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Chapter 5
Thebiggerboyssquattedbesidetheirfathers,becausethatmadethemmen.Afteratimethewomenasked,Whatdidhewant?
Andthemenlookedupforasecond,andthesmolderofpainwasintheireyes.Wegottogetoff.Atractorandasuperintendent.Likefactories.
Where’llwego?thewomenasked.
Wedon’tknow.Wedon’tknow.
Andthewomenwentquickly,quietlybackintothehousesandherdedthechildrenaheadofthem.Theyknewthatamansohurtandsoperplexedmayturninanger,evenonpeopleheloves.Theyleftthemenalonetofigureandtowonderinthedust.
Afteratimeperhapsthetenantmanlookedabout—atthepumpputintenyearsago,withagoose-neckhandleandironflowersonthespout,atthechoppingblockwhereathousandchickenshadbeenkilled,atthehandplowlyingintheshed,andthepatentcribhangingintheraftersoverit.
Thechildrencrowdedaboutthewomeninthehouses.Whatwegoingtodo,Ma?Wherewegoingtogo?
Thewomensaid,Wedon’tknow,yet.Gooutandplay.Butdon’tgonearyourfather.Hemightwhaleyouifyougonearhim.Andthewomenwentonwiththework,butallthetimetheywatchedthemensquattinginthedust—perplexedandfiguring.
Thetractorscameovertheroadsandintothefields,greatcrawlersmovinglikeinsects,havingtheincrediblestrengthofinsects.Theycrawledovertheground,layingthetrackandrollingonitandpickingitup.Dieseltractors,putteringwhiletheystoodidle;theythunderedwhentheymoved,andthensettleddowntoadroningroar.
