О мышах и людях

           Slimsaidloudly,«Oneofmyleadmulesgotabadhoof.Gottogetsometaronit.»Hisvoicetrailedoff.Itwassilentoutside.Carlson’sfootstepsdiedaway.Thesilencecameintotheroom.Andthesilencelasted.

           Georgechuckled,«IbetLennie’srightoutthereinthebarnwithhispup.Hewon’twanttocomeinherenomorenowhe’sgotapup.»

           Slimsaid,«Candy,youcanhaveanyoneofthempupsyouwant.»

           Candydidnotanswer.Thesilencefellontheroomagain.Itcameoutofthenightandinvadedtheroom.Georgesaid,«Anybodyliketoplayalittleeuchre?»

           «I’llplayoutafewwithyou,"saidWhit.

           Theytookplacesoppositeeachotheratthetableunderthelight,butGeorgedidnotshufflethecards.Herippledtheedgeofthedecknervously,andthelittlesnappingnoisedrewtheeyesofallthemenintheroom,sothathestoppeddoingit.Thesilencefellontheroomagain.Aminutepassed,andanotherminute.Candylaystill,staringattheceiling.Slimgazedathimforamomentandthenlookeddownathishands;hesubduedonehandwiththeother,andhelditdown.Therecamealittlegnawingsoundfromunderthefloorandallthemenlookeddowntowarditgratefully.OnlyCandycontinuedtostareattheceiling.

           «Soundsliketherewasaratunderthere,"saidGeorge.«Weoughttogetatrapdownthere.»

           Whitbrokeout,«Whatthehell’stakin’himsolong?Layoutsomecards,whydon’tyou?Weain’tgoingtogetnoeuchreplayedthisway.»

           Georgebroughtthecardstogethertightlyandstudiedthebacksofthem.Thesilencewasintheroomagain.