Гроздья гнева

           Onlyforamomentdidthebloodoozeout,andthenitstopped."Bestdamnthingintheworl’tostopbleedin’,"hesaid.

           "Han’fulaspiderweb’lldoittoo,"saidCasy.

           "Iknow,butthereain’tnospiderweb,an’youcanalwaysgetpiss."Tomsatontherunningboardandinspectedthebrokenbearing."Nowifwecanon’yfinda’25Dodgean’getausedcon-rodan’someshims,maybewe’llmakeherallright.Almustagoneahellofalongways."

           Theshadowofthebillboardwassixtyfeetoutbynow.Theafternoonlengthenedaway.Casysatdownontherunningboardandlookedwestward."Wegonnabeinhighmountainsprettysoon,"hesaid,andhewassilentforafewmoments.Then,"Tom!"

           "Yeah?"

           "Tom,Ibeenwatchin’thecarsontheroad,themwepassedan’themthatpassedus.Ibeenkeepin’track."

           "Trackawhat?"

           "Tom,they’shunderdsafamilieslikeusalla-goin’west.Iwatched.Thereain’tnoneof’emgoin’east—hunderdsof’em.Didyounoticethat?"

           "Yeah,Inoticed."

           "Why—it’slike—it’sliketheywasrunnin’awayfromsoldiers.It’slikeawholecountryismovin’."

           "Yeah,"Tomsaid."Theyisawholecountrymovin’.We’removin’too."

           "Well—s’posealltheseherefolksan’ever’body—s’posetheycan’tgetnojobsoutthere?"

           "Goddamnit!"Tomcried."How’dIknow?I’mjus’puttin’onefootinfrontatheother.IdoneitatMacforfouryears,jus’marchin’incellan’outcellan’inmessan’outmess.