Гроздья гнева

           "Itain’tnotrouble,an’ifitwas,we’dwanttadoitforasoula-soarin’totheLamb."

           Maarosetoherknees."Wethankya,"shesaidcoldly."Weain’tgonnahavenomeetin’inthisheretent."

           Thewomanlookedatherforalongtime."Well,weain’ta-gonnaletasistergoaway’thoutalittlepraisin’.We’llgitthemeetin’goin’inourowntent,ma’am.An’we’llforgiveyaforyourhardheart."

           MasettledbackagainandturnedherfacetoGranma,andherfacewasstillsetandhard."She’star’d,"Masaid."She’son’ytar’d."Granmaswungherheadbackandforthandmutteredunderherbreath.

           Thewomanwalkedstifflyoutofthetent.Macontinuedtolookdownattheoldface.

           RoseofSharonfannedhercardboardandmovedthehotairinastream.Shesaid,"Ma!"

           "Yeah?"

           "Whyn’tyalet’emhol’ameetin’?"

           "Idunno,"saidMa."Jehovitesisgoodpeople.They’rehowlersan’jumpers.Idunno.Somepinjus’comeoverme.Ididn’thinkIcouldstan’it.I’djus’flyallapart."

           Fromsomelittledistancetherecamethesoundofthebeginningmeeting,asing-songchantofexhortation.Thewordswerenotclear,onlythetone.Thevoiceroseandfell,andwenthigherateachrise.Nowaresponsefilledinthepause,andtheexhortationwentupwithatoneoftriumph,andagrowlofpowercameintothevoice.Itswelledandpaused,andagrowlcameintotheresponse.