Гроздья гнева

           Thetentwasstill,andatlastCasyspreadthetentflapswithhishandsandsteppedout.

           Paaskedsoftly,"Whatwasit?"

           "Stroke,"saidCasy."Agoodquickstroke."

           Lifebegantomoveagain.Thesuntouchedthehorizonandflattenedoverit.Andalongthehighwaytherecamealonglineofhugefreighttruckswithredsides.Theyrumbledalong,puttingalittleearthquakeintheground,andthestandingexhaustpipessputteredbluesmokefromtheDieseloil.Onemandroveeachtruck,andhisreliefmansleptinabunkhighupagainsttheceiling.Butthetrucksneverstopped;theythundereddayandnightandthegroundshookundertheirheavymarch.

           Thefamilybecameaunit.Pasquatteddownontheground,andUncleJohnbesidehim.Pawastheheadofthefamilynow.Mastoodbehindhim.NoahandTomandAlsquatted,andthepreachersatdown,andthenreclinedonhiselbow.ConnieandRoseofSharonwalkedatadistance.NowRuthieandWinfield,clatteringupwithabucketofwaterheldbetweenthem,feltthechange,andtheyslowedupandsetdownthebucketandmovedquietlytostandwithMa.

           Granmasatproudly,coldly,untilthegroupwasformed,untilnoonelookedather,andthenshelaydownandcoveredherfacewithherarm.Theredsunsetandleftashiningtwilightontheland,sothatfaceswerebrightintheeveningandeyesshoneinreflectionofthesky.Theeveningpickeduplightwhereitcould.

           Pasaid,"ItwasinMr.Wilson’stent."

           UncleJohnnodded."Heloanedhistent."

           "Finefriendlyfolks,"Pasaidsoftly.