Унесенные ветром

Chapter 17

           "TherearenodesertersintheConfederatearmy."

           "Ibegyourpardon,"saidRhettwithmockhumility."Imeantthosethousandsonfurloughwhoforgottorejointheirregimentsandthosewhohavebeenovertheirwoundsforsixmonthsbutwhoremainathome,goingabouttheirusualbusinessordoingthespringplowing."

           HiseyesgleamedandMrs.Meadebitherlipinahuff.Scarlettwantedtogiggleatherdiscomfiture,forRhetthadcaughtherfairly.Therewerehundredsofmenskulkingintheswampsandthemountains,defyingtheprovostguardtodragthembacktothearmy.Theyweretheoneswhodeclareditwasa"richman’swarandapoorman’sfight"andtheyhadhadenoughofit.Butoutnumberingthesebyfarweremenwho,thoughcarriedoncompanyrollsasdeserters,hadnointentionofdesertingpermanently.Theyweretheoneswhohadwaitedthreeyearsinvainforfurloughsandwhiletheywaitedreceivedill-spelledlettersfromhome:"Weairhungry""Therewon’tbenocropthisyearthereain’tnobodytoplow.""Weairhungry.""Thecommissarytooktheshoats,andweain’thadnomoneyfromyouinmonths.Weairlivin’ondriedpeas."

           Alwaystherisingchorusswelled:"Wearehungry,yourwife,yourbabies,yourparents.Whenwillitbeover?Whenwillyoucomehome?Wearehungry,hungry."Whenfurloughsfromtherapidlythinningarmyweredenied,thesesoldierswenthomewithoutthem,toplowtheirlandandplanttheircrops,repairtheirhousesandbuilduptheirfences.

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