О мышах и людях

           «Well,aguygottohavesomefunsometime,"saidWhit.

           ThedooropenedandLennieandCarlsoncameintogether.Lenniecrepttohisbunkandsatdown,tryingnottoattractattention.Carlsonreachedunderhisbunkandbroughtouthisbag.Hedidn’tlookatoldCandy,whostillfacedthewall.Carlsonfoundalittlecleaningrodinthebagandacanofoil.Helaidthemonhisbedandthenbroughtoutthepistol,tookoutthemagazineandsnappedtheloadedshellfromthechamber.Thenhefelltocleaningthebarrelwiththelittlerod.Whentheejectorsnapped,Candyturnedoverandlookedforamomentatthegunbeforeheturnedbacktothewallagain.

           Carlsonsaidcasually,«Curleybeeninyet?»

           «No,"saidWhit.«What’seatin’onCurley?»

           Carlsonsquinteddownthebarrelofhisgun.«Lookin’forhisoldlady.Iseenhimgoingroundandroundoutside.»

           Whitsaidsarcastically,«Hespendshalfhistimelookin’forher,andtherestofthetimeshe’slookin’forhim.»

           Curleyburstintotheroomexcitedly.«Anyyouguysseenmywife?»hedemanded.

           «Sheain’tbeenhere,"saidWhit.

           Curleylookedthreateninglyabouttheroom.«Wherethehell’sSlim?»

           «Wentoutinthebarn,"saidGeorge.«Hewasgonnaputsometaronasplithoof.»

           Curley’sshouldersdroppedandsquared.«Howlongago’dhego?»