Гроздья гнева

           Thedarkswallowedhim,buthisdraggingfootstepscouldbeheardalongtimeafterhehadgone,footstepsalongtheroad;andacarcamebyonthehighway,anditslightsshowedtheraggedmanshufflingalongtheroad,hisheadhangingdownandhishandsintheblackcoatpockets.

           Themenwereuneasy.Onesaid,"Well—gettin’late.Gottogettosleep."

           Theproprietorsaid,"Prob’lyshif’less.They’ssogoddamnmanyshif’lessfellasontheroadnow."Andthenhewasquiet.Andhetippedhischairbackagainstthewallagainandfingeredhisthroat.

           Tomsaid,"GuessI’llgoseeMaforaminute,an’thenwe’llshovealongapiece."TheJoadmenmovedaway.

           Pasaid,"S’posehe’stellin’thetruth—thatfella?"

           Thepreacheranswered,"He’stellin’thetruth,awright.Thetruthforhim.Hewasn’tmakin’nothin’up."

           "Howaboutus?"Tomdemanded."Isthatthetruthforus?"

           "Idon’know,"saidCasy.

           "Idon’know,"saidPa.

           Theywalkedtothetent,tarpaulinspreadoverarope.Anditwasdarkinside,andquiet.Whentheycamenear,agrayishmassstirrednearthedoorandarosetopersonheight.Macameouttomeetthem.

           "Allsleepin’,"shesaid."Granmafinallydozedoff."ThenshesawitwasTom."How’dyougethere?"shedemandedanxiously."Youain’thadnotrouble?"

           "Gotherfixed,"saidTom."We’rereadytogowhentherestis."

           "ThankthedearGodforthat,"Masaid."I’mjusta-twitterin’togoon.Wantagetwhereit’srichan’green.