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Chapter 26
Thenightairwascoldwiththefirststingoffrost.Besidetheroadtheleaveswerebeginningtodropfromthefruittrees.Ontheload,Masatwithherbackagainstthetruckside,andPasatopposite,facingher.
Macalled,«Youallright,Tom?»Hismuffledvoicecameback,«Kindatightinhere.Weallthroughtheranch?»
«Youbecareful,"saidMa.«Mightgitstopped.»Tomlifteduponesideofhiscave.Inthedimnessofthetruckthepotsjangled.«Icanpullherdownquick.»hesaid.«’Sides,Idon’likegettin’trappedinhere.»Heresteduponhiselbow.«ByGod,she’sgettin’cold,ain’tshe?»
«They’scloudsup,"saidPa.«Fellasaysit’sgonnabeanearlywinter.»
«Squirrelsa-buildin’high,orgrassseeds?»Tomasked.«ByGod,youcantellweatherfromanythin’.Ibetyoucouldfindafellacouldtellweatherfromaoldpairofunderdrawers.»
«Idunno,"Pasaid.«Seemslikeit’sgittin’onwintertome.
Fella’dhavetoliveherealongtimetoknow.»
«Whichwaywea-goin’?»Tomasked.«Idunno.Al,heturnedofflef’.Seemslikehe’sgoin’backthewaywecome.»
Tomsaid,«Ican’tfiggerwhat’sbest.Seemslikeifwegetonthemainhighwaythey’llbemorecops.Withmyfacethis-a-way,they’dpickmerightup.Maybeweoughtakeeptobackroads.»
Masaid,«Hammerontheback.GetAltostop.»
Tompoundedthefrontboardwithhisfist;thetruckpulledtoastoponthesideoftheroad.Algotoutandwalkedtotheback.RuthieandWinfieldpeekedoutfromundertheirblanket.
