Гроздья гнева

           JesusChrist,an’allyougotisoneeyegone."

           Themansaidstumblingly,"Well,Jesus,yaseesomebodyedgeawayfromya,an’itgetsintoya."

           "Coveritupthen,goddamnit.Yastickin’itoutlikeacow’sass.Yaliketofeelsorryforyaself.Thereain’tnothin’thematterwithyou.Buyyaselfsomewhitepants.Yagettin’drunkan’cryin’inyabed,Ibet.Needanyhelp,Al?"

           "No,"saidAl."Igotthisherebearin’loose.Jus’tryin’toworkthepistondown."

           "Don’bangyaself,"saidTom.

           Theone-eyedmansaidsoftly,"Think—somebody’dlike—me?"

           "Why,sure,"saidTom."Tell’emyadong’sgrowedsenceyoulos’youreye."

           "Whereatyoufellasgoin’?"

           "California.Wholefamily.Gonnagetworkoutthere."

           "Well,yathinkafellalikemecouldgetwork?Blackpatchonmyeye?"

           "Whynot?Youain’tnocripple."

           "Well—couldIcatcharidewithyoufellas?"

           "Christ,no.We’resogoddamnfullnowwecan’tmove.Yougetoutsomeotherway.Fixuponeatheseherewrecksan’gooutbyyaself."

           "MaybeIwill,byGod,"saidtheone-eyedman.

           Therewasaclashofmetal."Igother,"Alcalled.

           "Well,bringherout,let’slookather."Alhandedhimthepistonandconnecting-rodandthelowerhalfofthebearing.

           Tomwipedthebabbittsurfaceandsightedalongitsideways.

           "LooksO.K.tome,"hesaid."Say,byGod,ifwehadalightwecouldgetthishereintonight."

           "Say,Tom,"Alsaid,"Ibeenthinkin’.Wegotnoringclamps.