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Chapter 20
«Jus’gotinthismornin’.»
«NeverbeeninHoovervillebefore?»
«Where’sHooverville?»
«Thishere’sher.»
«Oh!»saidTom.«Wejus’gotin.»
WinfieldandRuthiecameback,carryingabucketofwaterbetweenthem.
Masaid,«Le’sgetthecampup.I’mtuckeredout.Maybewecanallrest.»PaandUncleJohnclimbeduponthetrucktounloadthecanvasandthebeds.
Tomsaunteredtotheyoungman,andwalkedbesidehimbacktothecarhehadbeenworkingon.Thevalve-grindingbracelayontheexposedblock,andalittleyellowcanofvalve-grindingcompoundwaswedgedontopofthevacuumtank.Tomasked,«Whatthehellwasthematter’ththatol’fellawiththebeard?»
Theyoungmanpickeduphisbraceandwenttowork,twistingbackandforth,grindingvalveagainstvalveseat.«TheMayor?Chris’knows.Iguessmaybehe’sbull-simple.»
«What’s’bull-simple’?»
«Iguesscopspush’imaroun’somuchhe’sstillspinning.»Tomasked,«Whywouldtheypushafellalikethataroun’?».TheyoungmanstoppedhisworkandlookedinTom’seyes.«Chris’knows,"hesaid.«Youjus’come.Maybeyoucanfiggerherout.Somefellassaysonething,an’somesaysanotherthing.Butyoujus’campinoneplacealittlewhile,an’youseehowquickadeputysheriffshovesyoualong.»Heliftedavalveandsmearedcompoundontheseat.
«Butwhatthehellfor?»
«ItellyaIdon’know.Somesaystheydon’wantustovote;keepusmovin’sowecan’tvote.An’somesayssowecan’tgetonrelief.
