О мышах и людях

           «Sure,"saidGeorge.«Wekindalookaftereachother.»HeindicatedLenniewithhisthumb.«Heain’tbright.Hellofagoodworker,though.Hellofanicefella,butheain’tbright.I’veknewhimforalongtime.»

           SlimlookedthroughGeorgeandbeyondhim.«Ain’tmanyguystravelaroundtogether,"hemused.«Idon’tknowwhy.Maybeever’bodyinthewholedamnworldisscaredofeachother.»

           «It’salotnicertogoaroundwithaguyyouknow,"saidGeorge.

           Apowerful,big-stomachedmancameintothebunkhouse.Hisheadstilldrippedwaterfromthescrubbinganddousing.«Hi,Slim,"hesaid,andthenstoppedandstaredatGeorgeandLennie.

           «Theseguysjus’come,"saidSlimbywayofintroduction.

           «Gladtameetya,"thebigmansaid.«Myname’sCarlson.»

           «I’mGeorgeMilton.Thishere’sLennieSmall.»

           «Gladtameetya,"Carlsonsaidagain.«Heain’tverysmall.»Hechuckledsoftlyathisjoke.«Ain’tsmallatall,"herepeated.«Meanttoaskyou,Slim—how’syourbitch?Iseenshewasn’tunderyourwagonthismorning.»

           «Sheslangherpupslastnight,"saidSlim.«Nineof‘em.Idrownedfourof‘emrightoff.Shecouldn’tfeedthatmany.»

           «Gotfiveleft,huh?»

           «Yeah,five.Ikeptthebiggest.»

           «Whatkindadogsyouthinkthey’regonnabe?»