

           "Yes,sir."

           Thecolonelsatslowlybackinhischairandlookedattheboysandlookedathishandsandthenlookedattheblankwallbeyondthemsteadily.

           Charliearose."Well,Iguesswebettergo.Solongandthanks,Colonel."

           "What?Oh,solong,boys."

           DouglasandJohnandCharliewentontiptoeoutthedoor.

           ColonelFreeleigh,thoughtheycrossedhislineofvision,didnotseethemgo.

           Inthestreet,theboyswerestartledwhensomeoneshoutedfromafirst-floorwindowabove,"Hey!"

           Theylookedup.

           "Yes,sir,Colonel?"

           Thecolonelleanedout,wavingonearm.

           "Ithoughtaboutwhatyousaid,boys!"

           "Yes,sir?"

           "And-you’reright!Whydidn’tIthinkofitbefore!ATimeMachine,byGod,aTimeMachine!"

           "Yes,sir."

           "Solong,boys.Comeaboardanytime!"

           Attheendofthestreettheyturnedagainandthecolonelwasstillwaving.Theywavedback,feelingwarmandgood,thenwenton.

           "Chug-a-chug,"saidJohn."Icantraveltwelveyearsintothepast.Wham-chug-ding!"

           "Yeah,"saidCharlie,lookingbackatthatquiethouse,"butyoucan’tgoahundredyears."

           "No,"musedJohn,"Ican’tgoahundredyears.That’sreallytraveling.That’sreallysomemachine."

           Theywalkedforafullminuteinsilence,lookingattheirfeet.Theycametoafence.

           "Lastoneoverthisfence,"saidDouglas,"isagirl."