Гроздья гнева

           "Wecouldgetreadybydaylightan’go,"Tomsuggested.Parubbedhiskneewithhishand.Andtherestivenessspreadtoallofthem.

           Noahsaid,"Prob’lywouldn’thurtthatmeattogitherrightdowninsalt.Cutherup,she’dcoolquickeranyways."

           ItwasUncleJohnwhobrokeovertheedge,hispressurestoogreat."Whatwehangin’aroun’for?Iwanttogetshutofthis.Nowwe’regoin’,whydon’twego?"

           Andtherevulsionspreadtotherest."Whyn’twego?Getsleepontheway."Andasenseofhurrycreptintothem.

           Pasaid,"Theysayit’stwothousan’miles.That’sahellofalongways.Weoughtago.Noah,youan’mecangetthatmeatcutupan’wecanputallthestuffinthetruck."

           Maputherheadoutofthedoor."Howaboutifweforgitsomepin,notseein’itinthedark?"

           "Wecouldlook’roundafterdaylight,"saidNoah.Theysatstillthen,thinkingaboutit.ButinamomentNoahgotupandbegantosharpenthebow-bladedknifeonhislittlewornstone."Ma,"hesaid,"gitthattablecleared."Andhesteppedtoapig,cutalinedownonesideofthebackboneandbeganpeelingthemeatforward,offtheribs.

           Pastoodupexcitedly."Wegottogetthestufftogether,"hesaid."Comeon,youfellas."

           Nowthattheywerecommittedtogoing,thehurryinfectedallofthem.Noahcarriedtheslabsofmeatintothekitchenandcutitintosmallsaltingblocks,andMapattedthecoarsesaltin,laiditpiecebypieceinthekegs,carefulthatnotwopiecestouchedeachother.