Гроздья гнева

           "Isitallorangesever’where?"

           "Well,maybenotever’where,butplentyplaces."

           Thefirstgrayofdaylightbeganinthesky.Andtheworkwasdone—thekegsofporkready,thechickencoopreadytogoontop.Maopenedtheovenandtookoutthepileofroastedbones,crispandbrown,withplentyofgnawingmeatleft.Ruthiehalfawakened,andslippeddownfromthebox,andsleptagain.Buttheadultsstoodaroundthedoor,shiveringalittleandgnawingatthecrisppork.

           "GuessweoughtawakeupGranmaan’Grampa,"Tomsaid."Gettin’alongontowardday."Masaid,"Kindahateto,tillthelas’minute.Theyneedthesleep.Ruthiean’Winfieldain’thardlygotnorealrestneither."

           "Well,theykinallsleepontopatheload,"saidPa."It’llbenicean’comf’tablethere."

           Suddenlythedogsstartedupfromthedustandlistened.Andthen,witharoar,wentbarkingoffintothedarkness."Nowwhatinhellisthat?"Pademanded.Inamomenttheyheardavoicespeakingreassuringlytothebarkingdogsandthebarkinglostitsfierceness.Thenfootsteps,andamanapproached.ItwasMuleyGraves,hishatpulledlow.

           Hecameneartimidly."Morning,folks,"hesaid.

           "Why,Muley."Pawavedthehamboneheheld."Stepinan’getsomeporkforyourself,Muley."

           "Well,no,"saidMuley."Iain’thungry,exactly."

           "Oh,getit,Muley,getit.Here!"AndPasteppedintothehouseandbroughtoutahandofspareribs.

           "Iwasn’taimingtoeatnoneayourstuff,"hesaid.