Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

After five minutes' long waiting time the shape arose and switched on the light by the door. It was Basil, suddenly looking pink-haired. As he returned to the desk he stooped and took from the safe a sheaf of papers held in the teeth of a large clip. I knew he was going to select one sheet of paper from the sheaf, and that this one document would be the exciting, important one. It was like reading a familiar book: one knew what was coming, but couldn't bear to miss a word. He did extract one long sheet of paper, and hold it up. It was typewritten with a paragraph in handwriting at the bottom on the side visible from the window. He laid it side by side with another sheet of paper which was lying on the desk. I pressed close up to the window, intending to wave and smile if I was seen, and call out that I was sheltering from the rain which was now coming down in thumps. But he kept his eyes on the two sheets of paper. There were other papers lying about the desk; I could not see what was on them. But I was quite convinced that he had been practising handwriting on them, and that he was in the process of forging his mother's will.

Then he took up the pen (затем он поднял ручку). I can still smell the rain (я все еще чувствую запах дождя; to smell — чувствоватьзапах, вдыхать, нюхать) and hear it thundering about me (и слышу, как он гулко барабанит по мне; to thunder — греметь, барабанить, гулкобарабанить) and feel it dripping on my head (и чувствую, как он капает мне на голову; to drip — капать, стекать) from the bough overhanging above me (с ветки: «сука», нависающей надо мной). He raised his eyes and looked out at the rain (он поднял глаза и стал смотреть на дождь). It seemed his eyes rested on me (казалось, что его глаза остановились: «покоились» на мне), at my station between the tree and the window (в том месте: «на моем местоположении», где я стояла между деревом и окном). I kept still (я не шевелилась; tokeepstill— не шуметь, не двигаться) and close to the tree like a hunted piece of nature (и прижалась: «и близко» к дереву, как загнанное создание природы; tohunt— охотиться, ловить; гнать, преследовать) willing myself to be the colour of bark and leaves and rain (желая быть цвета коры, листьев и дождя; colour— цвет, тон, краска). Then I realised how much more clearly I could see him than he me (потом я поняла, что могу видеть его гораздо более четко, чем он меня; clearly— отчетливо, ясно, понятно), for it was growing dark (так как становилось темно; togrowdark— темнеть, смеркаться).

thunder ['TAndq] bough [baV] nature ['neICq]

Then he took up the pen. I can still smell the rain and hear it thundering about me, and feel it dripping on my head from the bough overhanging above me. He raised his eyes and looked out at the rain. It seemed his eyes rested on me, at my station between the tree and the window. I kept still and close to the tree like a hunted piece of nature, willing myself to be the colour of bark and leaves and rain. Then I realised how much more clearly I could see him than he me, for it was growing dark.