О мышах и людях

           GeorgeputouthishandandgrabbedSlim.«Waitaminute,"heshouted.Hecuppedhishandsaroundhismouthandyelled,«Get‘im,Lennie!»

           LennietookhishandsawayfromhisfaceandlookedaboutforGeorge,andCurleyslashedathiseyes.Thebigfacewascoveredwithblood.Georgeyelledagain,«Isaidgethim.»

           Curley’sfistwasswingingwhenLenniereachedforit.ThenextminuteCurleywasfloppinglikeafishonaline,andhisclosedfistwaslostinLennie’sbighand.Georgerandowntheroom.«Leggoofhim,Lennie.Letgo.»

           ButLenniewatchedinterrorthefloppinglittlemanwhomheheld.BloodrandownLennie’sface,oneofhiseyeswascutandclosed.Georgeslappedhiminthefaceagainandagain,andstillLennieheldontotheclosedfist.Curleywaswhiteandshrunkenbynow,andhisstrugglinghadbecomeweak.Hestoodcrying,hisfistlostinLennie’spaw.

           Georgeshoutedoverandover.«Leggohishand,Lennie.Leggo.Slim,comehelpmewhiletheguygotanyhandleft.»

           SuddenlyLennieletgohishold.Hecrouchedcoweringagainstthewall.«Youtol’meto,George,"hesaidmiserably.

           Curleysatdownonthefloor,lookinginwonderathiscrushedhand.SlimandCarlsonbentoverhim.ThenSlimstraightenedupandregardedLenniewithhorror.«Wegottogethimintoadoctor,"hesaid.«Lookstomelikeever’boneinhishan’isbust.»

           «Ididn’twanta,"Lenniecried.«Ididn’twantahurthim.»

           Slimsaid,«Carlson,yougetthecandywagonhitchedup.We’lltake‘umintoSoledadan’get‘umfixedup.»