Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы
Шрифт:
Neilson for a moment could not speak. He was strangely shaken. Then he said:
"I’d be very glad if you’d stay and have a bit of dinner with me. Pot luck."
"I don’t think I will," said Red. "I must go after this fellow Gray. I’ll give him his stuff and then I’ll get away. I want to be back in Apia tomorrow."
"I’ll send a boy along with you to show you the way."
"That’ll be fine."
Red heaved himself out of his chair (Рыжий /тяжело/ поднялся из своего кресла; to heave — поднимать, перемещать/тяжести/), while the Swede called one of the boys who worked on the plantation (в
"Don’t fall in (не упадите в /воду/)," said Neilson.
"Not on your life (ни за что)."
Neilson watched him make his way across (Нилсон наблюдал, /как/ он идет на ту сторону /речки/; to make one’s way— продвигаться; пробираться;across— через) and when he had disappeared among the coconuts (и когда тот /уже/ исчез за кокосовыми пальмами: «среди кокосов») he looked still (он все еще смотрел). Then he sank heavily in his chair (потом он тяжело опустился в свое кресло). Was that the man who had prevented him from being happy (был /ли/ это тот человек, который помешал ему быть счастливым)? Was that the man whom Sally had loved all these years (был /ли/ это тот человек, которого Салли любила все эти годы) and for whom she had waited so desperately (и которого она ждала так отчаянно)? It was grotesque (это было нелепо; grotesque — гротескный; абсурдный). A sudden fury seized him so (внезапное бешенство охватило его так) that he had an instinct to spring up and smash everything around him (что у него возникло безотчетное желание подскочить и /начать/ крушить все вокруг; instinct — инстинкт). He had been cheated (его надули). They had seen each other at last (они увидели друг друга наконец) and had not known it (и /даже/ не осознали этого). He began to laugh, mirthlessly (он начал невесело смеяться; mirth — веселье), and his laughter grew till it became hysterical (и его смех усиливался до тех пор, пока /не/ стал истеричным). The Gods had played him a cruel trick (боги жестоко подшутили над ним; to play a trick — разыграть; обмануть). And he was old now (а теперь он был стар).
prevent [prI`vent], grotesque [grqu`tesk], hysterical [hIs`terIk(q)l]
Red heaved himself out of his chair, while the Swede called one of the boys who worked on the plantation. He told him where the skipper wanted to go, and the boy stepped along the bridge. Red prepared to follow him.
"Don’t fall in," said Neilson.
"Not on your life."
Neilson watched him make his way across and when he had disappeared among the coconuts he looked still. Then he sank heavily in his chair. Was that the man who had prevented him from being happy? Was that the man whom Sally had loved all these years and for whom she had waited so desperately? It was grotesque. A sudden fury seized him so that he had an instinct to spring up and smash everything around him. He had been cheated. They had seen each other at last and had not known it. He began to laugh, mirthlessly, and his laughter grew till it became hysterical. The Gods had played him a cruel trick. And he was old now.
At last Sally came in to tell him dinner was ready (наконец Салли вошла, /чтобы/ сказать ему, /что/ обед был готов). He sat down in front of her and tried to eat (он сел напротив нее и пытался есть; in front of — перед, впереди). He wondered what she would say (ему было интересно, что
"What did that man want (чего хотел тот мужчина)?" she asked presently (спросила она спустя некоторое время).
He did not answer at once (он ответил не сразу). She was too old (она была очень/слишком старой), a fat old native woman (толстая старая туземка). He wondered why he had ever loved her so madly (он удивлялся, почему же когда-то он любил ее так безумно). He had laid at her feet all the treasures of his soul (он положил к ее ногам все сокровища своей души; foot — ступня), and she had cared nothing for them (а ей ничего этого не было нужно; to care — заботиться; питать интерес, любовь). Waste, what waste (зря, все зря; waste— пустая трата;what— что; какой)! And now, when he looked at her (и теперь, когда он глядел на нее), he felt only contempt (он чувствовал только презрение). His patience was at last exhausted (его терпение наконец лопнуло; to exhaust — исчерпывать; изнурять). He answered her question (он ответил на ее вопрос).
"He’s the captain of a schooner (он капитан одной шхуны). He’s come from Apia (он прибыл из Апии)."
"Yes (да)."
"He brought me news from home (он привез мне новость из дома). My eldest brother is very ill (мой старший брат очень болен; eldest— самый старший) and I must go back (и я должен вернуться: «ехать назад»)."
"Will you be gone long (ты долго будешь в отъезде: «уехавшим»)?"
He shrugged his shoulders (он пожал плечами).
front [frAnt], hatred [`heItrId], treasure [`treZq]
At last Sally came in to tell him dinner was ready. He sat down in front of her and tried to eat. He wondered what she would say if he told her now that the fat old man sitting in the chair was the lover whom she remembered still with the passionate abandonment of her youth. Years ago, when he hated her because she made him so unhappy, he would have been glad to tell her. He wanted to hurt her then as she hurt him, because his hatred was only love. But now he did not care. He shrugged his shoulders listlessly.
"What did that man want?" she asked presently.
He did not answer at once. She was too old, a fat old native woman. He wondered why he had ever loved her so madly. He had laid at her feet all the treasures of his soul, and she had cared nothing for them. Waste, what waste! And now, when he looked at her, he felt only contempt. His patience was at last exhausted. He answered her question.
"He’s the captain of a schooner. He’s come from Apia."
"Yes."
"He brought me news from home. My eldest brother is very ill and I must go back."
"Will you be gone long?"
He shrugged his shoulders.