Vicious [`vISqs], lousy [`lauzI], snivel [snIvl]

Candy said, "Sure, George. Sure I'll do that."

"O.K. Give me a couple minutes then, and you come runnin' out an' tell like you jus' found her. I'm going now." George turned and went quickly out of the barn.

Old Candy watched him go. He looked helplessly back at Curley's wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. "You God damn tramp", he said viciously. "You done it, di'n't you? I s'pose you're glad. Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up. You wasn't no good. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart."

He sniveled, and his voice shook. "I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys." He paused, and then went on in a singsong. And he repeated the old words: "If they was a circus or a baseball game... we would of went to her... jus' said 'ta hell with work,' an' went to her. Never ast nobody's say so. An' they'd of been a pig and chickens... an' in the winter... the little fat stove... an' the rain comin'... an' us jes' settin' there." His eyes blinded with tears and he turned and went weakly out of the barn, and he rubbed his bristly whiskers with his wrist stump.

Outside the noise of the game stopped (снаружи шум игры прекратился). There was a rise of voices in question (послышались удивленные голоса; to rise — подниматься; начинаться; question — вопрос), a drum of running feet (стук/барабанная дробь бегущих ног) and the men burst into the barn (и люди ворвались в конюшню; to burst (burst) — лопаться; разрываться; взрываться; внезапно появиться). Slim and Carlson and young Whit and Curley (Ловкий, Карлсон, молодой Уит, Кудряш), and Crooks keeping back out of attention range (и Горбун, который держался в поодаль; attention range — сфера внимания). Candy came after them (Кэнди вошел за ними), and last of all came George (и последним из всех вошел Джордж). George had put on his blue denim coat (Джордж /уже/ надел свою джинсовую куртку) and buttoned it (и застегнул ее; button — пуговица), and his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes (и его черная шляпа была натянута на самые глаза). The men raced around the last stall (мужчины «бегом» обогнули крайнее стойло; to race — мчаться, нестись). Their eyes found Curley's wife in the gloom (их глаза нашли в темноте жену Кудряша; to find (found)), they stopped and stood still and looked (они остановились и, замерев, смотрели /на нее/).

Then Slim went quietly over to her (затем Ловкий тихо подошел к ней), and he felt her wrist (и пощупал запястье = пульс). One lean finger touched her cheek (тонким пальцем коснулся ее щеки), and then his hand went under her slightly twisted neck (потом его рука прошла под ее слегка вывернутой шеей) and his fingers explored her neck (и пальцы исследовали шею). When he stood up (когда он встал) the men crowded near (остальные столпились рядом; crowd — толпа) and the spell was broken (и чары были разрушены = оцепенение спало).

burst [bWst], attention [q`tenS(q)n], range [reInG]

Outside the noise of the game stopped. There was a rise of voices in question, a drum of running feet and the men burst into the barn. Slim and Carlson and young Whit and Curley, and Crooks keeping back out of attention range. Candy came after them, and last of all came George. George had put on his blue denim coat and buttoned it, and his black hat was pulled down low over his eyes. The men raced around the last stall. Their eyes found Curley's wife in the gloom, they stopped and stood still and looked.

Then Slim went quietly over to her, and he felt her wrist. One lean finger touched her cheek, and then his hand went under her slightly twisted neck and his fingers explored her neck. When he stood up the men crowded near and the spell was broken.

Curley came suddenly to life (внезапно Кудряш вернулся к жизни = ожил). "I know who done it," he cried (я знаю, кто это сделал, — выкрикнул он). "That big son-of-a-bitch done it (этот здоровенный сукин сын это сделал). I know he done it (я знаю, это сделал он). Why — ever'body else was out there (ведь все остальные были снаружи) playin' horseshoes (играли в подкову)." He worked himself into a fury (он все больше распалялся: «приводил себя в ярость»). "I'm gonna get him (я поймаю его). I'm going for my shotgun (я пошел за своим дробовиком). I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself (я сам убью этого верзилу). I'll shoot 'im in the guts (я выстрелю ему в живот; guts — кишки; живот /разг./). Come on, you guys (пошли, ребята)." He ran furiously out of the barn (он в ярости выбежал из конюшни; to run (ran; run)). Carlson said, "I'll get my Luger (Карлсон сказал: я возьму свой “Люгер”)," and he ran out too (и тоже выбежал).

Slim turned quietly to George (Ловкий медленно: «спокойно» повернулся к Джорджу). "I guess Lennie done it, all right (полагаю, это и впрямь сделал Ленни)," he said. "Her neck's bust (у нее сломана шея). Lennie coulda did that (Ленни мог бы сделать это)."

George didn't answer (Джордж не ответил), but he nodded slowly (/только/ медленно кивнул). His hat was so far down on his forehead (его шляпа была так сильно: «далеко» /натянута/ на лоб) that his eyes were covered (что прикрывала глаза).

Slim went on (Ловкий продолжал), "Maybe like that time in Weed (может, как в тот раз в Уиде) you was tellin' about (о котором ты мне рассказывал)."

Again George nodded (Джордж снова кивнул).

Slim sighed (Ловкий вздохнул). "Well, I guess we got to get him (полагаю, нам надо/придется найти его). Where you think he might of went (куда он мог пойти, как думаешь)?"

It seemed to take George some time to free his words (казалось, прошло некоторое время, пока Джордж смог ответить: «освободить слова»). "He — would of went south (он мог пойти на юг)," he said. "We come from north (мы пришли с севера) so he would of went south (поэтому он мог пойти на юг)."

"I guess we gotta get 'im (полагаю, нам надо найти его)," Slim repeated (повторил Ловкий).

George stepped close (Джордж шагнул вплотную /к нему/). "Couldn' we maybe bring him in (а мы не могли бы привести его сюда) an' they'll lock him up (и посадить под замок)? He's nuts, Slim (он /ведь/ чокнутый, Ловкий). He never done this to be mean (он никогда бы не сделал этого со зла)."

Slim nodded (Ловкий кивнул). "We might," he said (могли бы, — сказал он). "If we could keep Curley in (если бы получилось удержать Кудряша /в усадьбе/), we might (то смогли бы). But Curley's gonna want to shoot 'im (но Кудряш хочет пристрелить его). Curley's still mad about his hand (Кудряш все еще в ярости насчет руки). An' s'pose they lock him up (и представь, что его посадят под замок) an' strap him down (свяжут ремнями; strap — ремень) and put him in a cage (/а потом/ посадят в клетку = в тюрьму). That ain't no good, George (тут нет ничего хорошего, Джордж)."

"I know," said George, "I know (знаю, — сказал Джордж, — знаю)."

shotgun [`SOtgAn], south [sauT], north [nLT]

Curley came suddenly to life. "I know who done it," he cried. "That big son-of-a-bitch done it. I know he done it. Why — ever'body else was out there playin' horseshoes." He worked himself into a fury. "I'm gonna get him. I'm going for my shotgun. I'll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I'll shoot 'im in the guts. Come on, you guys." He ran furiously out of the barn. Carlson said, "I'll get my Luger," and he ran out too.

Slim turned quietly to George. "I guess Lennie done it, all right," he said. "Her neck's bust. Lennie coulda did that."

George didn't answer, but he nodded slowly. His hat was so far down on his forehead that his eyes were covered.

Slim went on, "Maybe like that time in Weed you was tellin' about."

Again George nodded.

Slim sighed. "Well, I guess we got to get him. Where you think he might of went?"