Hagen made a face of impressed approval that was very strangely Italian on

his German-Irish features. "Antique silver, very valuable. The kids can sell it for a

Grand at least. The Senator spent a lot of time getting exactly the right thing. For

those kind of people that's more important than how much it costs."

Don Corleone did not hide his pleasure that so great a man as the Senator

Had shown him such respect. The Senator, like Luca Brasi, was one of the great

Stones in the Don's power structure, and he too, with this gift, had resworn his

Loyalty.

 

 

1 When Johnny Fontane appeared in the garden, Kay Adams recognized him

immediately (сразу узнала). She was truly surprised (поистине удивлена). "You never

told me your family knew Johnny Fontane," she said. "Now I'm sure I'll marry you."

2 "Do you want to meet him (хочешь с ним познакомиться)?" Michael asked.

3 "Not now," Kay said. She sighed. "I was in love with him for three years (была

влюблена). I used to come down to New York whenever he sang at the Capitol and

scream my head off (и орала, как сумасшедшая: «так, что голова отваливалась»; to

scream – пронзительно кричать, вопить). He was so wonderful."

4 "We'll meet him later," Michael said.

5 When Johnny finished singing and vanished into the house with Don Corleone

(скрылся в дом; to vanish [‘vжnı∫] – исчезать, пропадать), Kay said archly (лукаво,

насмешливо) to Michael, "Don't tell me a big movie star like Johnny Fontane has to ask

your father for a favor?"

6 "He's my father's godson," Michael said. "And if it wasn't for my father (и если бы не

мой отец: не из-за моего отца») he might not be a big movie star today."

7 Kay Adams laughed with delight (весело рассмеялась; delight – удовольствие,

наслаждение). "That sounds like another great story (это похоже на еще одну

отличную историю: «звучит как еще одна отличная история»)."

8 Michael shook his head. "I can't tell that one," he said.

9 "Trust me (доверься мне, доверяй мне)," she said.

10 He told her. He told her without being funny (без шуток, не стремясь ее

позабавить: «не будучи забавным»). He told it without pride (без гордости = не

 

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гордясь). He told it without any sort of explanation (безо всякого объяснения) except

that eight years before his father had been more impetuous (был более импульсивный,

порывистый, горячий [ım’petju∂s]; impetus [‘ımpet∂s] – стремительность; импульс),

and because the matter concerned his godson (поскольку дело касалось его

крестника), the Don considered it an affair of personal honor (счел это делом,

расценил это как дело личной чести).

11 The story was quickly told (рассказать эту историю было недолго: «была

быстро рассказана»). Eight years ago Johnny Fontane had made an extraordinary

success (добился необыкновенного успеха [ıks’tro:dn∂rı]) singing with a popular

dance band. He had become a top radio attraction (главным «привлечением» =

звездой, гвоздем программ). Unfortunately the band leader, a well-known show

business personality named Les Halley, had signed Johnny to a five-year personal

services contract (подписал контракт; to sign [saın]). It was a common show business

practice (это была обычная практика = так практиковалось в шоу-бизнесе). Les

Halley could now loan Johnny out («одалживать» /другим фирмам/) and pocket most

of the money (и класть в карман большую часть денег).

12 Don Corleone entered the negotiations personally (лично занялся переговорами

[nıg∂u∫i’eı∫n]). He offered Les Halley twenty thousand dollars (предложил) to release

(освободить = чтобы он освободил) Johnny Fontane from the personal services

contract. Halley offered to take only fifty percent of Johnny's earnings (50 процентов

заработков; to earn [∂:n] – зарабатывать). Don Corleone was amused (его это

позабавило, развеселило: «был развлечен» to amuse [∂’mju:z]). He dropped his

offer (снизил; to drop – уронить) from twenty thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars.

The band leader, obviously (очевидно) not a man of the world (не светский человек,

не от мира сего) outside his beloved show business (вне своего любимого шоу-

бизнеса), completely missed the significance of this lower offer (совершенно упустил

значение этого более низкого, сниженного предложения = не понял, что оно

означает). He refused (отказался).

13 The next day Don Corleone went to see the band leader personally. He brought

with him his two best friends, Genco Abbandando, who was his Consigliori, and Luca

Brasi. With no other witnesses (без других каких-либо свидетелей) Don Corleone

persuaded Les Halley to sign a document (убедил [p∂’sweıd]) giving up all rights

(отказавшись, отказываясь от всех прав) to all services from Johnny Fontane upon

payment of a certified check to the amount of ten thousand dollars (взамен на выплату

заверенного чека на сумму в десять тысяч долларов). Don Corleone did this by

 

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putting a pistol to the forehead of the band leader (приставив ко лбу) and assuring him

(заверив его) with the utmost seriousness (с крайней серьезностью) that either his

signature or his brains would rest on that document (либо подпись, либо мозги будут

на документе; to rest – покоиться, лежать) in exactly one minute. Les Halley signed.

Don Corleone pocketed his pistol and handed over the certified check (передал).

14 The rest was history (остальное было, стало историей). Johnny Fontane went on

to become the greatest singing sensation in the country (продолжал становиться,

становился все большей сенсацией). He made Hollywood musicals that earned a

fortune for his studio. His records made millions of dollars. Then he divorced his

childhood-sweetheart wife (развелся со своей детской любовью; sweetheart –

возлюбленная) and left his two children, to marry the most glamorous (на самой

обаятельной, эффектной [‘glжm∂r∂s]; glamor [‘glжm∂] – чары, обаяние) blond star in

motion pictures (в кино). He soon learned that she was a "whore." He drank, he

gambled, he chased other women (гонялся, преследовал). He lost his singing voice.

His records stopped selling (его записи перестали продаваться). The studio did not

renew his contract. And so now he had come back to his Godfather.

15 Kay said thoughtfully (задумчиво), "Are you sure you're not jealous of your father

(ты уверен, что не завидуешь; jealous [‘dGel∂s]) – ревнивый, ревнующий;

завидующий)? Everything you've told me about him shows him doing something for

other people. He must be good-hearted (он, должно быть, добрый)." She smiled wryly

(криво усмехнулась; wry – кривой, перекошенный). "Of course his methods are not

exactly constitutional."

16 Michael sighed. "I guess that's the way it sounds, but let me tell you this (но я вот

что тебе скажу: «позволь мне сказать тебе это»). You know those Arctic explorers

(исследователи Арктики; to explore [ıks’plo:] – исследовать) who leave caches of

food (запасы провианта; cache [kж∫] – тайник; запас провианта, оставленный

экспедицией в скрытом месте) scattered on the route to the North Pole

(разбросанные, рассредоточенные по маршруту к Северному Полюсу; route [ru:t] –

путь, направление)? Just in case they may need them someday (просто на тот

случай, что это может им когда-нибудь понадобиться)? That's my father's favors.

Someday he'll be at each one of those people's houses (он к ним придет, постучится к

ним) and they had better come across (и им лучше пойти ему навстречу = помочь

ему; to come across – случайно встретиться, натолкнуться)."

 

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