Гроздья гнева
Chapter 23
Iliketogitawayfromit.
Sure—ifyoucanbelieveit.
Sotheygotmarried,an’theyfoun’out,an’allthempeoplethat’streated’emmean.Theywasafellahadbeenuppity,an’henearlyfaintedwhenthisfellacomeinwithaplughaton.Jes’nearlyfainted.An’theywasanewsreelwiththemGermansoldierskickin’uptheirfeet—funnyashell.
Andalways,ifhehadalittlemoney,amancouldgetdrunk.Thehardedgesgone,andthewarmth.Thentherewasnoloneliness,foramancouldpeoplehisbrainwithfriends,andhecouldfindhisenemiesanddestroythem.Sittinginaditch,theearthgrewsoftunderhim.Failuredulledandthefuturewasnothreat.Andhungerdidnotskulkabout,buttheworldwassoftandeasy,andamancouldreachtheplacehestartedfor.Thestarscamedownwonderfullycloseandtheskywassoft.Deathwasafriend,andsleepwasdeath’sbrother.Theoldtimescameback—agirlwithprettyfeet,whodancedonetimeathome—ahorse—alongtimeago.Ahorseandasaddle.Andtheleatherwascarved.Whenwasthat?Oughttofindagirltotalkto.That’snice.Mightlaywithher,too.Butwarmhere.Andthestarsdownsoclose,andsadnessandpleasuresoclosetogether,reallythesamething.Liketostaydrunkallthetime.Whosaysit’sbad?Whodarestosayit’sbad?Preachers—buttheygottheirownkindadrunkenness.Thin,barrenwomen,butthey’retoomiserabletoknow.Reformers—buttheydon’thitdeepenoughintolivingtoknow.
