Гроздья гнева

           "I’llgoforyouan’yourdeputywithmymitts—herenow,orjumpJesus.Butthereain’tnogoodinit."

           Themenstirred,changedpositions,andtheirglitteringeyesmovedslowlyupwardtothemouthoftheproprietor,andtheireyeswatchedforhislipstomove.Hewasreassured.Hefeltthathehadwon,butnotdecisivelyenoughtochargein."Ain’tyougothalfabuck?"heasked.

           "Yeah,Igotit.ButI’mgonnaneedit.Ican’tsetitoutjus’forsleepin’."

           "Well,weallgottomakealivin’."

           "Yeah,"Tomsaid."On’yIwishttheywassomewaytomakeher’thouttakin’herawayfromsomebodyelse."

           Themenshiftedagain.AndPasaid,"We’llgetmovin’smartearly.Look,mister.Wepaid.Thisherefellaispartaourfolks.Can’thestay?Wepaid."

           "Halfadollaracar,"saidtheproprietor.

           "Well,heain’tgotnocar.Car’soutintheroad."

           "Hecameinacar,"saidtheproprietor."Ever’body’dleavetheircarouttherean’comeinan’usemyplacefornothin’."

           Tomsaid,"We’lldrivealongtheroad.Meetyainthemorning.We’llwatchforya.Alcanstayan’UncleJohncancomewithus—"Helookedattheproprietor."Thatawrightwithyou?"

           Hemadeaquickdecision,withaconcessioninit."Ifthesamenumberstaysthatcomean’paid—that’sawright."

           Tombroughtouthisbagoftobacco,alimpgrayragbynow,withalittledamptobaccodustinthebottomofit.Hemadealeancigaretteandtossedthebagaway."We’llgoalongprettysoon,"hesaid.