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Chapter 6
Heunwrappedthelandturtleandpusheditunderthehouse.Butinamomentitwasout,headedsouthwestasithadbeenfromthefirst.Thecatleapedatitandstruckatitsstrainingheadandslashedatitsmovingfeet.Theold,hard,humorousheadwaspulledin,andthethicktailslappedinundertheshell,andwhenthecatgrewtiredofwaitingforitandwalkedoff,theturtleheadedonsouthwestagain.
YoungTomJoadandthepreacherwatchedtheturtlego—wavingitslegsandboostingitsheavy,high-domedshellalongtowardthesouthwest.Thecatcreptalongbehindforawhile,butinadozenyardsitarcheditsbacktoastrongtautbowandyawned,andcamestealthilybacktowardtheseatedmen.
"Wherethehellyous’posehe’sgoin’?"saidJoad."Iseenturtlesallmylife.They’realwaysgoin’someplace.Theyalwaysseemtowanttogetthere."Thegraycatseateditselfbetweenandbehindthemagain.Itblinkedslowly.Theskinoveritsshouldersjerkedforwardunderaflea,andthenslippedslowlyback.Thecatliftedapawandinspectedit,flickeditsclawsoutandinagainexperimentally,andlickeditspadswithashell-pinktongue.Theredsuntouchedthehorizonandspreadoutlikeajellyfish,andtheskyaboveitseemedmuchbrighterandmorealivethanithadbeen.Joadunrolledhisnewyellowshoesfromhiscoat,andhebrushedhisdustyfeetwithhishandbeforeheslippedthemon.
Thepreacher,staringoffacrossthefields,said,"Somebody’scomin’.Look!Downthere,rightthroughthecotton."
