Alternate Ending of “Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck”

By Dominic Andrew dela Cruz

Huge foreboding shadows were cast by the sycamore trees, as the

moon’s luminescence radiated on the Salinas River. The leaves rustled softly
and the cold evening wind filled the brush. Panicked, the nymphs of the river
ran away upon seeing a gigantic silhouette through the darkening woods. It was
Lennie’s.
He sneakily came to the pool’s edge; knelt down; and drunk in a bestial
manner. Having been satisfied, Lennie sat down on a dry log. Large drops of
sweat trod on his weary face filled with misery. His knees were trembling with
fear as he fidgeted with his fingers.
“Hide in the brush an’ wait for George… hide in the brush an’ wait for
George… hide in the brush an’ wait for George…” Lennie muttered with slow
monotonous repetition.
Among the other things, one thought deeply troubled him: George won’t
allow him anymore to tend even a single rabbit.
Suddenly, a hand tapped on his shoulder behind him. Lennie had looked
back and cried frantically, “Oh, George! Geooorge! It’s you George! Geor…”
“What the hell are you yellin’ ‘bout?” George stopped Lennie.
“I’m sorry, George. I didn’t really mean to kill her. I was just tryin’ to
stop her from shoutin’. Then… then, she just died…” Lennie stopped.
George sighed.
“I know you didn’t mean to murder Curley’s wife. You aren’t mean
enough to kill somebody, just dumb and stupid. I know ya’ didn’t mean it,”
George said.
“George… would you still lemme tend the rabbits?” Lennie said in a
soft voice.
“That’s if we’re still alive before we get the rabbits” George replied.
“So, what should I do now, George?” Lennie asked.
“Sit down and don’t cause any trouble from this moment! I have to think
of a plan to get us away from this mess. Unfortunately, I can’t just leave ya’
alone.” George retorted.
Silence fell again. Lennie continued fidgeting with his fingers. After a
while, indistinct voices came from the distance.
George stood up and said calmly, “We’re escaping.”
“Escaping? Like what we did before from Weed?”
“Like what we did before,”
“Where are we goin’ this time, George?”
“We’re goin’ back to Weed.”
“What? Did I hear you right? Did ya’ say, ‘Weed’?” Lennie fidgeted
faster than before with his fingers.
“I heard a rumour in the cathouse that there was a witness who claimed
that you weren’t harassing that girl in red; that you’re innocent.”
“Also, it was said that she has gone to San Luis Obispo, somewhere
south from here.” George continued.
 “Yeah, George, but don’t ya’ think Curley might come to Weed and
capture us? I’m afraid, George,” Lennie questioned.
“I’ve told Slim about what happened at Weed. Before I went here, I
asked him to inform Curley about it. That will probably remove their
suspicions of us going to that place. They will think that we aren’t welcome
there,” George explained.
“Just moments ago, I’ve made tracks going to south. That will make
them think that we aren’t going north,” he continued.
A smile formed on Lennie’s lips.
“Wow! You really are clever, George. I wouldn’t have thought of that
plan,” Lennie said in complete amazement.
From the distance came more sounds of men shouting to one another.
George imperiously placed his index finger on his lip. “Let’s go Lennie,” he
whispered.
“Going back to Weed, eh?” a voice suddenly came from behind the tree.
“Yes, we are. We are goin’ back to Weed,” George calmly retorted.
“And, who is that?” he followed-up.
The man showed himself up. He was wearing a Stetson hat and stood
with high-authority.
“So, would you mind if I lend you a hand?” Slim offered.
“Oh, it’s just you, Slim. Sure, actually we do really need one. By the
way, have you already informed Curley about the story?” George replied.
“Yeah, he even said that he is goin’ to kill Lennie also for that girl he
harassed in Weed.” Slim answered.
The shouts from the distance grew louder. Slim wolf whistled. Then, a
horse came carrying some bindles.
“Here, I came back to the bunk house a while ago, then took these. I
thought you might need them,” Slim said and handed-over the bindles to
Lennie.
“Thanks, Slim. I really owe ya’ lots, but may I ask ya’ again for another
favour?” George asked.
“Sure, as long as I can handle it. Tell me, what is it?”
“Guide Curley and those hunting for Lennie to south. I made some
tracks there. We could use those to divert them. Then, Lennie and I will go to
the opposite direction.”
“I think I can handle that one. Alright, I think I should be goin’ now. We
don’t have much time left,” Slim said.
“Wait!” Lennie called for Slim.
Slim looked at Lennie. “What is it?”
“I didn’t mean to kill the pup, Slim. I didn’t mean either to kill Curley’s
wife. Everythin’ was an accident. I didn’t want them to happen. I’m really
sorry,” Lennie sadly stated.
“Yeah, I know. I know you didn’t mean them. Unfortunately, I can’t give
you any pups anymore. Alright, I gotta go now. George, take care of Lennie.
Lennie, protect George. Good luck to both of you.”
“Thanks, Slim,” George said.
 Slim mounted on the horse and kicked the horse’s flank. The horse
snorted then galloped away. The brush was gloomier that moment.
George and Lennie took off for their journey. Lennie carried the bindles
while George, holding a Luger gun, restlessly looked out for anyone stalking.
Then, in one fell swoop, two shots had been fired consecutively from a distance
and bullets pierced George’s left leg and right arm. Tremendous amount of
blood oozed from the wound as George shrieked in excruciating pain.
“Geooorge!” Lennie shouted. “Who did this to you, George?”
Lennie laid the bindles on the floor and shouted, “Show yourself! No
one hurts George! Show yourself!”
A man holding a revolver showed up from the darkness. His face was
filled with blood-thirst and showed no emotion. Carlson exclaimed, “Escaping,
huh? You think you can fool me? I knew somethin’ was going wrong when
Slim told us to go to a different direction. Curley told me to check this place,
and then gave me this revolver from the Boss. Luckily, I found ya’ two and I’m
goin’ to have a pay rise.”
“Damn you, George. How the hell did ya’ steal my Luger. I’m goin’ to
kill you for that. Then, you, Lennie, will follow. This place will be your grave.
Say now your last words. Lennie Small, don’t even dare to go near me if you
don’t wanna die earlier than your friend. You’re going to die in 5 seconds. 5…”
Carlson had pointed the revolver to George’s head and placed his index finger
on the trigger.
George whispered to Lennie, “Get the Luger, Lennie. Shoot him before
he does.”
“4…”
Troubled, Lennie replied, “George, I dunno how to use it.”
“Oh, you really are a dumbass,” George said.
“3…”
“Run then. I’ll throw sand to his face. That will distract him for a while.
I guess this will be our last moment. You really are a great companion,” George
whispered to Lennie.
“2…”
“No, George! I can’t leave you George. I’m goin’ to save you!” Lennie
protested.
“1… Adios!”
A rush of adrenaline washed over Lennie's body. Without contemplating
it, he picked up a huge stone and hurled it with enormous force at Carlson.
Having thought of Lennie as one of her beasts, Artemis guided the stone and
increased its power hit the forehead. Carlson had been knocked down and
passed out.
“No one hurts George!” Lennie proclaimed.
Astonished and amazed by Lennie’s manual dexterity, George was
caught open-mouthed and speechless.
Infuriated, Lennie went near to Carlson, carried him by the neck and
choked him with his bear-like hands. George told Lennie to hide his body. He
threw Carlson’s body on the river. The corpse went with the river’s current.
 The blood was still oozing from George’s wounds. He instructed Lennie
on how to bandage it to stop the bleeding. He really had a hard time teaching
him, but with desperation to save George, Lennie got the hang of it. He
bandaged George with some clothes he took from the bindle. Luckily, the
wound stopped.
Unable to walk, George was carried by Lennie on his back as he also
carried the bindles with his other hand. He walked away as fast as he could
from the place of incident.
“Do you think we’re safe now, George?” Lennie asked.
“I don’t think so. You’re presence alone is a threat for me, ya’ know.
Your hands can crush me anytime.”
“I ain’t doing that to George. Lennie will protect George, just like what
Slim said.”
“Well, may misfortune not befall on us.”
Their journey carried on...
After some days and weeks, and sun and rain coming after another, their
adventure had ended. Lennie and George arrived to Weed.
The people of Weed were surprised on their arrival. They were greeted
and some apologized for what had happened. <not yet finished>