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           "Seemslikeallnightshewasa-croakin’uponthetruck.She’salloutasense."

           Tomsaid,"Hell!She’sworeout.Ifshedon’tgetsomeres’prettysoon,sheain’gonnalas’.She’sjes’woreout.Anybodycomin’withme?I’mgonnawash,an’I’mgonnasleepintheshade—alldaylong."Hemovedaway,andtheothermenfollowedhim.Theytookofftheirclothesinthewillowsandthentheywalkedintothewaterandsatdown.Foralongtimetheysat,holdingthemselveswithheelsdugintothesand,andonlytheirheadsstuckoutofthewater.

           "Jesus,Ineededthis,"Alsaid.Hetookahandfulofsandfromthebottomandscrubbedhimselfwithit.TheylayinthewaterandlookedacrossatthesharppeakscalledNeedles,andatthewhiterockmountainsofArizona.

           "Wecomethroughthem,"Pasaidinwonder.

           UncleJohnduckedhisheadunderthewater."Well,we’rehere.

           Thishere’sCalifornia,an’shedon’tlooksoprosperous."

           "Gotthedesertyet,"saidTom."An’Ihearshe’sason-of-a-bitch."

           Noahasked,"Gonnatryhertonight?"

           "Whatyathink,Pa?"Tomasked.

           "Well,Idon’know.Dousgoodtogetalittleres’,’speciallyGranma.Butotherways,I’dkindaliketogetacrostheran’getsettledintoajob.On’ygot’boutfortydollarsleft.I’llfeelbetterwhenwe’reallworkin’,an’alittlemoneycomin’in."

           Eachmansatinthewaterandfeltthetugofthecurrent.Thepreacherlethisarmsandhandsfloatonthesurface.