Гроздья гнева

           Tomsaid,"How’boutthefam’ly?How’boutMa?"

           "Ican’the’pit.Ican’tleavethisherewater."Noah’swide-seteyeswerehalfclosed."Youknowhowitis,Tom.Youknowhowthefolksarenicetome.Buttheydon’treallycareforme."

           "You’recrazy."

           "No,Iain’t.IknowhowIam.Iknowthey’resorry.But—Well,Iain’ta-goin’.YoutellMa—Tom."

           "Nowyoulook-a-here,"Tombegan.

           "No.Itain’tnouse.Iwasinthattherewater.An’Iain’ta-gonnaleaveher.I’ma-gonnagonow,Tom—downtheriver.I’llcatchfishan’stuff,butIcan’tleaveher.Ican’t."Hecrawledbackoutofthewillowcave."YoutellMa,Tom."Hewalkedaway.

           Tomfollowedhimtotheriverbank."Listen,yougoddamnfool—"

           "Itain’tnouse,"Noahsaid."I’msad,butIcan’the’pit.Igottogo."Heturnedabruptlyandwalkeddownstreamalongtheshore.Tomstartedtofollow,andthenhestopped.HesawNoahdisappearintothebrush,andthenappearagain,followingtheedgeoftheriver.AndhewatchedNoahgrowingsmallerontheedgeoftheriver,untilhedisappearedintothewillowsatlast.AndTomtookoffhiscapandscratchedhishead.Hewentbacktohiswillowcaveandlaydowntosleep.

           UNDERTHESPREADtarpaulinGranmalayonamattress,andMasatbesideher.Theairwasstiflinglyhot,andthefliesbuzzedintheshadeofthecanvas.Granmawasnakedunderalongpieceofpinkcurtain.Sheturnedheroldheadrestlesslyfromsidetoside,andshemutteredandchoked.