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Chapter 26
Heflushedthetoiletandwatchedthoughtfullywhilethewaterwhirledinthebowl.
ItwasstilldarkwhenMarousedhercamp.Thelownightlightsshonethroughtheopendoorsofthesanitaryunits.Fromthetentsalongtheroadcametheassortedsnoresofthecampers.
Masaid,«Comeon,rollout.Wegottobeonourway.Day’snotfaroff.»Sheraisedthescreechyshadeofthelanternandlightedthewick.«Comeon,allofyou.»
Thefloorofthetentsquirmedintoslowaction.Blanketsandcomfortswerethrownbackandsleepyeyessquintedblindlyatthelight.Maslippedonherdressovertheunderclothessheworetobed.«Wegotnocoffee,"shesaid.«Igotafewbiscuits.Wecaneat’emontheroad.Jus’getupnow,an’we’llloadthetruck.Comeonnow.Don’tmakenonoise.Don’wantawaketheneighbors.»
Itwasafewmomentsbeforetheywerefullyaroused.«Nowdon’yougetaway,"Mawarnedthechildren.Thefamilydressed.Themenpulleddownthetarpaulinandloadedupthetruck.«Makeitnicean’flat,"Mawarnedthem.Theypiledthemattressontopoftheloadandboundthetarpaulininplaceoveritsridgepole.
«Awright,Ma,"saidTom.«She’sready.»Maheldaplateofcoldbiscuitsinherhand.«Awright.Here.Eachtakeone.It’sallwegot.»
RuthieandWinfieldgrabbedtheirbiscuitsandclimbedupontheload.Theycovetedthemselveswithablanketandwentbacktosleep,stillholdingthecoldhardbiscuitsintheirhands.Tomgotintothedriver’sseatandsteppedonthestarter.Itbuzzedalittle,andthenstopped.
