Гроздья гнева
Chapter 26
«Ijus’losemyspunk.»
«Ineverseenyouwhenyoulostit.»
«NightsIdo,sometimes.»Therecameaharshhissingfromthefrontofthetruck.Tomgrabbedthewheeltightandhethrustthebrakedowntothefloor.Thetruckbumpedtoastop.Tomsighed.«Well,theresheis.»Heleanedbackintheseat.Alleapedoutandrantotherightfronttire.
«Greatbignail,"hecalled.«Wegotanytirepatch?»
«No,"saidAl.«Useditallup.Gotpatch,butnogluestuff.»TomturnedandsmiledsadlyatMa.«Youshouldn’atol’aboutthatdollar,"hesaid.«We’dafixedhersomeway.»Hegotoutofthecarandwenttotheflattire.Alpointedtoabignailprotrudingfromtheflatcasing.«Theresheis!»
«Ifthey’sonenailinthecounty,werunoverit.»
«Isitbad?»Macalled.
«No,notbad,butwegottofixher.»Thefamilypileddownfromthetopofthetruck.«Puncture?»Paasked,andthenhesawthetireandwassilent.
TommovedMafromtheseatandgotthecanoftirepatchfromunderneaththecushion.Heunrolledtherubberpatchandtookoutthetubeofcement,squeezeditgently.«She’salmos’dry,"hesaid.«Maybethey’senough.Awright,Al.Blockthebackwheels.Le’sgetherjackedup.»
TomandAlworkedwelltogether.Theyputstonesbehindthewheels,putthejackunderthefrontaxle,andliftedtheweightoffthelimpcasing.Theyrippedoffthecasing.Theyfoundthehole,dippedaraginthegastankandwashedthetubearoundthehole.
