О мышах и людях

           «Aw,Lennie!»GeorgeputhishandonLennie’sshoulder.«Iain’ttakin’itawayjus’formeanness.Thatmouseain’tfresh,Lennie;andbesides,you’vebrokeitpettin’it.Yougetanothermousethat’sfreshandI’llletyoukeepitalittlewhile.» 

           Lenniesatdownonthegroundandhunghisheaddejectedly. «Idon’tknowwherethereisnoothermouse.Irememberaladyusedtogive‘emtome—ever’oneshegot.Butthatladyain’there.» 

           Georgescoffed. «Lady,huh?Don’tevenrememberwhothatladywas.ThatwasyourownAuntClara.An’shestoppedgivin’‘emtoya.Youalwayskilled‘em.» 

           Lennielookedsadlyupathim. «Theywassolittle,"hesaid,apologetically.«I’dpet‘em,andprettysoontheybitmyfingersandIpinchedtheirheadsalittleandthentheywasdead—becausetheywassolittle. 

           «Iwishtwe’dgettherabbitsprettysoon,George.Theyain’tsolittle.» 

           «Thehellwiththerabbits.An’youain’ttobetrustedwithnolivemice.YourAuntClaragiveyouarubbermouseandyouwouldn’thavenothingtodowithit.» 

           «Itwasn’tnogoodtopet,"saidLennie. 

           Theflameofthesunsetliftedfromthemountaintopsandduskcameintothevalley,andahalfdarknesscameinamongthewillowsandthesycamores. Abigcarprosetothesurfaceofthepool,gulpedairandthensankmysteriouslyintothedarkwateragain,leavingwideningringsonthewater. Overheadtheleaveswhiskedagainandlittlepuffsofwillowcottonblewdownandlandedonthepool’ssurface.