Брэм Стокер – Дракула: метод параллельного погружения (страница 20)

I felt that it was getting very late indeed, but I did not say anything, for I felt under obligation to meet my host’s wishes in every way. I was not sleepy, as the long sleep yesterday had fortified me; but I could not help experiencing that chill which comes over one at the coming of the dawn, which is like, in its way, the turn of the tide. They say that people who are near death die generally at the change to the dawn or at the turn of the tide; any one who has when tired, and tied as it were to his post, experienced this change in the atmosphere can well believe it. All at once we heard the crow of a cock coming up with preternatural shrillness through the clear morning air; Count Dracula, jumping to his feet, said:—

“Why, there is the morning again! (“Что ж, снова утро!”) How remiss I am to let you stay up so long. (Как же я невнимательный, что позволил вам не ложиться так долго; remiss — небрежный, нерадивый.) You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less interesting, (Вы должны делать ваши рассказы о моей дорогой новой стране, Англии, менее интересными,) so that I may not forget how time flies by us,” (чтобы я не забывал, как быстро время ускользает от нас,”) and, with a courtly bow, (и, с учтивым поклоном,) he quickly left me. (он быстро покинул меня.)

“Why, there is the morning again! How remiss I am to let you stay up so long. You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies by us,” and, with a courtly bow, he quickly left me.

I went into my own room and drew the curtains, (Я вошёл в свою комнату и задёрнул занавеси,) but there was little to notice; (но там было мало что заметить,) my window opened into the courtyard, (моё окно выходило во внутренний двор,) all I could see was the warm grey of quickening sky. (и всё, что я мог увидеть, — это тёплый серый цвет оживающего неба; quickening — оживающий.) So I pulled the curtains again, (Тогда я вновь задвинул занавеси,) and have written of this day. (и записал события этого дня.)

I went into my own room and drew the curtains, but there was little to notice; my window opened into the courtyard, all I could see was the warm grey of quickening sky. So I pulled the curtains again, and have written of this day.

8 May.—I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too diffuse; (8 мая. Я начал бояться, когда писал в эту книгу, что становлюсь слишком многословным; diffuse — расплывчатый, многословный.) but now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, (но теперь я рад, что с самого начала приводил подробности,) for there is something so strange about this place and all in it (ибо в этом месте и во всём, что здесь есть, заключено нечто столь странное,) that I cannot but feel uneasy. (что я не могу не чувствовать тревоги; uneasy — тревожный.) I wish I were safe out of it, (Хотел бы я быть в безопасности, подальше отсюда,) or that I had never come. (или чтобы я никогда сюда не приезжал.) It may be that this strange night-existence is telling on me; (Возможно, эта странная ночная жизнь действует на меня; telling on — сказывается.) but would that that were all! (но если бы только этим всё и ограничивалось!) If there were any one to talk to I could bear it, (Если бы был хоть кто-то, с кем можно поговорить, я бы вынес это,) but there is no one. (но здесь никого нет.) I have only the Count to speak with, (У меня есть только Граф, с кем можно поговорить,) and he!— (и он! —) I fear I am myself the only living soul within the place. (я боюсь, что я — единственная живая душа в этом месте.) Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; (Пусть я буду прозаичен, насколько позволяют факты,) it will help me to bear up, (это поможет мне держаться,) and imagination must not run riot with me. (а воображение не должно разгуляться; run riot — буйствовать.) If it does I am lost. (Если это случится — я пропал.) Let me say at once how I stand—or seem to. (Позвольте мне сразу изложить, в каком положении я нахожусь — или, кажется, нахожусь.)

8 May.—I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too diffuse; but now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, for there is something so strange about this place and all in it that I cannot but feel uneasy. I wish I were safe out of it, or that I had never come. It may be that this strange night-existence is telling on me; but would that that were all! If there were any one to talk to I could bear it, but there is no one. I have only the Count to speak with, and he!—I fear I am myself the only living soul within the place. Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I am lost. Let me say at once how I stand—or seem to.

I only slept a few hours when I went to bed, (Я поспал всего несколько часов, когда лёг,) and feeling that I could not sleep any more, got up. (и, почувствовав, что больше не могу уснуть, поднялся.) I had hung my shaving glass by the window, (Я повесил своё зеркальце для бритья у окна,) and was just beginning to shave. (и как раз начинал бриться.) Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, (Вдруг я почувствовал руку на своём плече,) and heard the Count’s voice saying to me, “Good-morning.” (и услышал голос Графа, говорящего мне: “Доброе утро.”) I started, (Я вздрогнул,) for it amazed me that I had not seen him, (ибо меня поразило, что я не увидел его,) since the reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me. (так как отражение в зеркальце охватывало всю комнату позади меня.) In starting I had cut myself slightly, (От этого вздрагивания я слегка порезался,) but did not notice it at the moment. (но в тот момент не обратил на это внимания.) Having answered the Count’s salutation, (Ответив на приветствие Графа,) I turned to the glass again (я снова повернулся к зеркалу,) to see how I had been mistaken. (чтобы понять, как я мог ошибиться.)

I only slept a few hours when I went to bed, and feeling that I could not sleep any more, got up. I had hung my shaving glass by the window, and was just beginning to shave. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the Count’s voice saying to me, “Good-morning.” I started, for it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me. In starting I had cut myself slightly, but did not notice it at the moment. Having answered the Count’s salutation, I turned to the glass again to see how I had been mistaken.

This time there could be no error, (На этот раз не могло быть ошибки,) for the man was close to me, (ибо человек был рядом со мной,) and I could see him over my shoulder. (и я видел его через своё плечо.) But there was no reflection of him in the mirror! (Но в зеркале не было его отражения!) The whole room behind me was displayed; (Вся комната позади меня была видна,) but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself. (но не было ни малейшего признака человека, кроме меня самого.) This was startling, (Это было ошеломляюще; startling — поразительное, пугающее,) and, coming on the top of so many strange things, (и, накладываясь на столь многие странности,) was beginning to increase that vague feeling of uneasiness (начинало усиливать то смутное чувство тревоги; vague — смутный,) which I always have when the Count is near; (которое всегда овладевает мной, когда Граф рядом,) but at the instant I saw that the cut had bled a little, (но в тот момент я увидел, что порез немного кровоточит,) and the blood was trickling over my chin. (и кровь сочилась по моему подбородку; trickling — сочащийся.)

This time there could be no error, for the man was close to me, and I could see him over my shoulder. But there was no reflection of him in the mirror! The whole room behind me was displayed; but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself. This was startling, and, coming on the top of so many strange things, was beginning to increase that vague feeling of uneasiness which I always have when the Count is near; but at the instant I saw that the cut had bled a little, and the blood was trickling over my chin.

I laid down the razor, (Я положил бритву,) turning as I did so half round (обернувшись при этом наполовину,) to look for some sticking plaster. (чтобы поискать пластырь.) When the Count saw my face, (Когда Граф увидел моё лицо,) his eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, (его глаза вспыхнули неким демоническим бешенством; demoniac — демонический,) and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. (и он внезапно сделал хватательное движение к моему горлу.) I drew away, (Я отпрянул,) and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. (и его рука коснулась нитки чёток, на которых висел крест.) It made an instant change in him, (Это мгновенно изменило его,) for the fury passed so quickly (ибо ярость исчезла столь быстро,) that I could hardly believe that it was ever there. (что я едва мог поверить, что она вообще была.)

I laid down the razor, turning as I did so half round to look for some sticking plaster. When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there.