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Chapter 26
Themencameinagain,theirfacesdrippingandtheirhairshiningwithwater.«Leavemeather,"Tomcried.Theytooktheplates.Theyatesilently,wolfishly,andwipedupthegreasewiththebread.Thechildrenretiredintothecorneroftheroom,puttheirplatesonthefloor,andkneltinfrontofthefoodlikelittleanimals.
Tomswallowedthelastofhisbread.«Gotanymore,Ma?»
«No,"shesaid.«That’sall.Youmadeadollar,an’that’sadollar’sworth.»
«That?»
«Theychargeextryouthere.Wegottogointownwhenwecan.»
«Iain’tfull,"saidTom.«Well,tomorrayou’llgetinafullday.Tomorranight—we’llhaveplenty.»Alwipedhismouthonhissleeve.«GuessI’lltakealookaround,"hesaid.
«Wait,I’llgowithyou.»Tomfollowedhimoutside.InthedarknessTomwentclosetohisbrother.«Sureyoudon’wantacomewithme?»
«No.I’mgonnalookaroun’likeIsaid.»
«O.K.,"saidTom.Heturnedawayandstrolleddownthestreet.Thesmokefromthehouseshunglowtotheground,andthelanternsthrewtheirpicturesofdoorwaysandwindowsintothestreet.Onthedoorstepspeoplesatandlookedoutintothedarkness.Tomcouldseetheirheadsturnastheireyesfollowedhimdownthestreet.Atthestreetendthedirtroadcontinuedacrossastubblefield,andtheblacklumpsofhaycockswerevisibleinthestarlight.Athinbladeofmoonwaslowintheskytowardthewest,andthelongcloudofthemilkywaytrailedclearlyoverhead.»
