О мышах и людях

           Curley’swifelaywithahalf-coveringofyellowhay.Andthemeannessandtheplanningsandthediscontentandtheacheforattentionwereallgonefromherface.Shewasveryprettyandsimple,andherfacewassweetandyoung.Nowherrougedcheeksandherreddenedlipsmadeherseemaliveandsleepingverylightly.Thecurls,tinylittlesausages,werespreadonthehaybehindherhead,andherlipswereparted.

           Ashappenssometimes,amomentsettledandhoveredandremainedformuchmorethanamoment.Andsoundstoppedandmovementstoppedformuch,muchmorethanamoment.

           Thengraduallytimeawakenedagainandmovedsluggishlyon.Thehorsesstampedontheothersideofthefeedingracksandthehalterchainsclinked.Outside,themen’svoicesbecamelouderandclearer.

           FromaroundtheendofthelaststalloldCandy’svoicecame.«Lennie,"hecalled.«Oh,Lennie!Youinhere?Ibeenfiguringsomemore.Tellyouwhatwecando,Lennie.»OldCandyappearedaroundtheendofthelaststall.«Oh,Lennie!»hecalledagain;andthenhestopped,andhisbodystiffened.Herubbedhissmoothwristonhiswhitestubblewhiskers.«Idi’n’tknowyouwashere,"hesaidtoCurley’swife.

           Whenshedidn’tanswer,hesteppednearer.«Yououghtentosleepouthere,"hesaiddisapprovingly;andthenhewasbesideherand—«Oh,JesusChrist!»Helookedabouthelplessly,andherubbedhisbeard.Andthenhejumpedupandwentquicklyoutofthebarn.

           Butthebarnwasalivenow.Thehorsesstampedandsnorted,andtheychewedthestrawoftheirbeddingandtheyclashedthechainsoftheirhalters.InamomentCandycameback,andGeorgewaswithhim.