Гроздья гнева
Chapter 28
Hereandthereshewasrecognizedasshewentby.«Evenin’,Mis’Joad.»
«Evenin’.»
«Takin’somepinout,Mis’Joad?»
«They’safrien’.I’mtakin’backsomebread.»Shecameatlasttotheendofthelineoftents.Shestoppedandlookedback.Aglowoflightwasonthecamp,andthesoftovertoneofamultitudeofspeakers.Nowandthenaharshervoicecutthrough.Thesmellofsmokefilledtheair.Someoneplayedaharmonicasoftly,tryingforaneffect,onephraseoverandover.
Masteppedinamongthewillowsbesidethestream.Shemovedoffthetrailandwaited,silently,listeningtohearanypossiblefollower.Amanwalkeddownthetrailtowardthecamp,boostinghissuspendersandbuttoninghisjeansashewent.Masatverystill,andhepassedonwithoutseeingher.Shewaitedfiveminutesandthenshestoodupandcreptonupthetrailbesidethestream.Shemovedquietly,soquietlythatshecouldhearthemurmurofthewaterabovehersoftstepsonthewillowleaves.Trailandstreamswungtotheleftandthentotherightagainuntiltheynearedthehighway.InthegraystarlightshecouldseetheembankmentandtheblackroundholeoftheculvertwhereshealwaysleftTom’sfood.Shemovedforwardcautiously,thrustherpackageintothehole,andtookbacktheemptytinplatewhichwasleftthere.Shecreptbackamongthewillows,forcedherwayintoathicket,andsatdowntowait.Throughthetangleshecouldseetheblackholeoftheculvert.Sheclaspedherkneesandsatsilently.Inafewmomentsthethicketcrepttolifeagain.
