Гроздья гнева

           Tomsaid,"Withtheloadwe’lltake,thisol’wagon’llboilherheadoff.Wegottohaveplentywater."

           Mapassedtheboiledpotatoesoutandbroughtthehalfsackfromthetentandputitwiththepanofpork.Thefamilyatestanding,shufflingtheirfeetandtossingthehotpotatoesfromhandtohanduntiltheycooled.

           MawenttotheWilsontentandstayedfortenminutes,andthenshecameoutquietly."It’stimetogo,"shesaid.

           Themenwentunderthetarpaulin.Granmastillslept,hermouthwideopen.Theyliftedthewholemattressgentlyandpasseditupontopofthetruck.Granmadrewupherskinnylegsandfrownedinhersleep,butshedidnotawaken.

           UncleJohnandPatiedthetarpaulinoverthecross-piece,makingalittletighttentontopoftheload.Theylasheditdowntotheside-bars.Andthentheywereready.Patookouthispurseanddugtwocrushedbillsfromit.HewenttoWilsonandheldthemout."Wewantyoushouldtakethis,an’"—hepointedtotheporkandpotatoes—"an’that."

           Wilsonhunghisheadandshookitsharply."Iain’ta-gonnadoit,"hesaid."Youain’tgotmuch."

           "Gotenoughtogetthere,"saidPa."Weain’tleftitall.We’llhaveworkrightoff."

           "Iain’ta-gonnadoit,"Wilsonsaid."I’llgitmeanifyoutry."

           MatookthetwobillsfromPa’shand.Shefoldedthemneatlyandputthemonthegroundandplacedtheporkpanoverthem."That’swherethey’llbe,"shesaid."Ifyoudon’get’em,somebodyelsewill."