О мышах и людях

           Afteramomenttheancientdogwalkedlamelyinthroughtheopendoor.Hegazedaboutwithmild,half-blindeyes.Hesniffed,andthenlaydownandputhisheadbetweenhispaws.Curleypoppedintothedoorwayagainandstoodlookingintotheroom.Thedograisedhishead,butwhenCurleyjerkedout,thegrizzledheadsanktotheflooragain.

           Althoughtherewaseveningbrightnessshowingthroughthewindowsofthebunkhouse,insideitwasdusk.Throughtheopendoorcamethethudsandoccasionalclangsofahorseshoegame,andnowandthenthesoundofvoicesraisedinapprovalorderision.

           SlimandGeorgecameintothedarkeningbunkhousetogether.Slimreachedupoverthecardtableandturnedonthetin-shadedelectriclight.Instantlythetablewasbrilliantwithlight,andtheconeoftheshadethrewitsbrightnessstraightdownward,leavingthecornersofthebunkhousestillindusk.SlimsatdownonaboxandGeorgetookhisplaceopposite.

           «Itwasn’tnothing,"saidSlim.«Iwouldofhadtodrownedmostof‘emanyways.Noneedtothankmeaboutthat.»

           Georgesaid,«Itwasn’tmuchtoyou,maybe,butitwasahellofalottohim.JesusChrist,Idon’tknowhowwe’regonnagethimtosleepinhere.He’llwanttosleeprightoutinthebarnwith‘em.We’llhavetroublekeepin’himfromgettingrightintheboxwiththempups.»

           «Itwasn’tnothing,"Slimrepeated.«Say,yousurewasrightabouthim.Maybeheain’tbright,butIneverseensuchaworker.Hedamnnearkilledhispartnerbuckin’barley.Thereain’tnobodycankeepupwithhim.Godawmighty,Ineverseensuchastrongguy.»