Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

Red (Рыжий; red— красный; рыжий /о волосах/)

The skipper thrust his hand into one of his trouser pockets (шкипер засунул руку в карман своих брюк: «в один из своих брючных карманов») and with difficulty, for they were not at the sides but in front (и с трудом, так как они были не по бокам, а спереди; side— сторона; бок) and he was a portly man (а он был полным мужчиной), pulled out a large silver watch (вытащил большие серебряные часы; watch— карманные, наручные часы). He looked at it (он посмотрел на них) and then looked again at the declining sun (и затем посмотрел опять на заходящее солнце). The Kanaka at the wheel gave him a glance (канак у штурвала взглянул на него: «дал ему мимолетный взгляд»; Kanaka— канак /коренной житель Гавайских и др. островов Полинезии/), but did not speak (но /ничего/ не сказал). The skipper’s eyes rested on the island they were approaching (глаза = взгляд шкипера остановился на острове, /к которому/ они приближались; to rest— отдыхать; остановиться, лежать /о взгляде/). A white line of foam marked the reef (белая полоска пены выдавала риф; line — линия, mark — знак; метка). He knew there was an opening (он знал, там был проход; opening — отверстие, щель; канал, пролив) large enough to get his ship through (достаточно большой, /чтобы/ провести свое судно через /него/; to get through — пройти через что-либо), and when they came a little nearer (и когда они подойдут немного ближе) he counted on seeing it (он рассчитывал увидеть его). They had nearly an hour of daylight still before them (у них был почти час в запасе до захода солнца: «час дневного времени/света еще впереди них»). In the lagoon the water was deep (в лагуне было глубоко: «вода была глубокой») and they could anchor comfortably (и они могли удобно встать на якорь;to anchor— бросить якорь, стать на якорь). The chief of the village, which he could already see among the coconut trees (вождь деревни, которого он уже мог видеть среди кокосовых пальм; tree— дерево) was a friend of the mate’s (был другом помощника капитана; mate— приятель; подручный, помощник), and it would be pleasant to go ashore for the night (и было бы здорово сойти на берег на ночь; to please— радовать; нравиться; хотеть). The mate came forward at that minute (в эту минуту подошел помощник; come forward— выходить вперед, выдвигаться) and the skipper turned to him (и шкипер повернулся к нему).

island [`aIlqnd], lagoon [lq`gHn], anchor [`xNkq]

The skipper thrust his hand into one of his trouser pockets and with difficulty, for they were not at the sides but in front and he was a portly man, pulled out a large silver watch. He looked at it and then looked again at the declining sun. The Kanaka at the wheel gave him a glance, but did not speak. The skipper’s eyes rested on the island they were approaching. A white line of foam marked the reef. He knew there was an opening large enough to get his ship through, and when they came a little nearer he counted on seeing it. They had nearly an hour of daylight still before them. In the lagoon the water was deep and they could anchor comfortably. The chief of the village, which he could already see among the coconut trees was a friend of the mate’s, and it would be pleasant to go ashore for the night. The mate came forward at that minute and the skipper turned to him.

"We’ll take a bottle of booze along with us (мы возьмем бутылку: «бутылку спиртного вместе с нами»; booze — общее название спиртных напитков) and get some girls in to dance," he said (и пригласим сюда девочек потанцевать, — сказал он; to get in — входить; вносить, вводить; вызывать; some — какой-нибудь; несколько).

"I don’t see the opening," said the mate (я не вижу прохода, — сказал помощник).

He was a Kanaka (он был канаком), a handsome, swarthy fellow (красивым, смуглым парнем), with somewhat the look of a later Roman emperor (чем-то похожим на какого-нибудь последнего римского императора; with— с;somewhat— слегка, до некоторой степени;look— взгляд; вид; внешность), inclined to stoutness (склонным к полноте); but his face was fine and clean-cut (но его лицо было утонченным и резко очерченным).

"I’m dead sure there’s one right here (я совершенно уверен, /что/ он прямо здесь; dead— мертвый; /разг./ вполне, полностью;one— один; употребляется как слово-заместитель во избежание повторения ранее упомянутого существительного)," said the captain, looking through his glasses (сказал капитан, глядя в бинокль: «через свои стекла»). "I can’t understand why I can’t pick it up (я не могу понять, почему я не могу обнаружить его; to pickup— поймать, подобрать). Send one of the boys up the mast to have a look (пошли одного из парней наверх на мачту посмотреть)."

Kanaka [`kxnqkq], swarthy [`swLDI], mast [mRst]

"We’ll take a bottle of booze along with us and get some girls in to dance," he said.

"I don’t see the opening," said the mate.

He was a Kanaka, a handsome, swarthy fellow, with somewhat the look of a later Roman emperor, inclined to stoutness; but his face was fine and clean-cut.

"I’m dead sure there’s one right here," said the captain, looking through his glasses. "I can’t understand why I can’t pick it up. Send one of the boys up the mast to have a look."

The mate called one of the crew and gave him the order (помощник позвал одного из матросов: «одного из команды» и отдал ему приказ). The captain watched the Kanaka climb (капитан наблюдал, /как/ канак взбирается /наверх/) and waited for him to speak (и ждал, /когда/ он /начнет/ говорить). But the Kanaka shouted down that he could see nothing (но канак крикнул вниз, что он не видит: «смог увидеть» ничего) but the unbroken line of foam (кроме непрерывной полосы пены; but— но; кроме). The captain spoke Samoan like a native (капитан говорил на самоанском /языке/ как туземец; native— коренной житель), and he cursed him freely (и он крепко выругался на него; freely— свободно; открыто; щедро).

"Shall he stay up there?" asked the mate (оставаться ли ему там наверху? спросил помощник).

"What the hell good does that do (да что толку-то; the hell— /разг./ черт возьми;good— хороший; полезный, подходящий;to do— делать)?" answered the captain (ответил капитан). "The blame fool can’t see worth a cent (этот проклятый дурак не может увидеть ни черта; blame— вина; порицание, упрек; /разг., часто употребляется для усиления/ проклятый, чертовский;worth— стоящий;cent— цент). You bet your sweet life (можешь не сомневаться: «ставь пари на свою сладкую = милую жизнь» /разг./) I’d find the opening if I was up there (я бы нашел проход, если б я был там наверху)."

He looked at the slender mast with anger (он гневно: «с гневом» посмотрел на тонкую мачту). It was all very well for a native (это было все очень хорошо для какого-нибудь туземца) who had been used to climbing up coconut trees all his life (который привык лазить наверх по кокосовым пальмам всю свою жизнь). He was fat and heavy (он /же/ был тучным и тяжелым).

"Come down," he shouted (слезай: «иди вниз», крикнул он). "You’re no more use than a dead dog (от тебя не больше пользы, чем от дохлой собаки; a dead dog— ни на что не годные человек/вещь). We’ll just have to go along the reef (нам просто придется идти вдоль рифа) till we find the opening (пока мы /не/ найдем проход)."

climb [klaIm], answer [`Rnsq], heavy [`hevI]

The mate called one of the crew and gave him the order. The captain watched the Kanaka climb and waited for him to speak. But the Kanaka shouted down that he could see nothing but the unbroken line of foam. The captain spoke Samoan like a native, and he cursed him freely.

"Shall he stay up there?" asked the mate.

"What the hell good does that do?" answered the captain. "The blame fool can’t see worth a cent. You bet your sweet life I’d find the opening if I was up there."

He looked at the slender mast with anger. It was all very well for a native who had been used to climbing up coconut trees all his life. He was fat and heavy.

"Come down," he shouted. "You’re no more use than a dead dog. We’ll just have to go along the reef till we find the opening."

It was a seventy-ton schooner with paraffin auxiliary (это была семидесятитонная шхуна с керосиновым двигателем /в качестве запасного варианта/; auxiliary — вспомогательный механизм/здесь: вспомогательный по отношению к парусам/), and it ran, when there was no head wind (и она шла, когда не было встречного ветра; to run — бежать; двигаться, плыть), between four and five knots an hour (/со скоростью/ четырех-пяти узлов в час; between — между). It was a bedraggled object (это было замызганное судно; to bedraggle — замарать, запачкать; object — предмет, объект); it had been painted white a very long time ago (когда-то давно оно было белым: «оно было покрашено /в/ белый /цвет/ очень много времени тому назад»), but it was now dirty, dingy, and mottled (но сейчас оно было грязным, выцветшим и в пятнах: «пятнистым»). It smelt strongly of paraffin (оно сильно пахло керосином), and of the copra which was its usual cargo (и копрой, которая была его обычным грузом). They were within a hundred feet of the reef now (теперь они были не дальше сотни футов от рифа; within — в пределах) and the captain told the steersman to run along it (и капитан сказал рулевому идти вдоль него) till they came to the opening (пока они /не/ подойдут к проходу). But when they had gone a couple of miles (но когда они /уже/ проплыли пару миль; to go — идти, ехать) he realized that they had missed it (он понял, что они пропустили его). He went about and slowly worked back again (он развернулся и медленно снова поплыл назад; to go about— делать поворот кругом;to work— работать; направлять движение /судна/). The white foam of the reef continued without interruption (белая пена рифа продолжалась непрерывно: «без перерыва») and now the sun was setting (и теперь солнце /уже/ садилось). With a curse at the stupidity of the crew (проклиная тупость команды; with— с;curse— проклятие, брань) the skipper resigned himself to waiting till next morning (шкипер решился подождать до следующего утра; to resign one self— смириться).

"Put her about," he said (поворачивай ее обратно, — сказал он). "I can’t anchor here (я не могу бросить якорь здесь)."

schooner [`skHnq], auxiliary [Lg`zIljqrI], knot [nOt]

It was a seventy-ton schooner with paraffin auxiliary, and it ran, when there was no head wind, between four and five knots an hour. It was a bedraggled object; it had been painted white a very long time ago, but it was now dirty, dingy, and mottled. It smelt strongly of paraffin, and of the copra which was its usual cargo. They were within a hundred feet of the reef now and the captain told the steersman to run along it till they came to the opening. But when they had gone a couple of miles he realised that they had missed it. He went about and slowly worked back again. The white foam of the reef continued without interruption and now the sun was setting. With a curse at the stupidity of the crew the skipper resigned himself to waiting till next morning.

"Put her about," he said. "I can’t anchor here."

They went out to sea a little (они вышли подальше в море; a little — немного, чуточку) and presently it was quite dark (и вскоре стало: «было» совсем/довольно темно). They anchored (они встали на якорь). When the sail was furled (когда парус был убран; to furl — свертывать; складывать) the ship began to roll a good deal (судно начало сильно качаться; a good deal — много; to roll — катить/ся/;вращать/ся/;испытывать бортовую качку). They said in Apia (в Апии говорили) that one day she would roll right over (что однажды эта шхуна: «она» точно перевернется); and the owner, a German-American (а /ее/ владелец, американец немецкого происхождения) who managed one of the largest stores (который стоял во главе/управлял одним из самых крупных магазинов), said that no money was big enough (сказал, что нет таких денег: «никакие деньги /не/ были достаточно большими») to induce him to go out in her (чтобы он решился: «чтобы заставить его» выйти на ней /в открытое море/). The cook, a Chinese in white trousers, very dirty and ragged (кок-китаец в белых брюках, очень грязных и рваных), and a thin white tunic (и в тонком белом кителе; tunic — туника; китель), came to say that supper was ready (пришел сказать, что ужин был готов), and when the skipper went into the cabin (и когда шкипер зашел в каюту) he found the engineer already seated at table (он увидел: «обнаружил» /там/ механика, уже сидевшего за столом). The engineer was a long, lean man with a scraggy neck (механик был долговязым, худощавым мужчиной с тощей шеей; long — длинный). He was dressed in blue overalls and a sleeveless jersey (он был одет в голубой комбинезон и вязаную безрукавку; sleeveless — не имеющий рукавов; jersey — вязаная одежда) which showed his thin arms (которая не скрывала: «показывала» его худые руки) tattooed from elbow to wrist (покрытые татуировками: «татуированные» от локтя до запястья).

"Hell, having to spend the night outside," said the skipper (черт, приходится проводить ночь в открытом море, — сказал шкипер; hell— ад; /разг./ черт возьми!;outside— снаружи; на открытом воздухе, в открытом море).

manage [`mxnIG], engineer ["enGI`nIq], tattoo [tq`tH]

They went out to sea a little and presently it was quite dark. They anchored. When the sail was furled the ship began to roll a good deal. They said in Apia that one day she would roll right over; and the owner, a German-American who managed one of the largest stores, said that no money was big enough to induce him to go out in her. The cook, a Chinese in white trousers, very dirty and ragged, and a thin white tunic, came to say that supper was ready, and when the skipper went into the cabin he found the engineer already seated at table. The engineer was a long, lean man with a scraggy neck. He was dressed in blue overalls and a sleeveless jersey which showed his thin arms tattooed from elbow to wrist.

"Hell, having to spend the night outside," said the skipper.

The engineer did not answer (механик /ничего/ не ответил), and they ate their supper in silence (и они ели свой ужин в тишине/молчании). The cabin was lit by a dim oil-lamp (каюта освещалась тусклой керосиновой лампой). When they had eaten the canned apricots (когда они доели консервированные абрикосы) with which the meal finished (которые были на десерт: «которыми ужин заканчивался»; meal — еда; прием пищи) the Chink brought them a cup of tea (китаец принес им чаю: «чашку чая»; Chink — чинк, китаец/презрит./). The skipper lit a cigar and went on the upper deck (шкипер зажег сигару и вышел на верхнюю палубу; to light — зажигать). The island now was only a darker mass against the night (остров теперь был только /лишь/ более темной массой на фоне ночи). The stars were very bright (звезды были очень яркими). The only sound was the ceaseless breaking of the surf (единственным /доносившимся/ звуком был непрекращающийся шум прибоя; to break — разбивать/ся/). The skipper sank into a deck-chair and smoked idly (шкипер опустился в шезлонг и /стал/ покуривать; idly — праздно, лениво). Presently three or four members of the crew came up and sat down (вскоре трое или четверо членов команды вышли на палубу: «наверх» и сели). One of them had a banjo and another a concertina (у одного из них было банджо, а у другого концертино /шестигранная гармоника/). They began to play, and one of them sang (они начали играть, а один из них запел). The native song sounded strange on these instruments (туземная песня звучала странно на этих инструментах). Then to the singing a couple began to dance (потом под это пение пара /матросов/ начала танцевать). It was a barbaric dance (это был какой-то варварский танец), savage and primeval (дикий и первобытный), rapid (стремительный), with quick movements of the hands and feet (с быстрыми движениями рук и ног; hand — рука/кисть/; foot — ступня) and contortions of the body (и изгибаниями тела; to contort — скручивать, сгибать); it was sensual (он был чувственным), sexual even (даже сексуальным), but sexual without passion (но сексуальным без страсти). It was very animal (он был очень животным), direct (откровенным; direct — прямой), weird without mystery (странным, /но/ без тайны; weird — таинственный, сверхъестественный; странный), natural in short (короче говоря, естественным;in short — коротко, в двух словах), and one might almost say childlike (и можно даже сказать, детским; almost — почти; едва не). At last they grew tired (наконец они устали: «стали/сделались уставшими»). They stretched themselves on the deck and slept (они растянулись на палубе и уснули), and all was silent (и все стало: «было» тихо/спокойно).

brought [brLt], idly [`aIdlI], primeval [praI`mJv(q)l]

The engineer did not answer, and they ate their supper in silence. The cabin was lit by a dim oil-lamp. When they had eaten the canned apricots with which the meal finished the Chink brought them a cup of tea. The skipper lit a cigar and went on the upper deck. The island now was only a darker mass against the night. The stars were very bright. The only sound was the ceaseless breaking of the surf. The skipper sank into a deck-chair and smoked idly. Presently three or four members of the crew came up and sat down. One of them had a banjo and another a concertina. They began to play, and one of them sang. The native song sounded strange on these instruments. Then to the singing a couple began to dance. It was a barbaric dance, savage and primeval, rapid, with quick movements of the hands and feet and contortions of the body; it was sensual, sexual even, but sexual without passion. It was very animal, direct, weird without mystery, natural in short, and one might almost say childlike. At last they grew tired. They stretched themselves on the deck and slept, and all was silent.

The skipper lifted himself heavily out of his chair (шкипер поднялся тяжело из своего шезлонга) and clambered down the companion (и спустился вниз по лестнице; to clamber — карабкаться; companion — лестница, ведущая с палубы к каютам). He went into his cabin and got out of his clothes (он пошел в свою каюту и разделся: «вылез из своей одежды»). He climbed into his bunk and lay there (он взобрался на свою койку и лег там). He panted a little in the heat of the night (он задыхался немного от ночной духоты; heat — жара, тепло).

But next morning (но на следующее утро), when the dawn crept over the tranquil sea (когда рассвет забрезжил над безмятежным морем; to creep— ползать; подкрадываться), the opening in the reef which had eluded them the night before (проход в рифе, который ускользнул /от/ них прошлой ночью; before— перед; раньше) was seen a little to the east of where they lay (находился немного восточнее: «был виден немного к востоку от» /того места/, где они находились; tolie— лежать; быть расположенным). The schooner entered the lagoon (шхуна вошла /в/ лагуну). There was not a ripple on the surface of the water (не было ни /малейшей/ ряби на поверхности воды). Deep down among the coral rocks (глубоко внизу среди коралловых рифов; rock — скала; камень/в том числе подводный/) you saw little coloured fish swim (можно было увидеть маленьких разноцветных рыбок: «вы видели, /как/ маленькие цветные рыбки плавали»). When he had anchored his ship (когда он поставил на якорь свое судно) the skipper ate his breakfast and went on deck (шкипер съел свой завтрак и вышел на палубу). The sun shone from an unclouded sky (солнце светило в безоблачном небе; from — из, с), but in the early morning the air was grateful and cool (но ранним утром воздух был приятным и прохладным/свежим). It was Sunday (было воскресенье), and there was a feeling of quietness (и было какое-то ощущение покоя), a silence as though nature were at rest (тишина, как будто бы природа отдыхала: «была в состоянии покоя»), which gave him a peculiar sense of comfort (что давало ему особое чувство комфорта). He sat, looking at the wooded coast (он сидел, глядя на лесистый берег) and felt lazy and well at ease (и чувствовал /себя/ расслаблено и очень непринужденно; lazy — ленивый; располагающий к лени; ease — покой; свобода;непринужденность). Presently a slow smile moved his lips (вскоре слабая улыбка тронула его губы; slow — медленный, несильный) and he threw the stump of his cigar into the water (и он бросил окурок своей сигары в воду).

"I guess I’ll go ashore," he said (я полагаю = пожалуй, я сойду на берег, — сказал он). "Get the boat out (спустите: «вытащите» шлюпку)."

surface [`sWfIs], peculiar [pI`kjHljq], comfort [`kAmfqt]

The skipper lifted himself heavily out of his chair and clambered down the companion. He went into his cabin and got out of his clothes. He climbed into his bunk and lay there. He panted a little in the heat of the night.

But next morning, when the dawn crept over the tranquil sea, the opening in the reef which had eluded them the night before was seen a little to the east of where they lay. The schooner entered the lagoon. There was not a ripple on the surface of the water. Deep down among the coral rocks you saw little coloured fish swim. When he had anchored his ship the skipper ate his breakfast and went on deck. The sun shone from an unclouded sky, but in the early morning the air was grateful and cool. It was Sunday, and there was a feeling of quietness, a silence as though nature were at rest, which gave him a peculiar sense of comfort. He sat, looking at the wooded coast, and felt lazy and well at ease. Presently a slow smile moved his lips and he threw the stump of his cigar into the water.

"I guess I’ll go ashore," he said. "Get the boat out."

He climbed stiffly down the ladder (он слез неуклюже вниз по лестнице; stiff — негибкий; онемелый) and was rowed to a little cove (и /его/ отвезли на лодке в маленькую бухту; to row — грести; перевозить в лодке). The coconut trees came down to the water’s edge (кокосовые пальмы спускались к /самой/ кромке воды), not in rows (не рядами), but spaced out with an ordered formality (но расположившись в каком-то установленном порядке; to space out — размещать/ся/с промежутками; ordered — упорядоченный; formality — формальность). They were like a ballet of spinsters (они были словно балет из старых дев), elderly but flippant (пожилых, но /в то же время/ легкомысленных), standing in affected attitudes (застывших: «стоящих» в неестественных позах) with the simpering graces of a bygone age (с жеманной грацией минувших лет; age — возраст; век;период). He sauntered idly through them (он прогуливался праздно между ними; through — через), along a path that could be just seen winding its tortuous way (по тропинке, которая бежала еле приметной змейкой по своему извилистому пути: «которую можно было увидеть лишь /благодаря тому, что она/ вилась по своему извилистому пути»), and it led him presently to a broad creek (и она привела его вскоре к широкой речке). There was a bridge across it (через нее был /перекинут/ мост; across — поперек), but a bridge constructed of single trunks of coconut trees (но мост, сделанный: «построенный» из отдельных стволов кокосовых пальм), a dozen of them (дюжины стволов: «их»), placed end to end (положенных непрерывной цепью: «конец к концу») and supported where they met by a forked branch (и поддерживаемых в месте соединения: «/там/, где они встречались» раздвоенной веткой) driven into the bed of the creek (вбитой в дно речки). You walked on a smooth, round surface (вы ступали по гладкой, круглой поверхности), narrow and slippery (узкой и скользкой), and there was no support for the hand (и там не за что было ухватиться руками: «не было опоры для руки»). To cross such a bridge required sure feet and a stout heart (чтобы перейти такой мост требовалось твердо стоять на ногах и /иметь/ храброе сердце; sure — уверенный; foot — ступня). The skipper hesitated (шкипер колебался/медлил). But he saw on the other side (но он увидел на другой стороне), nestling among the trees (приютившийся среди деревьев; to nestle — уютно устроиться), a white man’s house (дом европейского типа: «белого человека»; white — белый; принадлежащий к европейской расе); he made up his mind (он решился) and, rather gingerly, began to walk (и, довольно осторожно, начал идти). He watched his feet carefully (он внимательно смотрел под ноги), and where one trunk joined on to the next (и где один ствол соединялся с другим: «со следующим») and there was a difference of level (и они были на разном уровне: «была разность высот»), he tottered a little (он немного покачивался; to totter — пошатнуться; идти неверной походкой).

ballet [`bxleI], require [rI`kwaIq], nestle [nesl]

He climbed stiffly down the ladder and was rowed to a little cove. The coconut trees came down to the water’s edge, not in rows, but spaced out with an ordered formality. They were like a ballet of spinsters, elderly but flippant, standing in affected attitudes with the simpering graces of a bygone age. He sauntered idly through them, along a path that could be just seen winding its tortuous way, and it led him presently to a broad creek. There was a bridge across it, but a bridge constructed of single trunks of coconut trees, a dozen of them, placed end to end and supported where they met by a forked branch driven into the bed of the creek. You walked on a smooth, round surface, narrow and slippery, and there was no support for the hand. To cross such a bridge required sure feet and a stout heart. The skipper hesitated. But he saw on the other side, nestling among the trees, a white man’s house; he made up his mind and, rather gingerly, began to walk. He watched his feet carefully, and where one trunk joined on to the next and there was a difference of level, he tottered a little.

It was with a gasp of relief that he reached the last tree (со вздохом облегчения он добрался до последнего дерева) and finally set his feet on the firm ground of the other side (и в конце концов ступил: «поставил свои ступни» на твердую почву на другом берегу: «на другой стороне»). He had been so intent on the difficult crossing (он был так поглощен этим трудным переходом) that he never noticed anyone was watching him (что даже не заметил, /что/ кто-то наблюдал /за/ ним), and it was with surprise that he heard himself spoken to (и с удивлением он услышал, /что/ с ним разговаривают).

"It takes a bit of nerve to cross these bridges (нужно: «требуется» немного смелости, чтобы переходить по таким мостам; nerve— нерв; сила духа; смелость) when you’re not used to them (/особенно/ когда ты не привык к такому: «к ним»)."

He looked up and saw a man standing in front of him (он поднял глаза: «посмотрел вверх» и увидел мужчину, стоящего перед ним). He had evidently come out of the house which he had seen (очевидно, он вышел из того дома, который он видел).

"I saw you hesitate (я видел, /что/ вы колебались)," the man continued, with a smile on his lips (продолжал мужчина, улыбаясь: «с улыбкой на своих губах»), "and I was watching to see you fall in (и я наблюдал /за вами/, чтобы увидеть как вы упадете в /воду/)."

"Not on your life," said the captain (ни за что/не дождетесь, — сказал капитан), who had now recovered his confidence (который теперь обрел свою уверенность).

"I’ve fallen in myself before now (я /и/ сам падал раньше: «до настоящего времени»). I remember, one evening I came back from shooting (я помню, однажды вечером я вернулся: «пришел назад» с охоты; to shoot— стрелять), and I fell in, gun and all (и я упал, /вместе с/ ружьем и всем /остальным/). Now I get a boy to carry my gun for me (теперь я беру: «получаю» мальчика, чтобы носить ружье: «носить мое ружье за меня»)."

intent [In`tent], surprise [sq`praIz], recover [rI`kAvq]

It was with a gasp of relief that he reached the last tree and finally set his feet on the firm ground of the other side. He had been so intent on the difficult crossing that he never noticed anyone was watching him, and it was with surprise that he heard himself spoken to.

"It takes a bit of nerve to cross these bridges when you’re not used to them."

He looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. He had evidently come out of the house which he had seen.

"I saw you hesitate," the man continued, with a smile on his lips, "and I was watching to see you fall in."

"Not on your life," said the captain, who had now recovered his confidence.

"I’ve fallen in myself before now. I remember, one evening I came back from shooting, and I fell in, gun and all. Now I get a boy to carry my gun for me."

He was a man no longer young (он был уже не молод: «он был человеком уже не молодым»), with a small beard, now somewhat grey (с маленькой бородкой, уже седеющей: «теперь слегка седой»), and a thin face (и худым лицом). He was dressed in a singlet, without arms (на нем была майка: «он был одет в майку без рукавов»; singlet — майка; нижняя трикотажная рубашка, плотно облегающая тело; arm — рука/от кисти до плеча/;рукав), and a pair of duck trousers (и парусиновые брюки; pair — пара). He wore neither shoes nor socks (на нем не было: «он не носил» ни обуви, ни носков). He spoke English with a slight accent (он говорил по-английски с легким акцентом).

"Are you Neilson?" asked the skipper (вы Нилсон? спросил шкипер).

"I am (да, я)."

"I’ve heard about you (я слышал о вас). I thought you lived somewheres round here (я /так и/ думал, /что/ вы живете где-то здесь неподалеку; somewheres/разг./ =somewhere)."

The skipper followed his host into the little bungalow (шкипер последовал за хозяином в /его/ небольшое бунгало; host— хозяин, человек, принимающий гостей) and sat down heavily in the chair (и тяжело опустился: «сел» в кресло) which the other motioned him to take (которое Нилсон предложил ему занять: «взять»; other— другой, второй;to motion— показывать жестом). While Neilson went out to fetch whisky and glasses (пока Нилсон выходил, чтобы принести виски и стаканы) he took a look round the room (он осмотрел комнату; to take a look— взглянуть;round— вокруг). It filled him with amazement (она поразила его: «наполнила его изумлением»). He had never seen so many books (он никогда /не/ видел так много книг). The shelves reached from floor to ceiling on all four walls (/книжные/ полки тянулись от пола до потолка по всем четырем стенам), and they were closely packed (и они были битком набиты: «плотно/тесно упакованы»). There was a grand piano littered with music (там был рояль, заваленный нотами;to litter— изобиловать;music— музыка; ноты), and a large table on which books and magazines lay in disorder (и большой стол, на котором книги и журналы лежали в беспорядке). The room made him feel embarrassed (он даже растерялся от всего этого: «эта комната заставила его почувствовать /себя/ растерянным»; to embarrass— смущать, приводить в замешательство). He remembered that Neilson was a queer fellow (он вспомнил, что Нилсон был чудаком: «странным парнем»). No one knew very much about him (о нем было мало что известно: «никто о нем /не/ знал очень много»), although he had been in the islands for so many years (хотя он /уже и/ прожил: «был» на этих островах так много лет), but those who knew him agreed that he was queer (но те, кто его знал, все считали, что он был странным; to agree— соглашаться; сходиться во взглядах). He was a Swede (он был шведом).

neither [`naIDq], slight [slaIt], bungalow [`bANgqlqu]

He was a man no longer young, with a small beard, now somewhat grey, and a thin face. He was dressed in a singlet, without arms, and a pair of duck trousers. He wore neither shoes nor socks. He spoke English with a slight accent.

"Are you Neilson?" asked the skipper.

"I am."

"I’ve heard about you. I thought you lived somewheres round here."

The skipper followed his host into the little bungalow and sat down heavily in the chair which the other motioned him to take. While Neilson went out to fetch whisky and glasses he took a look round the room. It filled him with amazement. He had never seen so many books. The shelves reached from floor to ceiling on all four walls, and they were closely packed. There was a grand piano littered with music, and a large table on which books and magazines lay in disorder. The room made him feel embarrassed. He remembered that Neilson was a queer fellow. No one knew very much about him, although he had been in the islands for so many years, but those who knew him agreed that he was queer. He was a Swede.

"You’ve got one big heap of books here (да у вас тут просто куча книг: «одна большая куча»)," he said, when Neilson returned (сказал он, когда Нилсон вернулся).

"They do no harm," answered Neilson with a smile (они не приносят вреда, ответил Нилсон с улыбкой).

"Have you read them all?" asked the skipper (вы все их прочитали? спросил шкипер).

"Most of them (большую часть)."

"I’m a bit of a reader myself (/да/ я /и/ сам почитываю: «немного читатель сам»). I have the Saturday Evening Post sent me regler (мне регулярно присылают Сатедей Ивнинг Пост; regler /диал./ = regularly)."

Neilson poured his visitor a good stiff glass of whisky (Нилсон налил своему гостю стакан хорошего крепкого виски) and gave him a cigar (и протянул: «дал» ему сигару). The skipper volunteered a little information (шкипер разговорился; to volunteer — предлагать; добровольно взять на себя; a little — немного; information — информация; сведения).

"I got in last night (я прибыл вчера вечером; last— последний; прошлый;night— ночь; вечер), but I couldn’t find the opening (но я не смог найти проход), so I had to anchor outside (поэтому мне пришлось стать на якорь в открытом море). I never been this run before (я никогда раньше не плавал по этому маршруту; run — бег; плавание, переход между двумя портами), but my people had some stuff they wanted to bring over here (но мои люди имели = у моих хозяев было кое-что, /что/ они хотели доставить сюда; some — несколько;stuff — вещи; хлам). Gray, d’you know him (вы знаете Грэя; him — его)?"

"Yes, he’s got a store a little way along (да, он держит: «у него есть» магазин недалеко отсюда)."

"Well, there was a lot of canned stuff (ну, там было много всяких консервов; canned— консервированный;stuff— хлам; все такое) that he wanted over (которые он хотел, /чтоб ему/ переправили; over— пере-; через), an’ he’s got some copra (а у него было: «он имел» немного копры). They thought I might just as well come over (они думали, что мне лучше: «я мог бы с таким же успехом» заехать /сюда/) as lie idle at Apia (чем простаивать в Апии; to lie idle— быть неиспользованным, без употребления). I run between Apia and Pago-Pago mostly (я плаваю между Апией и Паго-Паго в основном; to run— бегать; ехать, плыть; курсировать), but they’ve got smallpox there just now (но у них там сейчас оспа; just— как раз) and there’s nothing stirring (и вся жизнь замерла; nothing— ничего;to stir— шевелиться, двигаться)."

pour [pL], cigar [sI`gR], volunteer ["vOlqn`tIq]

"You’ve got one big heap of books here," he said, when Neilson returned.

"They do no harm," answered Neilson with a smile.

"Have you read them all?" asked the skipper.

"Most of them."

"I’m a bit of a reader myself. I have the Saturday Evening Post sent me regler."

Neilson poured his visitor a good stiff glass of whisky and gave him a cigar. The skipper volunteered a little information.

"I got in last night, but I couldn’t find the opening, so I had to anchor outside. I never been this run before, but my people had some stuff they wanted to bring over here. Gray, d’you know him?"

"Yes, he’s got a store a little way along."

"Well, there was a lot of canned stuff that he wanted over, an’ he’s got some copra. They thought I might just as well come over as lie idle at Apia. I run between Apia and Pago-Pago mostly, but they’ve got smallpox there just now, and there’s nothing stirring."

He took a drink of his whisky and lit a cigar (он сделал: «взял» глоток своего виски и зажег сигару). He was a taciturn man (он был неразговорчивым человеком), but there was something in Neilson (но было что-то /такое/ в Нилсоне) that made him nervous (что заставляло его нервничать: «делало его нервным»), and his nervousness made him talk (и /эта/ его нервозность заставляла его говорить). The Swede was looking at him with large dark eyes (швед глядел на него большими темными глазами) in which there was an expression of faint amusement (в которых читалась легкая усмешка; expression — выражение; faint — слабый; to amuse — забавлять, смешить).

"This is a tidy little place you’ve got here (неплохое местечко у вас тут; tidy— аккуратный; /разг./ неплохой;little— маленький)."

"I’ve done my best with it (я очень старался с ним; to do one’s best— сделать все возможное, все от себя зависящее)."

"You must do pretty well with your trees (должно быть, дела у вас идут довольно хорошо с вашими деревьями; to do well— процветать, преуспевать). They look fine (они прекрасно выглядят). With copra at the price it is now (с такой ценой на копру: «с копрой по цене» как сейчас). I had a bit of a plantation myself once (когда-то у меня самого было /что-то/ вроде плантации), in Upolu it was (это было на /острове/ Уполу), but I had to sell it (но мне пришлось продать ее)."

He looked round the room again (он снова оглядел комнату), where all those books gave him a feeling of something incomprehensible and hostile (где все эти книги вселяли в него: «давали ему» ощущение чего-то непонятного и враждебного).

"I guess you must find it a bit lonesome here though (однако, полагаю, вы должны находить это = вам, должно быть, немного одиноко здесь)," he said.

"I’ve got used to it (я /уже/ привык к этому). I’ve been here for twenty-five years (я здесь /уже/ двадцать пять лет)."

amusement [q`mjHzmqnt], incomprehensible [In`kOmprI`hensqbl], hostile [`hOstaIl]

He took a drink of his whisky and lit a cigar. He was a taciturn man, but there was something in Neilson that made him nervous, and his nervousness made him talk. The Swede was looking at him with large dark eyes in which there was an expression of faint amusement.

"This is a tidy little place you’ve got here."

"I’ve done my best with it."

"You must do pretty well with your trees. They look fine. With copra at the price it is now. I had a bit of a plantation myself once, in Upolu it was, but I had to sell it."

He looked round the room again, where all those books gave him a feeling of something incomprehensible and hostile.

"I guess you must find it a bit lonesome here though," he said.

"I’ve got used to it. I’ve been here for twenty-five years."

Now the captain could think of nothing more to say (больше капитану нечего было сказать: «теперь капитан /не/ мог придумать больше ничего, чтобы сказать»), and he smoked in silence (и он молча: «в молчании/тишине» курил). Neilson had apparently no wish to break it (Нилсон, очевидно, не хотел: «не имел желания» нарушать тишину: «ее»). He looked at his guest with a meditative eye (он смотрел на своего гостя задумчивым взглядом; eye— глаз; взгляд). He was a tall man (он был высоким мужчиной) more than six feet high (более шести футов ростом; than— чем;high— высокий; имеющий определенную высоту), and very stout (и очень полным). His face was red and blotchy (его лицо было красным и прыщавым/в пятнах; blotch— прыщ; пятно), with a network of little purple veins on the cheeks (с сеточкой из маленьких фиолетовых жилок на щеках; vein— вена), and his features were sunk into its fatness (и черты его лица были погружены = тонули в его полноте; features— черты лица). His eyes were bloodshot (его глаза были налиты кровью). His neck was buried in rolls of fat (его шея была погребена в складках жира;toroll— катить; свертывать). But for a fringe of long curly hair, nearly white (за исключением бахромы из длинных вьющихся волос, почти белых), at the back of his head (на его затылке), he was quite bald (он был совершенно лыс); and that immense, shiny surface of forehead (и эта огромная, блестящая поверхность лба), which might have given him a false look of intelligence (которая могла бы придать ему умный вид; false— ошибочный; фальшивый;intelligence— интеллект), on the contrary gave him one of peculiar imbecility (наоборот придавала ему вид какого-то слабоумия; peculiar— особенный, своеобразный;one— один; также употребляется как слово-заместитель во избежание повторения существительного). He wore a blue flannel shirt (на нем была голубая фланелевая рубашка; to wear— носить /одежду/), open at the neck (с открытым воротом; neck— шея; ворот) and showing his fat chest covered with a mat of reddish hair (не скрывающая его жирной груди, покрытой комом рыжеватых волос; to show— показывать;mat— коврик; спутанный, свалявшийся ком), and a very old pair of blue serge trousers (и очень старые синие шерстяные брюки; pair— пара;serge— серж /шерстяная костюмная ткань/). He sat in his chair in a heavy ungainly attitude (он сидел в своем кресле в грузном неловком положении), his great belly thrust forward and his fat legs uncrossed (с огромным выпяченным пузом и толстыми расставленными ногами;to thrust— толкать; совать;forward— вперед;leg— нога /от бедра до ступни/;to cross— пересекать; перекрещивать /руки и т. п./). All elasticity had gone from his limbs (вся гибкость ушла из его тела; limb — конечность). Neilson wondered idly (Нилсон размышлял лениво) what sort of man he had been in his youth (каким же он был в юности; sort — сорт, тип). It was almost impossible to imagine (было почти невозможно вообразить) that this creature of vast bulk (что это существо с огромной массой) had ever been a boy who ran about (было когда-то резвым мальчишкой; to run about — суетиться; резвиться).

bald [bLld], forehead [`fOrId], limb [lIm]

Now the captain could think of nothing more to say, and he smoked in silence. Neilson had apparently no wish to break it. He looked at his guest with a meditative eye. He was a tall man more than six feet high, and very stout. His face was red and blotchy, with a network of little purple veins on the cheeks, and his features were sunk into its fatness. His eyes were bloodshot. His neck was buried in rolls of fat. But for a fringe of long curly hair, nearly white, at the back of his head, he was quite bald; and that immense, shiny surface of forehead, which might have given him a false look of intelligence, on the contrary gave him one of peculiar imbecility. He wore a blue flannel shirt, open at the neck and showing his fat chest covered with a mat of reddish hair, and a very old pair of blue serge trousers. He sat in his chair in a heavy ungainly attitude, his great belly thrust forward and his fat legs uncrossed. All elasticity had gone from his limbs. Neilson wondered idly what sort of man he had been in his youth. It was almost impossible to imagine that this creature of vast bulk had ever been a boy who ran about.

The skipper finished his whisky (шкипер допил свое виски; to finish — заканчивать), and Neilson pushed the bottle towards him (и Нилсон пододвинул бутылку к нему; to push — толкать).

"Help yourself (угощайтесь)."

The skipper leaned forward and with his great hand seized it (шкипер нагнулся вперед и своей огромной ручищей схватил ее).

"And how come you in these parts anyways (а все же, как вы попали в эти края; to come— приходить, приезжать;anyways/нестанд./ =anyway— так или иначе)?" he said.

"Oh, I came out to the islands for my health (о, я выехал на эти острова из-за моего здоровья). My lungs were bad (у меня были больные легкие) and they said I hadn’t a year to live (и говорили, /что/ я не проживу и года: «у меня не было и года, чтобы жить»). You see they were wrong (/как/ видите, они ошибались)."

"I meant, how come you to settle down right here (я имел в виду, как вы пришли /к тому/, чтобы поселиться именно здесь)?"

"I am a sentimentalist (я сентиментальный человек)."

"Oh (а-а)!"

Neilson knew that the skipper had not an idea what he meant (Нилсон знал, что шкипер не имел понятия /о том/, что он имел в виду; idea— идея; мысль; представление о чем-либо), and he looked at him with an ironical twinkle in his dark eyes (он взглянул на него, /и/ в его темных глазах промелькнула ирония; with— с;twinkle— блеск). Perhaps just because (может быть, именно потому) the skipper was so gross and dull a man (/что/ шкипер был таким неотесанным и тупым мужиком) the whim seized him to talk further (ему захотелось продолжить разговор: «его охватила прихоть разговаривать дальше»).

"You were too busy keeping your balance to notice (вы были слишком заняты поддержанием своего равновесия, чтобы заметить; to keep— держать; сохранять), when you crossed the bridge (когда вы переходили по мосту), but this spot is generally considered rather pretty (но это место вообще считается очень/довольно красивым)."

ironical [aI`rOnIk(q)l], perhaps [pq`hxps], pretty [`prItI]

The skipper finished his whisky, and Neilson pushed the bottle towards him.

"Help yourself."

The skipper leaned forward and with his great hand seized it.

"And how come you in these parts anyways?" he said.

"Oh, I came out to the islands for my health. My lungs were bad and they said I hadn’t a year to live. You see they were wrong."

"I meant, how come you to settle down right here?"

"I am a sentimentalist."

"Oh!"

Neilson knew that the skipper had not an idea what he meant, and he looked at him with an ironical twinkle in his dark eyes. Perhaps just because the skipper was so gross and dull a man the whim seized him to talk further.

"You were too busy keeping your balance to notice, when you crossed the bridge, but this spot is generally considered rather pretty."

"It’s a cute little house you’ve got here (/какой/ прелестный домик у вас тут)."

"Ah, that wasn’t here when I first came (а, его здесь не было, когда я впервые попал: «пришел» /сюда/). There was a native hut (здесь была туземная хижина), with its beehive roof and its pillars (с ее крышей, похожей на улей, и столбами; beehive— улей;to pillar— подпирать, поддерживать), overshadowed by a great tree with red flowers (/она стояла/ под тенью огромного дерева с красными цветами; to over shadow— затемнять; отбрасывать тень); and the croton bushes (и кусты кротона), their leaves yellow and red and golden (/с/ их желтыми, красными и золотистыми листьями), made a pied fence around it (создавали пеструю изгородь вокруг нее). And then all about were the coconut trees (и потом повсюду были кокосовые пальмы), as fanciful as women, and as vain (такие же капризные как женщины и такие же самовлюбленные). They stood at the water’s edge (они стояли у кромки воды) and spent all day looking at their reflections (и проводили весь день, глядя на свои отражения). I was a young man then (я был молод: «молодым человеком» тогда) — Good Heavens, it’s a quarter of a century ago (Боже мой, это /было/ четверть века тому назад) — and I wanted to enjoy all the loveliness of the world (и я хотел насладиться всей красотой этого мира) in the short time allotted to me (за то короткое время, предоставленное мне) before I passed into the darkness (до того как я уйду во мрак). I thought it was the most beautiful spot I had ever seen (я думал, /что/ это было самое красивое место, /которое/ я когда-либо видел). The first time I saw it (как только: «/в/ первый раз /когда/» я его увидел) I had a catch at my heart (у меня защемило сердце; to catch — ловить; зацепить, задеть), and I was afraid I was going to cry (и я боялся, /что/ расплачусь; to be going — собираться; также придает последующему глаголу значение действия в ближайшем будущем). I wasn’t more than twenty-five (мне было не больше двадцати пяти), and though I put the best face I could on it (и хоть я и храбрился как мог; to put on a face — делать вид; best — наилучший), I didn’t want to die (я не хотел умирать). And somehow it seemed to me (и почему-то показалось мне) that the very beauty of this place (что сама красота этого места) made it easier for me to accept my fate (сделала легче = помогла мне принять свою судьбу). I felt when I came here (я почувствовал, когда я пришел сюда) that all my past life had fallen away (что вся моя прошлая жизнь /куда-то/ исчезла), Stockholm and its University (Стокгольм и его университет), and then Bonn (и затем Бонн): it all seemed the life of somebody else (это все, казалось, было в жизни: «казалось жизнью» кого-то другого), as though now at last I had achieved the reality (как будто теперь, наконец, я познал эту реальность; to achieve — достигать) which our doctors of philosophy (которую наши доктора философии) — I am one myself, you know (знаете, я /ведь и/ сам один /из них/) — had discussed so much (так много обсуждали). ‘A year,’ I cried to myself (один год, крикнул я себе). ‘I have a year (у меня есть один год). I will spend it here and then I am content to die (я проведу его здесь, а потом я согласен умереть; content — довольный; голосующий «за»).’

beehive [`bJhaIv], beauty [`bjHtI], philosophy [fI`lOsqfI]

"It’s a cute little house you’ve got here."

"Ah, that wasn’t here when I first came. There was a native hut, with its beehive roof and its pillars, overshadowed by a great tree with red flowers; and the croton bushes, their leaves yellow and red and golden, made a pied fence around it. And then all about were the coconut trees, as fanciful as women, and as vain. They stood at the water’s edge and spent all day looking at their reflections. I was a young man then — Good Heavens, it’s a quarter of a century ago — and I wanted to enjoy all the loveliness of the world in the short time allotted to me before I passed into the darkness. I thought it was the most beautiful spot I had ever seen. The first time I saw it I had a catch at my heart, and I was afraid I was going to cry. I wasn’t more than twenty-five, and though I put the best face I could on it, I didn’t want to die. And somehow it seemed to me that the very beauty of this place made it easier for me to accept my fate. I felt when I came here that all my past life had fallen away, Stockholm and its University, and then Bonn: it all seemed the life of somebody else, as though now at last I had achieved the reality which our doctors of philosophy — I am one myself, you know — had discussed so much. ‘A year,’ I cried to myself. ‘I have a year. I will spend it here and then I am content to die.’

"We are foolish and sentimental and melodramatic at twenty-five (мы глупы, сентиментальны и мелодраматичны в двадцать пять /лет/), but if we weren’t (но если бы мы не были /такими/) perhaps we should be less wise at fifty (может быть, мы были бы не так мудры в пятьдесят; less — менее).

"Now drink, my friend (а теперь пейте, мой друг). Don’t let the nonsense I talk interfere with you (не обращайте внимания на мою болтовню: «не позволяйте вздору, /который/ я говорю, мешать вам»)."

He waved his thin hand towards the bottle (он махнул своей худой рукой на бутылку; towards— по направлению к), and the skipper finished what remained in his glass (и шкипер допил /то/, что оставалось в его стакане; to finish— заканчивать).

"You ain’t drinking nothin’ (/а/ вы не пьете ничего)," he said, reaching for the whisky (сказал он, беря виски; to reach for— доставать, тянуться за чем-либо).

"I am of a sober habit (у меня привычка не пить; sober— непьющий, трезвый)," smiled the Swede (улыбнулся швед). "I intoxicate myself in ways (я опьяняю себя /другими/ способами) which I fancy are more subtle (которые, я полагаю, более изысканны). But perhaps that is only vanity (но, может быть, это только тщеславие). Anyhow, the effects are more lasting (во всяком случае, эффект более длительный) and the results less deleterious (а результаты менее пагубны)."

"They say there’s a deal of cocaine taken in the States now (говорят, сейчас столько кокаина употребляют в Штатах; deal— некоторое количество; большое количество)," said the captain.

Neilson chuckled (Нилсон подавил смешок; chuckle— сдавленный/тихий смех).

"But I do not see a white man often (но я не /так/ часто вижу /здесь/ белых: «белого человека»)," he continued (продолжал он), "and for once I don’t think a drop of whisky can do me any harm (и за один раз, я не думаю, /что/ капля виски может причинить мне какой-либо вред)."

He poured himself out a little (он налил себе немного), added some soda, and took a sip (добавил немного содовой и сделал маленький глоток).

interfere ["Intq`fIq], subtle [sAtl], deleterious ["delI`tIqrIqs]

"We are foolish and sentimental and melodramatic at twenty-five, but if we weren’t perhaps we should be less wise at fifty.

"Now drink, my friend. Don’t let the nonsense I talk interfere with you."

He waved his thin hand towards the bottle, and the skipper finished what remained in his glass.

"You ain’t drinking nothin’," he said, reaching for the whisky.

"I am of a sober habit," smiled the Swede. "I intoxicate myself in ways which I fancy are more subtle. But perhaps that is only vanity. Anyhow, the effects are more lasting and the results less deleterious."

"They say there’s a deal of cocaine taken in the States now," said the captain.

Neilson chuckled.

"But I do not see a white man often," he continued, "and for once I don’t think a drop of whisky can do me any harm."

He poured himself out a little, added some soda, and took a sip.

"And presently I found out (и вскоре я понял: «выяснил») why the spot had such an unearthly loveliness (почему это место обладало такой неземной красотой). Here love had tarried for a moment (здесь на миг задержалась любовь; moment — момент, мгновение) like a migrant bird that happens on a ship in mid-ocean (словно перелетная птица, которая случайно встречает корабль посреди океана) and for a little while folds its tired wings (и на короткое время складывает свои усталые крылья). The fragrance of a beautiful passion hovered over it (аромат прекрасной страсти парил над ним) like the fragrance of hawthorn in May in the meadows of my home (словно аромат боярышника в мае на лугах моей родины; home — дом, жилище; родина). It seems to me that the places where men have loved or suffered (мне кажется, что те места, где люди любили или страдали) keep about them always some faint aroma of something (сохраняют в себе всегда некий слабый аромат чего-то /такого/) that has not wholly died (что не до конца умерло; wholly — полностью). It is as though they had acquired a spiritual significance (это как будто бы они приобрели какую-то духовную значимость) which mysteriously affects those who pass (которая непостижимым образом влияет /на/ тех, кто проходит мимо). I wish I could make myself clear (хотел бы я смочь = если бы я только мог выразиться яснее)." He smiled a little (он слегка улыбнулся). "Though I cannot imagine (хотя я не могу себе представить) that if I did (что если б я и смог) you would understand (вы бы /меня/ поняли)."

He paused (он сделал паузу).

"I think this place was beautiful (я думаю, это место было красивым) because here for a period (потому что здесь на некоторое время) the ecstasy of love had invested it with beauty (восторг любви окутал его красотой)." And now he shrugged his shoulders (и тотчас же он пожал плечами). "But perhaps it is only (но, может быть, это просто) that my aesthetic sense is gratified (моему эстетическому чувству доставляет удовольствие) by the happy conjunction of young love and a suitable setting (удачное сочетание молодой любви и подходящей обстановки)."

unearthly [An`WTlI], fragrance [`freIgr(q)ns], meadow [`medqu]

"And presently I found out why the spot had such an unearthly loveliness. Here love had tarried for a moment like a migrant bird that happens on a ship in mid-ocean and for a little while folds its tired wings. The fragrance of a beautiful passion hovered over it like the fragrance of hawthorn in May in the meadows of my home. It seems to me that the places where men have loved or suffered keep about them always some faint aroma of something that has not wholly died. It is as though they had acquired a spiritual significance which mysteriously affects those who pass. I wish I could make myself clear." He smiled a little. "Though I cannot imagine that if I did you would understand."

He paused.

"I think this place was beautiful because here for a period the ecstasy of love had invested it with beauty." And now he shrugged his shoulders. "But perhaps it is only that my aesthetic sense is gratified by the happy conjunction of young love and a suitable setting."

Even a man less thick-witted than the skipper (даже человек менее глупый, чем шкипер) might have been forgiven (мог бы быть прощен) if he were bewildered by Neilson’s words (если бы слова Нилсона поставили его в тупик). For he seemed faintly to laugh at what he said (ибо, казалось, он /и сам/ почти смеялся над /тем/, что сказал; faintly — слабо, слегка). It was as though he spoke from emotion (это было /так/, как будто он говорил, /исходя/ из чувства) which his intellect found ridiculous (которое его разум находил нелепым/смешным). He had said himself that he was a sentimentalist (он сам сказал, что был сентиментальным человеком), and when sentimentality is joined with scepticism (а когда сентиментальность соединяется со скептицизмом) there is often the devil to pay (это часто грозит неприятностями; the devil to pay — /устойчивое выражение/грозящая неприятность, беда; затруднительное положение).

He was silent for an instant (он замолчал на мгновение) and looked at the captain with eyes (и посмотрел на капитана глазами) in which there was a sudden perplexity (в которых неожиданно мелькнуло: «было неожиданное» недоумение/растерянность).

"You know, I can’t help thinking (вы знаете, я не могу удержаться от мысли; tohelp— помогать; избегать, удерживать/ся/;to think— думать) that I’ve seen you before somewhere or other (что я видел вас раньше где-то)," he said.

"I couldn’t say as I remember you (а я не припоминаю вас: «я не мог бы сказать, что я помню вас»)," returned the skipper (возразил шкипер).

"I have a curious feeling (у меня /такое/ странное чувство) as though your face were familiar to me (как будто бы ваше лицо мне знакомо). It’s been puzzling me for some time (это мучило меня некоторое время; to puzzle— озадачивать; ставить в тупик). But I can’t situate my recollection in any place or at any time (но я не могу вспомнить, где и когда /я вас видел/: «но я не могу поместить свои воспоминания в какое бы то ни было место или время»)."

The skipper massively shrugged his heavy shoulders (шкипер тяжело пожал своими крупными плечами).

"It’s thirty years since I first come to the islands (/прошло уже/ тридцать лет, с тех пор как я впервые приехал на эти острова). A man can’t figure on (нельзя ожидать от человека: «человек не может рассчитывать») remembering all the folk he meets in a while like that (/что он будет/ помнить всех людей, /с которыми/ он встречается за /такой/ промежуток времени как этот)."

laugh [lRf], sentimentality ["sentImen`txlItI], folk [fquk]

Even a man less thick-witted than the skipper might have been forgiven if he were bewildered by Neilson’s words. For he seemed faintly to laugh at what he said. It was as though he spoke from emotion which his intellect found ridiculous. He had said himself that he was a sentimentalist, and when sentimentality is joined with scepticism there is often the devil to pay.

He was silent for an instant and looked at the captain with eyes in which there was a sudden perplexity.

"You know, I can’t help thinking that I’ve seen you before somewhere or other," he said.

"I couldn’t say as I remember you," returned the skipper.

"I have a curious feeling as though your face were familiar to me. It’s been puzzling me for some time. But I can’t situate my recollection in any place or at any time."

The skipper massively shrugged his heavy shoulders.

"It’s thirty years since I first come to the islands. A man can’t figure on remembering all the folk he meets in a while like that."

The Swede shook his head (швед /отрицательно/ покачал головой).

"You know how one sometimes has the feeling (вы знаете, как иногда охватывает чувство; one— один; также употребляется в неопределенно-личных предложениях) that a place one has never been to before (что какое-то место, /где/ никогда /не/ был раньше) is strangely familiar (странным образом знакомо /тебе/). That’s how I seem to see you (вот каким образом, кажется, я /и/ вижу вас)." He gave a whimsical smile (он странно улыбнулся;whimsical — причудливый). "Perhaps I knew you in some past existence (может быть, я знал вас в какой-нибудь прошлой жизни). Perhaps, perhaps you were the master of a galley in ancient Rome (может быть, вы были управляющим на галере в Древнем Риме; master — хозяин, владелец; господин;мастер) and I was a slave at the oar (а я был рабом у весла). Thirty years have you been here (вы тридцать лет /уже/ здесь)?"

"Every bit of thirty years (все тридцать лет до одного; every— каждый;bit— кусочек, небольшое количество)."

"I wonder if you knew a man called Red (интересно, знали ли вы человека по имени Рыжий)?"

"Red?"

"That is the only name I’ve ever known him by (только под этим именем я его всегда /и/ знал). I never knew him personally (я никогда /не/ знал его лично). I never even set eyes on him (я никогда даже /не/ видел его; to set— класть, ставить, размещать;eye— глаз; взгляд). And yet I seem to see him more clearly than many men (и все же, кажется, я вижу его более ясно, чем многих /других/ людей), my brothers, for instance (моих братьев, например), with whom I passed my daily life for many years (с которыми я проводил все дни: «мою ежедневную жизнь» в течение многих лет). He lives in my imagination with the distinctness of a Paolo Malatesta or a Romeo (он живет в моем воображении также ясно, как какой-нибудь Паоло Малатеста или Ромео; with— с;distinctness— отчетливость, ясность). But I daresay you have never read Dante or Shakespeare (но полагаю: «осмелюсь сказать», вы никогда /не/ читали Данте или Шекспира)?"

"I can’t say as I have (не могу сказать, чтоб читал)," said the captain.

whimsical [`wImzik(q)l], ancient [`eInS(q)nt], oar [L]

The Swede shook his head.

"You know how one sometimes has the feeling that a place one has never been to before is strangely familiar. That’s how I seem to see you." He gave a whimsical smile. "Perhaps I knew you in some past existence. Perhaps, perhaps you were the master of a galley in ancient Rome and I was a slave at the oar. Thirty years have you been here?"

"Every bit of thirty years."

"I wonder if you knew a man called Red?"

"Red?"

"That is the only name I’ve ever known him by. I never knew him personally. I never even set eyes on him. And yet I seem to see him more clearly than many men, my brothers, for instance, with whom I passed my daily life for many years. He lives in my imagination with the distinctness of a Paolo Malatesta or a Romeo. But I daresay you have never read Dante or Shakespeare?"

"I can’t say as I have," said the captain.

Neilson, smoking a cigar, leaned back in his chair (Нилсон, куря сигару, откинулся на спинку кресла; to lean — наклоняться; back — назад) and looked vacantly at the ring of smoke (и смотрел безучастно на колечко из дыма) which floated in the still air (которое плыло в неподвижном воздухе). A smile played on his lips (на его губах играла улыбка), but his eyes were grave (но глаза были серьезны). Then he looked at the captain (потом он посмотрел на капитана). There was in his gross obesity something extraordinarily repellent (было в его чрезмерной тучности что-то чрезвычайно отталкивающее; gross — большой; толстый;грубый). He had the plethoric self-satisfaction of the very fat (он обладал тем безмерным самодовольством, /присущим/ очень толстым /людям/). It was an outrage (это было возмутительно; outrage — оскорбление; грубое нарушение; возмутительный случай, поступок). It set Neilson’s nerves on edge (это раздражало Нилсона: «ставило нервы на грань»). But the contrast between the man before him and the man he had in mind was pleasant (но контраст между человеком, /сидящим/ перед ним, и тем, кого он вспоминал, был приятным).

"It appears that Red was the most comely thing you ever saw (похоже, что Рыжий был самым привлекательным существом из когда-либо виденных; to appear— появляться; казаться). I’ve talked to quite a number of people who knew him in those days (я разговаривал со многими людьми, которые знали его в те дни), white men (с белыми), and they all agree that the first time you saw him (и все они сходятся в одном, что в первый раз, /как/ увидишь его) his beauty just took your breath away (его красота просто поражает: «отбирает твое дыхание»). They called him Red on account of his flaming hair (они называли его Рыжим из-за его огненных волос). It had a natural wave (они вились от природы) and he wore it long (и были: «и он носил их» длинными). It must have been of that wonderful colour (они, должно быть, были того удивительного цвета) that the pre-Raphaelites raved over (которым /так/ восторгались прерафаэлиты). I don’t think he was vain of it (я не думаю, что он тешил этим свое самолюбие; vain— тщеславный; самодовольный), he was much too ingenuous for that (он был уж слишком простодушен для этого), but no one could have blamed him if he had been (но никто и не смог бы осудить его, если б он и делал это). He was tall, six feet and an inch or two (он был высоким, шесть футов и один-два дюйма) — in the native house that used to stand here (в туземном жилище, которое раньше находилось: «стояло» здесь) was the mark of his height (была отметка его роста) cut with a knife on the central trunk that supported the roof (вырезанная ножом на центральном столбе: «стволе», который поддерживал крышу) — and he was made like a Greek god (и он был сложен: «сделан» как греческий бог), broad in the shoulders and thin in the flanks (широкий в плечах и с узкими бедрами: «худой по бокам»); he was like Apollo (он был словно Аполлон), with just that soft roundness which Praxiteles gave him (с той самой мягкой округлостью, которую Пракситель придал ему), and that suave, feminine grace (и той приятной, женственной грацией; suave— обходительный) which has in it something troubling and mysterious (в которой есть что-то волнующее и таинственное). His skin was dazzling white (его кожа была ослепительно белой), milky (молочной), like satin (шелковистой: «словно атлас»); his skin was like a woman’s (его кожа была как у женщины)."

appear [q`pIq], comely [`kAmlI], suave [swRv]

Neilson, smoking a cigar, leaned back in his chair and looked vacantly at the ring of smoke which floated in the still air. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes were grave. Then he looked at the captain. There was in his gross obesity something extraordinarily repellent. He had the plethoric self-satisfaction of the very fat. It was an outrage. It set Nelson’s nerves on edge. But the contrast between the man before him and the man he had in mind was pleasant.

"It appears that Red was the most comely thing you ever saw. I’ve talked to quite a number of people who knew him in those days, white men, and they all agree that the first time you saw him his beauty just took your breath away. They called him Red on account of his flaming hair. It had a natural wave and he wore it long. It must have been of that wonderful colour that the pre-Raphaelites raved over. I don’t think he was vain of it, he was much too ingenuous for that, but no one could have blamed him if he had been. He was tall, six feet and an inch or two — in the native house that used to stand here was the mark of his height cut with a knife on the central trunk that supported the roof — and he was made like a Greek god, broad in the shoulders and thin in the flanks; he was like Apollo, with just that soft roundness which Praxiteles gave him, and that suave, feminine grace which has in it something troubling and mysterious. His skin was dazzling white, milky, like satin; his skin was like a woman’s."

"I had kind of a white skin myself when I was a kiddie (/да/ у меня самого была вроде как белая кожа, когда я был ребенком; kind of — что-то вроде)," said the skipper, with a twinkle in his bloodshot eyes (сказал шкипер, и его налитые кровью глаза сверкнули; with — с; twinkle — блеск).

But Neilson paid no attention to him (но Нилсон не обратил на него внимание). He was telling his story now (он сейчас рассказывал свою историю) and interruption made him impatient (и он не терпел заминок; to interrupt — обрывать; вмешиваться/в разговор и т. п./; to make — делать; impatient — нетерпеливый; нетерпимый).

"And his face was just as beautiful as his body (а лицо его было таким же красивым, как его тело). He had large blue eyes (у него были большие синие глаза), very dark (такие темные; very — очень), so that some say they were black (что некоторые /даже/ говорят, /что/ они были черными), and unlike most red-haired people (и в отличие от большинства рыжеволосых людей) he had dark eyebrows and long dark lashes (у него были темные брови и длинные темные ресницы). His features were perfectly regular (черты его лица были безукоризненно правильными) and his mouth was like a scarlet wound (а его рот был словно алая рана). He was twenty (ему было двадцать /лет/)."

On these words the Swede stopped with a certain sense of the dramatic (при этих словах швед сделал определенно драматическую паузу; to stop— останавливаться;certain— определенный; некий;sense— чувство; смысл). He took a sip of whisky (он сделал маленький глоток виски).

"He was unique (он был единственным в своем роде). There never was anyone more beautiful (никогда /не/ было человека: «кого-нибудь» красивее /его/). There was no more reason for him (для его появления: «для него» было не больше основания) than for a wonderful blossom to flower on a wild plant (чем для прекрасного цветка появиться: «расцвести» на дикорастущем растении). He was a happy accident of nature (он был счастливой случайностью природы).

interruption ["Intq`rApS(q)n], impatient [Im`peIS(q)nt], unique [jH`nJk]

"I had kind of a white skin myself when I was a kiddie," said the skipper, with a twinkle in his bloodshot eyes.

But Neilson paid no attention to him. He was telling his story now and interruption made him impatient.

"And his face was just as beautiful as his body. He had large blue eyes, very dark, so that some say they were black, and unlike most red-haired people he had dark eyebrows and long dark lashes. His features were perfectly regular and his mouth was like a scarlet wound. He was twenty."

On these words the Swede stopped with a certain sense of the dramatic. He took a sip of whisky.

"He was unique. There never was anyone more beautiful. There was no more reason for him than for a wonderful blossom to flower on a wild plant. He was a happy accident of nature.

"One day he landed at that cove (однажды он высадился в той бухте) into which you must have put this morning (в которую вы, должно быть, зашли сегодня утром; to put in — заходить в порт; вставать на рейде). He was an American sailor (он был американским матросом), and he had deserted from a man-of-war in Apia (и он дезертировал с военного корабля в Апии). He had induced some good-humoured native (он убедил какого-то добродушного туземца) to give him a passage on a cutter (подвезти его на катере; to give — давать; дарить; passage — проход; поездка/особенно по морю/) that happened to be sailing from Apia to Safoto (который как раз плыл из Апии в Сафото; to happen — случаться; случайно оказываться), and he had been put ashore here in a dugout (и здесь его отправили на берег в каком-то челноке; dugout — лодка, выдолбленная из бревна). I do not know why he deserted (я не знаю, почему он дезертировал). Perhaps life on a man-of-war with its restrictions irked him (может быть, жизнь на военном корабле с его ограничениями раздражала его), perhaps he was in trouble (может быть, у него были неприятности: «он был в беде»), and perhaps it was the South Seas and these romantic islands that got into his bones (а может быть, /просто/ Южные моря и эти романтические острова запали ему в душу: «проникли в его кости»). Every now and then (порой) they take a man strangely (они странным образом очаровывают человека; to take — брать; захватывать), and he finds himself like a fly in a spider’s web (и он оказывается /пойманным/ словно муха в паутине: «паучьей сети»). It may be that there was a softness of fibre in him (может быть, была в нем мягкость характера; fibre — фибра; склад характера), and these green hills with their soft airs (и эти зеленые холмы с их мягким климатом; air — воздух; атмосфера), this blue sea (это синее море), took the northern strength from him (забрали у него нордическую: «северную» силу) as Delilah took the Nazarite’s (как Далила забрала /силу/ Самсона; Nazarite — древний израильтянин, связанный определенными строгими религиозными обетами/обычно на ограниченное время/,среди тех троих, кто связал себя этими обетами на пожизненный срок, был Самсон). Anyhow, he wanted to hide himself (во всяком случае, он хотел скрыться), and he thought he would be safe in this secluded nook (и он думал, /что/ будет в безопасности в этом укромном уголке) till his ship had sailed from Samoa (до тех пор пока его корабль /не/ уплывет с Самоа).

ashore [q`SL], trouble [trAbl], fibre [`faIbq]

"One day he landed at that cove into which you must have put this morning. He was an American sailor, and he had deserted from a man-of-war in Apia. He had induced some good-humoured native to give him a passage on a cutter that happened to be sailing from Apia to Safoto, and he had been put ashore here in a dugout. I do not know why he deserted. Perhaps life on a man-of-war with its restrictions irked him, perhaps he was in trouble, and perhaps it was the South Seas and these romantic islands that got into his bones. Every now and then they take a man strangely, and he finds himself like a fly in a spider’s web. It may be that there was a softness of fibre in him, and these green hills with their soft airs, this blue sea, took the northern strength from him as Delilah took the Nazarite’s. Anyhow, he wanted to hide himself, and he thought he would be safe in this secluded nook till his ship had sailed from Samoa.

"There was a native hut at the cove (там была туземная хижина в этой бухте) and as he stood there (и пока он стоял там), wondering where exactly he should turn his steps (размышляя, куда именно ему направиться; to turn — поворачивать/ся/; step — шаг), a young girl came out and invited him to enter (какая-то молодая девушка вышла /из хижины/ и пригласила его войти). He knew scarcely two words of the native tongue (он знал от силы два слова на местном наречии; scarcely — едва, почти не) and she as little English (и она столь же мало по-английски). But he understood well enough (но он понял довольно хорошо) what her smiles meant (что означала ее улыбка), and her pretty gestures (и ее прелестные жесты), and he followed her (и он последовал /за/ ней). He sat down on a mat and she gave him slices of pineapple to eat (он сел на циновку, и она дала ему поесть ломтики ананаса). I can speak of Red only from hearsay (я могу говорить о Рыжем только с чужих слов), but I saw the girl three years after he first met her (но я видел эту девушку три года /спустя/, после /того как/ он впервые встретил ее), and she was scarcely nineteen then (и ей едва ли было девятнадцать тогда). You cannot imagine how exquisite she was (вы не можете представить себе, какой изящной она была). She had the passionate grace of the hibiscus and the rich colour (она обладала страстной грацией гибискуса и /у нее был/ румянец во всю щеку; rich— богатый; обильный;colour— цвет; цвет лица; румянец). She was rather tall (она была довольно высокой), slim (стройной), with the delicate features of her race (с тонкими чертами, присущими ее расе), and large eyes like pools of still water under the palm trees (и большими глазами, похожими на тихие заводи: «заводи с неподвижной водой» под пальмовыми деревьями); her hair, black and curling (ее волосы, черные и вьющиеся) fell down her back (ниспадали на спину), and she wore a wreath of scented flowers (и на ней был: «она носила» венок из благоухающих цветов). Her hands were lovely (ее руки были прелестны). They were so small (они были такие маленькие), so exquisitely formed (такой изящной формы), they gave your heart-strings a wrench (/что просто/ задевали струны твоей души: «сердечные струны»; to wrench— дергать). And in those days she laughed easily (и в те дни ее легко было рассмешить: «она смеялась легко»). Her smile was so delightful that it made your knees shake (ее улыбка была столь очаровательна, до дрожи в коленках: «что заставляла ваши колени трястись»). Her skin was like a field of ripe corn on a summer day (ее кожа была словно поле зрелой пшеницы летним днем). Good Heavens, how can I describe her (о Боже, как я могу описать ее)? She was too beautiful to be real (она была слишком красивой, чтобы быть реальной).

scarcely [`skFqslI], gesture [`GesCq], palm [pRm]

"There was a native hut at the cove and as he stood there, wondering where exactly he should turn his steps, a young girl came out and invited him to enter. He knew scarcely two words of the native tongue and she as little English. But he understood well enough what her smiles meant, and her pretty gestures, and he followed her. He sat down on a mat and she gave him slices of pineapple to eat. I can speak of Red only from hearsay, but I saw the girl three years after he first met her, and she was scarcely nineteen then. You cannot imagine how exquisite she was. She had the passionate grace of the hibiscus and the rich colour. She was rather tall, slim, with the delicate features of her race, and large eyes like pools of still water under the palm trees; her hair, black and curling, fell down her back, and she wore a wreath of scented flowers. Her hands were lovely. They were so small, so exquisitely formed, they gave your heart-strings a wrench. And in those days she laughed easily. Her smile was so delightful that it made your knees shake. Her skin was like a field of ripe corn on a summer day. Good Heavens, how can I describe her? She was too beautiful to be real.

"And these two young things (и эти два юных существа), she was sixteen and he was twenty (ей было шестнадцать, а ему двадцать), fell in love with one another at first sight (полюбили друг друга с первого взгляда; to fall — падать). That is the real love (то /была/ настоящая любовь), not the love that comes from sympathy (не та любовь, которая возникает: «происходит» из сочувствия/симпатии), common interests (общих интересов), or intellectual community (или схожести взглядов и убеждений; intellectual — интеллектуальный, мыслительный; community — общность), but love pure and simple (но любовь чистая и простая =в чистом виде). That is the love that Adam felt for Eve (это /такая/ любовь, которую Адам почувствовал к Еве) when he awoke and found her in the garden (когда он проснулся и нашел ее в саду) gazing at him with dewy eyes (смотрящей на него наивными глазами; to gaze — пристально глядеть, вглядываться; dewy — росистый; чистый, простодушный). That is the love that draws the beasts to one another (это /такая/ любовь, которая притягивает друг к другу животных), and the Gods (и богов). That is the love that makes the world a miracle (это /такая/ любовь, которая превращает мир в чудо). That is the love which gives life its pregnant meaning (это /такая/ любовь, которая придает жизни глубокий смысл; pregnant — беременная; содержательный). You have never heard of the wise, cynical French duke (вы никогда не слышали о мудром, циничном французском герцоге /де Ларошфуко/) who said that with two lovers (который сказал, что среди двух влюбленных) there is always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved (всегда есть тот, кто любит, и тот, кто позволяет себя любить); it is bitter truth to which most of us have to resign ourselves (это горькая правда, с которой большинству из нас приходится мириться); but now and then there are two who love (но порой находятся: «имеются» двое, которые любят) and two who let themselves be loved (и двое, которые позволяют себя любить). Then one might fancy (/и/ тогда можно было бы предположить; one — один; также употребляется вне определенно-личных предложениях) that the sun stands still (что солнце останавливается: «стоит неподвижно») as it stood when Joshua prayed to the God of Israel (как оно остановилось, когда Иисус Навин молился Богу Израиля).

community [kq`mjHnItI], dewy [`djHI], resign [rI`zaIn]

"And these two young things, she was sixteen and he was twenty, fell in love with one another at first sight. That is the real love, not the love that comes from sympathy, common interests, or intellectual community, but love pure and simple. That is the love that Adam felt for Eve when he awoke and found her in the garden gazing at him with dewy eyes. That is the love that draws the beasts to one another, and the Gods. That is the love that makes the world a miracle. That is the love which gives life its pregnant meaning. You have never heard of the wise, cynical French duke who said that with two lovers there is always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved; it is bitter truth to which most of us have to resign ourselves; but now and then there are two who love and two who let themselves be loved. Then one might fancy that the sun stands still as it stood when Joshua prayed to the God of Israel.

"And even now after all these years (и даже сейчас после стольких: «всех этих» лет), when I think of these two (когда я думаю об этих двоих), so young (таких молодых), so fair (таких прекрасных), so simple (таких простых), and of their love (и об их любви), I feel a pang (я чувствую острую боль). It tears my heart (она разрывает мое сердца) just as my heart is torn (также как мое сердце разрывается) when on certain nights I watch the full moon (когда иногда по ночам я смотрю на полную луну; certain — определенный; некий) shining on the lagoon from an unclouded sky (освещающую лагуну с безоблачного неба). There is always pain in the contemplation of perfect beauty (всегда чувствуешь: «есть» боль при созерцании совершенной красоты).

"They were children (они были /еще/ детьми). She was good and sweet and kind (она была хорошей, милой и доброй). I know nothing of him (я ничего /не/ знаю о нем), and I like to think (и мне хотелось бы думать) that then at all events he was ingenuous and frank (что, во всяком случае, в ту пору он был простым и искренним). I like to think that his soul was as comely as his body (мне хотелось бы думать, что его душа была также красива, как его тело). But I daresay he had no more soul than the creatures of the woods and forests (но полагаю, /что/ у него было не больше души, чем у тех лесных созданий; woods,forest— лес) who made pipes from reeds (которые делали свирели из тростника) and bathed in the mountain streams (и купались в горных ручьях) when the world was young (когда этот мир был молод), and you might catch sight of little fauns (и можно было заметить: «поймать вид» маленьких фавнов) galloping through the glade on the back of a bearded centaur (скачущих галопом по поляне верхом на бородатом кентавре; through— через;back— спина). A soul is a troublesome possession (иметь душу — дело трудное; possession— владение, обладание) and when man developed it he lost the Garden of Eden (и когда человек приобрел ее, он потерял рай; to develop— развивать/ся/; проявлять/ся/; приобретать;garden— сад;Eden— Эдем).

ingenuous [In`Genjuqs], bathe [beID], possession [pq`zeS(q)n]

"And even now after all these years, when I think of these two, so young, so fair, so simple, and of their love, I feel a pang. It tears my heart just as my heart is torn when on certain nights I watch the full moon shining on the lagoon from an unclouded sky. There is always pain in the contemplation of perfect beauty.

"They were children. She was good and sweet and kind. I know nothing of him, and I like to think that then at all events he was ingenuous and frank. I like to think that his soul was as comely as his body. But I daresay he had no more soul than the creatures of the woods and forests who made pipes from reeds and bathed in the mountain streams when the world was young, and you might catch sight of little fauns galloping through the glade on the back of a bearded centaur. A soul is a troublesome possession and when man developed it he lost the Garden of Eden.

"Well, when Red came to the island (ну, когда Рыжий прибыл на этот остров) it had recently been visited by one of those epidemics (тот незадолго до этого пострадал от одной из тех эпидемий; to visit — посещать) which the white man brought to the South Seas (которые белый человек привез /с собой/ на Южные моря), and one third of the inhabitants had died (и третья часть: «одна треть» обитателей /острова/ умерла). It seems that the girl had lost all her near kin (по-видимому, девушка потеряла всех своих близких родственников) and she lived now in the house of distant cousins (и жила теперь в доме дальней родни; cousin — кузен, кузина; родственник). The household consisted of two ancient crones, bowed and wrinkled (семейство состояло из двух древних старух, сгорбленных и морщинистых; crone — карга), two younger women (двух женщин помоложе), and a man and a boy (а также мужчины и мальчика). For a few days he stayed there (несколько дней он оставался там). But perhaps he felt himself too near the shore (но, возможно, ему было не по себе от близости берега: «он чувствовал себя слишком близко к берегу»), with the possibility that he might fall in with white men (и вероятности /того/, что он мог бы столкнуться с белыми) who would reveal his hiding-place (которые бы выдали его убежище); perhaps the lovers could not bear that the company of others (возможно, влюбленные не могли смириться /с тем/, что остальные; company — любая группа/обычно людей/) should rob them for an instant of the delight of being together (лишат их /даже/ на миг удовольствия быть вместе). One morning they set out, the pair of them (однажды утром они вместе отправились /в путь/; pair — пара), with the few things that belonged to the girl (с теми немногими вещами, что принадлежали девушке), and walked along a grassy path under the coconuts (и пошли по заросшей травой тропинке под кокосовыми пальмами: «кокосами»), till they came to the creek you see (пока /не/ дошли до той /самой/ речки, /которую/ вы видите). They had to cross the bridge you crossed (им пришлось перейти через тот мост, /который/ вы переходили), and the girl laughed gleefully because he was afraid (и девушка смеялась весело, потому что он боялся). She held his hand till they came to the end of the first tree (она держала его за руку, пока они /не/ дошли до конца первого дерева), and then his courage failed him and he had to go back (а потом его смелость покинула его и ему пришлось возвратиться назад; to fail — не хватать, истощаться). He was obliged to take off all his clothes (он был вынужден снять /с себя/ всю одежду) before he could risk it (прежде чем он смог рискнуть /пройти снова/), and she carried them over for him on her head (и она перенесла ее за него на своей голове). They settled down in the empty hut that stood there (они устроились в пустующей хижине, что стояла там). Whether she had any rights over it (то ли она имела на нее какие-то права) (land tenure is a complicated business in the islands (/правила/ владения землей на этих островах /такие/ запутанные; business — дело, занятие)), or whether the owner had died during the epidemic, I do not know (то ли хозяин /хижины/ умер во время эпидемии, я не знаю), but anyhow no one questioned them (но, во всяком случае, никто их /ни о чем не/ расспрашивал), and they took possession (и они завладели /хижиной/). Their furniture consisted of a couple of grass-mats on which they slept (/вся/ их мебель состояла из пары травяных циновок, на которых они спали), a fragment of looking-glass (осколка зеркала), and a bowl or two (и одной-двух мисок). In this pleasant land that is enough to start housekeeping on (на этой благодатной земле этого достаточно, чтобы начать вести домашнее хозяйство).

cousin [kAzn], wrinkle [rINkl], business [`bIznIs]

"Well, when Red came to the island it had recently been visited by one of those epidemics which the white man brought to the South Seas, and one third of the inhabitants had died. It seems that the girl had lost all her near kin and she lived now in the house of distant cousins. The household consisted of two ancient crones, bowed and wrinkled, two younger women, and a man and a boy. For a few days he stayed there. But perhaps he felt himself too near the shore, with the possibility that he might fall in with white men who would reveal his hiding-place; perhaps the lovers could not bear that the company of others should rob them for an instant of the delight of being together. One morning they set out, the pair of them, with the few things that belonged to the girl, and walked along a grassy path under the coconuts, till they came to the creek you see. They had to cross the bridge you crossed, and the girl laughed gleefully because he was afraid. She held his hand till they came to the end of the first tree, and then his courage failed him and he had to go back. He was obliged to take off all his clothes before he could risk it, and she carried them over for him on her head. They settled down in the empty hut that stood there. Whether she had any rights over it (land tenure is a complicated business in the islands), or whether the owner had died during the epidemic, I do not know, but anyhow no one questioned them, and they took possession. Their furniture consisted of a couple of grass-mats on which they slept, a fragment of looking-glass, and a bowl or two. In this pleasant land that is enough to start housekeeping on.

"They say that happy people have no history (говорят, что у счастливых людей нет истории), and certainly a happy love has none (и, конечно, нет ее у счастливой любви; none — никто, ничто; никакой). They did nothing all day long (они ничего /не/ делали целыми днями) and yet the days seemed all too short (и, тем не менее, дни казались /им/ слишком короткими). The girl had a native name, but Red called her Sally (у девушки было какое-то местное имя, но Рыжий звал ее Салли). He picked up the easy language very quickly (он очень быстро научился этому несложному языку), and he used to lie on the mat for hours (и, бывало, лежал на циновке часами) while she chattered gaily to him (пока она весело рассказывала ему /что-то/; to chatter— болтать; щебетать). He was a silent fellow (он был молчаливым парнем), and perhaps his mind was lethargic (а может быть, его ум был медлительным; lethargic— летаргический; вялый, апатичный). He smoked incessantly the cigarettes (он беспрестанно курил сигареты) which she made him out of the native tobacco and pandanus leaf (которые она делала ему из местного табака и панданового листа), and he watched her while with deft fingers she made grass mats (и смотрел на нее, пока она /своими/ ловкими пальцами плела: «делала» циновки из травы). Often natives would come in (/к ним/, бывало, часто заходили туземцы) and tell long stories of the old days (и рассказывали длинные истории из прошлого: «старых дней») when the island was disturbed by tribal wars (когда этот остров будоражили войны между племенами; tribal— племенной). Sometimes he would go fishing on the reef (иногда он, бывало, ходил рыбачить на риф), and bring home a basket full of coloured fish (и приносил домой корзину, полную разноцветных рыб). Sometimes at night he would go out with a lantern to catch lobster (иногда по ночам он, бывало, выходил с фонарем ловить омаров). There were plantains round the hut (вокруг хижины росли: «были» дикие бананы; plantain— банан овощной [съедобный, райский], тропическое растение семейства банановых с зеленоватыми крахмалистыми плодами, напоминающими бананы, которые всегда готовят перед употреблением в пищу) and Sally would roast them for their frugal meal (и Салли, бывало, жарила их /на костре/ для их скромной трапезы). She knew how to make delicious messes from coconuts (она знала как приготовить: «сделать» очень вкусные блюда из кокосовых орехов), and the breadfruit tree by the side of the creek gave them its fruit (а хлебное дерево на берегу речки давало им свои плоды; side— сторона; край). On feast-days they killed a little pig and cooked it on hot stones (по праздникам они закалывали поросенка и готовили его на раскаленных камнях; to kill— убивать;little— маленький;pig— свинья).

lethargic [le`TRGIk], delicious [dI`lISqs], breadfruit [`bredfrHt]

"They say that happy people have no history, and certainly a happy love has none. They did nothing all day long and yet the days seemed all too short. The girl had a native name, but Red called her Sally. He picked up the easy language very quickly, and he used to lie on the mat for hours while she chattered gaily to him. He was a silent fellow, and perhaps his mind was lethargic. He smoked incessantly the cigarettes which she made him out of the native tobacco and pandanus leaf, and he watched her while with deft fingers she made grass mats. Often natives would come in and tell long stories of the old days when the island was disturbed by tribal wars. Sometimes he would go fishing on the reef, and bring home a basket full of coloured fish. Sometimes at night he would go out with a lantern to catch lobster. There were plantains round the hut and Sally would roast them for their frugal meal. She knew how to make delicious messes from coconuts, and the breadfruit tree by the side of the creek gave them its fruit. On feast-days they killed a little pig and cooked it on hot stones.

"They bathed together in the creek (они вместе купались в речке); and in the evening they went down to the lagoon (а вечером они спускались к лагуне) and paddled about in a dugout, with its great outrigger (и катались туда-сюда в челноке с его огромным стабилизатором; to paddle — грести; плыть в лодке, используя весла; outrigger — кусок дерева или бамбука в форме лодки, устанавливаемый параллельно корпусу лодки для придания устойчивости). The sea was deep blue (море было темно-синим; deep — глубокий; насыщенный, темный), wine-coloured at sundown (бордовым: «цвета /красного/ вина» на закате солнца), like the sea of Homeric Greece (словно море гомеровской Греции); but in the lagoon the colour had an infinite variety (но в лагуне /же/ этот цвет был бесконечно многообразен: «имел бесконечное многообразие»), aquamarine and amethyst and emerald (аквамариновый, аметистовый и изумрудный); and the setting sun turned it for a short moment to liquid gold (а заходящее солнце превращало его на короткое мгновение в жидкое золото). Then there was the colour of the coral (потом там был /еще/ цвет кораллов), brown (коричневых), white (белых), pink (розовых), red (красных), purple (фиолетовых); and the shapes it took were marvellous (и формы, /которые/ они принимали, были изумительны). It was like a magic garden (это было похоже на волшебный сад), and the hurrying fish were like butterflies (а спешащие /куда-то/ рыбки были словно бабочки). It strangely lacked reality (/все/ это было удивительно нереальным; to lack— испытывать недостаток;reality— реальность). Among the coral were pools with a floor of white sand (между кораллов были небольшие пространства с дном, /покрытым/ белым песком) and here, where the water was dazzling clear (и здесь, где вода была изумительно чистой), it was very good to bathe (было очень хорошо купаться). Then, cool and happy (после, освеженные и счастливые; cool— прохладный, свежий), they wandered back in the gloaming over the soft grass road to the creek (они брели назад в сумерках по /заросшей/ мягкой травой дороге к речке), walking hand in hand (шагая рука об руку), and now the mynah birds filled the coconut trees with their clamour (а в то время птицы майна наполняли кокосовые пальмы своими криками). And then the night, with that great sky shining with gold (а потом эта ночь с этим огромным небом, /как бы/ сиявшим золотом), that seemed to stretch more widely than the skies of Europe (которое, казалось, тянулось = было шире, чем небеса в Европе), and the soft airs that blew gently through the open hut (и этот теплый ветерок, который ласково продувал /их/ открытую хижину; air— воздух; атмосфера; легкий ветерок, дуновение), the long night again was all too short (длинная ночь опять /же/ была слишком короткой). She was sixteen and he was barely twenty (ей было шестнадцать, а ему едва ли двадцать). The dawn crept in among the wooden pillars of the hut (рассвет проникал между деревянных столбов хижины; to creep— ползти; to creep in— просачиваться, постепенно появляться) and looked at those lovely children sleeping in one another’s arms (и смотрел на тех прелестных детей, спящих в объятиях друг друга). The sun hid behind the great tattered leaves of the plantains (солнце пряталось за большими неровными листьями дикого банана; tattered— оборванный;tohide— прятаться) so that it might not disturb them (чтобы оно не могло бы = так чтобы не потревожить их), and then, with playful malice (а потом шаловливо; playful— игривый, шаловливый;malice— злоба; злой умысел), shot a golden ray (отправляло золотой лучик; to shoot— стрелять; бросать), like the outstretched paw of a Persian cat (похожий на вытянутую лапку персидской кошки), on their faces (на их лица). They opened their sleepy eyes (они открывали свои сонные глаза) and they smiled to welcome another day (и улыбались приветственно новому дню; to welcome— приветствовать;another— другой; еще один).

aquamarine ["xkwqmq`rJn], liquid [`lIkwId], butterfly [`bAtqflaI]

"They bathed together in the creek; and in the evening they went down to the lagoon and paddled about in a dug-out, with its great outrigger. The sea was deep blue, wine-coloured at sundown, like the sea of Homeric Greece; but in the lagoon the colour had an infinite variety, aquamarine and amethyst and emerald; and the setting sun turned it for a short moment to liquid gold. Then there was the colour of the coral, brown, white, pink, red, purple; and the shapes it took were marvellous. It was like a magic garden, and the hurrying fish were like butterflies. It strangely lacked reality. Among the coral were pools with a floor of white sand and here, where the water was dazzling clear, it was very good to bathe. Then, cool and happy, they wandered back in the gloaming over the soft grass road to the creek, walking hand in hand, and now the mynah birds filled the coconut trees with their clamour. And then the night, with that great sky shining with gold, that seemed to stretch more widely than the skies of Europe, and the soft airs that blew gently through the open hut, the long night again was all too short. She was sixteen and he was barely twenty. The dawn crept in among the wooden pillars of the hut and looked at those lovely children sleeping in one another’s arms. The sun hid behind the great tattered leaves of the plantains so that it might not disturb them, and then, with playful malice, shot a golden ray, like the outstretched paw of a Persian cat, on their faces. They opened their sleepy eyes and they smiled to welcome another day.

"The weeks lengthened into months (недели постепенно перешли в месяцы), and a year passed (и /вот/ прошел год). They seemed to love one another as (они, казалось, любили друг друга также; as… as… — так же…как) — I hesitate to say passionately (я не решаюсь сказать страстно; to hesitate — колебаться), for passion has in it always a shade of sadness (ибо в страсти всегда присутствует оттенок печали), a touch of bitterness or anguish (налет горечи или страдания), but as whole-heartedly (но так же искренно: «от всего сердца»), as simply and naturally as on that first day (также просто и естественно, как в тот первый день) on which, meeting, they had recognised that a god was in them (в который, встречаясь/знакомясь, они осознали, что в них был бог).

If you had asked them (если бы вы спросили их) I have no doubt (я не сомневаюсь) that they would have thought it impossible to suppose (что они бы подумали, /что/ это невозможно /даже/ предположить) their love could ever cease (/что/ их любовь могла бы когда-нибудь закончиться; to cease— прекращаться). Do we not know that the essential element of love (разве мы не знаем, что неотъемлемая часть любви; essential — существенный; необходимый) is a belief in its own eternity (это вера в ее собственное бессмертие; eternity — вечность)? And yet perhaps in Red there was already a very little seed (и все же, может быть, в Рыжем уже зародилось: «было» очень маленькое зернышко), unknown to himself and unsuspected by the girl (неизвестное ему самому и незаподозренное девушкой), which would in time have grown to weariness (которое бы со временем переросло в скуку). For one day one of the natives from the cove told them (ибо однажды один из туземцев из той бухты рассказал им) that some way down the coast at the anchorage was a British whaling-ship (что где-то недалеко от берега на якоре стояло английское китобойное судно; down — вниз; ниже по, вдоль по; anchorage — якорная стоянка).

"‘Gee,’ he said (вот здорово, — сказал он), ‘I wonder if I could make a trade of some nuts and plantains (интересно, смог бы я совершить сделку = обменять немного орехов и диких бананов) for a pound or two of tobacco (на один-два фунта табака).’

lengthen [`leNT(q)n], touch [tAC], weariness [`wIqrInIs]

"The weeks lengthened into months, and a year passed. They seemed to love one another as — I hesitate to say passionately, for passion has in it always a shade of sadness, a touch of bitterness or anguish, but as whole-heartedly, as simply and naturally as on that first day on which, meeting, they had recognised that a god was in them.

If you had asked them I have no doubt that they would have thought it impossible to suppose their love could ever cease. Do we not know that the essential element of love is a belief in its own eternity? And yet perhaps in Red there was already a very little seed, unknown to himself and unsuspected by the girl, which would in time have grown to weariness. For one day one of the natives from the cove told them that some way down the coast at the anchorage was a British whaling-ship.

"‘Gee,’ he said, ‘I wonder if I could make a trade of some nuts and plantains for a pound or two of tobacco.’

"The pandanus cigarettes that Sally made him with untiring hands (пандановые сигареты, которые Салли неустанно: «неутомимыми руками» делала ему) were strong and pleasant enough to smoke (были достаточно крепкими и приятными, «чтобы курить»), but they left him unsatisfied (но они не удовлетворяли его /до конца/: «оставляли его неудовлетворенным»); and he yearned on a sudden for real tobacco (и он затосковал вдруг по настоящему табаку), hard, rank, and pungent (крепкому, вонючему и едкому). He had not smoked a pipe for many months (он не курил трубку /уже/ много месяцев). His mouth watered at the thought of it (у него текли слюнки: «его рот увлажнялся» при мысли об этом). One would have thought (можно было подумать) some premonition of harm would have made Sally seek to dissuade him (/что/ некое предчувствие недоброго заставит Салли попытаться отговорить его), but love possessed her so completely (но любовь захватила ее настолько всецело; to possess — обладать, владеть; овладевать) that it never occurred to her (что ей никогда /и не/ приходило в голову) any power on earth could take him from her (/что/ какая-нибудь сила на земле смогла бы забрать его у нее). They went up into the hills together (они вместе поднялись на холмы) and gathered a great basket of wild oranges (и собрали большую корзину диких апельсинов), green, but sweet and juicy (зеленых, но сладких и сочных); and they picked plantains from around the hut (и они нарвали диких бананов около хижины), and coconuts from their trees (и кокосовых орехов со своих деревьев), and breadfruit and mangoes (и плодов хлебного дерева, и манго); and they carried them down to the cove (и они отнесли их вниз к бухте). They loaded the unstable canoe with them (они нагрузили ими неустойчивое каноэ), and Red and the native boy (и Рыжий и = вместе с местным мальчиком) who had brought them the news of the ship (который сообщил: «принес» им новость о корабле) paddled along outside the reef (поплыли за риф; to paddle — грести; along — в направлении; outside — за пределы).

"It was the last time she ever saw him (это был последний раз, /когда/ она вообще видела его).

"Next day the boy came back alone (на следующий день мальчик вернулся: «пришел назад» один). He was all in tears (он был весь в слезах). This is the story he told (вот история, /которую/ он рассказал).

yearn [jWn], dissuade [dI`sweId], occur [q`kW]

"The pandanus cigarettes that Sally made him with untiring hands were strong and pleasant enough to smoke, but they left him unsatisfied; and he yearned on a sudden for real tobacco, hard, rank, and pungent. He had not smoked a pipe for many months. His mouth watered at the thought of it. One would have thought some premonition of harm would have made Sally seek to dissuade him, but love possessed her so completely that it never occurred to her any power on earth could take him from her. They went up into the hills together and gathered a great basket of wild oranges, green, but sweet and juicy; and they picked plantains from around the hut, and coconuts from their trees, and breadfruit and mangoes; and they carried them down to the cove. They loaded the unstable canoe with them, and Red and the native boy who had brought them the news of the ship paddled along outside the reef.

"It was the last time she ever saw him.

"Next day the boy came back alone. He was all in tears. This is the story he told.

"When after their long paddle they reached the ship (когда после своего долгого плавания они добрались до корабля; to paddle — грести; плыть в лодке, используя весла) and Red hailed it (и Рыжий окликнул его), a white man looked over the side (какой-то белый человек посмотрел через борт) and told them to come on board (и сказал им подняться на борт). They took the fruit they had brought with them (они взяли фрукты, /которые/ привезли с собой) and Red piled it up on the deck (и Рыжий свалил их в кучу на палубе; to pile up — нагромождать). The white man and he began to talk (белый человек и он начали разговаривать), and they seemed to come to some agreement (и они, похоже, пришли к какому-то соглашению). One of them went below and brought up tobacco (кто-то из команды: «один из них» пошел вниз и вынес табаку). Red took some at once and lit a pipe (Рыжий сразу же взял немного и разжег трубку). The boy imitated the zest with which he blew a great cloud of smoke from his mouth (мальчик показал с каким удовольствием он выпустил: «выдул» большое облако дыма изо рта; to imitate — копировать; подражать; zest — пыл). Then they said something to him and he went into the cabin (потом они что-то сказали ему, и он пошел в каюту). Through the open door the boy, watching curiously (через открытую дверь мальчик, наблюдавший /за всем/ с любопытством), saw a bottle brought out and glasses (увидел вытащенную бутылку = /как/вытащили бутылку и стаканы). Red drank and smoked (Рыжий пил и курил). They seemed to ask him something (кажется, они спросили его о чем-то), for he shook his head and laughed (ибо он покачал головой и рассмеялся). The man, the first man who had spoken to them, laughed too (человек, тот первый человек, который говорил с ними, рассмеялся тоже), and he filled Red’s glass once more (и он наполнил стакан Рыжего еще раз). They went on talking and drinking (они продолжали разговаривать и выпивать), and presently, growing tired of watching a sight that meant nothing to him (и вскоре, устав наблюдать зрелище, которое ничего /не/ значило для него), the boy curled himself up on the deck and slept (мальчик свернулся калачиком на палубе и заснул). He was awakened by a kick (он был разбужен = проснулся от пинка); and jumping to his feet (и, вскакивая на ноги), he saw that the ship was slowly sailing out of the lagoon (он увидел, что корабль медленно выплывает из лагуны). He caught sight of Red seated at the table (он поймал вид = заметил Рыжего, сидевшего за столом), with his head resting heavily on his arms (с головой, покоящейся тяжело = тяжело уронив голову на руки), fast asleep (/он/ крепко спал; asleep — спящий). He made a movement towards him, intending to wake him (он сделал движение по направлению к нему, собираясь разбудить его), but a rough hand seized his arm (но грубая рука схватила его /за/ руку; hand — рука/кисть/; arm — рука/от кисти до плеча/), and a man, with a scowl and words which he did not understand (и какой-то человек сердитым взглядом и словами, которые он не понял), pointed to the side (указал /ему/ на борт). He shouted to Red (/тогда/ он крикнул Рыжему), but in a moment he was seized and flung overboard (но через мгновение он был схвачен и выброшен за борт). Helpless (беспомощный = бессильный что-либо сделать), he swam round to his canoe (он поплыл назад к своему каноэ), which was drifting a little way off (которое относило течением немного в сторону), and pushed it on to the reef (и подтолкнул его к рифу). He climbed in (он залез в /него/) and, sobbing all the way (и, рыдая/всхлипывая всю дорогу), paddled back to shore (погреб назад к берегу).

rough [rAf], seize [sJz], canoe [kq`nH]

"When after their long paddle they reached the ship and Red hailed it, a white man looked over the side and told them to come on board. They took the fruit they had brought with them and Red piled it up on the deck. The white man and he began to talk, and they seemed to come to some agreement. One of them went below and brought up tobacco. Red took some at once and lit a pipe. The boy imitated the zest with which he blew a great cloud of smoke from his mouth. Then they said something to him and he went into the cabin. Through the open door the boy, watching curiously, saw a bottle brought out and glasses. Red drank and smoked. They seemed to ask him something, for he shook his head and laughed. The man, the first man who had spoken to them, laughed too, and he filled Red’s glass once more. They went on talking and drinking, and presently, growing tired of watching a sight that meant nothing to him, the boy curled himself up on the deck and slept. He was awakened by a kick; and jumping to his feet, he saw that the ship was slowly sailing out of the lagoon. He caught sight of Red seated at the table, with his head resting heavily on his arms, fast asleep. He made a movement towards him, intending to wake him, but a rough hand seized his arm, and a man, with a scowl and words which he did not understand, pointed to the side. He shouted to Red, but in a moment he was seized and flung overboard. Helpless, he swam round to his canoe, which was drifting a little way off, and pushed it on to the reef. He climbed in and, sobbing all the way, paddled back to shore.

"What had happened was obvious enough (/то/, что произошло, было довольно очевидным). The whaler, by desertion or sickness (китобойному судну из-за дезертирства или болезней), was short of hands (не хватало матросов; short— короткий; недостаточный;hand— рука; работник; матрос), and the captain when Red came aboard (и капитан, когда Рыжий поднялся на борт) had asked him to sign on (попросил его присоединиться /к ним/; to sign on— нанимать/ся/); on his refusal (на его отказ = когда он отказался) he had made him drunk and kidnapped him (он сделал его пьяным = напоил его и похитил).

"Sally was beside herself with grief (Салли была вне себя от горя). For three days she screamed and cried (в течение трех дней она кричала и плакала; to scream — пронзительно кричать; вопить; to cry — плакать; кричать). The natives did what they could to comfort her (туземцы делали, что могли, чтобы утешить ее), but she would not be comforted (но она ни за что не хотела утешаться). She would not eat (она ни за что не хотела есть). And then, exhausted (а потом, обессилев), she sank into a sullen apathy (она погрузилась в мрачную апатию). She spent long days at the cove, watching the lagoon (она проводила долгие дни у бухты, всматриваясь в лагуну; to watch— /внимательно/ наблюдать, следить), in the vain hope that Red somehow or other would manage to escape (в тщетной надежде, что Рыжему, так или иначе, удастся сбежать). She sat on the white sand, hour after hour (она сидела на белом песке час за часом), with the tears running down her cheeks (/и/ слезы текли по ее щекам), and at night dragged herself wearily back across the creek to the little hut (а ночью тащилась устало назад через речку к маленькой хижине) where she had been happy (где она была счастлива). The people with whom she had lived before Red came to the island (люди, с которыми она жила до того, как Рыжий прибыл на этот остров) wished her to return to them (хотели, /чтоб/ она вернулась к ним), but she would not (но она ни за что не хотела); she was convinced that Red would come back (она была убеждена, что Рыжий вернется: «придет назад»), and she wanted him to find her where he had left her (и она хотела, /чтобы/ он нашел ее /там же/, где оставил). Four months later she was delivered of a still-born child (четыре месяца спустя она родила мертвого ребенка), and the old woman who had come to help her through her confinement (и та старая женщина, которая пришла помочь ей с родами) remained with her in the hut (осталась с ней в этой хижине). All joy was taken from her life (вся радость была взята = ушла из ее жизни). If her anguish with time became less intolerable (/и/ хотя ее боль со временем стала не такой невыносимой; less— менее) it was replaced by a settled melancholy (она была заменена = ей на смену пришла постоянная грусть).

aboard [q`bLd], exhaust [Ig`zLst], through [TrH]

"What had happened was obvious enough. The whaler, by desertion or sickness, was short of hands, and the captain when Red came aboard had asked him to sign on; on his refusal he had made him drunk and kidnapped him.

"Sally was beside herself with grief. For three days she screamed and cried. The natives did what they could to comfort her, but she would not be comforted. She would not eat. And then, exhausted, she sank into a sullen apathy. She spent long days at the cove, watching the lagoon, in the vain hope that Red somehow or other would manage to escape. She sat on the white sand, hour after hour, with the tears running down her cheeks, and at night dragged herself wearily back across the creek to the little hut where she had been happy. The people with whom she had lived before Red came to the island wished her to return to them, but she would not; she was convinced that Red would come back, and she wanted him to find her where he had left her. Four months later she was delivered of a still-born child, and the old woman who had come to help her through her confinement remained with her in the hut. All joy was taken from her life. If her anguish with time became less intolerable it was replaced by a settled melancholy.

"You would not have thought that among these people (вы бы /даже/ не подумали, что среди этих людей), whose emotions, though so violent, are very transient (чьи чувства, хоть /и/ столь страстные, /все же/ очень недолговечны; violent — сильный; неистовый;transient — временный; мимолетный), a woman could be found (можно было бы найти женщину) capable of so enduring a passion (способную на такую длительную страсть). She never lost the profound conviction (она ни на миг не теряла глубокой убежденности; never — никогда) that sooner or later Red would come back (что рано или поздно Рыжий вернется). She watched for him (она поджидала его), and every time someone crossed this slender little bridge of coconut trees (и каждый раз, /когда/ кто-то переходил через этот тонкий мостик из кокосовых пальм; little — маленький) she looked (она смотрела). It might at last be he (это мог бы наконец быть он)."

Neilson stopped talking and gave a faint sigh (Нилсон прекратил свой рассказ: «прекратил говорить» и слегка вздохнул: «издал слабый вздох»).

"And what happened to her in the end (и что /же/ случилось с ней потом: «в конце»)?" asked the skipper.

Neilson smiled bitterly (Нилсон улыбнулся с горечью: «горько»).

"Oh, three years afterwards she took up with another white man (о, тремя годами позже она сблизилась с другим белым мужчиной)."

The skipper gave a fat, cynical chuckle (шкипер издал сальный, циничный смешок).

"That’s generally what happens to them (это обычно и случается с ними)," he said.

The Swede shot him a look of hatred (швед бросил на него взгляд, /полный/ ненависти; to shoot— стрелять; бросать). He did not know why that gross, obese man (он не мог понять: «не знал», почему тот грубый, тучный мужчина) excited in him so violent a repulsion (вызывал в нем такое сильное отвращение). But his thoughts wandered (но его мысли ушли в сторону; to wander— блуждать; отклоняться) and he found his mind filled with memories of the past (и он понял: «обнаружил», /что/ его ум занят: «наполнен» воспоминаниями /из/ прошлого). He went back five and twenty years (он вернулся назад на двадцать пять лет). It was when he first came to the island (это было, когда он впервые приехал на этот остров), weary of Apia, with its heavy drinking (уставший от Апии с ее разгульным пьянством; heavy— тяжелый; обильный), its gambling and coarse sensuality (ее азартными играми и грубой похотливостью), a sick man, trying to resign himself to the loss of the career (больной человек, пытающийся смириться с потерей того жизненного пути) which had fired his imagination with ambitious thought (который воспламенял его воображение честолюбивыми помыслами). He set behind him resolutely all his hopes of making a great name for himself (он оставил позади себя решительно все свои надежды стать знаменитым: «сделать себе великое имя») and strove to content himself with the few poor months of careful life (и старался довольствоваться теми немногими жалкими месяцами осторожной жизни) which was all that he could count on (которые были всем, на что он мог рассчитывать).

gross [grqus], obese [qu`bJs], ambitious [xm`bISqs]

"You would not have thought that among these people, whose emotions, though so violent, are very transient, a woman could be found capable of so enduring a passion. She never lost the profound conviction that sooner or later Red would come back. She watched for him, and every time someone crossed this slender little bridge of coconut trees she looked. It might at last be he."

Neilson stopped talking and gave a faint sigh.

"And what happened to her in the end?" asked the skipper.

Neilson smiled bitterly.

"Oh, three years afterwards she took up with another white man."

The skipper gave a fat, cynical chuckle.

"That’s generally what happens to them," he said.

The Swede shot him a look of hatred. He did not know why that gross, obese man excited in him so violent a repulsion. But his thoughts wandered and he found his mind filled with memories of the past. He went back five and twenty years. It was when he first came to the island, weary of Apia, with its heavy drinking, its gambling and coarse sensuality, a sick man, trying to resign himself to the loss of the career which had fired his imagination with ambitious thought. He set behind him resolutely all his hopes of making a great name for himself and strove to content himself with the few poor months of careful life which was all that he could count on.

He was boarding with a half-caste trader (он проживал у торговца-метиса; to board — всходить на борт; останавливаться, жить у кого-либо; предоставлять жилье и питание за плату; half-caste — человек смешанной расы) who had a store a couple of miles along the coast (у которого был магазин в нескольких милях дальше по берегу) at the edge of a native village (на окраине туземной деревни); and one day (и однажды), wandering aimlessly along the grassy paths of the coconut groves (бесцельно прогуливаясь по заросшим травой дорожкам кокосовых рощ; grassy — травянистый), he had come upon the hut in which Sally lived (он наткнулся на ту хижину, в которой жила Салли). The beauty of the spot had filled him with a rapture so great (красота этого места наполнила его восторгом таким огромным) that it was almost painful (чуть ли не болезненным), and then he had seen Sally (а потом он увидел Салли). She was the loveliest creature he had ever seen (она была самым прелестным созданием, /которое/ он когда-либо видел), and the sadness in those dark, magnificent eyes of hers (и грусть в этих ее темных, великолепных глазах) affected him strangely (странным образом взволновала его). The Kanakas were a handsome race (канаки сами по себе привлекательны; handsome — красивый; race — народ; раса), and beauty was not rare among them (и красота не редкость среди них; rare — редкий), but it was the beauty of shapely animals (но это /как бы/ красота хорошо сложенных животных). It was empty (она пуста). But those tragic eyes were dark with mystery (но те печальные глаза скрывали тайну; tragic — трагический;dark — темный; неясный;тайный), and you felt in them (и в них чувствовалась) the bitter complexity of the groping, human soul (мучительная запутанность ищущей человеческой души;to grope — идти ощупью, нащупывать; искать). The trader told him the story and it moved him (торговец рассказал ему /ее/ историю, и она тронула его).

"Do you think he’ll ever come back (/как/ вы думаете, он когда-нибудь вернется)?" asked Neilson.

"No fear (конечно нет). Why, it’ll be a couple of years before the ship is paid off (да пройдет пара лет, прежде чем команда: «корабль» получит расчет), and by then he’ll have forgotten all about her (и к тому времени он /уже/ совсем: «всё» забудет о ней). I bet he was pretty mad (держу пари, он был довольно взбешен) when he woke up and found he’d been shanghaied (когда он проснулся и обнаружил, /что/ с ним так поступили; to shanghai — опоив, отправить матросом в плавание), and I shouldn’t wonder but he wanted to fight somebody (и я бы не удивился, если он хотел подраться с кем-нибудь). But he’d got to grin and bear it (но ему пришлось смириться с этим; to grin and bear it — /устойчивое выражение/скрывать под улыбкой свои переживания; to grin — осклабиться, ухмыляться; bear — нести; выдерживать), and I guess in a month he was thinking it the best thing (и, полагаю, через месяц он /уже/ думал, /что/ это было самым лучшим) that had ever happened to him (что когда-либо случалось с ним) that he got away from the island (что он уехал с этого острова)."

half-caste [`hRfkRst], magnificent [mxg`nIfIsnt], shanghai [SxN`haI]

He was boarding with a half-caste trader who had a store a couple of miles along the coast at the edge of a native village; and one day, wandering aimlessly along the grassy paths of the coconut groves, he had come upon the hut in which Sally lived. The beauty of the spot had filled him with a rapture so great that it was almost painful, and then he had seen Sally. She was the loveliest creature he had ever seen, and the sadness in those dark, magnificent eyes of hers affected him strangely. The Kanakas were a handsome race, and beauty was not rare among them, but it was the beauty of shapely animals. It was empty. But those tragic eyes were dark with mystery, and you felt in them the bitter complexity of the groping, human soul. The trader told him the story and it moved him.

"Do you think he’ll ever come back?" asked Neilson.

"No fear. Why, it’ll be a couple of years before the ship is paid off, and by then he’ll have forgotten all about her. I bet he was pretty mad when he woke up and found he’d been shanghaied, and I shouldn’t wonder but he wanted to fight somebody. But he’d got to grin and bear it, and I guess in a month he was thinking it the best thing that had ever happened to him that he got away from the island."

But Neilson could not get the story out of his head (но Нилсон /никак/ не мог выбросить этот рассказ из головы). Perhaps because he was sick and weakly (может быть, потому, что он /сам/ был больным и хилым), the radiant health of Red appealed to his imagination (сияющее здоровье Рыжего = пышущий здоровьем Рыжий взывал к его воображению). Himself an ugly man (сам некрасивый человек), insignificant of appearance (неприметной внешности; insignificant — незначительный), he prized very highly comeliness in others (он ценил очень высоко привлекательность в других). He had never been passionately in love (он никогда /не/ был страстно влюблен), and certainly he had never been passionately loved (и, конечно, его никогда страстно /не/ любили). The mutual attraction of those two young things (взаимное притяжение тех двоих молодых существ) gave him a singular delight (доставляло ему своеобразное/необычайное удовольствие). It had the ineffable beauty of the Absolute (оно обладало неописуемой красотой Абсолюта). He went again to the little hut by the creek (он снова пошел к маленькой хижине у речки). He had a gift for languages (у него были способности к языкам) and an energetic mind, accustomed to work (и энергичный ум, привычный к работе), and he had already given much time to the study of the local tongue (и он посвятил: «отдал» уже много времени изучению местного языка). Old habit was strong in him (в нем была сильна старая привычка) and he was gathering together material for a paper on the Samoan speech (и он собирал материал для доклада по самоанскому языку; together — вместе, воедино; speech — речь; язык;произношение). The old crone who shared the hut with Sally (старая карга, которая жила в хижине /вместе/ с Салли; to share — делить; разделять) invited him to come in and sit down (пригласила его войти и присесть). She gave him kava to drink and cigarettes to smoke (она дала = угостила его кавой и сигаретами; kava — кустарник семейства перечных; алкогольный напиток, сделанный из ароматных корней этого кустарника; to drink — пить; to smoke — курить). She was glad to have someone to chat with (она была рада /хоть/ с кем-то поболтать; to have — иметь; получать) and while she talked he looked at Sally (и пока она говорила, он смотрел на Салли). She reminded him of the Psyche in the museum at Naples (она напомнила ему Психею из музея в Неаполе). Her features had the same clear purity of line (черты ее лица имели ту же четкую безупречность линий), and though she had borne a child (и хотя она /уже/ рожала: «родила ребенка») she had still a virginal aspect (она по-прежнему выглядела как девушка: «у нее все еще был девичий вид»).

It was not till he had seen her two or three times (не раньше чем = только лишь когда он увиделся с ней два или три раза) that he induced her to speak (он побудил ее заговорить). Then it was only to ask him (и то лишь /для того/, чтобы спросить его) if he had seen in Apia a man called Red (видел ли он в Апии человека по имени Рыжий). Two years had passed since his disappearance (два года прошло со /дня/ его исчезновения), but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly (но было ясно, что она все еще думала о нем постоянно).

insignificant ["InsIg`nIfIkqnt], appearance [q`pIqr(q)ns], Psyche [`saIki(:)]

But Neilson could not get the story out of his head. Perhaps because he was sick and weakly, the radiant health of Red appealed to his imagination. Himself an ugly man, insignificant of appearance, he prized very highly comeliness in others. He had never been passionately in love, and certainly he had never been passionately loved. The mutual attraction of those two young things gave him a singular delight. It had the ineffable beauty of the Absolute. He went again to the little hut by the creek. He had a gift for languages and an energetic mind, accustomed to work, and he had already given much time to the study of the local tongue. Old habit was strong in him and he was gathering together material for a paper on the Samoan speech. The old crone who shared the hut with Sally invited him to come in and sit down. She gave him kava to drink and cigarettes to smoke. She was glad to have someone to chat with and while she talked he looked at Sally. She reminded him of the Psyche in the museum at Naples. Her features had the same clear purity of line, and though she had borne a child she had still a virginal aspect.

It was not till he had seen her two or three times that he induced her to speak. Then it was only to ask him if he had seen in Apia a man called Red. Two years had passed since his disappearance, but it was plain that she still thought of him incessantly.

It did not take Neilson long to discover (это не заняло /у/ Нилсона много времени: «долго», чтобы понять: «обнаружить») that he was in love with her (что он был влюблен в нее). It was only by an effort of will now (теперь только усилием воли) that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek (он не давал себе каждый день ходить к речке; to prevent — предотвращать;не допускать), and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were (и когда он не был с Салли, его мысли были /с ней/). At first, looking upon himself as a dying man (поначалу, считая себя умирающим человеком), he asked only to look at her (ему было нужно только /лишь/ смотреть на нее; to ask — спрашивать; требовать/ся/), and occasionally hear her speak (и изредка слышать, /как/ она говорит), and his love gave him a wonderful happiness (и его любовь дарила ему удивительное счастье). He exulted in its purity (он радовался ее чистоте). He wanted nothing from her (он /не/ хотел от нее ничего) but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person (кроме возможности сплести вокруг ее грациозной особы) a web of beautiful fancies (паутину из красивых фантазий). But the open air (но свежий: «открытый» воздух), the equable temperature (постоянная температура /воздуха/; equable — ровный; без перепадов), the rest (покой/отдых), the simple fare (простая пища), began to have an unexpected effect on his health (начали оказывать неожиданный эффект на его здоровье). His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights (его температура не поднималась по ночам до таких тревожных высот), he coughed less and began to put on weight (он меньше кашлял и начал набирать вес); six months passed without his having a haemorrhage (шесть месяцев прошло, а у него не было кровоизлияния/ кровотечения; without — без); and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live (и вдруг он увидел вероятность /того/, что он сможет жить). He had studied his disease carefully (он тщательно изучил свою болезнь), and the hope dawned upon him (и у него появилась: «забрезжила над ним» надежда) that with great care he might arrest its course (что соблюдая особую осторожность, он мог бы приостановить ее течение; with — с; great — большой). It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future (это воодушевило его опять с нетерпением ожидать будущего; to look forward — предвкушать; once more — еще раз). He made plans (он строил планы). It was evident that any active life was out of the question (было очевидно, что о любой активной жизни не могло быть и речи; out — вне; question — /обсуждаемый/вопрос), but he could live on the islands (но он мог бы жить на этих островах), and the small income he had (и тот небольшой доход, /который/ он имел), insufficient elsewhere (недостаточный где-либо в другом месте), would be ample to keep him (был бы достаточным, чтобы обеспечивать его /здесь/). He could grow coconuts (он мог бы выращивать кокосы = кокосовые пальмы); that would give him an occupation (это дало бы ему какое-то занятие); and he would send for his books and a piano (и он бы послал за своими книгами и роялем); but his quick mind saw that in all this (но его живой ум видел, что за всем этим) he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire (он просто пытается скрыть от себя самого то желание) which obsessed him (которое овладело им).

cough [kOf], disease [dI`zJz], exhilarate [Ig`zIlqreIt]

It did not take Neilson long to discover that he was in love with her. It was only by an effort of will now that he prevented himself from going every day to the creek, and when he was not with Sally his thoughts were. At first, looking upon himself as a dying man, he asked only to look at her, and occasionally hear her speak, and his love gave him a wonderful happiness. He exulted in its purity. He wanted nothing from her but the opportunity to weave around her graceful person a web of beautiful fancies. But the open air, the equable temperature, the rest, the simple fare, began to have an unexpected effect on his health. His temperature did not soar at night to such alarming heights, he coughed less and began to put on weight; six months passed without his having a haemorrhage; and on a sudden he saw the possibility that he might live. He had studied his disease carefully, and the hope dawned upon him that with great care he might arrest its course. It exhilarated him to look forward once more to the future. He made plans. It was evident that any active life was out of the question, but he could live on the islands, and the small income he had, insufficient elsewhere, would be ample to keep him. He could grow coconuts; that would give him an occupation; and he would send for his books and a piano; but his quick mind saw that in all this he was merely trying to conceal from himself the desire which obsessed him.

He wanted Sally (ему нужна была Салли; to want— хотеть; нуждаться). He loved not only her beauty (он любил не только ее красоту), but that dim soul which he divined behind her suffering eyes (но /и/ ту неясную душу, которую он увидел: «угадал» за ее страдальческими глазами). He would intoxicate her with his passion (он бы опьянил ее своей страстью). In the end he would make her forget (в конце концов он бы заставил ее забыть). And in an ecstasy of surrender (и когда она сдастся; in — в; ecstasy — экстаз, исступленный восторг; to surrender — сдаваться; уступать) he fancied himself giving her too the happiness (он представлял себя дающим ей тоже то счастье) which he had thought never to know again (которое, /как/ он думал, /он/ никогда /не/ познает снова), but had now so miraculously achieved (но /которое он/ теперь таким чудесным образом обрел; to achieve — достичь; добиться).

He asked her to live with him (он попросил = предложил ей жить с ним). She refused (она отказалась). He had expected that (он ожидал этого) and did not let it depress him (и не дал: «не позволил» этому огорчить себя), for he was sure that sooner or later she would yield (ибо он был уверен, что рано или поздно она уступит). His love was irresistible (его любви невозможно было противостоять; to resist— сопротивляться). He told the old woman of his wishes (он рассказал старухе о своих желаниях), and found somewhat to his surprise (и обнаружил к некоторому своему удивлению) that she and the neighbours, long aware of them (что она и соседи /уже/ давно знали о них; aware— знающий, осведомленный), were strongly urging Sally to accept his offer (/и/ энергично убеждали Салли принять его предложение). After all, every native was glad to keep house for a white man (в конце концов, каждый туземец был рад вести хозяйство для какого-нибудь белого человека), and Neilson according to the standards of the island was a rich one (а Нилсон, по стандартам этого острова, был богатым белым; according to— в соответствии с; согласно). The trader with whom he boarded (торговец, у которого он проживал) went to her and told her not to be a fool (пошел к ней и сказал ей не быть дурой); such an opportunity would not come again (такой возможности больше не представится; again— опять), and after so long she could not still believe (и после стольких лет она не может все еще верить /в то/; long— длинный; долгий; долго) that Red would ever return (что Рыжий когда-нибудь вернется). The girl’s resistance only increased Neilson’s desire (сопротивление девушки только усиливало желание Нилсона), and what had been a very pure love (и /то/, что /раньше/ было такой чистой любовью) now became an agonising passion (стало = превратилось теперь в мучительную страсть). He was determined that nothing should stand in his way (он твердо решил, что ничто /не/ встанет на его пути; determined— решившийся; полный решимости). He gave Sally no peace (он не давал Салли покоя). At last, worn out by his persistence (наконец, уставшая от его настойчивости; to persist— упорствовать) and the persuasions, by turns pleading and angry (и этих уговоров, то умоляющих, то сердитых; to persuade— убеждать; склонять;by turns— по очереди), of everyone around her (/исходящих/ от каждого/всех вокруг нее), she consented (она согласилась).

miraculous [mI`rxkjulqs], irresistible ["IrI`zIstqbl], neighbour [`neIbq]

He wanted Sally. He loved not only her beauty, but that dim soul which he divined behind her suffering eyes. He would intoxicate her with his passion. In the end he would make her forget. And in an ecstasy of surrender he fancied himself giving her too the happiness which he had thought never to know again, but had now so miraculously achieved.

He asked her to live with him. She refused. He had expected that and did not let it depress him, for he was sure that sooner or later she would yield. His love was irresistible. He told the old woman of his wishes, and found somewhat to his surprise that she and the neighbours, long aware of them, were strongly urging Sally to accept his offer. After all, every native was glad to keep house for a white man, and Neilson according to the standards of the island was a rich one. The trader with whom he boarded went to her and told her not to be a fool; such an opportunity would not come again, and after so long she could not still believe that Red would ever return. The girl’s resistance only increased Neilson’s desire, and what had been a very pure love now became an agonising passion. He was determined that nothing should stand in his way. He gave Sally no peace. At last, worn out by his persistence and the persuasions, by turns pleading and angry, of everyone around her, she consented.

But the day after (но на следующий день), when exultant he went to see her (когда, ликующий, он пошел навестить ее) he found that in the night she had burnt down the hut (он обнаружил, что ночью она сожгла дотла ту хижину) in which she and Red had lived together (в которой она и Рыжий жили вместе). The old crone ran towards him full of angry abuse of Sally (старая карга бежала к нему, сердито ругая Салли: «полная сердитой ругани в адрес Салли»), but he waved her aside (но он отмахнулся от нее); it did not matter (это не имело значения); they would build a bungalow on the place where the hut had stood (они построят бунгало на том месте, где стояла хижина). A European house would really be more convenient (европейский дом был бы, в самом деле, удобнее) if he wanted to bring out a piano and a vast number of books (если он хотел вывезти = привезти сюда рояль и огромное количество книг).

And so the little wooden house was built (так и был построен маленький деревянный дом) in which he had now lived for many years (в котором он уже прожил много лет), and Sally became his wife (а Салли стала его женой). But after the first few weeks of rapture (но после первых нескольких недель восторга), during which he was satisfied with what she gave him (в течение которых он был доволен: «удовлетворен» тем, что она давала ему), he had known little happiness (он познал мало счастья). She had yielded to him, through weariness (она уступила ему, устав /сопротивляться/: «от усталости»), but she had only yielded what she set no store on (но она уступила только /то/, чему /не/ придавала никакого значения). The soul which he had dimly glimpsed escaped him (та душа, которую он неясно увидел мельком, ускользнула от него). He knew that she cared nothing for him (он знал, что она совсем не любит его; to care— заботиться; питать интерес, любовь;nothing— ничего; нисколько). She still loved Red (она все еще любила Рыжего), and all the time she was waiting for his return (и все время ждала его возвращения). At a sign from him (и если бы он только объявился: «при каком-нибудь знаке от него»), Neilson knew that (Нилсон знал это), notwithstanding his love (/то/ несмотря на его любовь), his tenderness (его нежность), his sympathy (его сочувствие), his generosity (его щедрость), she would leave him without a moment’s hesitation (она бы ушла от него без малейшего колебания; to leave — покидать; оставлять; moment — момент; мгновение). She would never give a thought to his distress (она бы никогда /даже и не/ подумала о его = причиненном ему горе).

escape [Is`keIp], notwithstanding ["nOtwIT`stxndIN], generosity ["Genq`rOsItI]

But the day after, when exultant he went to see her he found that in the night she had burnt down the hut in which she and Red had lived together. The old crone ran towards him full of angry abuse of Sally, but he waved her aside; it did not matter; they would build a bungalow on the place where the hut had stood. A European house would really be more convenient if he wanted to bring out a piano and a vast number of books.

And so the little wooden house was built in which he had now lived for many years, and Sally became his wife. But after the first few weeks of rapture, during which he was satisfied with what she gave him, he had known little happiness. She had yielded to him, through weariness, but she had only yielded what she set no store on. The soul which he had dimly glimpsed escaped him. He knew that she cared nothing for him. She still loved Red, and all the time she was waiting for his return. At a sign from him, Neilson knew that, notwithstanding his love, his tenderness, his sympathy, his generosity, she would leave him without a moment’s hesitation. She would never give a thought to his distress.

Anguish seized him (ему стало больно: «боль охватила его») and he battered at that impenetrable self of hers (и он /старался/ пробить брешь в этом ее неприступном «я»; to batter — сильно бить, колотить; громить) which sullenly resisted him (которое угрюмо сопротивлялось ему). His love became bitter (его любовь стала мучительной: «горькой»). He tried to melt her heart with kindness (он пытался растопить ее сердце /своей/ добротой), but it remained as hard as before (но оно оставалось таким же черствым, как и раньше); he feigned indifference, but she did not notice it (он притворялся равнодушным: «симулировал безразличие», но она не замечала этого). Sometimes he lost his temper and abused her (временами он выходил из себя: «терял свое самообладание» и ругал/оскорблял ее), and then she wept silently (и тогда она молча плакала; to weep). Sometimes he thought she was nothing but a fraud (иногда он думал, /что/ она ничего кроме = только обман; fraud — обман; мошенничество, жульничество; подделка), and that soul simply an invention of his own (а та /самая/ душа — просто его собственная выдумка), and that he could not get into the sanctuary of her heart (и что он не мог проникнуть в святилище ее сердца) because there was no sanctuary there (потому что там /и не/ было никакого святилища). His love became a prison from which he longed to escape (его любовь стала тюрьмой, из которой он жаждал сбежать), but he had not the strength merely to open the door (но у него не было сил /даже/ просто открыть дверь) — that was all it needed (это все, /что/ для этого требовалось) — and walk out into the open air (и выйти на свободу: «на открытый воздух»). It was torture and at last he became numb and hopeless (это было пыткой и, наконец, он оцепенел и отчаялся; to become — становиться; numb — онемелый, оцепенелый; hopeless — безнадежный; отчаявшийся). In the end the fire burnt itself out (в конечном счете, огонь /его страсти/ догорел сам по себе) and, when he saw her eyes rest for an instant on the slender bridge (и, когда он увидел, /что/ ее глаза остановились на мгновение на тонком мосту), it was no longer rage that filled his heart but impatience (больше не = уже не ярость наполнила его сердце, а раздражение). For many years now they had lived together (много лет уже они прожили вместе) bound by the ties of habit and convenience (связанные узами привычки и удобства), and it was with a smile that he looked back on his old passion (и с улыбкой /теперь/ он вспоминал: «оглядывался» на свою давнюю страсть). She was an old woman (она была /уже/ старой женщиной), for the women on the islands age quickly (ибо женщины на этих островах стареют быстро), and if he had no love for her any more (и если он и не имел = не чувствовал к ней больше любви) he had tolerance (то имел = относился с терпимостью). She left him alone (она не трогала его; to leave alone— оставить в покое). He was contented with his piano and his books (/а/ он довольствовался своим роялем и книгами).

feign [feIn], sanctuary [`sxNkCuqrI], numb [nAm]

Anguish seized him and he battered at that impenetrable self of hers which sullenly resisted him. His love became bitter. He tried to melt her heart with kindness, but it remained as hard as before; he feigned indifference, but she did not notice it. Sometimes he lost his temper and abused her, and then she wept silently. Sometimes he thought she was nothing but a fraud, and that soul simply an invention of his own, and that he could not get into the sanctuary of her heart because there was no sanctuary there. His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door — that was all it needed — and walk out into the open air. It was torture and at last he became numb and hopeless. In the end the fire burnt itself out and, when he saw her eyes rest for an instant on the slender bridge, it was no longer rage that filled his heart but impatience. For many years now they had lived together bound by the ties of habit and convenience, and it was with a smile that he looked back on his old passion. She was an old woman, for the women on the islands age quickly, and if he had no love for her any more he had tolerance. She left him alone. He was contented with his piano and his books.

His thoughts led him to a desire for words (его мысли привели его к = возбудили в нем желание говорить; word— слово; речь, разговор).

"When I look back now (когда я сейчас оглядываюсь назад) and reflect on that brief passionate love of Red and Sally (и размышляю над той недолгой страстной любовью Рыжего и Салли), I think that perhaps they should thank the ruthless fate (я думаю, что, может быть, им следует поблагодарить безжалостную судьбу) that separated them (что разлучила их) when their love seemed still to be at its height (когда их любовь, казалось, все еще была на своем пике; height— высота; вершина; высшая точка). They suffered (/да/, они страдали), but they suffered in beauty (но страдали они в красоте). They were spared the real tragedy of love (они были избавлены = избежали настоящей трагедии любви)."

"I don’t know exactly as I get you (я не знаю даже, понимаю ли я вас; exactly — точно)," said the skipper.

"The tragedy of love is not death or separation (трагедия любви — не смерть или разлука). How long do you think it would have been (как долго, вы думаете, это бы продлилось: «было») before one or other of them ceased to care (прежде чем кто-нибудь: «один или другой» из них перестал любить; to care — заботиться; питать интерес, любовь)? Oh, it is dreadfully bitter to look at a woman (о, это так горько смотреть на женщину; dreadfully — ужасно; очень) whom you have loved with all your heart and soul (которую ты /прежде/ любил всем своим сердцем и душой), so that you felt you could not bear (так, что ты чувствовал, /что/ не сможешь вынести) to let her out of your sight (/если/ выпустишь ее = если она хоть на миг исчезнет из твоего поля зрения), and realise that you would not mind (и осознавать /теперь/, что тебе было бы все равно: «ты бы не возражал») if you never saw her again (если бы ты никогда ее больше /не/ увидел; again — снова). The tragedy of love is indifference (трагедия любви — это равнодушие)."

tragedy [`trxGIdI], separation ["sepq`reIS(q)n], dreadful [`dredful]

His thoughts led him to a desire for words.

"When I look back now and reflect on that brief passionate love of Red and Sally, I think that perhaps they should thank the ruthless fate that separated them when their love seemed still to be at its height. They suffered, but they suffered in beauty. They were spared the real tragedy of love."

"I don’t know exactly as I get you," said the skipper.

"The tragedy of love is not death or separation. How long do you think it would have been before one or other of them ceased to care? Oh, it is dreadfully bitter to look at a woman whom you have loved with all your heart and soul, so that you felt you could not bear to let her out of your sight, and realise that you would not mind if you never saw her again. The tragedy of love is indifference."

But while he was speaking a very extraordinary thing happened (но пока он говорил, случилось нечто очень странное; thing — вещь). Though he had been addressing the skipper (хотя он /до этого/ и обращался к шкиперу) he had not been talking to him (он разговаривал не с ним), he had been putting his thoughts into words for himself (он слагал свои мысли в слова для себя самого), and with his eyes fixed on the man in front of him (и, не сводя глаз с этого человека перед ним; eye — глаз; взгляд; to fix — фиксировать) he had not seen him (он /как бы/ не видел его). But now an image presented itself to them (но теперь им = его глазам явился образ), an image not of the man he saw, but of another man (образ не того человека, /которого/ он видел, а другого). It was as though he were looking into one of those distorting mirrors (это было /так/, как будто он смотрел в одно из тех кривых зеркал; to distort — искажать; деформировать) that make you extraordinarily squat or outrageously elongate (которые делают тебя необычайно коротким и толстым или вопиюще длинным; elongate — удлиненный, вытянутый), but here exactly the opposite took place (но здесь как раз противоположное имело место), and in the obese, ugly old man (и в этом тучном, отвратительном старике) he caught the shadowy glimpse of a stripling (он уловил смутный образ юноши; glimpse — проблеск; мимолетное впечатление). He gave him now a quick, searching scrutiny (теперь он дал ему = бросил на него быстрый, испытующий взгляд; scrutiny— внимательный взгляд). Why had a haphazard stroll brought him just to this place (почему случайная прогулка привела его прямо к этому месту)? A sudden tremor of his heart made him slightly breathless (/от/ внезапной дрожи в сердце у него слегка перехватило дыхание; to make — делать; приводить к какому-либо состоянию; breathless — задыхающийся). And absurd suspicion seized him (и нелепое подозрение завладело им). What had occurred to him was impossible (то, что случилось с ним, было невероятно), and yet it might be a fact (и все же это могло быть и правдой; fact— факт; действительность).

"What is your name (как ваше имя)?" he asked abruptly (спросил он резко).

outrageous [aut`reIGqs], haphazard [`hxp`hxzqd], abruptly [q`brAptlI]

But while he was speaking a very extraordinary thing happened. Though he had been addressing the skipper he had not been talking to him, he had been putting his thoughts into words for himself, and with his eyes fixed on the man in front of him he had not seen him. But now an image presented itself to them, an image not of the man he saw, but of another man. It was as though he were looking into one of those distorting mirrors that make you extraordinarily squat or outrageously elongate, but here exactly the opposite took place, and in the obese, ugly old man he caught the shadowy glimpse of a stripling. He gave him now a quick, searching scrutiny. Why had a haphazard stroll brought him just to this place? A sudden tremor of his heart made him slightly breathless. And absurd suspicion seized him. What had occurred to him was impossible, and yet it might be a fact.

"What is your name?" he asked abruptly.

The skipper’s face puckered (шкипер поморщился: «лицо шкипера сморщилось») and he gave a cunning chuckle (и он издал лукавый смешок). He looked then malicious and horribly vulgar (у него при этом был злорадный и ужасно вульгарный вид; to look — смотреть; выглядеть; malicious — злобный; злонамеренный).

"It’s such a damned long time (так чертовски много времени /прошло/) since I heard it (с тех пор как я слышал его /в последний раз/) that I almost forget it myself (что я почти и сам его забыл). But for thirty years now (но вот уже как тридцать лет) in the islands they’ve always called me Red (на этих островах они всегда звали меня Рыжим)."

His huge form shook as he gave a low, almost silent laugh (его громадное тело затряслось, когда он негромко, почти что беззвучно рассмеялся; form— форма; фигура). It was obscene (это было отвратительно). Neilson shuddered (Нилсон содрогнулся). Red was hugely amused (Рыжего /все это/ сильно забавляло), and from his bloodshot eyes tears ran down his cheeks (и из его налитых кровью глаз по щекам бежали слезы).

Neilson gave a gasp (у Нилсона перехватило дыхание; gasp— затрудненное дыхание), for at that moment a woman came in (потому что в тот момент /в комнату/ вошла женщина). She was a native (она была туземкой), a woman of somewhat commanding presence (женщина довольно внушительного вида; presence— присутствие; осанка, внешний вид), stout without being corpulent (полная, но не тучная), dark (темная = с темной кожей), for the natives grow darker with age (ибо туземцы становятся темнее с возрастом), with very grey hair (с очень седыми волосами). She wore a black Mother Hubbard (она носила = на ней было черное свободное платье; Mother Hubbard— широкое, свободное платье без пояса), and its thinness showed her heavy breasts (и через тонкий материал были видны ее тяжелые груди; thinness— тонкость;to show— показывать). The moment had come (наступил момент /истины/).

malicious [mq`lISqs], obscene [qb`sJn], breast [brest]

The skipper’s face puckered and he gave a cunning chuckle. He looked then malicious and horribly vulgar.

"It’s such a damned long time since I heard it that I almost forget it myself. But for thirty years now in the islands they’ve always called me Red."

His huge form shook as he gave a low, almost silent laugh. It was obscene. Neilson shuddered. Red was hugely amused, and from his bloodshot eyes tears ran down his cheeks.

Neilson gave a gasp, for at that moment a woman came in. She was a native, a woman of somewhat commanding presence, stout without being corpulent, dark, for the natives grow darker with age, with very grey hair. She wore a black Mother Hubbard, and its thinness showed her heavy breasts. The moment had come.

She made an observation to Neilson about some household matter (она что-то сказала Нилсону насчет каких-то домашних дел; to make an observation — сделать замечание; высказаться; matter — вопрос, дело) and he answered (и он ответил /ей/). He wondered (он хотел бы знать) if his voice sounded as unnatural to her (звучал ли его голос также неестественно для нее) as it did to himself (как он звучал для него самого; todo— делать; также употребляется вместо другого глагола во избежание его повторения). She gave the man who was sitting in the chair by the window an indifferent glance (она дала = бросила на человека, сидящего в кресле у окна, безразличный взгляд), and went out of the room (и вышла из комнаты). The moment had come and gone (момент /истины/ настал и прошел).

Neilson for a moment could not speak (Нилсон на минуту потерял дар речи: «не мог говорить»). He was strangely shaken (он был /как-то/ странно потрясен). Then he said (затем он сказал):

"I’d be very glad if you’d stay (я был бы очень рад, если бы вы остались) and have a bit of dinner with me (и немного перекусили: «отобедали» со мной). Pot luck (чем Бог послал; pot — горшок, котелок;luck— удача)."

"I don’t think I will (не думаю, что останусь)," said Red. "I must go after this fellow Gray (я должен разыскать этого парня, Грэя). I’ll give him his stuff (я отдам ему его барахло) and then I’ll get away (а потом я уплыву; togetaway— уходить, отправляться). I want to be back in Apia tomorrow (мне нужно быть снова в Апии завтра; back— назад; обратно)."

"I’ll send a boy along with you to show you the way (я пошлю мальчика вместе с вами, /чтобы он/ показал вам дорогу)."

"That’ll be fine (вот и отлично)."

observation ["Obzq(:)`veIS(q)n], wonder [`wAndq], strange [streInG]

She made an observation to Neilson about some household matter and he answered. He wondered if his voice sounded as unnatural to her as it did to himself. She gave the man who was sitting in the chair by the window an indifferent glance, and went out of the room. The moment had come and gone.

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 то время как швед позвал одного из мальчишек, которые работали на плантации). He told him where the skipper wanted to go (он сообщил ему, куда шкипер хотел пойти), and the boy stepped along the bridge (и мальчик зашагал по мосту; along — вдоль). Red prepared to follow him (Рыжий приготовился последовать за ним).

"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 бы она сказала) if he told her now (если бы он рассказал ей теперь) that the fat old man sitting in the chair (что тот толстый старик, сидевший в кресле) was the lover (был тем возлюбленным) whom she remembered still with the passionate abandonment of her youth (которого она все еще помнила с пылкой несдержанностью своей юности; abandonment — непринужденность; импульсивность; to abandon — покидать, оставлять). Years ago (/много/ лет тому назад), when he hated her because she made him so unhappy (когда он ненавидел ее, потому что она сделала его таким несчастным), he would have been glad to tell her (он был бы рад рассказать ей). He wanted to hurt her then (он хотел сделать ей больно тогда) as she hurt him (/так же/ как она делала ему больно), because his hatred was only love (потому что его ненависть была просто любовью). But now he did not care (но теперь ему было все равно). He shrugged his shoulders listlessly (он безразлично пожал плечами).

"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.