Гроздья гнева

           Winfieldlaycurledupinthedustoutsidethedoor;andRuthie,sittingonaboxinthekitchenwhereshehadgonetowatchthebutchering,haddroppedherheadbackagainstthewall.Shebreathedeasilyinhersleep,andherlipswerepartedoverherteeth.

           Tomfinishedwiththetoolsandcameintothekitchenwithhislantern,andthepreacherfollowedhim."Godinabuckboard,"Tomsaid,"smellthatmeat!An’listentohercrackle."

           Malaidthebricksofmeatinakegandpouredsaltaroundandoverthemandcoveredthelayerwithsaltandpatteditdown.ShelookedupatTomandsmiledalittleathim,buthereyeswereseriousandtired."Benicetohaveporkbonesforbreakfas’,"shesaid.

           Thepreachersteppedbesideher."Leavemesaltdownthismeat,"hesaid."Icandoit.There’sotherstuffforyoutodo."

           Shestoppedherworkthenandinspectedhimoddly,asthoughhesuggestedacuriousthing.Andherhandswerecrustedwithsalt,pinkwithfluidfromthefreshpork."It’swomen’swork,"shesaidfinally.

           "It’sallwork,"thepreacherreplied."They’stoomuchofittosplitituptomen’sorwomen’swork.Yougotstufftodo.Leavemesaltthemeat."

           Stillforamomentshestaredathim,andthenshepouredwaterfromabucketintothetinwashbasinandshewashedherhands.Thepreachertookuptheblocksofporkandpattedonthesaltwhileshewatchedhim.Andhelaidtheminthekegsasshehad.Onlywhenhehadfinishedalayerandcovereditcarefullyandpatteddownthesaltwasshesatisfied.