Гроздья гнева
Chapter 1
WhenJunewashalfgone,thebigcloudsmovedupoutofTexasandtheGulf,highheavyclouds,rainheads.Themeninthefieldslookedupatthecloudsandsniffedatthemandheldwetfingersuptosensethewind.Andthehorseswerenervouswhilethecloudswereup.Therainheadsdroppedalittlespatteringandhurriedontosomeothercountry.Behindthemtheskywaspaleagainandthesunflared.Inthedustthereweredropcraterswheretherainhadfallen,andtherewerecleansplashesonthecorn,andthatwasall.
Agentlewindfollowedtherainclouds,drivingthemonnorthward,awindthatsoftlyclashedthedryingcorn.Adaywentbyandthewindincreased,steady,unbrokenbygusts.Thedustfromtheroadsfluffedupandspreadoutandfellontheweedsbesidethefields,andfellintothefieldsalittleway.Nowthewindgrewstrongandhardanditworkedattheraincrustinthecornfields.Littlebylittletheskywasdarkenedbythemixingdust,andthewindfeltovertheearth,loosenedthedust,andcarrieditaway.Thewindgrewstronger.Theraincrustbrokeandthedustliftedupoutofthefieldsanddrovegrayplumesintotheairlikesluggishsmoke.Thecornthreshedthewindandmadeadry,rushingsound.Thefinestdustdidnotsettlebacktoearthnow,butdisappearedintothedarkeningsky.
Thewindgrewstronger,whiskedunderstones,carriedupstrawsandoldleaves,andevenlittleclods,markingitscourseasitsailedacrossthefields.Theairandtheskydarkenedandthroughthemthesunshoneredly,andtherewasarawstingintheair.Duringanightthewindracedfasterovertheland,dugcunninglyamongtherootletsofthecorn,andthecornfoughtthewindwithitsweakenedleavesuntiltherootswerefreedbythepryingwindandtheneachstalksettledwearilysidewaystowardtheearthandpointedthedirectionofthewind.
