Landing above, beckoning her upward.

 

 

1 From behind the closed window of Don Corleone's "office," a slightly raised corner

room (cлегка приподнятой угловой комнаты), Thomas Hagen watched the wedding

party in the festooned garden. The walls behind him were stacked with law books (были

уставлены юридическими книгами; to stack – складывать в стог; stack – куча, груда;

law – закон). Hagen was the Don's lawyer (адвокат) and acting consigliori

(исполняющим обязанности консильори /советника – итал. /), or counselor, and as

such held the most vital subordinate position (и в качестве такового занимал

наиболее важную: «жизненную» подчиненную должность) in the family business. He

and the Don had solved many a knotty problem (разрешили немало запутанных

проблем; knot – узел) in this room, and so when he saw the Godfather leave the

festivities and enter the house, he knew, wedding or no (свадьба свадьбой, несмотря

на свадьбу), there would be a little work this day. The Don would be coming to see him.

Then Hagen saw Sonny Corleone whisper in Lucy Mancini's ear and their little comedy

as he followed her into the house. Hagen grimaced (to grimace [grı'meıs]), debated

whether to inform the Don (поразмыслил, сообщить ли), and decided against it. He

 

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went to the desk and picked up a handwritten list of the people who had been granted

permission (которым было позволено: «предоставлено разрешение»; to grant –

дарить, даровать; предоставлять) to see Don Corleone privately. When the Don

entered the room, Hagen handed him the list. Don Corleone nodded (кивнул) and said,

"Leave Bonasera to the end (оставь на конец, напоследок)."

2 Hagen used the French doors (застекленные створчатые двери) and went directly

out into the garden to where the supplicants clustered (просители столпились; cluster

– кисть, пучок, гроздь) around the barrel of wine. He pointed (указал пальцем) to the

baker, the pudgy Nazorine.

3 Don Corleone greeted the baker with an embrace (приветствовал объятием). They

had played together as children in Italy and had grown up in friendship. Every Easter

(на каждую Пасху) freshly baked clotted-cheese (с расплавленным сыром; clot –

комок, сгусток, свернувшийся) and wheat-germ (покрытые зернышками; wheat –

пшеница; germ – зародыш; завязь) pies (пироги), their crusts (их корочки) yolk-gold

(yolk [j∂uk] – желток яйца), big around as truck wheels (как колеса грузовика), arrived

at Don Corleone's home. On Christmas, on family birthdays, rich creamy pastries

(кондитерские изделия /пирожные, печенья/; pastry ['peıstrı]) proclaimed the

Nazorines' respect. And all through the years, lean and fat (благополучные и

неблагополучные: «тощие, скудные – и жирные, толстые»), Nazorine cheerfully

(весело, бодро = не ропща) paid his dues (налоги, пошлины) to the bakery union (в

союз пекарей) organized by the Don in his salad days (в пору юношеской

неопытности). Never asking for a favor in return except for the chance to buy black-

market OPA sugar coupons (правительственные карточки на сахар; OPA – Office of

Price Administration) during the war. Now the time had come for the baker to claim his

rights (заявить о своих правах) as a loyal friend, and Don Corleone looked forward

with great pleasure (с большим удовольствием ожидал, собирался; to look forward –

ожидать с нетерпением, предвкушать: «смотреть вперед») to granting his request

(удовлетворить его просьбу).

4 He gave the baker a Di Nobili cigar and a glass of yellow Strega (итальянский

лимонный ликер) and put his hand on the man's shoulder to urge him on (чтобы

подбодрить его, побудить /изложить просьбу/; to urge – подгонять, подстегивать;

побуждать, советовать). That was the mark (знак, метка) of the Don's humanity

(человечности). He knew from bitter experience (по горькому опыту) what courage it

took (сколько смелости требуется) to ask a favor from a fellow man (попросить

ближнего об одолжении; fellow – приятель, коллега, напарник).

 

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5 The baker told the story of his daughter and Enzo. A fine Italian lad (отличный

парень) from Sicily; captured (взятый в плен) by the American Army; sent to the

United States as a prisoner of war; given parole to help our war effort (усилие;

достижение, успех ['ef∂t])! A pure and honorable love had sprung up between honest

Enzo and his sheltered Katherine (невинной: «оберегаемой дома») Катериной;

shelter – приют; to shelter – приютить, укрыть) but now that the war was ended the

poor lad would be repatriated to Italy and Nazorine's daughter would surely die of a

broken heart (наверняка, несомненно умрет от разбитого сердца). Only Godfather

Corleone could help this afflicted couple (несчастной паре; to afflict [∂’flıkt] –

беспокоить, причинять боль, огорчать). He was their last hope.

6 The Don walked Nazorine up and down the room, his hand on the baker's shoulder,

his head nodding with understanding to keep up (чтобы поддержать) the man's

courage. When the baker had finished, Don Corleone smiled at him and said, "My dear

friend, put all your worries aside (вам не о чем волноваться: «отложите /в сторону/

все ваши беспокойства»)." He went on (продолжил) to explain very carefully

(объяснять очень тщательно = детально) what must be done (что должно быть

сделано). The Congressman of the district (округа ['dıstrıkt]) must be petitioned (к нему

нужно обратиться с просьбой, ходатайством [pı’tı∫∂n]). The Congressman would

propose a special bill (предложит особый законопроект [pr∂'p∂uz]) that would allow

(позволит [∂’lau]) Enzo to become a citizen (стать гражданином). The bill would surely

pass Congress (пройдет = будет принят). A privilege all those rascals extended to

each other (которую эти мошенники оказывают друг другу; to extend [ıks’tend] –

расширять, распространять влияние; оказывать протекцию, покровительство). Don

Corleone explained that this would cost money, the going price (нынешняя,

актуальная цена) was now two thousand dollars. He, Don Corleone, would guarantee

performance (гарантирует исполнение [gжr∂n’ti:] [p∂’fo:m∂ns]) and accept payment

(готов принять плату [∂’ksept]). Did his friend agree (согласен [∂g'ri:])?

7 The baker nodded his head vigorously (сильно, энергично [‘vıg∂r∂slı]). He did not

expect such a great favor for nothing. That was understood. A special Act of Congress

does not come cheap. Nazorine was almost tearful (чуть не плакал; tearful –

плачущий: «полный слез») in his thanks. Don Corleone walked him to the door,

assuring him (заверив его; to assure [∂’∫u∂] – уверять) that competent people would be

sent to the bakery to arrange all details, complete all necessary documents. The baker

embraced him (обнял [ım'breıs]) before disappearing into the garden.

 

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8 Hagen smiled at the Don. "That's a good investment (/капитало/вложение) for

Nazorine. A son-in-law (зять) and a cheap lifetime helper (дешевый помощник на всю

жизнь) in his bakery all for two thousand dollars." He paused. "Who do I give this job

to?"

9 Don Corleone frowned (нахмурился, сморщил лоб) in thought. "Not to our paisan

(не земляку = не сицилийцу /итал./). Give it to the Jew in the next district. Have the

home addresses changed (поменяй, пусть поменяют). I think there might be many

such cases (должно быть много таких дел, случаев) now the war is over; we should

have extra people (дополнительных людей) in Washington that can handle the

overflow (справиться с наплывом) and not raise the price (не поднимая цены)."

Hagen made a note on his pad (в блокнот). "Not Congressman Luteco. Try

(попробовать) Fischer."

 

 

1 From behind the closed window of Don Corleone's "office," a slightly raised