О мышах и людях

           «Umm,"saidSlim.

           GeorgelookedoveratSlimandsawthecalm,Godlikeeyesfastenedonhim.«Funny,"saidGeorge.«Iusedtohaveahellofalotoffunwith‘im.Usedtoplayjokeson‘im‘causehewastoodumbtotakecareof‘imself.Buthewastoodumbeventoknowhehadajokeplayedonhim.Ihadfun.MademeseemGoddamnsmartalongsideofhim.Whyhe’ddoanydamnthingItol’him.IfItol’himtowalkoveracliff,overhe’dgo.Thatwasn’tsodamnmuchfunafterawhile.Henevergotmadaboutit,neither.I’vebeatthehelloutahim,andhecouldabusteveryboneinmybodyjus’withhishan’s,butheneverliftedafingeragainstme.»George’svoicewastakingonthetoneofconfession.«Tellyouwhatmademestopthat.Onedayabunchofguyswasstandin’aroundupontheSacramentoRiver.Iwasfeelin’prettysmart.IturnstoLennieandsays,‘Jumpin.’An’hejumps.Couldn’tswimastroke.Hedamnneardrownedbeforewecouldgethim.An’hewassodamnnicetomeforpullin’himout.CleanforgotItoldhimtojumpin.Well,Iain’tdonenothinglikethatnomore.»

           «He’sanicefella,"saidSlim.«Guydon’tneednosensetobeanicefella.Seemstomesometimesitjus’workstheotherwayaround.Takearealsmartguyandheain’thardlyeveranicefella.»

           Georgestackedthescatteredcardsandbegantolayouthissolitairehand.Theshoesthuddedonthegroundoutside.Atthewindowsthelightoftheeveningstillmadethewindowsquaresbright.

           «Iain’tgotnopeople,"Georgesaid.«Iseentheguysthatgoaroundontheranchesalone.Thatain’tnogood.Theydon’thavenofun.Afteralongtimetheygetmean.Theygetwantin’tofightallthetime.»