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Chapter 22
An’nowtheseherefolksbeennicetome,beenawfulnice;an’what’sthefirstthingIdo?Igorightbackoverthesadthings—thatnightGrampadiedan’weburiedhim.Iwasallfullupoftheroad,andbumpin’andmovin’,an’itwasn’tsobad.ButnowIcomeouthere,an’it’sworsenow.An’Granma—an’Noahwalkin’awaylikethat!Walkin’awayjus’downtheriver.Themthingswaspartofall,an’nowtheycomea-flockin’back.Granmaapauper,an’buriedapauper.That’ssharpnow.That’sawfulsharp.An’Noahwalkin’awaydowntheriver.Hedon’knowwhat’sthere.Hejus’don’know.An’wedon’know.Weain’tnevergonnaknowifhe’saliveordead.Nevergonnaknow.An’Conniesneakin’away.Ididn’give’embrainroombefore,butnowthey’rea-flockin’back.An’Ioughtabeglad’causewe’reinaniceplace.»Pawatchedhermouthwhileshetalked.Hereyeswereclosed.«Icanrememberhowthemmountainswas,sharpasol’teethbesidetheriverwhereNoahwalked.Icanrememberhowthestubblewasonthegroun’whereGrampalie.Icanrememberthechoppin’blockbackhomewithafeathercaughtonit,allcriss-crossedwithcuts,an’blackwithchickenblood.»
Pa’svoicetookonhertone.«Iseentheduckstoday,"hesaid.«Wedgin’south—highup.Seemslikethey’reawfuldinky.An’Iseentheblackbirdsa-settin’onthewires,an’thedoveswasonthefences.»Maopenedhereyesandlookedathim.
