О мышах и людях

           Crooksstoodupfromhisbunkandfacedher.«Ihadenough,"hesaidcoldly.«Yougotnorightscomin’inacoloredman’sroom.Yougotnorightsmessingaroundinhereatall.Nowyoujus’getout,an’getoutquick.Ifyoudon’t,I’mgonnaastthebossnottoeverletyoucomeinthebarnnomore.»

           Sheturnedonhiminscorn.«Listen,Nigger,"shesaid.«YouknowwhatIcandotoyouifyouopenyourtrap?»

           Crooksstaredhopelesslyather,andthenhesatdownonhisbunkanddrewintohimself.

           Sheclosedonhim.«YouknowwhatIcoulddo?»

           Crooksseemedtogrowsmaller,andhepressedhimselfagainstthewall.«Yes,ma’am.»

           «Well,youkeepyourplacethen,Nigger.Icouldgetyoustrunguponatreesoeasyitain’tevenfunny.»

           Crookshadreducedhimselftonothing.Therewasnopersonality,noego—nothingtoarouseeitherlikeordislike.Hesaid,«Yes,ma’am,"andhisvoicewastoneless.

           Foramomentshestoodoverhimasthoughwaitingforhimtomovesothatshecouldwhipathimagain;butCrookssatperfectlystill,hiseyesaverted,everythingthatmightbehurtdrawnin.Sheturnedatlasttotheothertwo.

           OldCandywaswatchingher,fascinated.«Ifyouwastodothat,we’dtell,"hesaidquietly.«We’dtellaboutyouframin’Crooks.»

           «Tellan’bedamned,"shecried.«Nobody’dlistentoyou,an’youknowit.Nobody’dlistentoyou.»