О мышах и людях

           Lenniecriedoutsuddenly—«Idon’tlikethisplace,George.Thisain’tnogoodplace.Iwannagetoutahere.»

           «Wegottakeepittillwegetastake.Wecan’thelpit,Lennie.We’llgetoutjus’assoonaswecan.Idon’tlikeitnobetterthanyoudo.»Hewentbacktothetableandsetoutanewsolitairehand.«No,Idon’tlikeit,"hesaid.«FortwobitsI’dshoveoutofhere.Ifwecangetjus’afewdollarsinthepokewe’llshoveoffandgouptheAmericanRiverandpangold.Wecanmakemaybeacoupleofdollarsadaythere,andwemighthitapocket.»

           Lennieleanedeagerlytowardhim.«Le’sgo,George.Le’sgetoutahere.It’smeanhere.»

           «Wegottastay,"Georgesaidshortly.«Shutupnow.Theguys’llbecomin’in.»

           Fromthewashroomnearbycamethesoundofrunningwaterandrattlingbasins.Georgestudiedthecards.«Maybeweoughttawashup,"hesaid.«Butweain’tdonenothingtogetdirty.»

           Atallmanstoodinthedoorway.HeheldacrushedStetsonhatunderhisarmwhilehecombedhislong,black,damphairstraightback.Liketheothersheworebluejeansandashortdenimjacket.Whenhehadfinishedcombinghishairhemovedintotheroom,andhemovedwithamajestyachievedonlybyroyaltyandmastercraftsmen.Hewasajerklineskinner,theprinceoftheranch,capableofdrivingten,sixteen,eventwentymuleswithasinglelinetotheleaders.Hewascapableofkillingaflyonthewheeler’sbuttwithabullwhipwithouttouchingthemule.Therewasagravityinhismannerandaquietsoprofoundthatalltalkstoppedwhenhespoke.