Гроздья гнева

           Tomlookedoverathim."Might’swellletever’bodyout’forewesettledowntodrivin’tonight."Heslowedthecarandbroughtittoastop.Winfieldscrambledoutandurinatedatthesideoftheroad.Tomleanedout."Anybodyelse?"

           "We’reholdin’ourwateruphere,"UncleJohncalled.

           Pasaid,"Winfiel’,youcrawlupontop.Youputmylegstosleepa-settin’on’em."ThelittleboybuttonedhisoverallsandobedientlycrawledupthebackboardandonhishandsandkneescrawledoverGranma’smattressandforwardtoRuthie.

           Thetruckmovedonintotheevening,andtheedgeofthesunstrucktheroughhorizonandturnedthedesertred.

           Ruthiesaid,"Wouldn’leaveyousetupthere,huh?"

           "Ididn’wantto.Itwasn’tsoniceashere.Couldn’liedown."

           "Well,don’youbotherme,a-squawkin’an’a-talkin’,"Ruthiesaid,"’causeI’mgoin’tosleep,an’whenIwakeup,wegonnabethere!’CauseTomsaidso!Gonnaseemfunnytoseeprettycountry."

           Thesunwentdownandleftagreathalointhesky.Anditgrewverydarkunderthetarpaulin,alongcavewithlightateachend—aflattriangleoflight.

           ConnieandRoseofSharonleanedbackagainstthecab,andthehotwindtumblingthroughthetentstruckthebacksoftheirheads,andthetarpaulinwhippedanddrummedabovethem.Theyspoketogetherinlowtones,pitchedtothedrummingcanvas,sothatnoonecouldhearthem.WhenConniespokeheturnedhisheadandspokeintoherear,andshedidthesametohim.