Гроздья гнева
Chapter 25
AndthefailurehangsovertheStatelikeagreatsorrow.
Theworksoftherootsofthevines,ofthetrees,mustbedestroyedtokeepuptheprice,andthisisthesaddest,bitterestthingofall.Carloadsoforangesdumpedontheground.Thepeoplecameformilestotakethefruit,butthiscouldnotbe.Howwouldtheybuyorangesattwentycentsadozeniftheycoulddriveoutandpickthemup?Andmenwithhosessquirtkeroseneontheoranges,andtheyareangryatthecrime,angryatthepeoplewhohavecometotakethefruit.Amillionpeoplehungry,needingthefruit—andkerosenesprayedoverthegoldenmountains.
Andthesmellofrotfillsthecountry.
Burncoffeeforfuelintheships.Burncorntokeepwarm,itmakesahotfire.Dumppotatoesintheriversandplaceguardsalongthebankstokeepthehungrypeoplefromfishingthemout.Slaughterthepigsandburythem,andlettheputrescencedripdownintotheearth.
Thereisacrimeherethatgoesbeyonddenunciation.Thereisasorrowherethatweepingcannotsymbolize.Thereisafailureherethattopplesalloursuccess.Thefertileearth,thestraighttreerows,thesturdytrunks,andtheripefruit.Andchildrendyingofpellagramustdiebecauseaprofitcannotbetakenfromanorange.Andcoronersmustfillinthecertificate—diedofmalnutrition—becausethefoodmustrot,mustbeforcedtorot.
Thepeoplecomewithnetstofishforpotatoesintheriver,andtheguardsholdthemback;theycomeinrattlingcarstogetthedumpedoranges,butthekeroseneissprayed
