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Chapter 26
Thelightwoodcaughtandroareditsflameinthechimney.
Pafinishedbreakingtheboxes.HecameneartoTom.«Casy—hewasagoodman.What’dhewantamesswiththatstufffor?»Tomsaiddully,«Theycometoworkforfi’centsabox.»
«That’swhatwe’rea-gettin’.»
«Yeah.Whatwewasa-doin’wasbreakin’strike.Theygivethemfellastwoan’ahalfcents.»
«Youcan’teatonthat.»
«Iknow,"Tomsaidwearily.«That’swhytheystruck.Well,Ithinktheybustthestrikelas’night.We’llmaybebegettin’twoan’ahalfcentstoday.»
«Why,thesons-a-bitches—"
«Yeah!Pa.Yousee?Casywasstilla—goodman.Goddamnit,Ican’tgetthatpitcheroutamyhead.Himlayin’there—headjus’crushedflatan’oozin’.Jesus!»Hecoveredhiseyeswithhishand.«Well,whatwegonnado?»UncleJohnasked.Alwasstandingupnow.«Well,byGod,IknowwhatI’mgonnado.I’mgonnagetoutofit.»
«No,youain’t,Al,"Tomsaid.«Weneedyounow.I’mtheone.I’madangernow.Soon’sIgetonmyfeetIgottogo.»
Maworkedatthestove.Herheadwashalfturnedtohear.Sheputgreaseinthefryingpan,andwhenitwhisperedwithheat,shespoonedthedoughintoit.
Tomwenton,«Yougottostay,Al.Yougottotakecareathetruck.»
«Well,Idon’likeit.»
«Can’thelpit,Al.It’syourfolks.Youcanhelp’em.I’madangerto’em.»Algrumbledangrily.«Idon’knowwhyIain’tlettogetmeajobinagarage.»
«Later,maybe.»
