Гроздья гнева

           "Well,youdidn’tgetnosleeplas’night.Itookasnoozethismorning.Getupthereontop.I’lltakeher."

           "Awright,"Alsaidreluctantly."Butwatchtheoilgaugeprettyclose.Takeherslow.An’Ibeenwatchin’forashort.Takealookatheneedlenowan’then.’Fshejumpstodischargeit’sashort.An’takeherslow,Tom.She’soverloaded."

           Tomlaughed."I’llwatchher,"hesaid."Youcanres’easy."

           Thefamilypiledontopofthetruckagain.MasettledherselfbesideGranmaintheseat,andTomtookhisplaceandstartedthemotor."Sureisloose,"hesaid,andheputitingearandpulledawaydownthehighway.

           Themotordronedalongsteadilyandthesunrecededdowntheskyinfrontofthem.Granmasleptsteadily,andevenMadroppedherheadforwardanddozed.Tompulledhiscapoverhiseyestoshutouttheblindingsun.

           PadentoMeekeristhirteenmiles;MeekertoHarrahisfourteenmiles;andthenOklahomaCity—thebigcity.Tomdrovestraighton.Mawakedupandlookedatthestreetsastheywentthroughthecity.Andthefamily,ontopofthetruck,staredaboutatthestores,atthebighouses,attheofficebuildings.Andthenthebuildingsgrewsmallerandthestoressmaller.Thewreckingyardsandhot-dogstands,theout-citydancehalls.

           RuthieandWinfieldsawitall,anditembarrassedthemwithitsbignessanditsstrangeness,anditfrightenedthemwiththefine-clothedpeopletheysaw.Theydidnotspeakofittoeachother.Later—theywould,butnotnow.