Гроздья гнева
Chapter 5
Atnoonthetractordriverstoppedsometimesnearatenanthouseandopenedhislunch:sandwicheswrappedinwaxedpaper,whitebread,pickle,cheese,Spam,apieceofpiebrandedlikeanenginepart.Heatewithoutrelish.Andtenantsnotyetmovedawaycameouttoseehim,lookedcuriouslywhilethegogglesweretakenoff,andtherubberdustmask,leavingwhitecirclesaroundtheeyesandalargewhitecirclearoundnoseandmouth.Theexhaustofthetractorputteredon,forfuelissocheapitismoreefficienttoleavetheenginerunningthantoheattheDieselnoseforanewstart.Curiouschildrencrowdedclose,raggedchildrenwhoatetheirfrieddoughastheywatched.Theywatchedhungrilytheunwrappingofthesandwiches,andtheirhunger-sharpenednosessmelledthepickle,cheese,andSpam.Theydidn’tspeaktothedriver.Theywatchedhishandasitcarriedfoodtohismouth.Theydidnotwatchhimchewing;theireyesfollowedthehandthatheldthesandwich.Afterawhilethetenantwhocouldnotleavetheplacecameoutandsquattedintheshadebesidethetractor.
"Why,you’reJoeDavis’sboy!"
"Sure,"thedriversaid.
"Well,whatyoudoingthiskindofworkfor—againstyourownpeople?"
"Threedollarsaday.Igotdamnsickofcreepingformydinner—andnotgettingit.Igotawifeandkids.Wegottoeat.Threedollarsaday,anditcomeseveryday."
"That’sright,"thetenantsaid."Butforyourthreedollarsadayfifteenortwentyfamiliescan’teatatall.
