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Chapter 22
Theyoungermansaid,«Webeeneatin’goodfortwelvedaysnow.Nevermissedamealintwelvedays—noneofus.Workin’an’gettin’ourpayan’eatin’.»Hefelltoagain,almostfrantically,andrefilledhisplate.Theydrankthescaldingcoffeeandthrewthegroundstotheearthandfilledtheircupsagain.
Therewascolorinthelightnow,areddishgleam.Thefatherandsonstoppedeating.Theywerefacingtotheeastandtheirfaceswerelightedbythedawn.Theimageofthemountainandthelightcomingoveritwerereflectedintheireyes.Andthentheythrewthegroundsfromtheircupstotheearth,andtheystooduptogether.
«Gottogitgoin’,"theoldermansaid.
TheyoungerturnedtoTom.«Lookie,"hesaid.«We’relayin’somepipe.’Fyouwanttowalkoverwithus,maybewecouldgetyouon.»
Tomsaid,«Well,that’smightyniceofyou.An’Isurethankyaforthebreakfast.»
«Gladtohaveyou,"theoldermansaid.«We’lltrytogityouworkin’ifyouwant.»
«YagoddamnrightIwant,"Tomsaid.«Jus’waitaminute.I’lltellmyfolks.»HehurriedtotheJoadtentandbentoverandlookedinside.Inthegloomunderthetarpaulinhesawthelumpsofsleepingfigures.Butalittlemovementstartedamongthebedclothes.Ruthiecamewrigglingoutlikeasnake,herhairdownoverhereyesandherdresswrinkledandtwisted.Shecrawledcarefullyoutandstoodup.Hergrayeyeswereclearandcalmfromsleep,andmischiefwasnotinthem.
