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Chapter 20
«I’ma-gonnasetthisherekettleout,an’you’llallgetalittletas’,butitain’tgonnadoyounogood.»Shefaltered,«Ican’the’pit.Can’tkeepitfromyou.»Sheliftedthepotandsetitdownontheground.«Nowwait.It’stoohot,"shesaid,andshewentintothetentquicklysoshewouldnotsee.Herfamilysatontheground,eachwithhisplate;andoutsidetheycouldhearthechildrendiggingintothepotwiththeirsticksandtheirspoonsandtheirpiecesofrustytin.Amoundofchildrensmotheredthepotfromsight.Theydidnottalk,didnotfightorargue;buttherewasaquietintentnessinallofthem,awoodenfierceness.Maturnedherbacksoshecouldn’tsee.«Wecan’tdothatnomore,"shesaid.«Wegottoeatalone.»Therewasthesoundofscrapingatthekettle,andthenthemoundofchildrenbrokeandthechildrenwalkedawayandleftthescrapedkettleontheground.Malookedattheemptyplates.«Didn’noneofyougetnowherenearenough.»
Pagotupandleftthetentwithoutanswering.Thepreachersmiledtohimselfandlaybackontheground,handsclaspedbehindhishead.Algottohisfeet.«Gottohelpafellawithacar.»
Magatheredtheplatesandtookthemoutsidetowash.«Ruthie,"shecalled,«Winfiel’.Gogetmeabucketawaterrightoff.»Shehandedthemthebucketandtheytrudgedofftowardtheriver.
Astrongbroadwomanwalkednear.Herdresswasstreakedwithdustandsplotchedwithcaroil.Herchinwasheldhighwithpride.
