Read Online Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - Free Book Online Page A

himself.

    Candy said, "George."

    "Huh?"

    "I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog."

    The door opened. Slim came in, followed by Curley and Carlson and Whit. Slim's hands were black with tar and he was scowling.
    Curley hung close to his elbow.

    Curley said, "Well, I didn't mean nothing, Slim. I just ast you."

    Slim said, "Well, you been askin' me too often. I'm gettin' God damn sick of it. If you can't look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it? You lay offa me."

    "I'm jus' tryin' to tell you I didn't mean nothing," said Curley. "I jus' thought you might of saw her."

    "Why'n't you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?"
    said Carlson. "You let her hang around bunk houses and pretty soon you're gonna have som'pin on your hands and you won't be able to do nothing about it."

    Curley whirled on Carlson. "You keep outta this les' you wanta step outside."

    Carlson laughed. "You God damn punk," he said. "You tried to throw a scare into Slim, an' you couldn't make it stick. Slim throwed a scare inta you. You're yella as a frog belly. I don't care if you're the best welter in the country. You come for me, an' I'll kick your God damn head off."

    Candy joined the attack with joy. "Glove fulla vaseline," he said disgustedly. Curley glared at him. His eyes slipped on past and lighted on Lennie; and Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch.

    Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. "What the hell you laughin' at?"

    Lennie looked blankly at him. "Huh?"

    Then Curley's rage exploded. "Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I'll show ya who's yella."

    Lennie looked helplessly at George, and then he got up and tried to retreat. Curley was balanced and poised. He slashed at Lennie with his left, and then smashed down his nose with a right.
    Lennie gave a cry of terror. Blood welled from his nose. "George,"
    he cried. "Make 'um let me alone, George." He backed until he was against the wall, and Curley followed, slugging him in the face.
    Lennie's hands remained at his sides; he was too frightened to defend himself.

    George was on his feet yelling, "Get him, Lennie. Don't let him do it."

    Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror. He cried, "Make 'um stop, George." Then Curley attacked his stomach and cut off his wind.

    Slim jumped up. "The dirty little rat," he cried, "I'll get 'um myself."

    George put out his hand and grabbed Slim. "Wait a minute," he shouted. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Get
    'em, Lennie! "

    Lennie took his hands away from his face and looked about for George, and Curley slashed at his eyes. The big face was covered with blood. George yelled again, "I said get him."

    Curley's fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand. George ran down the room. "Leggo of him, Lennie. Let go."

    But Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held. Blood ran down Lennie's face; one of his eyes was cut and closed. George slapped him in the face again and again, and still Lennie held on to the closed fist. Curley was white and shrunken; by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie's paw.

    George shouted over and over, "Leggo his hand, Lennie. Leggo.
    Slim, come help me while the guy got any hand left."

    Suddenly Lennie let go his hold. He crouch cowering against the wall. "You tol' me to, George," he said miserably.

    Curley sat down on the floor, looking in wonder at his crushed hand. Slim and Carlson bent over him. Then Slim straightened up and regarded Lennie with horror. "We got to get him in to a doctor," he said. "Looks to me like ever' bone in his han' is bust."

    "I didn't wanta," Lennie cried. "I didn't wanta hurt him."

    Slim said,