О мышах и людях

           «Isaids’poseGeorgewentintotowntonightandyouneverheardofhimnomore.»Crookspressedforwardsomekindofprivatevictory.«Justs’posethat,"herepeated.

           «Hewon’tdoit,"Lenniecried.«Georgewouldn’tdonothinglikethat.IbeenwithGeorgealongatime.He’llcomebacktonight—"Butthedoubtwastoomuchforhim.«Don’tyouthinkhewill?»

           Crooks’facelightedwithpleasureinhistorture.«Nobodycan’ttellwhataguy’lldo,"heobservedcalmly.«Le’ssayhewantstocomebackandcan’t.S’posehegetskilledorhurtsohecan’tcomeback.»

           Lenniestruggledtounderstand.«Georgewon’tdonothinglikethat,"herepeated.«Georgeiscareful.Hewon’tgethurt.Heain’tneverbeenhurt,‘causehe’scareful.»

           «Well,s’pose,jus’s’posehedon’tcomeback.What’llyoudothen?»

           Lennie’sfacewrinkledwithapprehension.«Idon’know.Say,whatyoudoin’anyways?»hecried.«Thisain’ttrue.Georgeain’tgothurt.»

           Crooksboredinonhim.«Wantmetatellyawhat’llhappen?They’lltakeyatotheboobyhatch.They’lltieyaupwithacollar,likeadog.»

           SuddenlyLennie’seyescenteredandgrewquiet,andmad.HestoodupandwalkeddangerouslytowardCrooks.«WhohurtGeorge?»hedemanded.

           Crookssawthedangerasitapproachedhim.Heedgedbackonhisbunktogetoutoftheway.«Iwasjustsupposin’,"hesaid.«Georgeain’thurt.He’sallright.He’llbebackallright.»

           Lenniestoodoverhim.«Whatyousupposin’for?Ain’tnobodygoin’tosupposenohurttoGeorge.»