Гроздья гнева

           Apaleskinnylittleboycreptlikeananimalthroughthereedsandslippedoffhisclothes.Andhesquirmedintothewaterlikeamuskrat,andpulledhimselfalonglikeamuskrat,onlyhiseyesandnoseabovethesurface.ThensuddenlyhesawTom’sheadandsawthatTomwaswatchinghim.Hestoppedhisgameandsatup.

           Tomsaid,"Hello."

           "’Lo!"

           "Lookslikeyouwasplayin’muskrat."

           "Well,Iwas."Heedgedgraduallyawaytowardthebank;hemovedcasually,andthenheleapedout,gatheredhisclotheswithasweepofhisarms,andwasgoneamongthewillows.

           Tomlaughedquietly.Andthenheheardhisnamecalledshrilly.

           "Tom,oh,Tom!"Hesatupinthewaterandwhistledthroughhisteeth,apiercingwhistlewithaloopontheend.Thewillowsshook,andRuthiestoodlookingathim.

           "Mawantsyou,"shesaid."Mawantsyourightaway."

           "Awright."Hestoodupandstrodethroughthewatertotheshore;andRuthielookedwithinterestandamazementathisnakedbody.

           Tom,seeingthedirectionofhereyes,said,"Runonnow.Git!"AndRuthieran.TomheardhercallingexcitedlyforWinfieldasshewent.Heputthehotclothesonhiscool,wetbodyandhewalkedslowlyupthroughthewillowstowardthetent.

           Mahadstartedafireofdrywillowtwigs,andshehadapanofwaterheating.Shelookedrelievedwhenshesawhim.

           "What’samatter,Ma?"heasked.

           "Iwasscairt,"shesaid."Theywasapolicemanhere.Hesayswecan’tstayhere.Iwasscairthetalkedtoyou.Iwasscairtyou’dhithimifhetalkedtoyou."