Гроздья гнева
Chapter 26
Heswungaboutandstartedback.Hewalkedquietlyalongtheroadahundredyards,andthenhestoppedandlistened.Thetwitteringcallofaraccoonsoundedneartheirrigationditchand,veryfaraway,theangryhowlofatieddog.Tomsatdownbesidetheroadandlistened.Heheardthehighsoftlaughterofanighthawkandthestealthymovementofacreepinganimalinthestubble.Heinspectedtheskylineinbothdirections,darkframesbothways,nothingtoshowagainst.Nowhestoodupandwalkedslowlytotherightoftheroad,offintothestubblefield,andhewalkedbentdown,nearlyaslowasthehaycocks.Hemovedslowlyandstoppedoccasionallytolisten.Atlasthecametothewirefence,fivestrandsoftautbarbedwire.Besidethefencehelayonhisback,movedhisheadundertheloweststrand,heldthewireupwithhishandsandslidhimselfunder,pushingagainstthegroundwithhisfeet.
Hewasabouttogetupwhenagroupofmenwalkedbyontheedgeofthehighway.Tomwaiteduntiltheywerefaraheadbeforehestoodupandfollowedthem.Hewatchedthesideoftheroadfortents.Afewautomobileswentby.Astreamcutacrossthefields,andthehighwaycrosseditonasmallconcretebridge.Tomlookedoverthesideofthebridge.Inthebottomofthedeepravinehesawatentandalanternwasburninginside.Hewatcheditforamoment,sawtheshadowsofpeopleagainstthecanvaswalls.Tomclimbedafenceandmoveddownintotheravinethroughbrushanddwarfwillows;andinthebottom,besideatinystream,hefoundatrail.
