Гроздья гнева
Chapter 22
HelookedupatRuthieandhiseyesfilledwithtears.Hischinquivered.AndRuthiewasinstantlycontrite.
«Neveryoumind,"shesaid.«Iwon’ttellonyou.We’llpretendlikeshewasalreadybroke.We’llpretendweain’tevenbeeninhere.»Sheledhimoutofthebuilding.
Thesunlippedoverthemountainbynow,shoneonthecorrugated-ironroofsofthefivesanitaryunits,shoneonthegraytentsandonthesweptgroundofthestreetsbetweenthetents.Andthecampwaswakingup.Thefireswereburningincampstoves,inthestovesmadeofkerosenecansandofsheetsofmetal.Thesmellofsmokewasintheair.Tentflapswerethrownbackandpeoplemovedaboutinthestreets.InfrontoftheJoadtentMastoodlookingupanddownthestreet.Shesawthechildrenandcameovertothem.
«Iwasworryin’,"Masaid.«Ididn’knowwhereyouwas.»
«Wewasjus’lookin’,"Ruthiesaid.
«Well,where’sTom?Youseenhim?»
Ruthiebecameimportant.«Yes,ma’am.Tom,hegotmeupan’hetol’mewhattotellyou.»Shepausedtoletherimportancebeapparent.
«Well—what?»Mademanded.
«Hesaidtellyou—"ShepausedagainandlookedtoseethatWinfieldappreciatedherposition.
Maraisedherhand,thebackofittowardRuthie.«What?»
«Hegotwork,"saidRuthiequickly.«Wentouttowork.»ShelookedapprehensivelyatMa’sraisedhand.Thehandsankdownagain,andthenitreachedoutforRuthie.MaembracedRuthie’sshouldersinaquickconvulsivehug,andthenreleasedher.
