Dracula. A1 / Дракула. Брэм Стокер

letter. His carriage will take me to his castle the next day. I asked the landlord and his wife about Count Dracula, but they became nervous and didn't want to speak about it. After that, the landlord's wife spoke about some superstition and gave me her cross.

      The next day, it was cold. I waited for the carriage, and it finally came. I did not feel frightened, but our journey was strange. It was around midnight. Somewhere, dogs started to howl, and the horses felt afraid. It was getting colder, and the wind started howling, too. Suddenly, I saw a blue flame. I thought I was sleeping and this was all a dream.

      The moon appeared, and I saw wolves. Then it became dark again, and, when we got to the castle, I was still scared.

Glossary

      afraid [æ'freɪd] – adj испуганный

      appear [ə'pɪər] – v появляться

      basic ['beɪsɪk] – adj элементарный

      briefly ['bri:fli] – adv кратко

      carriage ['kærɪdʒ] – n карета

      castle ['kɑ:sl] – n замок

      count [kaʊnt] – n граф

      cross [krɒs] – n крест

      diary ['daɪəri] – n дневник, ежедневник, записная книжка

      flame [fleɪm] – n пламя

      free [fri:] – adj свободный

      frightened ['fraɪtənd] – adj испуганный

      howl [haʊl] – v выть

      landlord ['lændlɔ:d] – n хозяин

      location [ləʊ'keɪʃən] – n расположение

      midnight ['mɪdnaɪt] – n полночь

      moon [mu:n] – n луна

      nervous ['nɜ:vəs] – adj волнующийся

      old-fashioned [,əʊld'fæʃənd] – adj старомодный

      scared [skeəd] – adj испуганный

      suddenly ['sʌdənli] – adv вдруг, внезапно

      suggest [sə'dʒest] – v предлагать, советовать

      superstition [,su:pə'stɪʃən] – n суеверие

      wolf (wolves) [wʊlf] – n волк

      wonderful ['wʌndəfəl] – adj чудесный

      Chapter II

Jonathan Harker's diary

      In the dark, the castle looked huge. The carriage left, and I just stood there, because I didn't know what to do. It felt like a nightmare. Suddenly, the door opened, and I saw a tall old man with a long white moustache. It was Count Dracula. He welcomed me with a cold, strong handshake and brought my luggage inside.

      The dinner was ready, but the Count did not eat. While I was eating, he asked me a lot of questions. Outside, wolves started to howl. Count Dracula smiled and wished me goodnight.

      When I woke up, there was a card from the Count. He told me he was busy, so I ate alone, and then tried to find a servant, but there was no one. I explored the castle and found a room with many English books. Suddenly, the Count appeared. He told me he used the books to learn English.

      Later, we talked about business – the place I found for him to buy in England. He seemed happy about it. He spoke about his castle, too, and smiled, but to me, it wasn't a kind smile.

      The next morning, while I was shaving, Dracula suddenly appeared behind me. He got angry when he saw blood from a small cut, and threw away my mirror. Then, I couldn't find him at breakfast, and ate alone again. I explored the castle some more. It stood on the edge of a cliff. Inside, there were many doors, but all of them were locked. I realised the castle was a prison, and I was a prisoner.

Glossary

      angry ['æŋɡri] – adj сердитый

      blood [blʌd] – n кровь

      bring (brought, brought) [brɪŋ] – v приносить

      business ['bɪznɪs] – n бизнес, работа

      busy ['bɪzi] – adj занятой

      cliff [klɪf] – n скала, утес

      cut [kʌt] – n порез

      dark [dɑ:k] – n темнота

      edge [edʒ] – n край

      explore [ɪk'splɔ:r] – v исследовать, изучать

      handshake ['hændʃeɪk] – n рукопожатие

      inside [,ɪn'saɪd] – adv внутри, внутрь

      locked [lɒkt] – adj запертый

      luggage ['lʌɡɪdʒ] – n багаж

      moustache [mə'stɑ:ʃ] – n усы

      nightmare ['naɪtmeər] – n кошмар, страшный сон

      outside ['autsaɪd] – adv снаружи, на улице

      prison ['prɪzən] – n тюрьма

      realise ['rɪəlaɪz] – v понять, осознать

      seem [si:m] – v казаться

      servant ['sɜ:vənt] – n слуга

      shave [ʃeɪv] – v бриться

      throw away [θrəʊ ə'weɪ] – v выбрасывать, выкидывать

      Chapter III

Jonathan Harker's diary

      When I realised Dracula trapped me in the castle, I felt scared. I ran around trying to escape, but soon I felt helpless. I sat down and thought about what to do. I knew I couldn't trust the Count. I decided to stay quiet and alert.

      I had a strange encounter with the Count, who seemed to know a lot about history. He talked about his proud ancestry and seemed very passionate. I found it fascinating but also scary. It was almost morning when we went to bed.

      The Count asked me questions about business and property in England, and then handed me paper and envelopes. He told me to write a letter to my boss and tell him that I want stay at the castle for a month. The Count told me to only write about business. I knew that as a prisoner, I had no choice. I wrote the letter for my boss – and also one for Mina. Taking the letters, the Count advised me not to sleep outside of my room. “Be warned,” he said, making me feel glad I had a cross around my neck.

      At night, I saw a strange sight: the Count was crawling down the castle wall. I couldn't believe my eyes, but told myself it was a strange illusion. The Count's warning frightened me, but that night, I opened one of the doors and wandered into a beautiful room, where I felt calm and fell asleep. When I woke up, I saw three women who did not seem real, because they had no shadow. The women wanted something from me. Suddenly, the Count appeared. “He belongs to me!” Dracula said furiously and chased them away, but instead of using the door they just faded into the moonlight passing through the windows.

      I fainted.

Glossary

      advise ['welkəm] – v советовать

      alert [ə'lɜ:t] – adj бдительный

      ancestry ['ænsestri] – n род, происхождение

      belong [bɪ'lɒŋ] – v принадлежать

      chase away [tʃeɪs