О мышах и людях

           Lenniestillknelt.Helookedoffintothedarknessacrosstheriver.«George,youwantIshouldgoawayandleaveyoualone?»

           «Wherethehellcouldyougo?»

           «Well,Icould.Icouldgooffinthehillsthere.SomeplaceI’dfindacave.»

           «Yeah?How’dyoueat?Youain’tgotsenseenoughtofindnothingtoeat.»

           «I’dfindthings,George.Idon’tneednonicefoodwithketchup.I’dlayoutinthesunandnobody’dhurtme.An’ifIfoun’amouse,Icouldkeepit.Nobody’dtakeitawayfromme.»

           Georgelookedquicklyandsearchinglyathim.«Ibeenmean,ain’tI?»

           «Ifyoudon’wantmeIcangooffinthehillsan’findacave.Icangoawayanytime.»

           «No—look!Iwasjus’foolin’,Lennie.‘CauseIwantyoutostaywithme.Troublewithmiceisyoualwayskill‘em.»Hepaused.«TellyouwhatI’lldo,Lennie.FirstchanceIgetI’llgiveyouapup.Maybeyouwouldn’tkillit.That’dbebetterthanmice.Andyoucouldpetitharder.»

           Lennieavoidedthebait.Hehadsensedhisadvantage.«Ifyoudon’twantme,youonlyjus’gottosayso,andI’llgooffinthosehillsrightthere—rightupinthosehillsandlivebymyself.An’Iwon’tgetnomicestolefromme.»

           Georgesaid,«Iwantyoutostaywithme,Lennie.JesusChrist,somebody’dshootyouforacoyoteifyouwasbyyourself.No,youstaywithme.YourAuntClarawouldn’tlikeyourunningoffbyyourself,evenifsheisdead.»