George sighed and looked at the clock on the wall for about the hundredth time. They had been gone a long time. Too long. As if answering his prayers Slim and Whit burst through the door, both panting very hard.

Slim shoved a sobbing Whit into George's arms and locked the door. His thin chest rose and fell as he gasped for air, griping his slightly bruised throat. George gently placed Whit in one of the chairs then went up to Slim.

"What the hell's goin' on round here?"

Slim's eyes were wide. "He's here, George. Don' know how, but he's here." a frantic knocking came from the door. Slim turned. "Carlson? Is that you?"

Carlson's frantic voice answered from the other side. "Yes! Open the door!" Slim quickly unlocked the door and locked it again.

"Who's back?" George asked as Carlson went over to console Whit.

Whit's shaky voice answered him. "I-it's Lennie."

Carlson looked at George. "I thought you shot that crazy bastard."

George shook his head. "He wasn't no crazy bastard. He was just a bit... slow."

"Yeah, well whatever he was he nearly killed Whit. And Slim." Carlson said, in a rage.

George turned to Slim, who was still having trouble breathing and gripping his neck. "But he don' mean no harm. You probably jus' gave him a good scare."

Whit shook his head and pointed at Slim. "He was tryin' to reason with him. Lennie was scared that we would tell you somethin'. Said he jus' wanted for you and him to go an' live off the fat of the land and raise rabbits."

Carlson nodded. Suddenly another loud knock came from the door.

"Candy?" George asked hopefully. Slim shook his head.

"N-no. He's d-d-dead..."

Lennie's voice came through the door. "George! Please come out. I jus' wanna see you again."

George made a move to open the door but Slim stopped him. "You open that door, and we're all dead."

"But I thought you said Lennie wouldn't never try and kill me."

"Not intentionally. All those people he killed by accident, cause he didn't want you to find out what he done or they threatened you..."

Lennie's voice came through the door again. George turned to Carlson. "You got your Luger?"

Carlson nodded and handed it carefully to him. "Jus' don' miss."