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Chapter 4
Joadwavedhisstickinnegationwhentheplugwasheldouttohim.Theturtledugattherolledcoat.Casylookedoveratthestirringgarment."Whatyougotthere—achicken?You’llsmotherit."
Joadrolledthecoatupmoretightly."Anoldturtle,"hesaid."Pickedhimupontheroad.Anoldbulldozer.ThoughtI’dtake’imtomylittlebrother.Kidsliketurtles."
Thepreachernoddedhisheadslowly."Everykidgotaturtlesometimeorother.Nobodycan’tkeepaturtlethough.Theyworkatitandworkatit,andatlastonedaytheygetoutandawaytheygo—offsomewheres.It’slikeme.Iwouldn’ttakethegoodol’gospelthatwasjustlayin’theretomyhand.Igottobepickin’atitan’workin’atituntilIgotitalltoredown.HereIgotthesperitsometimesan’nothin’topreachabout.Igotthecalltoleadpeople,an’noplacetolead’em."
"Lead’emaroundandaround,"saidJoad."Sling’emintheirrigationditch.Tell’emthey’llburninhelliftheydon’tthinklikeyou.Whatthehellyouwanttolead’emsomeplacefor?Jus’lead’em."Thestraighttrunkshadehadstretchedoutalongtheground.Joadmovedgratefullyintoitandsquattedonhishamsandmadeanewsmoothplaceonwhichtodrawhisthoughtswithastick.Athick-furredyellowshepherddogcametrottingdowntheroad,headlow,tonguelollinganddripping.Itstailhunglimplycurled,anditpantedloudly.Joadwhistledatit,butitonlydroppeditsheadaninchandtrottedfasttowardsomedefinitedestination.
