О мышах и людях

           «’MemberwhatIsaidabouthoein’anddoin’oddjobs?»

           «Yeah,"saidCandy.«Iremember.»

           «Well,jus’forgetit,"saidCrooks.«Ididn’tmeanit.Jus’foolin’.Iwouldn’wanttogonoplacelikethat.»

           «Well,O.K.,ifyoufeellikethat.Goodnight.»

           Thethreemenwentoutofthedoor.Astheywentthroughthebarnthehorsessnortedandthehalterchainsrattled.

           Crookssatonhisbunkandlookedatthedoorforamoment,andthenhereachedforthelinimentbottle.Hepulledouthisshirtinback,pouredalittlelinimentinhispinkpalmand,reachingaround,hefellslowlytorubbinghisback.

           Tneendofthegreatbarnwaspiledhighwithnewhayandoverthepilehungthefour-talonedJacksonforksuspendedfromitspulley.Thehaycamedownlikeamountainslopetotheotherendofthebarn,andtherewasalevelplaceasyetunfilledwiththenewcrop.Atthesidesthefeedingrackswerevisible,andbetweentheslatstheheadsofhorsescouldbeseen.

           ItwasSundayafternoon.Therestinghorsesnibbledtheremainingwispsofhay,andtheystampedtheirfeetandtheybitthewoodofthemangersandrattledthehalterchains.Theafternoonsunslicedinthroughthecracksofthebarnwallsandlayinbrightlinesonthehay.Therewasthebuzzoffliesintheair,thelazyafternoonhumming.

           Fromoutsidecametheclangofhorseshoesontheplayingpegandtheshoutsofmen,playing,encouraging,jeering.Butinthebarnitwasquietandhummingandlazyandwarm.