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Chapter 30
Jus’gripyahans’.Nowthen,takeyourlipintayourteeth.Tha’sgoodtha’sgood.»Thepainpassedon.Theyletherrestawhile,andthenhelpedherupagain,andthethreewalkedbackandforth,backandforthbetweenthepains.
Pastuckhisheadinthroughthenarrowopening.Hishatdrippedwithwater.«Whatyashutthedoorfor?»heasked.Andthenhesawthewalkingwomen.
Masaid,«Hertime’scome.»
«Then—thenwecouldn’go’fwewantedto.»
«No.»
«Thenwegottobuil’thatbank.»
«Yougotto.»
Pasloshedthroughthemudtothestream.Hismarkingstickwasfourinchesdown.Twentymenstoodintherain.Pacried,«Wegottobuildher.Mygirlgotherpains.»Themengatheredabouthim.
«Baby?»
«Yeah.Wecan’tgonow.»
Atallmansaid,«Itain’tourbaby.Wekingo.»
«Sure,"Pasaid.«Youcango.Goon.Nobody’sstoppin’you.They’sonlyeightshovels.»Hehurriedtothelowerpartofthebankanddrovehisshovelintothemud.Theshovelfulliftedwithasuckingsound.Hedroveitagain,andthrewthemudintothelowplaceonthestreambank.Andbesidehimtheothermenrangedthemselves.Theyheapedthemudupinalongembankment,andthosewhohadnoshovelscutlivewillowwhipsandwovetheminamatandkickedthemintothebank.Overthemencameafuryofwork,afuryofbattle.Whenonemandroppedtheshovel,anothertookitup.Theyhadshedtheircoatsandhats.Theirshirtsandtrousersclungtightlytotheirbodies,theirshoeswereshapelessblobsofmud.AshrillscreamcamefromtheJoadcar.
