Дракула: метод параллельного погружения

Then the mountains seemed to come nearer to us on each side (Тогда горы, казалось, приблизились к нам с обеих сторон; seemed — казалось) and to frown down upon us; (и нахмуренно нависли над нами; frown down — угрожающе нависать) we were entering on the Borgo Pass. (мы въезжали в Перевал Борго) One by one several of the passengers offered me gifts, (Один за другим несколько пассажиров предложили мне дары; offered — предложили) which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take no denial; (которые они настойчиво вручали мне с таким усердием, что отказать было невозможно; earnestness — серьёзность, усердие) these were certainly of an odd and varied kind, (это были, безусловно, странные и разнообразные предметы; odd — странный) but each was given in simple good faith, (но каждый был дан в простой искренней вере; good faith — добрые намерения) with a kindly word, and a blessing, (с добрым словом и благословением; blessing — благословение) and that strange mixture of fear-meaning movements (и той странной смесью жестов, выражающих страх; fear-meaning — означающий страх) which I had seen outside the hotel at Bistritz (которую я видел у гостиницы в Бистрице) —the sign of the cross and the guard against the evil eye. (— крестным знамением и оберегом от сглаза; guard against — защита от) Then, as we flew along, (Затем, когда мы мчались вперёд; flew along — неслись) the driver leaned forward, (кучер наклонился вперёд) and on each side the passengers, craning over the edge of the coach, (и с каждой стороны пассажиры, вытягиваясь через край дилижанса; craning — вытягиваясь) peered eagerly into the darkness. (с жадным напряжением вглядывались в темноту; peered — всматривались)

Then the mountains seemed to come nearer to us on each side and to frown down upon us; we were entering on the Borgo Pass. One by one several of the passengers offered me gifts, which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take no denial; these were certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each was given in simple good faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, and that strange mixture of fear-meaning movements which I had seen outside the hotel at Bistritz—the sign of the cross and the guard against the evil eye. Then, as we flew along, the driver leaned forward, and on each side the passengers, craning over the edge of the coach, peered eagerly into the darkness.

It was evident that something very exciting was either happening or expected, (Было очевидно, что происходит или ожидается что-то очень волнующее; evident — очевидный) but though I asked each passenger, (но хотя я спрашивал каждого пассажира) no one would give me the slightest explanation. (никто не давал мне ни малейшего объяснения; slightest — малейший) This state of excitement kept on for some little time; (Это состояние возбуждённости продолжалось некоторое время; kept on — продолжалось) and at last we saw before us the Pass opening out on the eastern side. (и наконец мы увидели перед собой, как Перевал открывается с восточной стороны; opening out — раскрывался) There were dark, rolling clouds overhead, (Над нами нависали тёмные, катящиеся облака; rolling — клубящиеся) and in the air the heavy, oppressive sense of thunder. (и в воздухе висело тяжёлое, гнетущее ощущение грозы; oppressive — давящее) It seemed as though the mountain range had separated two atmospheres, (Казалось, что горная гряда разделила две атмосферы) and that now we had got into the thunderous one. (и что теперь мы вошли в грозовую; thunderous — грозовой) I was now myself looking out for the conveyance which was to take me to the Count. (Теперь я сам вглядывался в поисках экипажа, который должен был отвезти меня к Графу; conveyance — экипаж, средство передвижения) Each moment I expected to see the glare of lamps through the blackness; (Каждое мгновение я ожидал увидеть отблеск фонарей сквозь тьму; glare — яркий свет) but all was dark. (но всё оставалось тёмным)

It was evident that something very exciting was either happening or expected, but though I asked each passenger, no one would give me the slightest explanation. This state of excitement kept on for some little time; and at last we saw before us the Pass opening out on the eastern side. There were dark, rolling clouds overhead, and in the air the heavy, oppressive sense of thunder. It seemed as though the mountain range had separated two atmospheres, and that now we had got into the thunderous one. I was now myself looking out for the conveyance which was to take me to the Count. Each moment I expected to see the glare of lamps through the blackness; but all was dark.

The only light was the flickering rays of our own lamps, (Единственным светом были мерцающие лучи наших собственных фонарей; flickering — мерцающий) in which the steam from our hard-driven horses (в которых пар от наших загнанных лошадей; hard-driven — сильно загнанных) rose in a white cloud. (поднимался белым облаком) We could see now the sandy road lying white before us, (Теперь мы могли видеть белую песчаную дорогу перед собой; lying — простиравшуюся) but there was on it no sign of a vehicle. (но на ней не было ни малейшего признака экипажа; vehicle — повозка, транспорт) The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, (Пассажиры откинулись назад с вздохом облегчения; gladness — радость) which seemed to mock my own disappointment. (который, казалось, насмехался над моим собственным разочарованием; mock — насмехаться) I was already thinking what I had best do, (Я уже размышлял, что мне лучше всего предпринять; had best — лучше всего бы) when the driver, looking at his watch, (когда кучер, взглянув на свои часы) said to the others something which I could hardly hear, (сказал остальным что-то, что я едва мог расслышать) it was spoken so quietly and in so low a tone; (это было произнесено так тихо и таким низким голосом) I thought it was “An hour less than the time.” (Я подумал, что это было: «На час меньше, чем положено»; less than the time — меньше, чем срок) Then turning to me, he said in German worse than my own:— (Затем, повернувшись ко мне, он сказал на немецком хуже моего)

The only light was the flickering rays of our own lamps, in which the steam from our hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud. We could see now the sandy road lying white before us, but there was on it no sign of a vehicle. The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock my own disappointment. I was already thinking what I had best do, when the driver, looking at his watch, said to the others something which I could hardly hear, it was spoken so quietly and in so low a tone; I thought it was “An hour less than the time.” Then turning to me, he said in German worse than my own:—

“There is no carriage here. («Здесь нет никакой кареты») The Herr is not expected after all. («Господина, в конце концов, не ожидают») He will now come on to Bukovina, («Он теперь поедет дальше в Буковину») and return to-morrow or the next day; («и вернётся завтра или послезавтра») better the next day.” («лучше послезавтра») Whilst he was speaking the horses began to neigh and snort and plunge wildly, (Пока он говорил, лошади начали ржать, фыркать и бешено биться; plunge — бросаться) so that the driver had to hold them up. (так что кучеру пришлось удерживать их; hold up — удерживать) Then, amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants (Тогда, среди хора криков крестьян; chorus — хор) and a universal crossing of themselves, (и всеобщего перекрещивания; crossing — крестное знамение) a calèche, with four horses, drove up behind us, (кале́ша, запряжённая четырьмя лошадьми, подъехала сзади нас; calèche — калеша, лёгкий экипаж) overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. (обогнала нас и остановилась рядом с дилижансом; drew up — подъехала и остановилась) I could see from the flash of our lamps, (Я мог видеть во вспышке наших фонарей) as the rays fell on them, (когда лучи падали на них) that the horses were coal-black and splendid animals. (что лошади были угольно-чёрными и великолепными животными; coal-black — чёрный как уголь, splendid — великолепный) They were driven by a tall man, (Ими правил высокий человек) with a long brown beard (с длинной коричневой бородой) and a great black hat, (и большой чёрной шляпой) which seemed to hide his face from us. (которая, казалось, скрывала его лицо от нас) I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes, (Я мог видеть лишь блеск пары очень ярких глаз; gleam — отблеск) which seemed red in the lamplight, (которые казались красными в свете фонаря) as he turned to us. (когда он повернулся к нам) He said to the driver:— (Он сказал кучеру:)

“There is no carriage here. The Herr is not expected after all. He will now come on to Bukovina, and return to-morrow or the next day; better the next day.” Whilst he was speaking the horses began to neigh and snort and plunge wildly, so that the driver had to hold them up. Then, amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a universal crossing of themselves, a calèche, with four horses, drove up behind us, overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see from the flash of our lamps, as the rays fell on them, that the horses were coal-black and splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us. He said to the driver:—

“You are early to-night, my friend.” («Вы сегодня рановато, мой друг»; early — рано) The man stammered in reply:— (Мужчина пробормотал в ответ; stammered — заикнувшись, пробормотав)

“The English Herr was in a hurry,” («Английский господин спешил») to which the stranger replied:— (на что незнакомец ответил; stranger — незнакомец)

“You are early to-night, my friend.” The man stammered in reply:—

“The English Herr was in a hurry,” to which the stranger replied:—

“That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. («Вот почему, полагаю, вы хотели, чтобы он поехал дальше в Буковину»; suppose — полагать) You cannot deceive me, my friend; («Вы не можете обмануть меня, мой друг»; deceive — обманывать) I know too much, and my horses are swift.” («Я слишком много знаю, и мои лошади быстры»; swift — быстрый) As he spoke he smiled, (Когда он говорил, он улыбнулся; smiled — улыбнулся) and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, (и свет лампы упал на суровый рот; hard-looking — суровый на вид) with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, (с очень красными губами и острыми на вид зубами; sharp-looking — остро выглядящий) as white as ivory. (белыми, как слоновая кость; ivory — слоновая кость) One of my companions whispered to another (Один из моих спутников прошептал другому; whispered — прошептал) the line from Burger’s “Lenore”:— (строку из «Леноры» Бюргера)

“Denn die Todten reiten schnell” — (“For the dead travel fast.”) («Ибо мёртвые путешествуют быстро» (нем.))

“That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend; I know too much, and my horses are swift.” As he spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of my companions whispered to another the line from Burger’s “Lenore”:—

“Denn die Todten reiten schnell”—

(“For the dead travel fast.”)

The strange driver evidently heard the words, (Странный кучер, очевидно, услышал эти слова; evidently — очевидно) for he looked up with a gleaming smile. (потому что он поднял взгляд с сияющей улыбкой; gleaming — сверкающий) The passenger turned his face away, (Пассажир отвернул лицо) at the same time putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. (одновременно выставив два пальца и перекрестившись; crossing — крестясь) “Give me the Herr’s luggage,” said the driver; («Отдайте мне багаж господина», — сказал кучер; luggage — багаж) and with exceeding alacrity my bags were handed out and put in the calèche. (и с чрезвычайной проворностью мои сумки были выданы и положены в калешу; alacrity — проворность) Then I descended from the side of the coach, (Тогда я спустился с края дилижанса; descended — спустился) as the calèche was close alongside, (так как калеша стояла вплотную рядом; alongside — рядом) the driver helping me with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel; (кучер помог мне рукой, которая схватила меня за руку стальной хваткой; grip of steel — стальная хватка) his strength must have been prodigious. (его сила, должно быть, была поразительной; prodigious — огромный, поразительный) Without a word he shook his reins, (Не сказав ни слова, он встряхнул поводья; reins — поводья) the horses turned, (лошади повернули) and we swept into the darkness of the Pass. (и мы помчались в темноту Перевала; swept — ринулись вперёд)

The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a gleaming smile. The passenger turned his face away, at the same time putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. “Give me the Herr’s luggage,” said the driver; and with exceeding alacrity my bags were handed out and put in the calèche. Then I descended from the side of the coach, as the calèche was close alongside, the driver helping me with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel; his strength must have been prodigious. Without a word he shook his reins, the horses turned, and we swept into the darkness of the Pass.

As I looked back (Когда я оглянулся) I saw the steam from the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, (я увидел пар от лошадей дилижанса в свете фонарей; steam — пар) and projected against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. (и на его фоне — силуэты моих недавних спутников, которые перекрещивались; projected against — отбрасываемые на фоне) Then the driver cracked his whip (Затем кучер щёлкнул кнутом; cracked — щёлкнул) and called to his horses, (и окликнул своих лошадей) and off they swept on their way to Bukovina. (и они умчались по дороге в Буковину; swept — ринулись) As they sank into the darkness (Когда они исчезли во тьме) I felt a strange chill, (я почувствовал странный холодок; chill — холодок) and a lonely feeling came over me; (и на меня нахлынуло чувство одиночества) but a cloak was thrown over my shoulders, (но плащ был наброшен мне на плечи) and a rug across my knees, (и плед — на колени) and the driver said in excellent German:— (и кучер сказал на превосходном немецком)

As I looked back I saw the steam from the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, and projected against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. Then the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off they swept on their way to Bukovina. As they sank into the darkness I felt a strange chill, and a lonely feeling came over me; but a cloak was thrown over my shoulders, and a rug across my knees, and the driver said in excellent German:—

“The night is chill, mein Herr, («Ночь холодна, господин»; chill — холодная) and my master the Count bade me take all care of you. (и мой господин, Граф, велел мне проявить к вам всяческую заботу; bade — велел) There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, (под сиденьем находится фляга сливовицы — сливовой бренди этой страны; flask — фляга) if you should require it.” (если она вам понадобится) I did not take any, (Я не взял её) but it was a comfort to know it was there all the same. (но всё же было утешительно знать, что она там есть; comfort — утешение) I felt a little strangely, (Я чувствовал себя немного странно) and not a little frightened. (и не мало напуганным) I think had there been any alternative (Думаю, будь у меня какой-либо выбор; alternative — альтернатива) I should have taken it, (я бы воспользовался им) instead of prosecuting that unknown night journey. (вместо того чтобы продолжать это неизвестное ночное путешествие; prosecuting — продолжать, осуществлять) The carriage went at a hard pace straight along, (Карета шла в быстром темпе прямо вперёд; hard pace — быстрый ход) then we made a complete turn (затем мы резко повернули) and went along another straight road. (и поехали по другой прямой дороге) It seemed to me that we were simply going over and over the same ground again; (Мне казалось, что мы снова и снова проезжаем одно и то же место; over and over — вновь и вновь) and so I took note of some salient point, (и поэтому я отметил несколько заметных ориентиров; salient — бросающийся в глаза) and found that this was so. (и обнаружил, что так оно и есть)

“The night is chill, mein Herr, and my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you should require it.” I did not take any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the same. I felt a little strangely, and not a little frightened. I think had there been any alternative I should have taken it, instead of prosecuting that unknown night journey. The carriage went at a hard pace straight along, then we made a complete turn and went along another straight road. It seemed to me that we were simply going over and over the same ground again; and so I took note of some salient point, and found that this was so.

I would have liked to have asked the driver what this all meant, (Мне бы хотелось спросить кучера, что всё это значит) but I really feared to do so, (но я действительно боялся сделать это) for I thought that, placed as I was, (потому что я думал, что, находясь в таком положении; placed as I was — в моём положении) any protest would have had no effect (любой протест не имел бы эффекта) in case there had been an intention to delay. (если бы действительно было намерение задержать меня; intention — намерение) By-and-by, however, (Однако через некоторое время; by-and-by — вскоре) as I was curious to know how time was passing, (так как мне было любопытно узнать, как идёт время) I struck a match, (я чиркнул спичкой; struck — зажёг) and by its flame looked at my watch; (и при её огоньке посмотрел на свои часы) it was within a few minutes of midnight. (до полуночи оставалось всего несколько минут) This gave me a sort of shock, (Это произвело на меня своего рода шок) for I suppose the general superstition about midnight (потому что, полагаю, общее суеверие насчёт полуночи; superstition — суеверие) was increased by my recent experiences. (усиливалось моими недавними переживаниями) I waited with a sick feeling of suspense. (Я ждал с болезненным чувством напряжённого ожидания; suspense — напряжённое ожидание)

I would have liked to have asked the driver what this all meant, but I really feared to do so, for I thought that, placed as I was, any protest would have had no effect in case there had been an intention to delay. By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch; it was within a few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I suppose the general superstition about midnight was increased by my recent experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense.

Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road (Тогда где-то в фермерском доме далеко, вниз по дороге, начал выть пёс; howl — выть) —a long, agonised wailing, as if from fear. (— длинным, мучительным стоном, будто от страха; agonised — мучительный) The sound was taken up by another dog, (Этот звук подхватила другая собака) and then another and another, (а затем ещё одна и ещё) till, borne on the wind (пока, несясь на ветру; borne — несомый) which now sighed softly through the Pass, (который теперь тихо вздыхал через Перевал; sighed — вздыхал) a wild howling began, (началось дикое завывание) which seemed to come from all over the country, (которое, казалось, доносилось со всей округи) as far as the imagination could grasp it (настолько далеко, насколько воображение могло охватить; grasp — охватить) through the gloom of the night. (сквозь мрак ночи; gloom — мрак) At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, (При первом же вое лошади начали напрягаться и вставать на дыбы; rear — вставать на дыбы) but the driver spoke to them soothingly, (но кучер заговорил с ними успокаивающе; soothingly — успокаивающе) and they quieted down, (и они немного успокоились) but shivered and sweated (но дрожали и покрылись потом; shivered — дрожали) as though after a runaway from sudden fright. (словно после панического бегства от внезапного ужаса; runaway — паническое бегство)

Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road—a long, agonised wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night. At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright.