A personal friend of mine. If I let him know I'm being pressured, you guys will

never know what hit you."

 

 

1 Hagen listened patiently (терпеливо). He had expected better from a man of Woltz's

stature (он ожидал большего: «лучшего» от человека такого формата,

занимающего столь высокое положение; stature [‘stжt∫∂] – рост; высота). Was it

possible that a man who acted this stupidly (настолько глупо) could rise to the head of

a company worth hundreds of millions? That was something to think about (здесь было

о чем подумать) since the Don was looking for new things to put money into (так как

Дон искал новые возможности вложения денег), and if the top brains of this industry

were so dumb (и если главные мозги в этой индустрии настолько тупы [dΛm]),

movies might be the thing (кино может оказаться подходящим делом). The abuse

itself bothered him not at all (оскорбление само по себе его вовсе не беспокоило, не

раздражало; abuse [∂’bju:s] – оскорбление, брань; to bother [‘boр∂] – беспокоить,

докучать). Hagen had learned the art of negotiation from the Don himself (выучился

искусству вести переговоры у самого Дона). "Never get angry (никогда не сердись:

«не становись сердитым»)," the Don had instructed. "Never make a threat (не

угрожай). Reason with people (рассуждай с людьми, приводи доводы)." The word

"reason" sounded so much better in Italian, rajunah, to rejoin (отвечать на обвинение

истца, возражать; соединять). The art of this was to ignore all insults, all threats; to

turn the other cheek (подставлять: «поворачивать» другую щеку). Hagen had seen

the Don sit at a negotiating table for eight hours, swallowing insults (проглатывая,

проглатывающим оскорбления), trying to persuade (старающимся убедить

[p∂s’weıd]) a notorious (известного) and megalomaniac (и крайне заносчивого:

«страдающего манией величия») strong-arm man (крутого парня; strong-arm –

применяющий силу /напр. о преступнике/) to mend his ways (исправиться; to mend

– чинить, ремонтировать, штопать). At the end of the eight hours Don Corleone had

thrown up his hands (всплеснул руками) in a helpless gesture and said to the other

men at the table, "But no one can reason with this fellow," and had stalked out (и

величаво, гордо вышел; to stalk – шествовать) of the meeting room. The strong-arm

man had turned white with fear (побелел, побледнел от страха). Emissaries were sent

to bring the Don back into the room. An agreement was reached (соглашение было

достигнуто) but two months later the strong-arm was shot to death in his favorite

barbershop (был застрелен в своей излюбленной парикмахерской).

 

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

 

 

2 So Hagen started again, speaking in the most ordinary voice (самым обычным =

спокойным голосом). "Look at my card," he said. "I'm a lawyer. Would I stick my neck

out (разве я стал бы высовывать шею = напрашиваться на неприятности)? Have I

uttered one threatening word (разве я произнес хоть одно угрожающее слово)? Let

me just say (позвольте мне только сказать) that I am prepared to meet any condition

you name (что я готов на любое условие, которое вы назовете) to get Johnny

Fontane that movie (чтобы доставить). I think I've already offered a great deal (уже

предложил довольно много) for such a small favor. A favor that I understand it would

be in your interest to grant. Johnny tells me that you admit (признаете) he would be

perfect for that part (что он в совершенстве подходит для этой роли). And let me say

that this favor would never be asked if that were not so. In fact, if you're worried about

your investment (если вы волнуетесь по поводу ваших вложений), my client would

finance the picture. But please let me make myself absolutely clear (позвольте мне

высказаться со всей ясностью). We understand your no is no. Nobody can force you

or is trying to (никто не может вынудить вас и никто не пытается сделать это). We

know about your friendship with Mr. Hoover, I may add (я хотел бы добавить,

заметить), and my boss respects you for it. He respects that relationship very much."

3 Woltz had been doodling (машинально чертил, рисовал: to doodle [du:dl]) with a

huge, red-feathered pen (ручкой с красным пером). At the mention of money (при

упоминании денег) his interest was aroused (был разбужен, пробудился; to arouse –

будить, пробуждать) and he stopped doodling. He said patronizingly

(покровительственно = высокомерно, свысока), "This picture is budgeted at five

million."

4 Hagen whistled softly (тихо свистнул) to show that he was impressed. Then he said

very casually (очень вскользь, ненавязчиво), "My boss has a lot of friends who back

his judgment (которые поддержат его суждение = решение)."

5 For the first time Woltz seemed to take the whole thing seriously. He studied

Hagen's card. "I never heard of you," he said. "I know most of the big lawyers in New

York, but just who the hell are you (но вы-то кто, черт возьми)?"

6 "I have one of those dignified corporate practices (я работаю на одну солидную

корпорацию; dignified ['dıgnifaıd] – обладающий чувством собственного

достоинства /dignity/, достойный, солидный)," Hagen said dryly (сухо). "I just handle

this one account (мне просто поручили заняться этим делом /в виде исключения/)."

He rose. "I won't take up any more of your time." He held out his hand, Woltz shook it.

Hagen took a few steps toward the door and turned to face Woltz again. "I understand

 

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

you have to deal with a lot of people who try to seem more important than they are. In

my case the reverse is true (в этом случае верно обратное). Why don't you check me

out with our mutual friend (почему бы вам не навести обо мне справки через нашего

общего друга; mutual ['mju:tju∂l] – взаимный, обоюдный)? If you reconsider

(передумаете), call me at my hotel." He paused. "This may be sacrilege to you (это

может показаться вам кощунством ['sжkrılıdG]), but my client can do things for you

that even Mr. Hoover might find out of his range (может найти выше своих сил: «вне

своей досягаемости»)." He saw the movie producer's eyes narrowing. Woltz was

finally getting the message (наконец начал понимать, о чем речь: «получать весть»).

"By the way (кстати), I admire your pictures very much (весьма восхищаюсь)," Hagen

said in the most fawning voice he could manage (самым вкрадчивым голосом, на

какой был способен; to fawn [fo:n] – вилять хвостом, ласкаться /о собаке/;

подлизываться). "I hope you can keep up the good work. Our country needs it."

7 Late that afternoon Hagen received a call from the producer's secretary that a car

would pick him up within the hour (заедет за ним: «подберет его» примерно через

час, в течение часа) to take him out to Mr. Woltz's country home for dinner. She told

him it would be about a three-hour drive but that the car was equipped with a bar and

some hors d'oeuvres (закусками; hors d'oeuvre [o:’d∂:vr] – закуска /франц./). Hagen

knew that Woltz made the trip in his private plane and wondered why he hadn't been

invited to make the trip by air. The secretary's voice was adding politely, "Mr. Woltz

suggested you bring an overnight bag (сумку с ночными принадлежностями;

overnight – прдназначенный для использования ночью) and he'll get you to the

airport in the morning."

8 "I'll do that," Hagen said. That was another thing to wonder about (над чем стоило

задуматься). How did Woltz know he was taking the morning plane back to New York?

He thought about it for a moment. The most likely explanation was (наиболее

вероятным объяснением было) that Woltz had set private detectives on his trail (по

его следу) to get all possible information. Then Woltz certainly knew he represented the

Don, which meant that he knew something about the Don, which in turn meant that he

was now ready to take the whole matter seriously. Something might be done after all,

Hagen thought. And maybe Woltz was smarter than he had appeared this morning (был

умнее, чем казался).