Гроздья гнева

           ForonthenightwhenNoahwasborn,Pa,frightenedatthespreadingthighs,aloneinthehouse,andhorrifiedatthescreamingwretchhiswifehadbecome,wentmadwithapprehension.Usinghishands,hisstrongfingersforforceps,hehadpulledandtwistedthebaby.Themidwife,arrivinglate,hadfoundthebaby’sheadpulledoutofshape,itsneckstretched,itsbodywarped;andshehadpushedtheheadbackandmoldedthebodywithherhands.ButPaalwaysremembered,andwasashamed.AndhewaskindertoNoahthantotheothers.InNoah’sbroadface,eyestoofarapart,andlongfragilejaw,Pathoughthesawthetwisted,warpedskullofthebaby.Noahcoulddoallthatwasrequiredofhim,couldreadandwrite,couldworkandfigure,buthedidn’tseemtocare;therewasalistlessnessinhimtowardthingspeoplewantedandneeded.Helivedinastrangesilenthouseandlookedoutofitthroughcalmeyes.Hewasastrangertoalltheworld,buthewasnotlonely.

           Thefourcameacrosstheyard,andGrampademanded,"Whereishe?Goddamnit,whereishe?"Andhisfingersfumbledforhispantsbutton,andforgotandstrayedintohispocket.AndthenhesawTomstandinginthedoor,Grampastoppedandhestoppedtheothers.Hislittleeyesglitteredwithmalice."Lookuthim,"hesaid."Ajailbird.Ain’tbeennoJoadsinjailforahellofatime."Hismindjumped."Gotnorighttoput’iminjail.HedonejustwhatI’ddo.Sons-a-bitchesgotnoright."Hismindjumpedagain.