О мышах и людях

           «Slim?»

           «Yeah.Bigtallskinner.You’llseehimatdinner.»Heturnedabruptlyandwenttothedoor,butbeforehewentoutheturnedandlookedforalongmomentatthetwomen.

           Whenthesoundofhisfootstepshaddiedaway,GeorgeturnedonLennie.«Soyouwasn’tgonnasayaword.Youwasgonnaleaveyourbigflappershutandleavemedothetalkin’.Damnnearlostusthejob.»

           Lenniestaredhopelesslyathishands.«Iforgot,George.»

           «Yeah,youforgot.Youalwaysforget,an’Igottotalkyououtofit.»Hesatdownheavilyonthebunk.«Nowhe’sgothiseyeonus.Nowwegottobecarefulandnotmakenoslips.Youkeepyourbigflappershutafterthis.»Hefellmoroselysilent.

           «George.»

           «Whatyouwantnow?»

           «Iwasn’tkickedintheheadwithnohorse,wasI,George?»

           «Beadamngoodthingifyouwas,"Georgesaidviciously.«Saveever’bodyahellofalotoftrouble.»

           «YousaidIwasyourcousin,George.»

           «Well,thatwasalie.An’I’mdamngladitwas.IfIwasarelativeofyoursI’dshootmyself.»Hestoppedsuddenly,steppedtotheopenfrontdoorandpeeredout.«Say,whatthehellyoudoin’listenin’?»