Гроздья гнева
Chapter 20
Tomstudiedhimwithhalf-shuteyesandheputonhiscapagain.«Look,"hesaid,«thisain’tnolan’ofmilkan’honeylikethepreacherssay.They’sameanthinghere.Thefolkshereisscaredofuspeoplecomin’west;an’sotheygetcopsouttryin’toscareusback.»
«Yeah,"saidCasy.«Iknow.Whatyouaskaboutmebein’injailfor?»
Tomsaidslowly,«Whenyou’reinjail—yougettokinda—sensin’stuff.Guysain’tlettotalkahellofalottogether—twomaybe,butnotacrowd.An’soyougetkindasensy.Ifsomepin’sgonnabust—ifsayafella’sgoin’stir-bugsan’takeacrackataguardwithamophandle—why,youknowit’foreithappens.An’ifthey’sgonnabeabreakorariot,nobodydon’thavetotellya.You’resensyaboutit.Youknow.»
«Yeah?»
«Stickaroun’.»saidTom.«Stickaroun’tilltomorraanyways.Somepin’sgonnacomeup.Iwastalkin’toakiduptheroad.An’he’sbein’jus’assneakyan’wiseasadogcoyote,buthe’stoowise.Dogcoyotea-mindin’hisownbusinessan’innocentan’sweet,jus’havin’funan’noharm—well,they’sahenroostclostby.»
Casywatchedhimintently,startedtoaskaquestion,andthenshuthismouthtightly.Hewaggledhistoesslowlyand,releasinghisknees,pushedouthisfootsohecouldseeit.«Yeah,"hesaid,«Iwon’tgorightyet.»
Tomsaid,«Whenabunchoffolks,nicequietfolks,don’tknownothin’aboutnothin’—somepin’sgoin’on.»
«I’llstay,"saidCasy.
