О мышах и людях

           «Oh,yeah.Hehadacana’taran’apaintbrush.Idon’tknowwhatfor.»

           «Yousurethatgirldidn’tcomeinlikeshecomeinheretoday?»

           «No.Shenevercome.»

           Georgesighed.«Yougivemeagoodwhorehouseeverytime,"hesaid.«Aguycangoinan’getdrunkandgetever’thingoutahissystemallatonce,an’nomesses.Andheknowshowmuchit’sgonnasethimback.Theseherejailbaitsisjustsetonthetriggerofthehoosegow.»

           Lenniefollowedhiswordsadmiringly,andmovedhislipsalittletokeepup.Georgecontinued,«YourememberAndyCushman,Lennie?Wenttogrammarschool?»

           «Theonethathisoldladyusedtomakehotcakesforthekids?»Lennieasked.

           «Yeah.That’stheone.Youcanrememberanythingifthere’sanythingtoeatinit.»Georgelookedcarefullyatthesolitairehand.Heputanaceuponhisscoringrackandpiledatwo,threeandfourofdiamondsonit.«Andy’sinSanQuentinrightnowonaccountofatart,"saidGeorge.

           Lenniedrummedonthetablewithhisfingers.«George?»

           «Huh?»

           «George,howlong’sitgonnabetillwegetthatlittleplacean’liveonthefattathelan’—an’rabbits?»

           «Idon’tknow»,saidGeorge.«Wegottagetabigstaketogether.Iknowalittleplacewecangetcheap,buttheyain’tgivin’itaway.»