О мышах и людях

           Georgecarefullybuilthislineofsolitairecards.«Well,thatgirlrabbitsinan’tellsthelawshebeenraped.TheguysinWeedstartapartyouttolynchLennie.Sowesitinairrigationditchunderwateralltherestofthatday.Goton’yourheadsstickingoutawater,an’upunderthegrassthatsticksoutfromthesideoftheditch.An’thatnightwescrammedoutathere.»

           Slimsatinsilenceforamoment.«Didn’thurtthegirlnone,huh?»heaskedfinally.

           «Hell,no.Hejustscaredher.I’dbescaredtooifhegrabbedme.Butheneverhurther.Hejus’wantedtotouchthatreddress,likehewantstopetthempupsallthetime.»

           «Heain’tmean,"saidSlim.«Icantellameanguyamileoff.»

           «’Courseheain’t,andhe’lldoanydamnthingI—"

           Lenniecameinthroughthedoor.Heworehisbluedenimcoatoverhisshoulderslikeacape,andhewalkedhunchedwayover.

           «Hi,Lennie,"saidGeorge.«Howyoulikethepupnow?»

           Lenniesaidbreathlessly,«He’sbrownan’whitejus’likeIwanted.»Hewentdirectlytohisbunkandlaydownandturnedhisfacetothewallanddrewuphisknees.

           Georgeputdownhiscardsverydeliberately.«Lennie,"hesaidsharply.

           Lennietwistedhisneckandlookedoverhisshoulder.«Huh?Whatyouwant,George?»

           «Itol’youyoucouldn’tbringthatpupinhere.»