О мышах и людях

           Georgesaidsoftly,«—IthinkIknowedfromtheveryfirst.IthinkIknow’dwe’dneverdoher.HeustaliketohearaboutitsomuchIgottothinkingmaybewewould.»

           «Then—it’salloff?»Candyaskedsulkily.

           Georgedidn’tanswerhisquestion.Georgesaid,«I’llworkmymonthan’I’lltakemyfiftybucksan’I’llstayallnightinsomelousycathouse.OrI’llsetinsomepoolroomtillever’bodygoeshome.An’thenI’llcomebackan’workanothermonthan’I’llhavefiftybucksmore.»

           Candysaid,«He’ssuchanicefella.Ididn’thinkhe’ddonothinglikethis.»

           GeorgestillstaredatCurley’swife.«Lennieneverdoneitinmeanness,"hesaid.«Allthetimehedonebadthings,butheneverdoneoneof‘emmean.»HestraightenedupandlookedbackatCandy.«Nowlisten.Wegottatelltheguys.Theygottobringhimin,Iguess.Theyain’tnowayout.Maybetheywon’thurt‘im.»Hesaidsharply,«Iain’tgonnalet‘emhurtLennie.Nowyoulisten.TheguysmightthinkIwasinonit.I’mgonnagointhebunkhouse.Theninaminuteyoucomeoutandtelltheguysabouther,andI’llcomealongandmakelikeIneverseenher.Willyoudothat?Sotheguyswon’tthinkIwasinonit?»

           Candysaid,«Sure,George.SureI’lldothat.»

           «O.K.Givemeacoupleminutesthen,andyoucomerunnin’outan’telllikeyoujus’foundher.I’mgoingnow.»Georgeturnedandwentquicklyoutofthebarn.

           OldCandywatchedhimgo.HelookedhelplesslybackatCurley’swife,andgraduallyhissorrowandhisangergrewintowords.«YouGoddamntramp»,hesaidviciously.