Гроздья гнева
Chapter 20
Tomstrolledawaycasually,butassoonashewasawayfromthegrouphehurriedhissteps,andhedisappearedamongthewillowsthatlinedtheriver.
Alsteppedovertothefallendeputy.«Jesus,"hesaidadmiringly,«yousureflagged’imdown!»
Thecrowdofmenhadcontinuedtostareattheunconsciousman.Andnowinthegreatdistanceasirenscreamedupthescaleanddropped,anditscreamedagain,nearerthistime.Instantlythemenwerenervous.Theyshiftedtheirfeetforamomentandthentheymovedaway,eachonetohisowntent.OnlyAlandthepreacherremained.
CasyturnedtoAl.«Getout,"hesaid.«Goon,getout—tothetent.Youdon’tknownothin’.»
«Yeah?How’boutyou?»
Casygrinnedathim.«Somebodygottotaketheblame.Igotnokids.They’lljus’putmeinjail,an’Iain’tdoin’nothin’butsetaroun’.»
Alsaid,«Ain’tnoreasonfor—"
«Goonnow,"Casysaidsharply.«Yougetouttathis.»
Albristled.«Iain’ttakin’orders.»
Casysaidsoftly,«Ifyoumessinthisyourwholefambly,allyourfolks,gonnagetintrouble.Idon’careaboutyou.Butyourmaandyourpa,they’llgetintrouble.Maybethey’llsendTombacktoMcAlester.»
Alconsidereditforamoment.«O.K.,"hesaid.«Ithinkyou’readamnfool,though.»
«Sure,"saidCasy.«Whynot?»
Thesirenscreamedagainandagain,andalwaysitcamecloser.Casykneltbesidethedeputyandturnedhimover.Themangroanedandflutteredhiseyes,andhetriedtosee.Casywipedthedustoffhislips.
