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Chapter 30
«Comegetontopofthepile.You’llgetcold.»Shesawthemsafelyup,sittingawkwardlybesideRoseofSharon.Masaidsuddenly,«Wegottogitout.»
«Wecan’t,"Pasaid.«LikeAlsays,allourstuff’shere.We’llpullofftheboxcardooran’makemoreroomtoseton.»
THEFAMILYhuddledontheplatforms,silentandfretful.Thewaterwassixinchesdeepinthecarbeforethefloodspreadevenlyovertheembankmentandmovedintothecottonfieldontheotherside.Duringthatdayandnightthemensleptsoddenly,sidebysideontheboxcardoor.AndMalayclosetoRoseofSharon.SometimesMawhisperedtoherandsometimessatupquietly,herfacebrooding.Undertheblanketshehoardedtheremainsofthestorebread.
Therainhadbecomeintermittentnow—littlewetsquallsandquiettimes.OnthemorningoftheseconddayPasplashedthroughthecampandcamebackwithtenpotatoesinhispockets.Mawatchedhimsullenlywhilehechoppedoutpartoftheinnerwallofthecar,builtafire,andscoopedwaterintoapan.Thefamilyatethesteamingboiledpotatoeswiththeirfingers.Andwhenthislastfoodwasgone,theystaredatthegraywater;andinthenighttheydidnotliedownforalongtime.
Whenthemorningcametheyawakenednervously.RoseofSharonwhisperedtoMa.
Manoddedherhead.«Yes,"shesaid.«It’stimeforit.»Andthensheturnedtothecardoor,wherethemenlay.«We’rea-gettin’outahere,"shesaidsavagely,«gettin’tohighergroun’.
