Chapter 4

           WhenJoadheardthetruckgetunderway,gearclimbinguptogearandthegroundthrobbingundertherubberbeatingofthetires,hestoppedandturnedaboutandwatchedituntilitdisappeared.Whenitwasoutofsighthestillwatchedthedistanceandtheblueair-shimmer.Thoughtfullyhetookthepintfromhispocket,unscrewedthemetalcap,andsippedthewhiskydelicately,runninghistongueinsidethebottleneck,andthenaroundhislips,togatherinanyflavorthatmighthaveescapedhim.Hesaidexperimentally,"Therewespiedanigger—"andthatwasallhecouldremember.Atlastheturnedaboutandfacedthedustysideroadthatcutoffatrightanglesthroughthefields.Thesunwashot,andnowindstirredthesifteddust.Theroadwascutwithfurrowswheredusthadslidandsettledbackintothewheeltracks.Joadtookafewsteps,andtheflourlikedustspurtedupinfrontofhisnewyellowshoes,andtheyellownesswasdisappearingundergraydust.

           Heleaneddownanduntiedthelaces,slippedofffirstoneshoeandthentheother.Andheworkedhisdampfeetcomfortablyinthehotdrydustuntillittlespurtsofitcameupbetweenhistoes,anduntiltheskinonhisfeettightenedwithdryness.Hetookoffhiscoatandwrappedhisshoesinitandslippedthebundleunderhisarm.Andatlasthemoveduptheroad,shootingthedustaheadofhim,makingacloudthathunglowtothegroundbehindhim.

           Therightofwaywasfenced,twostrandsofbarbedwireonwillowpoles.Thepoleswerecrookedandbadlytrimmed.