О мышах и людях

           Georgesaid,«Guyslikeusgotnofambly.Theymakealittlestakean’thentheyblowitin.Theyain’tgotnobodyintheworl’thatgivesahootinhellabout‘em—"

           «Butnotus,»Lenniecriedhappily.«Tellaboutusnow.»

           Georgewasquietforamoment.«Butnotus,"hesaid.

           «Because—"

           «BecauseIgotyouan’—"

           «An’Igotyou.Wegoteachother,that’swhat,thatgivesahootinhellaboutus,"Lenniecriedintriumph.

           Thelittleeveningbreezeblewovertheclearingandtheleavesrustledandthewindwavesflowedupthegreenpool.Andtheshoutsofmensoundedagain,thistimemuchcloserthanbefore.

           Georgetookoffhishat.Hesaidshakily,«Takeoffyourhat,Lennie.Theairfeelsfine.»

           Lennieremovedhishatdutifullyandlaiditonthegroundinfrontofhim.Theshadowinthevalleywasbluer,andtheeveningcamefast.Onthewindthesoundofcrashinginthebrushcametothem.

           Lenniesaid,«Tellhowit’sgonnabe.»

           Georgehadbeenlisteningtothedistantsounds.Foramomenthewasbusinesslike.«Lookacrosttheriver,Lennie,an’I’lltellyousoyoucanalmostseeit.»

           LennieturnedhisheadandlookedoffacrossthepoolandupthedarkeningslopesoftheGabilans.«Wegonnagetalittleplace,"Georgebegan.