Гроздья гнева

           Abovethelittledomeofthefirelightthesummerstarsshonethinly,andtheheatofthedaywasgraduallywithdrawing.Onhermattress,awayfromthefire,Granmawhimperedsoftlylikeapuppy.Theheadsofallturnedinherdirection.

           Masaid,"Rosasharn,likeagoodgirlgolaydownwithGranma.Sheneedssomebodynow.She’sknowin’,now."

           RoseofSharongottoherfeetandwalkedtothemattressandlaybesidetheoldwoman,andthemurmuroftheirsoftvoicesdriftedtothefire.RoseofSharonandGranmawhisperedtogetheronthemattress.

           Noahsaid,"Funnythingis—losin’Grampaain’tmademefeelnodifferentthanIdonebefore.Iain’tnosadderthanIwas."

           "It’sjustthesamething,"Casysaid."Grampaan’theoldplace,theywasjus’thesamething."

           Alsaid,"It’sagoddamnshame.Hebeentalkin’whathe’sgonnado,howhegonnasqueezegrapesoverhisheadan’letthejuiceruninhiswhiskers,an’allstufflikethat."

           Casysaid,"Hewasfoolin’,allthetime.Ithinkheknowedit.An’Grampadidn’dietonight.Hediedtheminuteyoutook’imofftheplace."

           "Yousureathat?"Pacried.

           "Why,no.Oh,hewasbreathin’,"Casywenton,"buthewasdead.Hewasthatplace,an’heknowedit."

           UncleJohnsaid,"Didyouknowhewasa-dyin’?"

           "Yeah,"saidCasy."Iknowedit."

           Johngazedathim,andahorrorgrewinhisface."An’youdidn’tellnobody?"

           "Whatgood?"Casyasked.

           "We—wemightofdidsomepin."