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Chapter 26
«Well,jus’bequiet,then.»Thecupsofcoffeewereonthefloor.Theshortthickflameofthelantern,likeastubbybutterfly’swing,castayellowgloomonthewalls.
«Nowtell,"saidTom.Masaid,«Pa,youtell.»UncleJohnsluppedhiscoffee.Pasaid,«Well,theydroppedthepricelikeyousaid.An’theywasawholeslewanewpickerssogoddamnhungrythey’dpickforaloafabread.Goforapeach,an’somebody’dgetitfirst.Gonnagetthewholecroppickedrightoff.Fellasrunnin’toanewtree.Iseenfights—onefellaclaimsit’shistree,’notherfellawantstopickoff’nit.Brangtheseherefolksfromasfar’sElCentro.Hungrier’nhell.Workalldayforapieceabread.Isaystothechecker,‘Wecan’tworkfortwoan’ahalfcentsabox,’an’hesays,‘Goon,then,quit.Thesefellascan.’Isays,‘Soon’stheygetfeduptheywon’t.’An’hesays,’Hell,we’llhavetheseherepeachesin‘foretheygetfedup.’"Pastopped.
«Shewasadevil,"saidUncleJohn.«Theysaythey’stwohunderdmoremencomin’intonight.»
Tomsaid,«Yeah!Buthowabouttheother?»Pawassilentforawhile.«Tom,"hesaid,«lookslikeyoudoneit.»
«Ikindathoughtso.Couldn’see.Feltlikeit.»
«Seemslikethepeopleain’ttalkin’’boutmuchelse,"saidUncleJohn.«Theygotpossesout,an’they’sfellastalkin’upalynchin’’coursewhentheycatchthefella.»
Tomlookedoveratthewide-eyedchildren.Theyseldomblinkedtheireyes.
