Гроздья гнева
Chapter 17
Andastheworldsmovedwestward,rulesbecamelaws,althoughnoonetoldthefamilies.Itisunlawfultofoulnearthecamp;itisunlawfulinanywaytofoulthedrinkingwater;itisunlawfultoeatgoodrichfoodnearonewhoishungry,unlessheisaskedtoshare.
Andwiththelaws,thepunishments—andtherewereonlytwo—aquickandmurderousfightorostracism;andostracismwastheworst.Forifonebrokethelawshisnameandfacewentwithhim,andhehadnoplaceinanyworld,nomatterwherecreated.
Intheworlds,socialconductbecamefixedandrigid,sothatamanmustsay"Goodmorning"whenaskedforit,sothatamanmighthaveawillinggirlifhestayedwithher,ifhefatheredherchildrenandprotectedthem.Butamanmightnothaveonegirlonenightandanotherthenext,forthiswouldendangertheworlds.
Thefamiliesmovedwestward,andthetechniqueofbuildingtheworldsimprovedsothatthepeoplecouldbesafeintheirworlds;andtheformwassofixedthatafamilyactingintherulesknewitwassafeintherules.
Theregrewupgovernmentintheworlds,withleaders,withelders.Amanwhowaswisefoundthathiswisdomwasneededineverycamp;amanwhowasafoolcouldnotchangehisfollywithhisworld.Andakindofinsurancedevelopedinthesenights.Amanwithfoodfedahungryman,andthusinsuredhimselfagainsthunger.Andwhenababydiedapileofsilvercoinsgrewatthedoorflap,forababymustbewellburied,sinceithashadnothingelseoflife.Anoldmanmaybeleftinapotter’sfield,butnotababy.
