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Chapter 2
Thedriverchewedasrhythmically,asthoughtfully,asacow.Hewaitedtoletthewholeemphasisoftheprecedingpassagedisappearandbeforgotten.Atlast,whentheairseemedneutralagain,hesaid,«Aguythatneverbeenatruckskinnerdon’tknownothin’whatit’slike.Ownersdon’twantustopickupnobody.Sowegottosetherean’justskinheralong’lesswewanttotakeachanceofgettin’firedlikeIjustdonewithyou.»
«’Preciateit,"saidJoad.
«I’veknewguysthatdonescrewythingswhilethey’redrivin’trucks.Irememberaguyuse’tomakeuppoetry.Itpassedthetime.»HelookedoversecretlytoseewhetherJoadwasinterestedoramazed.Joadwassilent,lookingintothedistanceahead,alongtheroad,alongthewhiteroadthatwavedgently,likeagroundswell.Thedriverwentonatlast,«Irememberapieceofpoetrythishereguywrotedown.Itwasabouthiman’acoupleofotherguysgoin’allovertheworlddrinkin’andraisin’hellandscrewin’around.IwishtIcouldrememberhowthatpiecewent.ThisguyhadwordsinitthatJesusH.Christwouldn’tknowwhattheymeant.Partwaslikethis:‘An’therewespiedanigger,withatriggerthatwasbiggerthanaelephant’sproboscisorthewhangerofawhale.’Thatproboscisisanose-like.Withaelephantit’shistrunk.Guyshowedmeadictionary.Carriedthatdictionaryalloverhellwithhim.He’dlookinitwhilehe’spulledupgettin’hispiean’coffee.»Hestopped,feelinglonelyinthelongspeech.Hissecreteyesturnedonhispassenger.Joadremainedsilent.Nervouslythedrivertriedtoforcehimintoparticipation.«Everknowaguythatsaidbigwordslikethat?»
«Preacher,"saidJoad.
