e traveling west. Casey is trying to think of what the future holds for them. Tom is introduced to the concept of expanding the meaning of family to include all humanity but still insists that he is "still layin' my dogs down one at a time." In chapter 20 a man explains to Tom that the landowners print up thousands of handbills to fill positions for a few hundred. When hordes of destitute workers come they offer the jobs for extremely low wages. Tom has digested what Casey was saying about thinking of the future and the wider concept of family. Tom asks why the desperate workers did not bind together and organize a strike. The man explains that as soon as someone even talks of organizing he is arrested for stirring trouble. The man tells Tom that if he runs into a deputy to act "bull simple" because that is how the migrants are thought to act. Hearing this strips away Tom's levels of self-esteem and belonging. Casey talks to Tom about being disturbed by the situation with all of the destitute people are trapped in. He tells Tom that these people should have a more descent life and wonders how he can make things better for them. Tom listens and thinks the same as Casey but is unsure on how to make a difference. At the camp, a contractor and deputy unjustly try to arrest a man for insisting on a contract stating the wage. Tom sees this and is enraged that the deputy is wrongly prosecuting a man that is just doing what he sees as right much like Tom was when he killed the man in self-defense. Tom defends the man and a scuffle ensues. Tom renders the deputy unconscious as the contractor runs for help. Casey tells Tom to go hide outside the camp because of the parole violation hanging over him. Casey takes the blame for Tom sacrificing himself much like Christ did for sinners. Tom talks to Ma and tells her that he is becoming "mean mad." The deputies and landowners are eating away at the migrant’s decency and turning them into animals....
