О мышах и людях

           «Five—tenminutes.»

           Curleyjumpedoutthedoorandbangeditafterhim.

           Whitstoodup.«IguessmaybeI’dliketoseethis,"hesaid.«Curley’sjustspoilin’orhewouldn’tstartforSlim.An’Curley’shandy,Goddamnhandy.GotinthefinalsfortheGoldenGloves.Hegotnewspaperclippingsaboutit.»Heconsidered.«Butjus’thesame,hebetterleaveSlimalone.Nobodydon’tknowwhatSlimcando.»

           «ThinksSlim’swithhiswife,don’the?»saidGeorge.

           «Lookslikeit,"Whitsaid.«’CourseSlimain’t.LeastIdon’tthinkSlimis.ButIliketoseethefussifitcomesoff.Comeon,le’sgo.»

           Georgesaid,«I’mstayin’righthere.Idon’twanttogetmixedupinnothing.Lennieandmegottomakeastake.»

           Carlsonfinishedthecleaningofthegunandputitinthebagandpushedthebagunderhisbunk.«IguessI’llgooutandlookherover,"hesaid.OldCandylaystill,andLennie,fromhisbunk,watchedGeorgecautiously.

           WhenWhitandCarlsonweregoneandthedoorclosedafterthem,GeorgeturnedtoLennie.«Whatyougotonyourmind?»

           «Iain’tdonenothing,George.SlimsaysIbetternotpetthempupssomuchforawhile.Slimsaysitain’tgoodforthem;soIcomerightin.Ibeengood,George.»

           «Icouldatoldyouthat,"saidGeorge.

           «Well,Iwasn’thurtin’‘emnone.Ijus’hadmineinmylappettin’it.»