Slim’s a jerkline skinner.
Hell of a nice fella.
Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team.
I seen her give Slim the eye.
Curley never seen it.
An’ I seen her give Carlson the eye.”
George pretended a lack of interest.
“Looks like we was gonna have fun.”
The swamper stood up from his box.
“Know what I think?” George did not answer. “Well, I think Curley’s married.... a tart.”
“He ain’t the first,” said George.
“There’s plenty done that.”
The old man moved toward the door, and his ancient dog lifted his head and peered about, and then got painfully to his feet to follow.
“I gotta be settin’ out the wash basins for the guys.
The teams’ll be in before long.
You guys gonna buck barley?”
“Yeah.”
“You won’t tell Curley nothing I said?”
“Hell no.”
“Well, you look her over, mister.
You see if she ain’t a tart.”
He stepped out the door into the brilliant sunshine.
George laid down his cards thoughtfully, turned his piles of three.
He built four clubs on his ace pile.
The sun square was on the floor now, and the flies whipped through it like sparks.
A sound of jingling harness and the croak of heavy-laden axles sounded from outside.
From the distance came a clear call.
“Stable buck — ooh, sta-able buck!” And then,
“Where the hell is that God damn nigger?”
George stared at his solitaire lay, and then he flounced the cards together and turned around to Lennie.
Lennie was lying down on the bunk watching him.
“Look, Lennie!
This here ain’t no setup.
I’m scared.
You gonna have trouble with that Curley guy.
I seen that kind before.
He was kinda feelin’ you out.
He figures he’s got you scared and he’s gonna take a sock at you the first chance he gets.”
Lennie’s eyes were frightened.
“I don’t want no trouble,” he said plaintively. “Don’t let him sock me, George.”
George got up and went over to Lennie’s bunk and sat down on it.
“I hate that kinda bastard,” he said. “I seen plenty of ‘em.
Like the old guy says, Curley don’t take no chances.
He always wins.” He thought for a moment. “If he tangles with you, Lennie, we’re gonna get the can.
Don’t make no mistake about that.
He’s the boss’s son.
Look, Lennie.
You try to keep away from him, will you?
Don’t never speak to him.
If he comes in here you move clear to the other side of the room.