Гроздья гнева

           Thisherecommitteeain’tgonnamesswithnogarbagefights.»

           Hustonnodded.«Youdonegood,"hesaid.

           Andnowtheduskwasfalling,andasthedarknessdeepenedthepracticingofthestringbandseemedtogrowlouder.Thelightsflashedonandtwomeninspectedthepatchedwiretothedancefloor.Thechildrencrowdedthicklyaboutthemusicians.Aboywithaguitarsangthe«DownHomeBlues,"chordingdelicatelyforhimself,andonhissecondchorusthreeharmonicasandafiddlejoinedhim.Fromthetentsthepeoplestreamedtowardtheplatform,menintheircleanbluedenimandwomenintheirginghams.Theycameneartotheplatformandthenstoodquietlywaiting,theirfacesbrightandintentunderthelight.

           Aroundthereservationtherewasahighwirefence,andalongthefence,atintervalsoffiftyfeet,theguardssatinthegrassandwaited.

           Nowthecarsoftheguestsbegantoarrive,smallfarmersandtheirfamilies,migrantsfromothercamps.Andaseachguestcamethroughthegatehementionedthenameofthecamperwhohadinvitedhim.

           Thestringbandtookareeltuneupandplayedloudly,fortheywerenotpracticinganymore.InfrontoftheirtentstheJesus-loverssatandwatched,theirfaceshardandcontemptuous.Theydidnotspeaktooneanother,theywatchedforsin,andtheirfacescondemnedthewholeproceeding.

           AttheJoadtentRuthieandWinfieldhadboltedwhatlittledinnertheyhad,andthentheystartedfortheplatform.