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Grapes of Wrath Chapter 12
Highway 66 is the main thoroughfare from Oklahoma to California. "66 is the path of a people in flight, refugees from dust and shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and invasion, from the twisting winds that howl up out of Texas, from floods that bring no richness to the lnad and steal what little richness is there." Chapter 12, pg. 150 The highway leads over some harsh country, but ends in a fertile valley.
Migrants drive apprehensively between towns, hoping their car can hold up till the next stop. They pray they can get to California before their jalopy blows up. People along the way tell them to go back. They tell the migrants that the California border patrol will turn them back. The car parts sales men cheat them in every town. "Fella in business got to lie an' cheat, but he calls it somepin else...You go steal that tire an' you're a thief, but he tried to steal your four dollars for a busted tire. They call that sound business." Chapter 12, pg. 154
There is one beautiful story, which can "refire the faith forever." Chapter 12, pg. 155 A family of twelve builds a trailer out of junk, loads up their possessions in it, and brings it to the highway. A sedan picks them up and pulls their trailer all the way to California. This man feeds the family the whole way, too.
