Make me ridiculous. A man in my position, Mr. Hagen, can't afford to look

ridiculous. I have to pay Johnny off."

 

 

1 For the first time, Woltz succeeded in astounding Hagen (удалось удивить; to

succeed [s∂k’si:d] – следовать за чем-либо; достигать цели; to astound [∂s'taund] –

удивлять, поражать). He found it inconceivable (немыслимым, непостижимым

[ınk∂n'si:v∂bl]; to conceive [k∂n'si:v] – постигать) that a grown man of substance

(солидный; substance ['sΛbst∂ns] – материя; содержание; имущество) would let

such trivialities (может позволить таким пустякам, столь тривиальным вещам) affect

his judgment (повлиять на свое суждение, решение) in an affair of business, and one

of such importance (да еще /в деле/ такой важности). In Hagen's world, the

Corleones' world, the physical beauty, the sexual power of women, carried not the

slightest weight in worldly matters (не имело: «не несло» ни малейшего веса в

мирских делах). It was a private affair, except, of course, in matters of marriage and

family disgrace (бесчестья; позора). Hagen decided to make one last try (последнюю

попытку).

2 "You are absolutely right, Mr. Woltz," Hagen said. "But are your grievances that

major (но настолько ли велика ваша обида, значительны ваши страдания;

grievance [gri:v∂ns] – обида, недовольство /чтобы затмевать все/; major [‘meıdG∂] –

более важный)? I don't think you've understood how important this very small favor is

to my client. Mr. Corleone held the infant Johnny in his arms when he was baptized

(крещен; to baptize [bжp’taız]). When Johnny's father died, Mr. Corleone assumed the

duties of parenthood (взял на себя, принял родительские обязанности:

«обязанности родительства»), indeed he is called 'Godfather' by many, many people

who wish to show their respect and gratitude for the help he has given them. Mr.

Corleone never lets his friends down (никогда не оставляет в беде)."

3 Woltz stood up abruptly (резко). "I've listened to about enough. Thugs don't give me

orders (головорезы не дают мне приказаний), I give them orders. If I pick I up this

 

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phone (сниму трубку), you'll spend the night in jail (проведете ночь в тюрьме). And if

that Mafia goombah tries any rough stuff (что-нибудь крутое: «грубые вещи»; rough

[rΛf] – грубый), he'll find out (обнаружит, поймет) I'm not a band leader. Yeah, I heard

that story too. Listen, your Mr. Corleone will never know what hit him. Even if I have to

use my influence at the White House."

4 The stupid, stupid son of a bitch. How the hell did he get to be a pezzonovante,

Hagen wondered. Advisor to the President, head of the biggest movie studio in the

world. Definitely (решительно) the Don should get into the movie business. And the

guy was taking his words at their sentimental face value (воспринимал слова на их

поверхностном, сентиментальном уровне). He was not getting the message.

5 "Thank you for the dinner and a pleasant evening," Hagen said. "Could you give me

transportation to the airport? I don't think I'll spend the night." He smiled coldly at Woltz.

"Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once (настаивает на том,

чтобы плохую новость услышать сразу, тут же)."

6 While waiting in the floodlit colonnade (в прожекторном освещении, в освещении

заливающим светом; floodlight – прожектор; to floodlight – освещать прожектором;

flood [flΛd] – наводнение, разлив) of the mansion for his car, Hagen saw two women

about to enter a long limousine already parked in the driveway. They were the beautiful

twelve-year-old blond girl and her mother he had seen in Woltz's office that morning.

But now the girl's exquisitely cut mouth («изящно вырезанный рот») seemed to have

smeared into a thick, pink mass (казался смазанным, размазанным в густую,

розовую массу). Her sea-blue eyes were filmed over (покрыты пленкой) and when

she walked down the steps toward the open car her long legs tottered like a crippled

foal's (дрожали, шатались как у хромого жеребенка; cripple – калека, увечный). Her

mother supported the child (поддерживала), helping her into the car, hissing (шипя; to

hiss – шипеть, свистеть) commands into her ear. The mother's head turned for a quick

furtive look (взгляд украдкой; furtive [‘f∂:tıv] – вороватый; затаенный) at Hagen and

he saw in her eyes a burning, hawklike (ястребиный; hawk – ястреб) triumph. Then

she too disappeared into the limousine.

7 So that was why he hadn't got the plane ride from Los Angeles, Hagen thought. The

girl and her mother had made the trip with the movie producer. That had given Woltz

enough time to relax before dinner and do the job on the little kid. And Johnny wanted to

live in this world? Good luck to him, and good luck to Woltz.

 

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