О мышах и людях

           Candy’sfacehadgrownredderandredder,butbeforeshewasdonespeaking,hehadcontrolofhimself.Hewasthemasterofthesituation.«Imightofknew,"hesaidgently.«Maybeyoujustbettergoalongan’rollyourhoop.Weain’tgotnothingtosaytoyouatall.Weknowwhatwegot,andwedon’tcarewhetheryouknowitornot.Somaybeyoubetterjus’scatteralongnow,‘causeCurleymaybeain’tgonnalikehiswifeoutinthebarnwithus‘bindlestiffs.’"

           Shelookedfromonefacetoanother,andtheywereallclosedagainsther.AndshelookedlongestatLennie,untilhedroppedhiseyesinembarrassment.Suddenlyshesaid,«Where’dyougetthembruisesonyourface?»

           Lennielookedupguiltily.«Who—me?»

           «Yeah,you.»

           LennielookedtoCandyforhelp,andthenhelookedathislapagain.«Hegothishan’caughtinamachine,"hesaid.

           Curley’swifelaughed.«O.K.,Machine.I’lltalktoyoulater.Ilikemachines.»

           Candybrokein.«Youletthisguyalone.Don’tyoudonomessingaroun’withhim.I’mgonnatellGeorgewhatyousays.Georgewon’thaveyoumessin’withLennie.»

           «Who’sGeorge?»sheasked.«Thelittleguyyoucomewith?»

           Lenniesmiledhappily.«That’shim,"hesaid.«That’stheguy,an’he’sgonnaletmetendtherabbits.»

           «Well,ifthat’sallyouwant,Imightgetacouplerabbitsmyself.»