Гроздья гнева

           Thebodieswerewhitetotheneckandwrists,andburneddarkbrownonhandsandfaces,withV’sofbrownatthecollarbones.Theyscratchedthemselveswithsand.

           AndNoahsaidlazily,"Liketojus’stayhere.Liketolayhereforever.Nevergethungryan’nevergetsad.Layinthewateralllifelong,lazyasabroodsowinthemud."

           AndTom,lookingattheraggedpeaksacrosstheriverandtheNeedlesdownstream:"Neverseensuchtoughmountains.Thishere’samurdercountry.Thishere’sthebonesofacountry.Wonderifwe’llevergetinaplacewherefolkscanlive’thoutfightin’hardscrabblean’rocks.Iseenpitchersofacountryflatan’green,an’withlittlehouseslikeMasays,white.Magotherheartsetonawhitehouse.Gettothinkin’theyain’tnosuchcountry.Iseenpitcherslikethat."

           Pasaid,"WaittillwegettoCalifornia.You’llseenicecountrythen."

           "JesusChrist,Pa!ThishereisCalifornia."

           Twomendressedinjeansandsweatyblueshirtscamethroughthewillowsandlookedtowardthenakedmen.Theycalled,"How’stheswimmin’?"

           "Dunno,"saidTom."Weain’ttriednone.Surefeelsgoodtosethere,though."

           "Mindifwecomeinan’set?"

           "Sheain’tourriver.We’lllen’youalittlepieceofher."

           Themenshuckedofftheirpants,peeledtheirshirts,andwadedout.Thedustcoatedtheirlegstotheknee,theirfeetwerepaleandsoftwithsweat.Theysettledlazilyintothewaterandwashedlistlesslyattheirflanks.Sun-bitten,theywere,afatherandaboy.