Farewell Summer ~ Ray Bradbury - Marimarister

III. APPOMATOX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Suddenly the town was full of girls, girls running here, walking there, going in doors,
coming out, girls in the dime store, girls dangling their legs at the soda fountain, girls in mirrors
or reflected in windows, stepping off curbs or stepping up, and all of them, all in bright not yet
fall, not quite autumn dresses, and all, well maybe not all but almost all, with wind blowing their
hair and all with downcast eyes looking to see where their shoes might take them.
It seemed to happen overnight, this infestation of girls, and Douglas walked through the
town as if it were a mirror maze, walked down to the ravine steps and halfway up the jungle path
before he realized where he was. From the top of the last rise he could almost see the lake and
the sand and the tent with the question mark over the entrance.
He kept walking and found himself, inexplicably, in Mr. Quartermain‘s front yard,
waiting for he couldn‘t say what.
Quartermain, half-hidden in shadow on the front porch, leaned forward in his rocking
chair, creaking the wicker, creaking his bones. For a long moment the old man looked one way,
the boy another, until their gazes locked.
―Douglas Spaulding?‖ Quartermain said.
―Mr. Quartermain?‖ asked the boy.
It was as if they were meeting for the first time.
―Douglas Spaulding.‖ This time it was not a question, but a confirmation. ―Douglas
Hinkston Spaulding.‖
―Sir.‖ And this was not a question from the boy, either. ―Mr. Calvin C. Quartermain.‖
And again, ―Sir.‖
―What‘re you doing down there, so far out on the lawn?‖
Douglas was surprised. ―Dunno. ‖
―Why don‘t you come up here?‖ said Quarter-main.
―I‘ve got to get home,‖ said Douglas.
―No hurry. Why don‘t we sort out the sic transits, letting loose the dogs of war, havocs
cried, all that."