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Chapter 28
Thewire-sidedtrailerswerehookedonbehindwire-sidedtrucks,andtheymovedouttothehighwayanddroveawaytothegin.Thecottonfluffedoutthroughthechickenwireandlittlecloudsofcottonblewthroughtheair,andragsofcottoncaughtandwavedontheweedsbesidetheroad.Thepickersclustereddisconsolatelybacktothebarnyardandstoodinlinetobepaidoff.
«Hume,James.Twenty-twocents.Ralph,thirtycents.Joad,Thomas,ninetycents.Winfield,fifteencents.»Themoneylayinrolls,silverandnickelsandpennies.Andeachmanlookedinhisownbookashewasbeingpaid.«Wainwright,Agnes,thirty-fourcents.Tobin,sixty-threecents.»Thelinemovedpastslowly.Thefamilieswentbacktotheircars,silently.Andtheydroveslowlyaway.
JoadsandWainwrightswaitedinthetruckforthedrivewaytoclear.Andastheywaited,thefirstdropsofrainbegantofall.Alputhishandoutofthecabtofeelthem.RoseofSharonsatinthemiddle,andMaontheoutside.Thegirl’seyeswerelusterlessagain.
«Youshouldn’ofcame,"Masaid.«Youdidn’pickmore’nten-fifteenpounds.»RoseofSharonlookeddownathergreatbulgingbelly,andshedidn’treply.Sheshiveredsuddenlyandheldherheadhigh.Ma,watchingherclosely,unrolledhercottonbag,spreaditoverRoseofSharon’sshoulders,anddrewherclose.
Atlastthewaywasclear.Alstartedhismotoranddroveoutintothehighway.Thebiginfrequentdropsofrainlanceddownandsplashedontheroad,andasthetruckmovedalong,thedropsbecamesmallerandclose.
