Гроздья гнева
Chapter 28
«Thenifyouwantares’,youcankeepwarm.»Theyheardthetruckmotorroarupbehindtheboxcar.«Wegonnabefirstout,"Masaidexultantly.«Awright,getyoursacks.Ruthie,don’youforgetthemshirtsIfixedforyoutopickin.»
WainwrightsandJoadsclimbedintothetruckinthedark.Thedawnwascoming,butitwasslowandpale.
«Turnlef’,"MatoldAl.«They’llbeasignoutwherewe’regoin’.»Theydrovealongthedarkroad.Andothercarsfollowedthem,andbehind,inthecamp,thecarswerebeingstarted,thefamiliespilingin;andthecarspulledoutonthehighwayandturnedleft.
Apieceofcardboardwastiedtoamailboxontherighthandsideoftheroad,andonit,printedwithbluecrayon,«CottonPickersWanted.»Alturnedintotheentranceanddroveouttothebarnyard.Andthebarnyardwasfullofcarsalready.Anelectricglobeontheendofthewhitebarnlightedagroupofmenandwomenstandingnearthescales,theirbagsrolledundertheirarms.Someofthewomenworethebagsovertheirshouldersandcrossedinfront.
«Weain’tsoearlyaswethought,"saidAl.Hepulledthetruckagainstafenceandparked.Thefamiliesclimbeddownandwenttojointhewaitinggroup,andmorecarscameinfromtheroadandparked,andmorefamiliesjoinedthegroup.Underthelightonthebarnend,theownersignedthemin.
«Hawley?»hesaid.«H-a-w-l-e-y?Howmany?»
«Four.Will—"
«Will.»
«Benton—"
«Benton.»
«Amelia—"
«Amelia.»
«Claire—"
«Claire.Who’snext?Carpenter?Howmany?»
«Six.»
