О мышах и людях

           «Yougonnagetthatwood?»Georgedemanded.«There’splentyrightupagainstthebackofthatsycamore.Floodwaterwood.Nowyougetit.»

           Lenniewentbehindthetreeandbroughtoutalitterofdriedleavesandtwigs.Hethrewtheminaheapontheoldashpileandwentbackformoreandmore.Itwasalmostnightnow.Adove’swingswhistledoverthewater.Georgewalkedtothefirepileandlightedthedryleaves.Theflamecrackedupamongthetwigsandfelltowork.Georgeundidhisbindleandbroughtoutthreecansofbeans.Hestoodthemaboutthefire,closeinagainsttheblaze,butnotquitetouchingtheflame.

           «There’senoughbeansforfourmen,"Georgesaid.

           Lenniewatchedhimfromoverthefire.Hesaidpatiently,«Ilike‘emwithketchup.»

           «Well,weain’tgotany,"Georgeexploded.«Whateverweain’tgot,that’swhatyouwant.Goda’mighty,ifIwasaloneIcouldlivesoeasy.Icouldgogetajoban’work,an’notrouble.Nomessatall,andwhentheendofthemonthcomeIcouldtakemyfiftybucksandgointotownandgetwhateverIwant.Why,Icouldstayinacathouseallnight.IcouldeatanyplaceIwant,hoteloranyplace,andorderanydamnthingIcouldthinkof.An’Icoulddoallthateverydamnmonth.Getagallonofwhisky,orsetinapoolroomandplaycardsorshootpool.»LenniekneltandlookedoverthefireattheangryGeorge.AndLennie’sfacewasdrawnwithterror.«An’whattaIgot,"Georgewentonfuriously.«Igotyou!Youcan’tkeepajobandyoulosemeever’jobIget.Jus’keepmeshovin’alloverthecountryallthetime.An’thatain’ttheworst.Yougetintrouble.YoudobadthingsandIgottogetyouout.»Hisvoicerosenearlytoashout.«Youcrazyson-of-a-bitch.Youkeepmeinhotwaterallthetime.»