Гроздья гнева

           TomdrovetheDodgetothesideoftheroadandparked.Aldrovethroughthegateinthetruck."Noneedtotakeherin,"Tomsaid.Hegotoutandwalkedthroughthegatetothewhiteglareofthelantern.

           Theproprietordroppedhisfrontchairlegstothefloorandleanedforward."Youmenwantacamphere?"

           "No,"saidTom."Wegotfolkshere.Hi,Pa."

           Pa,seatedonthebottomstep,said,"Thoughtyouwasgonnabeallweek.Getherfixed?"

           "Wewaspiglucky,"saidTom."Gotapart’foredark.Wecangetgoin’fustthinginthemornin’."

           "That’saprettynicething,"saidPa."Ma’sworried.YaGranma’soffherchump."

           "Yeah,Altol’me.Sheanybetternow?"

           "Well,anywaysshe’sa-sleepin’."

           Theproprietorsaid,"Ifyouwantapullinherean’campit’llcostyoufourbits.Getaplacetocampan’wateran’wood.An’nobodywon’tbotheryou."

           "Whatthehell,"saidTom."Wecansleepintheditchrightbesidetheroad,an’itwon’tcostnothin’."

           Theownerdrummedhiskneewithhisfingers."Deputysheriffcomesonbyinthenight.Mightmakeittoughforya.Gotalawagainstsleepin’outinthisState.Gotalawaboutvagrants."

           "IfIpayyouahalfadollarIain’tavagrant,huh?"

           "That’sright."

           Tom’seyesglowedangrily."Deputysheriffain’tyourbrother-’n-lawbyanychance?"

           Theownerleanedforward."No,heain’t.An’thetimeain’tcomeyetwhenuslocalfolksgottotakenotalkfromyougoddamnbums,neither.