Гроздья гнева
Chapter 26
Tompickeditupanddroppedthelevertoseethatacartridgewasinthechamber.Hetestedthehammeronhalf-cock.Andthenhewentbacktohismattress.Helaidtherifleonthefloorbesidehim,stockupandbarrelpointingdown.RoseofSharon’svoicethinnedtoawhimper.Tomlaydownagainandcoveredhimself,coveredhisbruisedcheekwiththeblanketandmadealittletunneltobreathethrough.Hesighed,«Jesus,oh,Jesus!»
Outsideagroupofcarswentby,andvoicessounded.«Howmanymen?»
«Jes’us—three.Whatchapayin’?»
«Yougotohousetwenty-five.Number’srightonthedoor.»
«O.K.,mister.Whatchapayin’?»
«Twoandahalfcents.»
«Why,goddamnit,amancan’tmakehisdinner!»
«That’swhatwe’repayin’.There’stwohundredmencomingfromtheSouththat’llbegladtogetit.»
«But,Jesus,mister!»
«Goonnow.Eithertakeitorgoonalong.Igotnotimetoargue.»
«But—"
«Look.Ididn’settheprice.I’mjustcheckingyouin.Ifyouwantit,takeit.Ifyoudon’t,turnrightaroundandgoalong.»
«Twenty-five,yousay?»
«Yes,twenty-five.»
Tomdozedonhismattress.Astealthysoundintheroomawakenedhim.Hishandcrepttotherifleandtightenedonthegrip.Hedrewbackthecoversfromhisface.RoseofSharonwasstandingbesidehismattress.
«Whatyouwant?»Tomdemanded.
«Yousleep,"shesaid.«Youjus’sleepoff.I’llwatchthedoor.Theywon’tnobodygetin.»
Hestudiedherfaceforamoment.«O.K.,"hesaid,andhecoveredhisfacewiththeblanketagain.
