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Chapter 2
«Yeah!Aguygottogetahead.Why,I’mthinkin’oftakin’oneofthemcorrespondenceschoolcourses.Mechanicalengineering.It’seasy.Juststudyafeweasylessonsathome.I’mthinkin’ofit.ThenIwon’tdrivenotruck.ThenI’lltellotherguystodrivetrucks.»
Joadtookapintofwhiskyfromhissidecoatpocket.«Sureyouwon’thaveasnort?»Hisvoicewasteasing.«No,byGod.Iwon’ttouchit.Aguycan’tdrinkliquorallthetimeandstudylikeI’mgoin’to.»
Joaduncorkedthebottle,tooktwoquickswallows,recorkedit,andputitbackinhispocket.Thespicyhotsmellofthewhiskyfilledthecab.«You’reallwoundup,"saidJoad.«What’sthematter—gotagirl?»
«Well,sure.ButIwanttogetaheadanyway.Ibeentrainingmymindforahellofalongtime.»ThewhiskyseemedtoloosenJoadup.Herolledanothercigaretteandlightedit.«Iain’tgotahellofalotfurthertogo,"hesaid.
Thedriverwentonquickly,«Idon’tneednoshot,"hesaid.«Itrainmymindallthetime.Itookacourseinthattwoyearsago.»Hepattedthesteeringwheelwithhisrighthand.«SupposeIpassaguyontheroad.Ilookathiman’afterI’mpastItrytorememberever’thingabouthim,kindaclothesan’shoesan’hat,an’howhewalkedan’maybehowtallan’whatweightan’anyscars,Idoitprettygood.Icanjus’makeawholepictureinmyhead.SometimesIthinkIoughttotakeacoursetobeafingerprintexpert.You’dbesu’prisedhowmuchaguycanremember.»
Joadtookaquickdrinkfromtheflask.Hedraggedthelastsmokefromhisravelingcigaretteandthen,withcallusedthumbandforefinger,crushedouttheglowingend.
