Гроздья гнева

           Gotanyhills’tweenherean’California,Ma?"

           Maturnedherheadslowlyandhereyescametolife.

           "Seemstomethey’shills,"shesaid."’CourseIdunno.ButseemstomeIheardthey’shillsan’evenmountains.Bigones."Granmadrewalongwhiningsighinhersleep.Alsaid,"We’llburnrightupifwegotclimbin’todo.Havetothrowoutsomea’thisstuff.Maybe,weshouldn’abrangthatpreacher."

           "You’llbegladathatpreacher’forewe’rethrough,"saidMa."Thatpreacher’llhelpus."Shelookedaheadatthegleamingroadagain.

           Alsteeredwithonehandandputtheotheronthevibratinggear-shiftlever.Hehaddifficultyinspeaking.Hismouthformedthewordssilentlybeforehesaidthemaloud."Ma—"Shelookedslowlyaroundathim,herheadswayingalittlewiththecar’smotion."Ma,youscaredagoin’?Youscaredagoin’toanewplace?"

           Hereyesgrewthoughtfulandsoft."Alittle,"shesaid."Onlyitain’tlikescaredsomuch.I’mjus’asettin’herewaitin’.WhensomepinhappensthatIgottodosomepin—I’lldoit."

           "Ain’tyouthinkin’what’sitgonnabelikewhenwegetthere?Ain’tyouscareditwon’tbenicelikewethought?"

           "No,"shesaidquickly."No,Iain’t.Youcan’tdothat.Ican’tdothat.It’stoomuch—livin’toomanylives.Upaheadthey’sathousan’liveswemightlive,butwhenitcomes,it’llon’ybeone.IfIgoaheadonallof’em,it’stoomuch.