Гроздья гнева
Chapter 22
«Look,"hesaid.«Igotsixty-fiveacreshere.DidyoueverhearoftheFarmers’Association?»
«Why,sure.»
«Well,Ibelongtoit.Wehadameetinglastnight.Now,doyouknowwhorunstheFarmersAssociation?I’lltellyou.TheBankoftheWest.Thatbankownsmostofthisvalley,andit’sgotpaperoneverythingitdon’town.Solastnightthememberfromthebanktoldme,hesaid,’You’repayingthirtycentsanhour.You’dbettercutitdowntotwenty-five.’Isaid,’I’vegotgoodmen.They’reworththirty.’Andhesays,’Itisn’tthat,’hesays.’Thewageistwenty-fivenow.Ifyoupaythirty,it’llonlycauseunrest.Andbytheway,’hesays,’yougoingtoneedtheusualamountforacroploannextyear?’"Thomasstopped.Hisbreathwaspantingthroughhislips.«Yousee?Therateistwenty-fivecents—andlikeit.»
«Wedonegoodwork,"Timothysaidhelplessly.
«Ain’tyougotityet?Mr.Bankhirestwothousandmenan’Ihirethree.I’vegotpapertomeet.Nowifyoucanfiguresomewayout,byChrist,I’lltakeit!Theygotme.»
Timothyshookhishead.«Idon’knowwhattosay.»
«Youwaithere.»Thomaswalkedquicklytothehouse.Thedoorslammedafterhim.Inamomenthewasback,andhecarriedanewspaperinhishand.«Didyouseethis?Here,I’llreadit:’Citizens,angeredatredagitators,burnsquatters’camp.Lastnightabandofcitizens,infuriatedattheagitationgoingoninalocalsquatters’camp,burnedthetentstothegroundandwarnedagitatorstogetoutofthecounty.’"
