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Chapter 5
Iftheyoungthrustingplantwitheredindroughtordrownedinafloodofrain,itwasnomoretothedriverthantothetractor.
Helovedthelandnomorethanthebanklovedtheland.Hecouldadmirethetractor—itsmachinedsurfaces,itssurgeofpower,theroarofitsdetonatingcylinders;butitwasnothistractor.Behindthetractorrolledtheshiningdisks,cuttingtheearthwithbladesnotplowingbutsurgery,pushingthecutearthtotherightwherethesecondrowofdiskscutitandpushedittotheleft;slicingbladesshining,polishedbythecutearth.Andpulledbehindthedisks,theharrowscombingwithironteethsothatthelittleclodsbrokeupandtheearthlaysmooth.Behindtheharrows,thelongseeders—twelvecurvedironpeneserectedinthefoundry,orgasmssetbygears,rapingmethodically,rapingwithoutpassion.Thedriversatinhisironseatandhewasproudofthestraightlineshedidnotwill,proudofthetractorhedidnotownorlove,proudofthepowerhecouldnotcontrol.Andwhenthatcropgrew,andwasharvested,nomanhadcrumbledahotclodinhisfingersandlettheearthsiftpasthisfingertips.Nomanhadtouchedtheseed,orlustedforthegrowth.Menatewhattheyhadnotraised,hadnoconnectionwiththebread.Thelandboreunderiron,andunderirongraduallydied;foritwasnotlovedorhated,ithadnoprayersorcurses.
