Гроздья гнева

           You’rehell-burnin’sinners,allofyou!An’I’llmentionitinmeetin’too.Icanseeyourblacksoula-burnin’.Icanseethatinnocentchildinthattheregirl’sbellya-burnin’.»

           AlowwailingcryescapedfromRoseofSharon’slips.Mastoopeddownandpickedupastickofwood.

           «Git!»shesaidcoldly.«Don’younevercomeback.Iseenyourkindbefore.You’dtakethelittlepleasure,wouldn’you?»MaadvancedonMrs.Sandry.

           Foramomentthewomanbackedawayandthensuddenlyshethrewbackherheadandhowled.Hereyesrolledup,hershouldersandarmsfloppedlooselyatherside,andastringofthickropysalivaranfromthecornerofhermouth.Shehowledagainandagain,longdeepanimalhowls.Menandwomenranupfromtheothertents,andtheystoodnear—frightenedandquiet.Slowlythewomansanktoherkneesandthehowlssanktoashuddering,bubblingmoan.Shefellsidewaysandherarmsandlegstwitched.Thewhiteeyeballsshowedundertheopeneyelids.

           Amansaidsoftly,«Thesperit.Shegotthesperit.»Mastoodlookingdownatthetwitchingform.

           Thelittlemanagerstrolledupcasually.«Trouble?»heasked.Thecrowdpartedtolethimthrough.Helookeddownatthewoman.«Toobad,"hesaid.«Willsomeofyouhelpgetherbacktohertent?»Thesilentpeopleshuffledtheirfeet.Twomenbentoverandliftedthewoman,oneheldherunderthearmsandtheothertookherfeet.Theycarriedheraway,andthepeoplemovedslowlyafterthem.