О мышах и людях

           OnlyLenniewasinthebarn,andLenniesatinthehaybesideapackingcaseunderamangerintheendofthebarnthathadnotbeenfilledwithhay.Lenniesatinthehayandlookedatalittledeadpuppythatlayinfrontofhim.Lennielookedatitforalongtime,andthenheputouthishugehandandstrokedit,strokeditclearfromoneendtotheother.

           AndLenniesaidsoftlytothepuppy,«Whydoyougottogetkilled?Youain’tsolittleasmice.Ididn’tbounceyouhard.»Hebentthepup’sheadupandlookedinitsface,andhesaidtoit,«NowmaybeGeorgeain’tgonnaletmetendnorabbits,ifhefin’soutyougotkilled.»

           Hescoopedalittlehollowandlaidthepuppyinitandcovereditoverwithhay,outofsight;buthecontinuedtostareatthemoundhehadmade.Hesaid,«Thisain’tnobadthinglikeIgottogohideinthebrush.Oh!no.Thisain’t.I’lltellGeorgeIfoun’itdead.»

           Heunburiedthepuppyandinspectedit,andhestrokeditfromearstotail.Hewentonsorrowfully,«Buthe’llknow.Georgealwaysknows.He’llsay,‘Youdoneit.Don’ttrytoputnothingoveronme.’An’he’llsay,‘Nowjus’forthatyoudon’tgettotendnorabbits!’"

           Suddenlyhisangerarose.«Goddamnyou,"hecried.«Whydoyougottogetkilled?Youain’tsolittleasmice.»Hepickedupthepupandhurleditfromhim.Heturnedhisbackonit.Hesatbentoverhiskneesandhewhispered,«NowIwon’tgettotendtherabbits.Nowhewon’tletme.»Herockedhimselfbackandforthinhissorrow.

           Fromoutsidecametheclangofhorseshoesontheironstake,andthenalittlechorusofcries.Lenniegotupandbroughtthepuppybackandlaiditonthehayandsatdown.Hestrokedthepupagain.«Youwasn’tbigenough,"hesaid.