Гроздья гнева
Chapter 10
Butunderneath,hisappetitesswelledintopressuresuntiltheybrokethrough.Thenhewouldeatofsomecravedfooduntilhewassick;orhewoulddrinkjakeorwhiskyuntilhewasashakenparalyticwithredweteyes;orhewouldravenwithlustforsomewhoreinSallisaw.ItwastoldofhimthatoncehewentcleartoShawneeandhiredthreewhoresinonebed,andsnortedandruttedontheirunresponsivebodiesforanhour.Butwhenoneofhisappetiteswassated,hewassadandashamedandlonelyagain.Hehidfrompeople,andbygiftstriedtomakeuptoallpeopleforhimself.Thenhecreptintohousesandleftgumunderpillowsforchildren;thenhecutwoodandtooknopay.Thenhegaveawayanypossessionhemighthave:asaddle,ahorse,anewpairofshoes.Onecouldnottalktohimthen,forheranaway,orifconfrontedhidwithinhimselfandpeekedoutoffrightenedeyes.Thedeathofhiswife,followedbymonthsofbeingalone,hadmarkedhimwithguiltandshameandhadleftanunbreakinglonelinessonhim.Buttherewerethingshecouldnotescape.Beingoneoftheheadsofthefamily,hehadtogovern;andnowhehadtositonthehonorseatbesidethedriver.
Thethreemenontheseatwereglumastheydrovetowardhomeoverthedustyroad.Al,bendingoverthewheel,keptshiftingeyesfromtheroadtotheinstrumentpanel,watchingtheammeterneedle,whichjerkedsuspiciously,watchingtheoilgaugeandtheheatindicator.Andhismindwascataloguingweakpointsandsuspiciousthingsaboutthecar.
