We got to go. Pa,” Tom said, “Noah ain’t a-goin’.
He walked on down the river.”
“Ain’t goin’?
What the hell’s the matter with him?” And then Pa caught himself. “My fault,” he said miserably. “That boy’s all my fault.”
“No.”
“I don’t wanta talk about it no more,” said Pa. “I can’t—my fault.”
“Well, we got to go,” said Tom.
Wilson walked near for the last words.
“We can’t go, folks,” he said. “Sairy’s done up.
She got to res’.
She ain’t gonna git acrost that desert alive.”
They were silent at his words; then Tom said,
“Cop says he’ll run us in if we’re here tomorra.”
Wilson shook his head.
His eyes were glazed with worry, and a paleness showed through his dark skin.
“Jus’ hafta do ’er, then.
Sairy can’t go.
If they jail us, why, they’ll hafta jail us.
She got to res’ an’ get strong.”
Pa said,
“Maybe we better wait an’ all go together.”
“No,” Wilson said. “You been nice to us; you been kin’, but you can’t stay here.
You got to get on an’ get jobs and work.
We ain’t gonna let you stay.”
Pa said excitedly,
“But you ain’t got nothing.”
Wilson smiled.
“Never had nothin’ when you took us up.
This ain’t none of your business.
Don’t you make me git mean.
You got to go, or I’ll get mean an’ mad.”
Ma beckoned Pa into the cover of the tarpaulin and spoke softly to him.
Wilson turned to Casy.
“Sairy wants you should go see her.”
“Sure,” said the preacher.
He walked to the Wilson tent, tiny and gray, and he slipped the flaps aside and entered.
It was dusky and hot inside.
The mattress lay on the ground, and the equipment was scattered about, as it had been unloaded in the morning.
Sairy lay on the mattress, her eyes wide and bright.
He stood and looked down at her, his large head bent and the stringy muscles of his neck tight along the sides.
And he took off his hat and held it in his hand.
She said,
“Did my man tell ya we couldn’ go on?”
“Tha’s what he said.”
Her low, beautiful voice went on,
“I wanted us to go.
I knowed I wouldn’ live to the other side, but he’d be acrost anyways.
But he won’t go.
He don’ know.
He thinks it’s gonna be all right.