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Chapter 4
An’Igottothinkin’howinhell,s’cuseme,howcanthedevilgetinwhenagirlissofulloftheHolySperitthatit’sspoutin’outofhernosean’ears.You’dthinkthat’dbeonetimewhenthedevildidn’tstandasnowball’schanceinhell.Butthereitwas."Hiseyeswereshiningwithexcitement.Heworkedhischeeksforamomentandthenspatintothedust,andthegobofspitrolledoverandover,pickingupdustuntilitlookedlikearounddrylittlepellet.Thepreacherspreadouthishandandlookedathispalmasthoughhewerereadingabook."An’there’sme,"hewentonsoftly."There’smewithallthempeople’ssoulsinmyhan’—responsiblean’feelin’myresponsibility—an’evertime,Ilaywithoneofthemgirls."HelookedoveratJoadandhisfacelookedhelpless.Hisexpressionaskedforhelp.
Joadcarefullydrewthetorsoofawomaninthedirt,breasts,hips,pelvis."Iwasn’tneverapreacher,"hesaid."Ineverletnothin’gobywhenIcouldcatchit.An’IneverhadnoidearsaboutitexceptthatIwasgoddamngladwhenIgotone."
"Butyouwasn’tapreacher,"Casyinsisted."Agirlwasjustagirltoyou.Theywasn’tnothin’toyou.Buttometheywasholyvessels.Iwassavin’theirsouls.An’herewithallthatresponsibilityonmeI’djustget’emfrothin’withtheHolySperit,an’thenI’dtake’emoutinthegrass."
"MaybeIshouldofbeenapreacher,"saidJoad.Hebroughtouthistobaccoandpapersandrolledacigarette.
