О мышах и людях

           «Idunno,"saidSlim.«Somekindashepherds,Iguess.That’sthemostkindIseenaroundherewhenshewasinheat.»

           Carlsonwenton,«Gotfivepups,huh.Gonnakeepallof‘em?»

           «Idunno.Havetokeep‘emawhilesotheycandrinkLulu’smilk.»

           Carlsonsaidthoughtfully,«Well,lookahere,Slim.Ibeenthinkin’.ThatdogofCandy’sissoGoddamnoldhecan’thardlywalk.Stinkslikehell,too.Ever’timehecomesintothebunkhouseIcansmellhimfortwo,threedays.Why’n’tyougetCandytoshoothisolddogandgivehimoneofthepupstoraiseup?Icansmellthatdogamileaway.Gotnoteeth,damnnearblind,can’teat.Candyfeedshimmilk.Hecan’tchewnothingelse.»

           GeorgehadbeenstaringintentlyatSlim.Suddenlyatrianglebegantoringoutside,slowlyatfirst,andthenfasterandfasteruntilthebeatofitdisappearedintooneringingsound.Itstoppedassuddenlyasithadstarted.

           «Thereshegoes,"saidCarlson.

           Outside,therewasaburstofvoicesasagroupofmenwentby.

           Slimstoodupslowlyandwithdignity.«Youguysbettercomeonwhilethey’sstillsomethingtoeat.Won’tbenothingleftinacoupleofminutes.»

           CarlsonsteppedbacktoletSlimprecedehim,andthenthetwoofthemwentoutthedoor.

           LenniewaswatchingGeorgeexcitedly.Georgerumpledhiscardsintoamessypile.«Yeah!»Georgesaid,«Iheardhim,Lennie.I’llaskhim.»

           «Abrownandwhiteone,"Lenniecriedexcitedly.