Гроздья гнева
Chapter 6
"Whogotaknife?Le’sgetattheseheremiserablerodents.Le’sgetat’em."
Muleyreachedinhispantspocketandproducedalargehorn-handledpocketknife.TomJoadtookitfromhim,openedablade,andsmelledit.Hedrovethebladeagainandagainintothegroundandsmelleditagain,wipeditonhistrouserleg,andfelttheedgewithhisthumb.
Muleytookaquartbottleofwateroutofhishippocketandsetitontheporch."Goeasyonthattherewater,"hesaid."That’sallthereis.Thisherewell’sfilledin."
Tomtookuparabbitinhishand."Oneofyougogetsomebalewireoutathebarn.We’llmakeafirewithsomeathisbrokenplankfromthehouse."Helookedatthedeadrabbit."Thereain’tnothin’soeasytogetreadyasarabbit,"hesaid.Heliftedtheskinoftheback,slitit,puthisfingersinthehole,andtoretheskinoff.Itslippedofflikeastocking,slippedoffthebodytotheneck,andoffthelegstothepaws.Joadpickeduptheknifeagainandcutoffheadandfeet.Helaidtheskindown,slittherabbitalongtheribs,shookouttheintestinesontotheskin,andthenthrewthemessoffintothecottonfield.Andtheclean-muscledlittlebodywasready.Joadcutoffthelegsandcutthemeatybackintotwopieces.HewaspickingupthesecondrabbitwhenCasycamebackwithasnarlofbalewireinhishand."Nowbuildupafireandputsomestakesup,"saidJoad."JesusChrist,I’mhungryfortheseherecreatures!"Hecleanedandcuttherestoftherabbitsandstrungthemonthewire.
