Английский язык с Джеком Лондоном. В далекой стране (рассказы)

Fear began to grow on Messner. He felt himself wilting under the lightly laid hand. The situation was slipping away from him, all his beautiful calmness was going. She looked at him with melting eyes, and he, too, seemed all dew and melting. He felt himself on the edge of an abyss, powerless to withstand the force that was drawing him over.

"I am coming back to you, John (я возвращаюсь к тебе, Джон). I am coming back to-day… now (я возвращаюсь сегодня… сейчас)."

As in a nightmare (как в кошмаре), he strove under the hand (он старался /освободиться от власти/ этой руки: «под рукой»; to strive — стараться; бороться). While she talked (пока она говорила), he seemed to hear (он, казалось, слышал: «слышать»), rippling softly, the song of the Lorelei (журчащую мягко песню Лорелей). It was as though, somewhere, a piano were playing (это было, как будто где-то играл рояль) and the actual notes were impinging on his ear-drums (и действительные звуки/нотки ударялись о его барабанные перепонки).

Suddenly he sprang to his feet (неожиданно он вскочил на ноги; to spring

), thrust her from him (оттолкнул ее от себя; to thrust — толкать, пихать) as her arms attempted to clasp him (когда ее руки попытались обнять его), and retreated backward to the door (и отступил/отошел назад к двери). He was in a panic (он был в панике).

"I'll do something desperate (я сделаю что-нибудь отчаянное/ужасное)!" he cried (крикнул он).

"I warned you not to get excited (я предупреждала тебя, /чтобы/ ты не терял самообладания)." She laughed mockingly (она засмеялась насмешливо = с издевкой; to mock — насмехаться), and went about washing the dishes (и принялась мыть посуду; to go about — начинать /что-либо; делать что-либо/, приступать /к чему-либо/). "Nobody wants you (никто /не/ хочет тебя). I was just playing with you (я просто играла с тобой). I am happier where I am (я счастливее /там/, где я есть = с ним)."

But Messner did not believe (но Месснер не поверил). He remembered her facility in changing front (он помнил ее легкость в смене тактики: «фронта/передовой позиции»). She had changed front now (она сменила тактику: «передовую позицию» сейчас). It was exploitation by indirection (это была эксплуатация косвенно = косвенное использование, завуалированное вымогательство). She was not happy with the other man (она не была счастлива с другим мужчиной). She had discovered her mistake (она обнаружила свою ошибку). The flame of his ego flared up at the thought (пламя его эго = «я» вспыхнуло при /этой/ мысли). She wanted to come back to him (она хотела вернуться к нему), which was the one thing he did not want (что было одной = единственной

вещью, /которую/ он не хотел). Unwittingly (нечаянно), his hand rattled the door-latch (его рука взялась /за/ щеколду; to rattle — трещать; греметь; дребезжать).

retreat [rI`trI: t], desperate [`desp(q)rIt], laugh [lQ: f]

"I am coming back to you, John. I am coming back to-day… now."

As in a nightmare, he strove under the hand. While she talked, he seemed to hear, rippling softly, the song of the Lorelei. It was as though, somewhere, a piano were playing and the actual notes were impinging on his ear-drums.

Suddenly he sprang to his feet, thrust her from him as her arms attempted to clasp him, and retreated backward to the door. He was in a panic.

"I'll do something desperate!" he cried.

"I warned you not to get excited." She laughed mockingly, and went about washing the dishes. "Nobody wants you. I was just playing with you. I am happier where I am."

But Messner did not believe. He remembered her facility in changing front. She had changed front now. It was exploitation by indirection. She was not happy with the other man. She had discovered her mistake. The flame of his ego flared up at the thought. She wanted to come back to him, which was the one thing he did not want. Unwittingly, his hand rattled the door-latch.

"Don't run away (не убегай)," she laughed (засмеялась она). "I won't bite you (я не укушу тебя; won't = will not)."

"I am not running away (я не убегаю)," he replied with child-like defiance (ответил он с похожим на детский вызовом), at the same time pulling on his mittens (в то же самое время натягивая свои рукавицы). "I'm only going to get some water (я только собираюсь достать = набрать немного воды)."

He gathered the empty pails and cooking pots together (он собрал пустые ведра и кухонные котелки = кастрюли вместе) and opened the door (и открыл дверь). He looked back at her (он оглянулся на нее).

"Don't forget you're to tell Mr. — er — Haythorne (не забудь, /что/ ты должна сообщить мистеру Хейторну) who I am (кто я)."