Гроздья гнева
Chapter 11
Whenthenightcame,thebats,whichhadstoppedatthedoorsforfearoflight,swoopedintothehousesandsailedthroughtheemptyrooms,andinalittlewhiletheystayedindarkroomcornersduringtheday,foldedtheirwingshigh,andhunghead-downamongtherafters,andthesmelloftheirdroppingswasintheemptyhouses.
Andthemicemovedinandstoredweedseedsincorners,inboxes,inthebacksofdrawersinthekitchens.Andweaselscameintohuntthemice,andthebrownowlsflewshriekinginandoutagain.
Nowtherecamealittleshower.Theweedssprangupinfrontofthedoorstep,wheretheyhadnotbeenallowed,andgrassgrewupthroughtheporchboards.Thehouseswerevacant,andavacanthousefallsquicklyapart.Splitsstartedupthesheathingfromtherustednails.Adustsettledonthefloors,andonlymouseandweaselandcattracksdisturbedit.
Onenightthewindloosenedashingleandflippedittotheground.Thenextwindpriedintotheholewheretheshinglehadbeen,liftedoffthree,andthenext,adozen.Themiddaysunburnedthroughtheholeandthrewaglaringspotonthefloor.Thewildcatscreptinfromthefieldsatnight,buttheydidnotmewatthedoorstepanymore.Theymovedlikeshadowsofacloudacrosstheroom,intotheroomstohuntthemice.Andonwindynightsthedoorsbanged,andtheraggedcurtainsflutteredinthebrokenwindows.
