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Chapter 6
Heleapedtohisfeetandslidthepiecesofmeatalongthewireuntiltheywereclearofthefire.HetookMuley’sknifeandsawedthroughapieceofmeatuntilitwasfreeofthewire."Here’sforthepreacher,"hesaid.
"Itol’youIain’tnopreacher."
"Well,here’sfortheman,then."Hecutoffanotherpiece."Here,Muley,ifyouain’ttoogoddamnupsettoeat.Thishere’sjackrabbit.Tougher’nabull-bitch."Hesatbackandclampedhislongteethonthemeatandtoreoutagreatbiteandchewedit."JesusChrist!Hearhercrunch!"Andhetoreoutanotherbiteravenously.
Muleystillsatregardinghismeat."MaybeIoughtn’toa-talkedlikethat,"hesaid."Fellashouldmaybekeepstufflikethatinhishead."
Casylookedover,hismouthfullofrabbit.Hechewed,andhismuscledthroatconvulsedinswallowing."Yes,youshouldtalk,"hesaid."Sometimesasadmancantalkthesadnessrightoutthroughhismouth.Sometimesakillin’mancantalkthemurderrightoutofhismouthan’notdonomurder.Youdoneright.Don’tyoukillnobodyifyoucanhelpit."Andhebitoutanotherhunkofrabbit.Joadtossedthebonesinthefireandjumpedupandcutoffthewire.Muleywaseatingslowlynow,andhisnervouslittleeyeswentfromonetotheotherofhiscompanions.Joadatescowlinglikeananimal,andaringofgreaseformedaroundhismouth.
ForalongtimeMuleylookedathim,almosttimidly.Heputdownthehandthatheldthemeat."Tommy,"hesaid.
