Chapter 1

           TotheredcountryandpartofthegraycountryofOklahoma,thelastrainscamegently,andtheydidnotcutthescarredearth.Theplowscrossedandrecrossedtherivuletmarks.Thelastrainsliftedthecornquicklyandscatteredweedcoloniesandgrassalongthesidesoftheroadssothatthegraycountryandthedarkredcountrybegantodisappearunderagreencover.InthelastpartofMaytheskygrewpaleandthecloudsthathadhunginhighpuffsforsolonginthespringweredissipated.Thesunflareddownonthegrowingcorndayafterdayuntilalineofbrownspreadalongtheedgeofeachgreenbayonet.Thecloudsappeared,andwentaway,andinawhiletheydidnottryanymore.Theweedsgrewdarkergreentoprotectthemselves,andtheydidnotspreadanymore.Thesurfaceoftheearthcrusted,athinhardcrust,andastheskybecamepale,sotheearthbecamepale,pinkintheredcountryandwhiteinthegraycountry.

           Inthewater-cutgulliestheearthdusteddownindrylittlestreams.Gophersandantlionsstartedsmallavalanches.Andasthesharpsunstruckdayafterday,theleavesoftheyoungcornbecamelessstiffanderect;theybentinacurveatfirst,andthen,asthecentralribsofstrengthgrewweak,eachleaftilteddownward.ThenitwasJune,andthesunshonemorefiercely.Thebrownlinesonthecornleaveswidenedandmovedinonthecentralribs.Theweedsfrayedandedgedbacktowardtheirroots.Theairwasthinandtheskymorepale;andeverydaytheearthpaled.

           Intheroadswheretheteamsmoved,wherethewheelsmilledthegroundandthehoovesofthehorsesbeattheground,thedirtcrustbrokeandthedustformed.Everymovingthingliftedthedustintotheair:awalkingmanliftedathinlayerashighashiswaist,andawagonliftedthedustashighasthefencetops,andanautomobileboiledacloudbehindit.Thedustwaslonginsettlingbackagain.