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Chapter 20
Sotheykickyouout,theymoveyoualong.That’showitis.»
Tom,lookingdowntowardtheJoadtent,sawhismother,heavyandslowwithweariness,buildalittletrashfireandputthecookingpotsovertheflame.Thecircleofchildrendrewcloser,andthecalmwideeyesofthechildrenwatchedeverymoveofMa’shands.Anold,oldmanwithabentbackcamelikeabadgeroutofatentandsnoopednear,sniffingtheairashecame.HelacedhisarmsbehindhimandjoinedthechildrentowatchMa.RuthieandWinfieldstoodneartoMaandeyedthestrangersbelligerently.
Tomsaidangrily,«Thempeachesgottobepickedrightnow,don’tthey?Jus’whenthey’reripe?»
«’Coursetheydo.»
«Well,s’posethempeoplegottogetheran’says,’Letemrot.’
Wouldn’belong’forethepricewentup,byGod!»
Theyoungmanlookedupfromthevalves,lookedsardonicallyatTom.
«Well,youfiggeredoutsomepin,didn’you.Comerightoutayourownhead.»
«I’mtar’d,"saidTom.«Droveallnight.Idon’twantastartnoargument.An’I’msogoddamntar’dI’dargueeasy.Don’tbesmartwithme.I’maskin’you.»
Theyoungmangrinned.«Ididn’meanit.Youain’tbeenhere.Folksfiggeredthatout.An’thefolkswiththepeachorchardfiggeredherouttoo.Look,ifthefolksgetstogether,they’saleader—gottobe—fellathatdoesthetalkin’.Well,firsttimethisfellaopenshismouththeygrab’iman’stick’iminjail.An’ifthey’sanotherleaderpopsup,why,theystick’iminjail.»
