Английский с Джеком Лондоном. Любовь к жизни / Jack London. Love of Live. Джек Лондон

spoiling his supply of moss-fuel (испортили его запас топлива из мха).

profound [prǝ’faʋnd], raw [rɔ:], half [hɑ:f]

      He awoke chilled and sick. There was no sun. The gray of earth and sky had become deeper, more profound. A raw wind was blowing, and the first flurries of snow were whitening the hilltops. The air about him thickened and grew white while he made a fire and boiled more water. It was wet snow, half rain, and the flakes were large and soggy. At first they melted as soon as they came in contact with the earth, but ever more fell, covering the ground, putting out the fire, spoiling his supply of moss-fuel.

      This was a signal for him to strap on his pack and stumble onward (это был сигнал для него надевать тюк и ковылять дальше), he knew not where (он не знал куда). He was not concerned with the land of little sticks (его не интересовала ни земля «прутиков»; concerned – заинтересованный; увлеченный; озабоченный, беспокоящийся), nor with Bill and the cache under the upturned canoe by the river Dease (ни Билл и тайник под перевернутым каноэ у реки Диз). He was mastered by the verb “to eat (он был управляем глаголом «есть»; to master – овладевать; руководить, управлять).” He was hunger-mad (он обезумел от голода). He took no heed of the course he pursued (он не обращал внимания на курс, которым он следовал; to take no heed of – не обращать внимания на), so long as that course led him through the swale bottoms (при условии, что этот курс вел его через болотистые низины). He felt his way through the wet snow to the watery muskeg berries (он пробирался ощупью сквозь мокрый снег к водянистым болотным ягодам), and went by feel as he pulled up the rush-grass by the roots (и шел наощупь, вырывая тростниковую траву за корешки). But it was tasteless stuff and did not satisfy (но она была безвкусной дрянью и не утоляла голод; to satisfy – удовлетворять; радовать, доставлять удовлетворение; утолять /голод, любопытство и т. п./; taste – вкус; stuff – материя /особ. шерстяная/, ткань; материал, вещество; дрянь, хлам, чепуха). He found a weed that tasted sour (он нашел водоросль, которая была кислой на вкус; to taste – иметь вкус, привкус) and he ate all he could find of it (и он съел ее всю, что смог найти), which was not much (чего = а ее было немного), for it was a creeping growth (ибо это было вьющееся растение; growth – плод, продукт; урожай; нарост; предмет выращивания; растительный покров), easily hidden under the several inches of snow (легко прячущееся под несколькими дюймами снега; hidden – спрятанный; to hide – прятать).

concerned [kǝn’sǝ:nd], course [kɔ:s], taste [teɪst], sour [‘saʋǝ]

      This was a signal for him to strap on his pack and stumble onward, he knew not where. He was not concerned with the land of little sticks, nor with Bill and the cache under the upturned canoe by the river Dease. He was mastered by the verb “to eat.” He was hunger-mad. He took no heed of the course he pursued, so long as that course led him through the swale bottoms. He felt his way through the wet snow to the watery muskeg berries, and went by feel as he pulled up the rush-grass by the roots. But it was tasteless stuff and did not satisfy. He found a weed that tasted sour and he ate all he could find of it, which was not much, for it was a creeping growth, easily hidden under the several inches of snow.

      Примечания

      1

      Рассказ адаптировал Олег Дьяконов.

      2

      To toss – метать, швырять, кидать; держать пари, делать ставку.

      3

      Медный рудник.