О мышах и людях

           AuntClarawasgone,andfromoutofLennie’sheadtherecameagiganticrabbit.Itsatonitshaunchesinfrontofhim,anditwaggleditsearsandcrinkleditsnoseathim.AnditspokeinLennie’svoicetoo.

           «Tendrabbits,"itsaidscornfully.«Youcrazybastard.Youain’tfittolickthebootsofnorabbit.You’dforget‘emandlet‘emgohungry.That’swhatyou’ddo.An’thenwhatwouldGeorgethink?»

           «Iwouldnotforget,"Lenniesaidloudly.

           «Thehellyouwouldn’,"saidtherabbit.«Youain’tworthagreasedjack-pintoramyouintohell.ChristknowsGeorgedoneever’thinghecouldtojackyououtathesewer,butitdon’tdonogood.IfyouthinkGeorgegonnaletyoutendrabbits,you’reevencrazier’nusual.Heain’t.He’sgonnabeathelloutayouwithastick,that’swhathe’sgonnado.»

           NowLennieretortedbelligerently,«Heain’tneither.Georgewon’tdonothinglikethat.I’veknewGeorgesince—Iforgetwhen—andheain’tneverraisedhishan’tomewithastick.He’snicetome.Heain’tgonnabemean.»

           «Well,he’ssickofyou,"saidtherabbit.«He’sgonnabeathelloutayouan’thengoawayan’leaveyou.»

           «Hewon’t,"Lenniecriedfrantically.«Hewon’tdonothinglikethat.IknowGeorge.Mean’himtravelstogether.»

           Buttherabbitrepeatedsoftlyoverandover,«Hegonnaleaveyou,yacrazybastard.Hegonnaleaveyaallalone.Hegonnaleaveya,crazybastard.»

           Lennieputhishandsoverhisears.«Heain’t,Itellyaheain’t.»Andhecried,«Oh!George—George—George!»