Михаил Сарапов - Английский для смелых. Истории о духах и привидениях / Great Ghost Stories

Meanwhile the night air seemed to become colder and colder, and though I walked fast I found it impossible to keep myself warm. My feet were like ice. I lost sensation in my hands, and grasped my gun mechanically. I even breathed with difficulty, as though, instead of traversing a quiet north country highway, I were scaling the uppermost heights of some gigantic Alp. This last symptom became presently so distressing, that I was forced to stop for a few minutes, and lean against the stone fence. As I did so, I chanced to look back up the road, and there, to my infinite relief, I saw a distant point of light, like the gleam of an approaching lantern. I at first concluded that Jacob had retraced his steps and followed me; but even as the conjecture presented itself, a second light flashed into sight – a light evidently parallel with the first, and approaching at the same rate of motion. It needed no second thought to show me that these must be the carriage-lamps of some private vehicle, though it seemed strange that any private vehicle should take a road professedly disused and dangerous.

There could be no doubt, however, of the fact(однако сомневаться в этом факте было невозможно; doubt – сомнение ) , for the lamps grew larger and brighter every moment(так как фонари становились все больше и ярче с каждым мгновением) , and I even fancied I could already see the dark outline of the carriage between them(и мне даже казалось, что я уже различаю темные очертания экипажа между ними; to fancy – воображать, представлять себе ) . It was coming up very fast, and quite noiselessly(он приближался очень быстро и совершенно бесшумно) , the snow being nearly a foot deep under the wheels(так как снег под колесами был уже глубиной в фут).

And now the body of the vehicle became distinctly visible behind the lamps(и теперь позади фонарей стал явственно виден экипаж: «корпус транспортного средства»; body – тело; корпус ) . It looked strangely lofty(он казался до странности большим; lofty – очень высокий ) . A sudden suspicion flashed upon me(внезапное подозрение осенило меня; flash – вспышка ) . Was it possible that I had passed the cross-roads in the dark without observing the sign-post(не могло ли случиться так: «было ли возможным», что я миновал в темноте перекресток, не заметив указатель) , and could this be the very coach which I had come to meet(и /не/ был ли это тот самый дилижанс, который я встречал: «пришел встречать»)?

No need to ask myself that question a second time(не было необходимости задавать себе этот вопрос второй раз) , for here it came round the bend of the road(так как вот он уже появился из-за поворота дороги; here – здесь, тут; вот ) , guard and driver, one outside passenger, and four steaming greys(охранник и кучер, один пассажир, сидящий снаружи, и четыре серых /лошади/, от которых шел пар) , all wrapped in a soft haze of light(все окутанные легкой светящейся дымкой; soft – мягкий; приглушенный; haze – легкий туман ) , through which the lamps blazed out, like a pair of fiery meteors(через которую ярко светили фонари, подобно паре огненных метеоров; to blaze – гореть ярким пламенем; сверкать, сиять ).

There could be no doubt, however, of the fact, for the lamps grew larger and brighter every moment, and I even fancied I could already see the dark outline of the carriage between them. It was coming up very fast, and quite noiselessly, the snow being nearly a foot deep under the wheels.

And now the body of the vehicle became distinctly visible behind the lamps. It looked strangely lofty. A sudden suspicion flashed upon me. Was it possible that I had passed the cross-roads in the dark without observing the sign-post, and could this be the very coach which I had come to meet?

No need to ask myself that question a second time, for here it came round the bend of the road, guard and driver, one outside passenger, and four steaming greys, all wrapped in a soft haze of light, through which the lamps blazed out, like a pair of fiery meteors.

I jumped forward, waved my hat, and shouted(я рванулся вперед, замахал шляпой и закричал; to jump – прыгать ) . The mail came down at full speed, and passed me(почтовый дилижанс подлетел на полной скорости и миновал = промчался мимо меня) . For a moment I feared that I had not been seen or heard(мгновение я опасался, что меня не увидели и не услышали; fear – боязнь, страх; испуг ) , but it was only for a moment(но это /длилось/ только мгновение) . The coachman pulled up(кучер натянул /вожжи/; pull – тяга, дерганье, рывок) ; the guard, muffled to the eyes in capes and comforters, and apparently sound asleep in the rumble(охранник, закутанный до /самых/ глаз в накидки и шарф, и, по-видимому, крепко уснувший на своем месте; cape – накидка, плащ с капюшоном; пелерина; comforter – длинный вязаный шарф, теплое кашне; rumble – сиденье для слуги, охранника или место для багажа позади экипажа ) , neither answered my hail nor made the slightest effort to dismount(не ответил на мое приветствие и не сделал ни малейшей попытки спуститься) ; the outside passenger did not even turn his head(пассажир снаружи даже не повернул головы) . I opened the door for myself, and looked in(я сам открыл дверь и заглянул внутрь) . There were but three travellers inside(внутри было лишь трое путников) , so I stepped in, shut the door, slipped into the vacant corner(поэтому я забрался в экипаж, закрыл дверь, пробрался в свободный угол; to shut; to slip – скользить, плавно передвигаться ) , and congratulated myself on my good fortune(и поздравил себя с везением; good fortune – удача, счастье, везение, счастливый случай ).

The atmosphere of the coach seemed, if possible, colder than that of the outer air(воздух в дилижансе казался: «атмосфера казалась», если это возможно, даже холоднее воздуха снаружи) , and was pervaded by a singularly damp and disagreeable smell(и в нем стоял особенно сырой и неприятный запах; to pervade – пропитывать, пронизывать ) . I looked round at my fellow-passengers(я оглядел своих спутников; fellow – / разг. / человек, парень; приятель, товарищ, собрат; passenger – пассажир; седок ) . They were all three, men, and all silent(это были мужчины – все трое, и все молчали; silent – безмолвный, молчащий ) . They did not seem to be asleep(они не были похожи на спящих; to be asleep – спать ) , but each leaned back in his corner of the vehicle, as if absorbed in his own reflections(но каждый откинулся в своем углу экипажа, словно погрузившись в свои мысли) . I attempted to open a conversation(я попытался завязать: «открыть» беседу).

I jumped forward, waved my hat, and shouted. The mail came down at full speed, and passed me. For a moment I feared that I had not been seen or heard, but it was only for a moment. The coachman pulled up; the guard, muffled to the eyes in capes and comforters, and apparently sound asleep in the rumble, neither answered my hail nor made the slightest effort to dismount; the outside passenger did not even turn his head. I opened the door for myself, and looked in. There were but three travellers inside, so I stepped in, shut the door, slipped into the vacant corner, and congratulated myself on my good fortune.

The atmosphere of the coach seemed, if possible, colder than that of the outer air, and was pervaded by a singularly damp and disagreeable smell. I looked round at my fellow-passengers. They were all three, men, and all silent. They did not seem to be asleep, but each leaned back in his corner of the vehicle, as if absorbed in his own reflections. I attempted to open a conversation.

‘How intensely cold it is tonight(ужасный холод сегодня; intensely – очень, чрезвычайно, крайне; cold – холодно; tonight – сегодня вечером, сегодня ночью ) ,’ I said, addressing my opposite neighbour(сказал я, обращаясь к человеку напротив; neighbour – сосед ).

He lifted his head, looked at me, but made no reply(он поднял голову, посмотрел на меня, но ничего не ответил: «не сделал никакого ответа»).

‘The winter,’ I added, ‘seems to have begun in earnest(зима, – добавил я, кажется, началась всерьез) .’