Гроздья гнева
Chapter 8
ShehadheldherownwithashrillferociousreligiositythatwasaslecherousandassavageasanythingGrampacouldoffer.Once,afterameeting,whileshewasstillspeakingintongues,shefiredbothbarrelsofashotgunatherhusband,rippingoneofhisbuttocksnearlyoff,andafterthatheadmiredheranddidnottrytotortureheraschildrentorturebugs.AsshewalkedshehikedherMotherHubbarduptoherknees,andshebleatedhershrillterriblewarcry:"Pu-raiseGawdfurvittory."
GranmaandGramparacedeachothertogetacrossthebroadyard.Theyfoughtovereverything,andlovedandneededthefighting.
Behindthem,movingslowlyandevenly,butkeepingup,camePaandNoah—Noahthefirst-born,tallandstrange,walkingalwayswithawonderinglookonhisface,calmandpuzzled.Hehadneverbeenangryinhislife.Helookedinwonderatangrypeople,wonderanduneasiness,asnormalpeoplelookattheinsane.Noahmovedslowly,spokeseldom,andthensoslowlythatpeoplewhodidnotknowhimoftenthoughthimstupid.Hewasnotstupid,buthewasstrange.Hehadlittlepride,nosexualurges.Heworkedandsleptinacuriousrhythmthatneverthelesssufficedhim.Hewasfondofhisfolks,butnevershoweditinanyway.Althoughanobservercouldnothavetoldwhy,Noahlefttheimpressionofbeingmisshapen,hisheadorhisbodyorhislegsorhismind;butnomisshapenmembercouldberecalled.PathoughtheknewwhyNoahwasstrange,butPawasashamed,andnevertold.
