О мышах и людях

           Sheregardedthemamusedly.«Funnything,"shesaid.«IfIcatchanyoneman,andhe’salone,Igetalongfinewithhim.Butjustlettwooftheguysgettogetheran’youwon’ttalk.Jus’nothingbutmad.»Shedroppedherfingersandputherhandsonherhips.«You’reallscaredofeachother,that’swhat.Ever’oneofyou’sscaredtherestisgoin’togetsomethingonyou.»

           AfterapauseCrookssaid,«Maybeyoubettergoalongtoyourownhousenow.Wedon’twantnotrouble.»

           «Well,Iain’tgivingyounotrouble.ThinkIdon’tliketotalktosomebodyever’onceinawhile?ThinkIliketostickinthathouseallatime?»

           Candylaidthestumpofhiswristonhiskneeandrubbeditgentlywithhishand.Hesaidaccusingly,«Yougottahusban’.Yougotnocallfoolin’aroun’withotherguys,causin’trouble.»

           Thegirlflaredup.«SureIgottahusban’.Youallseenhim.Swellguy,ain’the?Spendsallhistimesayin’whathe’sgonnadotoguyshedon’tlike,andhedon’tlikenobody.ThinkI’mgonnastayinthattwo-by-fourhouseandlistenhowCurley’sgonnaleadwithhislefttwicet,andthenbringintheol’rightcross?‘One-two,’hesays.‘Jus’theol’one-twoan’he’llgodown.’"Shepausedandherfacelostitssullennessandgrewinterested.«Say—whathappenedtoCurley’shan’?»

           Therewasanembarrassedsilence.CandystolealookatLennie.Thenhecoughed.«Why...Curley...hegothishan’caughtinamachine,ma’am.Busthishan’.»

           Shewatchedforamoment,andthenshelaughed.«Baloney!Whatyouthinkyou’resellin’me?Curleystartedsom’pin’hedidn’finish.