Chapter 18

           TheJoadfamilymovedslowlywestward,upintothemountainsofNewMexico,pastthepinnaclesandpyramidsoftheupland.TheyclimbedintothehighcountryofArizona,andthroughagaptheylookeddownonthePaintedDesert.Aborderguardstoppedthem.

           "Whereyougoing?"

           "ToCalifornia,"saidTom.

           "HowlongyouplantobeinArizona?"

           "Nolonger’nwecangetacrosther."

           "Gotanyplants?"

           "Noplants."

           "Ioughttolookyourstuffover."

           "Itellyouweain’tgotnoplants."

           Theguardputalittlestickeronthewindshield.

           "O.K.Goahead,butyoubetterkeepmovin’."

           "Sure.Weaimto."

           Theycrawleduptheslopes,andthelowtwistedtreescoveredtheslopes.Holbrook,JosephCity,Winslow.Andthenthetalltreesbegan,andthecarsspoutedsteamandlaboreduptheslopes.AndtherewasFlagstaff,andthatwasthetopofitall.DownfromFlagstaffoverthegreatplateaus,andtheroaddisappearedinthedistanceahead.Thewatergrewscarce,waterwastobebought,fivecents,tencents,fifteencentsagallon.Thesundrainedthedryrockycountry,andaheadwerejaggedbrokenpeaks,thewesternwallofArizona.Andnowtheywereinflightfromthesunandthedrought.Theydroveallnight,andcametothemountainsinthenight.Andtheycrawledthejaggedrampartsinthenight,andtheirdimlightsflickeredonthepalestonewallsoftheroad.