Гроздья гнева

           Yougostealthattirean’you’reathief,buthetriedtostealyourfourdollarsforabustedtire.Theycallthatsoundbusiness.

           Dannyinthebackseatwantsacupawater.

           Havetowait.Gotnowaterhere.

           Listen—thattherearend?

           Can’ttell.

           Soundtelegraphsthroughtheframe.

           Theregoesagasket.Gottogoon.Listentoherwhistle.Findaniceplacetocampan’I’lljerktheheadoff.But,GodAlmighty,thefood’sgettin’low,themoney’sgettin’low.Whenwecan’tbuynomoregas—whatthen?

           Dannyinthebackseatwantsacupawater.Littlefella’sthirsty.Listentothatgasketwhistle.

           Chee-rist!Thereshewent.Blowedtubean’casingalltohell.

           Havetofixher.Savethatcasingtomakeboots;cut’emoutan’stick’eminsideaweakplace.

           Carspulledupbesidetheroad,engineheadsoff,tiresmended.Carslimpingalong66likewoundedthings,pantingandstruggling.Toohot,looseconnections,loosebearings,rattlingbodies.

           Dannywantsacupofwater.

           Peopleinflightalong66.Andtheconcreteroadshonelikeamirrorunderthesun,andinthedistancetheheatmadeitseemthattherewerepoolsofwaterintheroad.

           Dannywantsacupawater.He’llhavetowait,poorlittlefella.He’shot.Nex’servicestation.Servicestation,likethefellasays.

           Twohundredandfiftythousandpeopleovertheroad.Fiftythousandoldcars—wounded,steaming.Wrecksalongtheroad,abandoned