Английский язык с Р. Брэдбери. И грянул гром

Франк Илья Михайлович

"What (что)?"

"We can't take a trophy back to the Future (мы не можем взять добычу назад в Будущее). The body has to stay right here (тело должно остаться прямо здесь) where it would have died originally (где животное умерло бы изначально), so the insects, birds, and bacteria can get at it (так, чтобы насекомые, птицы и бактерии могли добраться до него), as they were intended to (для чего они и были предназначены: to intend — намереваться, предназначать). Everything in balance (все /должно быть/ в равновесии). The body stays (тело

остается). But we can take a picture of you standing near it (но мы можем сфотографировать вас, стоящих рядом с ним)."

The two men tried to think (двое мужчин попытались думать), but gave up, shaking their heads (но сдались, качая головами: to give up — оставить, уступить).

They let themselves be led along the metal Path (они позволили отвести себя по металлической тропе: to lead-led-led — вести, along — вдоль). They sank wearily into the Machine cushions (они погрузились устало в сиденья в Машине: cushion — /диванная/ подушка). They gazed back at the ruined Monster (они оглянулись и пристально посмотрели на поверженное чудовище), the stagnating mound (на неподвижный холм: to stagnate — застаиваться, останавливаться), where already strange reptilian birds and golden insects (где уже странные птицы-ящеры и золотистые насекомые) were busy at the steaming armor (копошились на испускающей пар броне: busy — занятой).

Another cracking sound. Overhead, a gigantic tree branch broke from its heavy mooring, fell. It crashed upon the dead beast with finality.

"There." Lesperance checked his watch. "Right on time. That's the giant tree that was scheduled to fall and kill this animal originally." He glanced at the two hunters. "You want the trophy picture?"

"What?"

"We can't take a trophy back to the Future. The body has to stay right here where it would have died originally, so the insects, birds, and bacteria can get at it, as they were intended to. Everything in balance. The body stays. But we can take a picture of you standing near it."

The two men tried to think, but gave up, shaking their heads.

They let themselves be led along the metal Path. They sank wearily into the Machine cushions. They gazed back at the ruined Monster, the stagnating mound, where already strange reptilian birds and golden insects were busy at the steaming armor.

A sound on the floor of the Time Machine stiffened them (звук на полу Машины Времени оледенил их: to stiffen — делать жестким). Eckels sat there, shivering (сидел там, дрожа).

"I'm sorry (простите)," he said at last (сказал он наконец).

"Get up (вставайте)!" cried (закричал) Travis.

Eckels got up.

"Go out on that Path alone (выходите на Тропу один)," said Travis. He had his rifle pointed (он прицелился), "You're not coming back in the Machine (вы не вернетесь назад в Машине). We're leaving you here (мы оставляем вас здесь)!"

Lesperance seized Travis's arm (схватил руку Тревиса). "Wait (подожди) —"

"Stay out of this (держись подальше от этого)!" Travis shook his hand away (стряхнул его руку: to shake-shook-shaken — трясти, away — прочь). "This fool nearly killed us (этот дурак едва не убил нас). But it isn't that so much, no (но

это еще не все, нет). It's his shoes (его ботинки)! Look at them (посмотри на них)! He ran off the Path (он сошел с Тропы). That ruins us (это разорит нас)! We'll forfeit (мы поплатимся)! Thousands of dollars of insurance (тысячи долларов страховки)! We guarantee no one leaves the Path (мы гарантируем, что никто не покинет Тропу). He left it (он покинул). Oh, the fool (дурак)! I'll have to report to the government (мне придется доложить правительству). They might revoke our license to travel (они могут аннулировать нашу лицензию на путешествия). Who knows what he's done to Time, to History (кто знает, что он сделал со временем, с историей)!"

"Take it easy (не принимай близко к сердцу), all he did was kick up some dirt (он просто собрал немного грязи: to kick up — швырять вверх ударом ноги; поднимать)."

"How do we know (как = откуда мы знаем)?" cried Travis. "We don't know anything (мы не знаем ничего)! It's all a mystery (все это тайна)! Get out of here (уходите отсюда), Eckels!"

Eckels fumbled his shirt (ощупал свою рубашку: to fumble — щупать, мять, теребить). "I'll pay anything (я заплачу сколько угодно). A hundred thousand dollars (сто тысяч долларов)!"

Travis glared at Eckels' checkbook and spat (посмотрел пристально на чековую книжку Экельса и плюнул: to glare — уставляться взглядом /часто злым/, пристально смотреть, to spit-spat-spat — плеваться). "Go out there (выходите). The Monster's next to the Path (чудовище /лежит/ рядом с Тропой). Stick your arms up to your elbows in his mouth (суньте руки до локтей в его рот: stick — палка, to stick — втыкать). Then you can come back with us (тогда вы вернетесь назад с нами)."

"That's unreasonable (это неразумно, несправедливо)!"

"The Monster's dead, you idiot (чудовище мертво, идиот). The bullets! The bullets can't be left behind (пули не могут оставаться в прошлом: behind — позади). They don't belong in the Past (они не относятся к прошлому); they might change anything (они могут изменить что-то). Here's my knife (вот мой нож). Dig them out (вырежьте их: to dig out — выкапывать)!"

A sound on the floor of the Time Machine stiffened them. Eckels sat there, shivering.

"I'm sorry," he said at last.

"Get up!" cried Travis.

Eckels got up.

"Go out on that Path alone," said Travis. He had his rifle pointed, "You're not coming back in the Machine. We're leaving you here!"

Lesperance seized Travis's arm. "Wait —"

"Stay out of this!" Travis shook his hand away. "This fool nearly killed us. But it isn't that so much, no. It's his shoes! Look at them! He ran off the Path. That ruins us! We'll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it. Oh, the fool! I'll have to report to the government. They might revoke our license to travel. Who knows what he's done to Time, to History!"