Гроздья гнева

           Mashovedwillowsticksinthefireandmadeitcrackleupabouttheblackpot.Shesaid,"IprayGodwegonnagetsomeres’.IprayJesuswegonnalaydowninaniceplace."

           Thesunsanktowardthebakedandbrokenbillstothewest.Thepotoverthefirebubbledfuriously.Mawentunderthetarpaulinandcameoutwithanapronfulofpotatoes,andshedroppedthemintotheboilingwater."IprayGodwegonnabelettowashsomeclothes.Weain’tneverbeendirtylikethis.Don’tevenwashpotatoes’foreweboil’em.Iwonderwhy?Seemsliketheheart’stookoutofus."

           Themencametroopingupfromthewillows,andtheireyeswerefullofsleep,andtheirfaceswereredandpuffedwithdaytimesleep.

           Pasaid,"What’samatter?"

           "We’regoin’,"saidTom."Copsayswegottogo.Might’swellgetherover.Getagoodstartan’maybewe’llbethroughher.Nearthreehunderdmileswherewe’regoin’."

           Pasaid,"Ithoughtwewasgonnagetarest."

           "Well,weain’t.Wegottogo,Pa,"Tomsaid,"Noah,ain’ta-goin’.Hewalkedondowntheriver."

           "Ain’tgoin’?Whatthehell’sthematterwithhim?"AndthenPacaughthimself."Myfault,"hesaidmiserably."Thatboy’sallmyfault."

           "No."

           "Idon’twantatalkaboutitnomore,"saidPa."Ican’t—myfault."

           "Well,wegottogo,"saidTom.

           Wilsonwalkednearforthelastwords."Wecan’tgo,folks,"hesaid."Sairy’sdoneup.Shegottores’.Sheain’tgonnagitacrostthatdesertalive."