О мышах и людях

           Candysubsided.«No...»heagreed.«Nobody’dlistentous.»

           Lenniewhined,«IwishtGeorgewashere.IwishtGeorgewashere.»

           Candysteppedovertohim.«Don’tyouworrynone,"hesaid.«Ijus’heardtheguyscomin’in.George’llbeinthebunkhouserightnow,Ibet.»HeturnedtoCurley’swife.«Youbettergohomenow,"hesaidquietly.«Ifyougorightnow,wewon’ttellCurleyyouwashere.»

           Sheappraisedhimcoolly.«Iain’tsureyouheardnothing.»

           «Betternottakenochances,"hesaid.«Ifyouain’tsure,youbettertakethesafeway.»

           SheturnedtoLennie.«I’mgladyoubustupCurleyalittlebit.Hegotitcomin’tohim.SometimesI’dliketobusthimmyself.»Sheslippedoutthedooranddisappearedintothedarkbarn.Andwhileshewentthroughthebarn,thehalterchainsrattled,andsomehorsessnortedandsomestampedtheirfeet.

           Crooksseemedtocomeslowlyoutofthelayersofprotectionhehadputon.«Wasthatthetruthwhatyousaidabouttheguyscomeback?»heasked.

           «Sure.Iheard‘em.»

           «Well,Ididn’thearnothing.»

           «Thegatebanged,"Candysaid,andhewenton,«JesusChrist,Curley’swifecanmovequiet.Iguessshehadalotofpractice,though.»

           Crooksavoidedthewholesubjectnow.«Maybeyouguysbettergo,"hesaid.«Iain’tsureIwantyouinherenomore.Acoloredmangottohavesomerightsevenifhedon’tlike‘em.»