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Chapter 26
«Don’talkaboutit,"Masaid.«IknowedPurtyBoyFloyd’sma.Hewan’tabadboy.Jus’gotdroveinacorner.»Thesunmoveduptowardnoonandtheshadowofthetruckgrewleanandmovedinunderthewheels.
«Mus’bePixleyuptheroad,"Alsaid.«Seenasignalittleback.»Theydroveintothelittletownandturnedeastwardonanarrowerroad.Andtheorchardslinedthewayandmadeanaisle.
«Hopewecanfindhereasy,"Tomsaid.
Masaid,«ThatfellasaidtheHooperranch.Saidanybody’dtellus.Hopethey’sastorenearby.Mightgetsomecredit,withfourmenworkin’.Icouldgetarealnicesupperifthey’dgimmesomecredit.Makeupabigstewmaybe.»
«An’coffee,"saidTom.«MightevengetmeasackaDurham.Iain’thadnotobaccaofmyownforalongtime.»
Faraheadtheroadwasblockedwithcars,andalineofwhitemotorcycleswasdrawnupalongtheroadside.«Mus’beawreck,"Tomsaid.
Astheydrewnear,aStatepoliceman,inbootsandSamBrownebelt,steppedaroundthelastparkedcar.HehelduphishandandAlpulledtoastop.Thepolicemanleanedconfidentiallyonthesideofthecar.«Whereyougoing?»
Alsaid,«Fellasaidtheywasworkpickin’peachesupthisway.»
«Wanttowork,doyou?»
«Damnright,"saidTom.«O.K.Waithereaminute.»Hemovedtothesideoftheroadandcalledahead.«Onemore.That’ssixcarsready.Bettertakethisbatchthrough.»Tomcalled,«Hey!What’sthematter?»Thepatrolmanloungedback.«Gotalittletroubleupahead.Don’tyouworry.
