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           THEGREENMACHINE!

           Itglided.Itwhispered,anoceanbreeze.Delicateasmapleleaves,fresherthancreekwater,itpurredwiththemajestyofcatsprowlingthenoontide.Inthemachine,hisPanamahatafloatinVaselineabovehisears,thesalesmanfromGumportFalls!Themachine,witharubbertread,soft,shrewd,whippeduptheirscaldedwhitesidewalk,whirredtothelowestporchstep,twirled,stopped.Thesalesmanleapedout,blockedoffthesunwithhisPanama.Inthissmallshadow,hissmileflashed.

           "ThenameisWilliamTara!Andthis—"Hepinchedabulb.Asealbarked."—isthehem!"Heliftedblacksatincushions."Storagebatteries!"Asmelloflightningblewonthehotair."Steeringlever!Footrest!Overheadparasol!Here,intote,isTheGreenMachine!"

           Inthedarkattictheladiesshuddered,remembering,eyesshut.

           "Whydidn’twestabhimwithourdarningneedles!"

           "Shh!Listen."

           Someoneknockedonthefrontdoordownstairs.Afteratimetheknockingstopped.Theysawawomancrosstheyardandenterthehousenextdoor.

           "OnlyLaviniaNebbs,comewithanemptycup,toborrowsugar,Iguess."

           "Holdme,I’mafraid."

           Theyshuttheireyes.Thememory-playbeganagain.Anoldstrawhatonanirontrunkwassuddenlyflourished,itseemed,bythemanfromGumportFalls.

           "Thanks,Iwillhavesomeicedtea."Youcouldhearthecoolliquidshockhisstomach,inthesilence.Thenheturnedhisgazeupontheoldladieslikeadoctorwithasmalllight,lookingintotheireyesandnostrilsandmouths.