Гроздья гнева

           We’llchangearoun’soit’seasier,butyoustartoutthatway."Theygotintothecab,andthentherestswarmedupontopoftheload,ConnieandRoseofSharon,PaandUncleJohn,RuthieandWinfield,Tomandthepreacher.Noahstoodontheground,lookingupatthegreatloadofthemsittingontopofthetruck.

           Alwalkedaround,lookingunderneathatthesprings."HolyJesus,"hesaid,"themspringsisflatashell.LuckyIblockedunder’em."Noahsaid,"Howaboutthedogs,Pa?"

           "Iforgotthedogs,"Pasaid.Hewhistledshrilly,andonebouncingdogranin,butonlyone.Noahcaughthimandthrewhimuponthetop,wherehesatrigidandshiveringattheheight."Gottoleavetheothertwo,"Pacalled."Muley,willyoulookafter’emsome?Seetheydon’tstarve?"

           "Yeah,"saidMuley."I’llliketohaveacoupledogs.Yeah!I’lltake’em."

           "Takethemchickens,too,"Pasaid.

           Algotintothedriver’sseat.Thestarterwhirredandcaught,andwhirredagain.Andthenthelooseroarofthesixcylindersandabluesmokebehind."Solong,Muley,"Alcalled.

           Andthefamilycalled,"Good-by,Muley."

           Alslippedinthelowgearandletintheclutch.Thetruckshudderedandstrainedacrosstheyard.Andthesecondgeartookhold.Theycrawledupthehill,andthereddustaroseaboutthem."Chr-ist,whataload!"saidAl."Weain’tmakin’notimeonthistrip."

           Matriedtolookback,butthebodyoftheloadcutoffherview.Shestraightenedherheadandpeeredstraightaheadalongthedirtroad