Гроздья гнева

           "Ilikedtostarved,"saidAl."Whatwegonnadonow,goontothecamp?"

           "Idunno,"saidTom."Maybethey’dchargeusaextryhalf-buck.Le’sgoonan’talktothefolks—tell’emwe’refixed.Theniftheywantasockusextry—we’llmoveon.Thefolks’llwantaknow.Jesus,I’mgladMastoppedusthisafternoon.Lookaroundwiththelight,Al.Seewedon’tleavenothin’.Getthatsocketwrenchin.Wemayneedheragain."

           Alsearchedthegroundwiththeflashlight."Don’tseenothin’."

           "Allright.I’lldriveher.Youbringthetruck,Al."Tomstartedtheengine.Thepreachergotinthecar.Tommovedslowly,keepingtheengineatalowspeed,andAlfollowedinthetruck.Hecrossedtheshallowditch,crawlinginlowgear.Tomsaid,"ThesehereDodgescanpullahouseinlowgear.She’ssureratio’ddown.Goodthingforus—Iwantabreakthatbearin’ineasy."

           OnthehighwaytheDodgemovedalongslowly.The12-voltheadlightsthrewashortblobofyellowishlightonthepavement.CasyturnedtoTom."Funnyhowyoufellascanfixacar.Jus’lightrightinan’fixher.Icouldn’tfixnocar,notevennowwhenIseenyoudoit."

           "Gottogrowintoherwhenyou’realittlekid,"Tomsaid."Itain’tjus’knowin’.It’smore’nthat.Kidsnowcanteardownacar’thouteventhinkin’aboutit."

           Ajackrabbitgotcaughtinthelightsandhebouncedalongahead,cruisingeasily,hisgreatearsfloppingwitheveryjump.