Гроздья гнева
Chapter 23
Thesquareclosesupandthedancingstarts,feetonthebareground,beatingdull,strikewithyourheels.Hands’roundandswing.Hairfallsdown,andpantingbreaths.Leantothesidenow.
LookatthatTexasboy,longlegsloose,tapsfourtimesforever’damnstep.Neverseenaboyswingaroun’likethat.LookathimswingthatCherokeegirl,redinhercheeksan’hertoepointsout.Lookatherpant,lookatherheave.Thinkshe’stired?Thinkshe’swinded?Well,sheain’t.Texasboygothishairinhiseyes,mouth’swideopen,can’tgetair,buthepatsfourtimesforever’darnstep,an’he’llkeepa’goin’withtheCherokeegirl.
Thefiddlesqueaksandtheguitarbongs.Mouth-organmanisredintheface.TexasboyandtheCherokeegirl,pantin’likedogsan’a-beatin’thegroun’.Ol’folksstan’a-pattin’theirhan’s.Smilin’alittle,tappin’theirfeet.
Backhome—intheschoolhouse,itwas.Thebigmoonsailedofftothewestward.An’wewalked,himan’me—alittleways.Didn’talk’causeourthroatswaschokedup.Didn’talknoneatall.An’purtysoontheywasahaycock.Wentrighttoitandlaiddownthere.Seein’theTexasboyan’thatgirla-steppin’awayintothedark—thinknobodyseen’emgo.Oh,God!IwishtIwasa-goin’withthatTexasboy.Moon’llbeup’forelong.Iseenthatgirl’sol’manmoveouttostop’eman’thenhedidn’.Heknowed.Mightaswellstopthefallfromcomin’,andmightaswellstopthesapfrommovin’inthetrees
