Гроздья гнева

           "Igottogivethatgoin’-over,"saidUncleJohn,andherolledonhisbackandlaywithhiskneespulledup.

           Thetruckmovedonoverthehotearth,andthehourspassed.RuthieandWinfieldwenttosleep.ConnieloosenedablanketfromtheloadandcoveredhimselfandRoseofSharonwithit,andintheheattheystruggledtogether,andheldtheirbreaths.AndafteratimeConniethrewofftheblanketandthehottunnelingwindfeltcoolontheirwetbodies.

           OnthebackofthetruckMalayonthemattressbesideGranma,andshecouldnotseewithhereyes,butshecouldfeelthestrugglingbodyandthestrugglingheart;andthesobbingbreathwasinherear.AndMasaidoverandover,"Allright.It’sgonnabeallright."Andshesaidhoarsely,"Youknowthefamilygottogetacrost.Youknowthat."

           UncleJohncalled,"Youallright?"

           Itwasamomentbeforesheanswered."Allright.GuessIdroppedofftosleep."AndafteratimeGranmawasstill,andMalayrigidbesideher.

           Thenighthourspassed,andthedarkwasinagainstthetruck.Sometimescarspassedthem,goingwestandaway;andsometimesgreattruckscameupoutofthewestandrumbledeastward.Andthestarsfloweddowninaslowcascadeoverthewesternhorizon.ItwasnearmidnightwhentheynearedDaggett,wheretheinspectionstationis.Theroadwasflood-lightedthere,andasignilluminated,"KEEPRIGHTANDSTOP."Theofficersloafedintheoffice,buttheycameoutandstoodunderthelongcoveredshedwhenTompulledin.