Гроздья гнева

           Theygruntedandgroanedwiththewater.

           Paaskedpolitely,"Goin’west?"

           "Nope.Wecomefromthere.Goin’backhome.Wecan’tmakenolivin’outthere."

           "Where’shome?"Tomasked.

           "Panhandle,comefromnearPampa."

           Paasked,"Canyoumakealivin’there?"

           "Nope.Butatleas’wecanstarvetodeathwithfolksweknow.Won’thaveabunchafellasthathatesustostarvewith."

           Pasaid,"Yaknow,you’rethesecondfellatalkedlikethat.Whatmakes’emhateyou?"

           "Dunno,"saidtheman.Hecuppedhishandsfullofwaterandrubbedhisface,snortingandbubbling.Dustywaterranoutofhishairandstreakedhisneck.

           "Iliketohearsomemore’boutthis,"saidPa.

           "Metoo,"Tomadded."Whythesefolksoutwesthateya?"

           ThemanlookedsharplyatTom."Youjus’goin’wes’?"

           "Jus’onourway."

           "Youain’tneverbeeninCalifornia?"

           "No,weain’t."

           "Well,don’takemyword.Goseeforyourself."

           "Yeah,"Tomsaid,"butafellakindalikestoknowwhathe’sgettin’into."

           "Well,ifyoutrulywantaknow,I’mafellathat’saskedquestionsan’givehersomethought.She’sanicecountry.Butshewasstolealongtimeago.Yougitacrostthedesertan’comeintothecountryaroun’Bakersfield.An’youneverseensuchpurtycountry—allorchards,an’grapes,purtiestcountryyoueverseen.An’you’llpasslan’flatan’finewithwaterthirtyfeetdown,andthatlan’slayin’fallow.Butyoucan’thavenoneofthatlan’.