Гроздья гнева
Chapter 10
Helistenedtothewhine,whichmightbetherearend,dry;andhelistenedtotappetsliftingandfalling.Hekepthishandonthegearlever,feelingtheturninggearsthroughit.Andhehadlettheclutchoutagainstthebraketotestforslippingclutchplates.Hemightbeamuskinggoatsometimes,butthiswashisresponsibility,thistruck,itsrunning,anditsmaintenance.Ifsomethingwentwrongitwouldbehisfault,andwhilenoonewouldsayit,everyone,andAlmostofall,wouldknowitwashisfault.Andsohefeltit,watchedit,andlistenedtoit.Andhisfacewasseriousandresponsible.Andeveryonerespectedhimandhisresponsibility.EvenPa,whowastheleader,wouldholdawrenchandtakeordersfromAl.
Theywerealltiredonthetruck.RuthieandWinfieldweretiredfromseeingtoomuchmovement,toomanyfaces,fromfightingtogetlicoricewhips;tiredfromtheexcitementofhavingUncleJohnsecretlyslipgumintotheirpockets.
Andthemenintheseatweretiredandangryandsad,fortheyhadgoteighteendollarsforeverymovablethingfromthefarm:thehorses,thewagon,theimplements,andallthefurniturefromthehouse.Eighteendollars.Theyhadassailedthebuyer,argued;buttheywereroutedwhenhisinterestseemedtoflagandhehadtoldthemhedidn’twantthestuffatanyprice.Thentheywerebeaten,believedhim,andtooktwodollarslessthanhehadfirstoffered.Andnowtheywerewearyandfrightenedbecausetheyhadgoneagainstasystemtheydidnotunderstandandithadbeatenthem.
