Гроздья гнева
Chapter 8
Themenfinishedandputdowntheirplates,anddrainedthelastoftheircoffee;andthenthemenwentout,PaandthepreacherandNoahandGrampaandTom,andtheywalkedovertothetruck,avoidingthelitteroffurniture,thewoodenbedsteads,thewindmillmachinery,theoldplow.Theywalkedtothetruckandstoodbesideit.Theytouchedthenewpineside-boards.
Tomopenedthehoodandlookedatthebiggreasyengine.AndPacameupbesidehim.Hesaid,"YourbrotherAllookedheroverbeforeweboughther.Hesaysshe’sallright."
"What’sheknow?He’sjustasquirt,"saidTom.
"Heworkedforacompany.Drovetrucklastyear.Heknowsquitealittle.Smartalecklikeheis.Heknows.Hecantinkeranengine,Alcan."
Tomasked,"Where’shenow?"
"Well,"saidPa,"he’sa-billygoatin’aroun’thecountry.Tom-cattin’hisselftodeath.Smart-alecksixteen-year-older,an’hisnutsisjusta-eggin’himon.Hedon’tthinkofnothin’butgirlsandengines.Aplainsmartaleck.Ain’tbeeninnightsforaweek."
Grampa,fumblingwithhischest,hadsucceededinbuttoningthebuttonsofhisblueshirtintothebuttonholesofhisunderwear.Hisfingersfeltthatsomethingwaswrong,butdidnotcareenoughtofindout.Hisfingerswentdowntotrytofigureouttheintricaciesofthebuttoningofhisfly."Iwasworse,"hesaidhappily."Iwasmuchworse.Iwasaheller,youmightsay.Why,theywasacampmeetin’rightinSallisawwhenIwasayoungfellaalittlebitolder’nAl.
