George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter.

“It’s five o’clock.”

“The clock says twenty minutes past five,” the second man said.

“It’s twenty minutes fast.”

“Oh, to hell with the clock,” the first man said. “What have you got to eat?”

“I can give you any kind of sandwiches,” George said. “You can have ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver and bacon, or a steak.”

sauce [so:s] potato [p∂`teıt∂u] liver [lıv∂]

“Give me chicken croquettes (дай мне куриные крокеты) with green peas (с зеленым горошком) and cream sauce (под белым: «сливочным» соусом) and mashed potatoes.”

“That’s the dinner.”

“Everything we want’s the dinner (все, что мы хотим – обед), eh? That’s the way you work it (так: «таким путем» ты это делаешь: «срабатываешь, устраиваешь» = ну и порядки).”

“I can give you ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver – ”

“I’ll take ham and eggs (я возьму яичницу с ветчиной),” the man called Al said. He wore a derby hat (на нем был: «он носил» котелок) and a black overcoat (и черное пальто) buttoned across the chest (застегнутое наглухо: «через грудь»; button - пуговица). His face was small and white (его лицо было маленьким и белым) and he had tight lips (и у него были сжатые губы; tight – плотный, тугой). He wore a silk muffler (шелковое кашне; to muffle – закутывать, укутывать; глушить /звук/) and gloves (и перчатки).

“Give me bacon and eggs,” said the other man (сказал другой мужчина). He was about the same size as Al (он был примерно того же роста: «размера», что и Эл). Their faces were different (лица были различны), but they were dressed like twins (но они были одеты, как близнецы). Both wore overcoats too tight for them (слишком узкие для них). They sat leaning forward (наклонившись вперед), their elbows on the counter (их локти на стойке).

“Give me chicken croquettes with green peas and cream sauce and mashed potatoes.”

“That’s the dinner.”

“Everything we want’s the dinner, eh? That’s the way you work it.”

“I can give you ham and eggs, bacon and eggs, liver – ”

“I’ll take ham and eggs,” the man called Al said. He wore a derby hat and a black overcoat buttoned across the chest. His face was small and white and he had tight lips. He wore a silk muffler and gloves.

“Give me bacon and eggs,” said the other man. He was about the same size as Al. Their faces were different, but they were dressed like twins. Both wore overcoats too tight for them. They sat leaning forward, their elbows on the counter.

croquettes [kro`ket] button [bLtn] glove [glLv]

“Got anything to drink (есть что-нибудь выпить)?” Al asked.

“Silver beer («серебряное пиво» – сорт пива), bevo (морс, напиток /итальянское слово/), ginger-ale (имбирное пиво),” George said.

“I mean (я имею в виду) you got anything to drink?”

“Just those I said (только то, что я сказал).”

“This is a hot town (веселый городок, ну и городок: «это жаркий городок»),” said the other. “What do they call it (как он там называется: «как они его называют»)?”

“Summit (поселок к юго-западу от Чикаго).”

“Ever hear of it (когда-нибудь слышал о нем)?” Al asked his friend (спросил своего друга).

“No,” said the friend.

“What do you do here nights (что вы здесь делаете по вечерам)?” Al asked.

“They eat the dinner,” his friend said. “They all come here and eat the big dinner (они все приходят сюда и едят большой обед).”

“That’s right (это так, верно),” George said.

“So you think that’s right (так ты думаешь, считаешь, что это правильно)?” Al asked George.

“Sure (конечно).”

“You’re a pretty bright boy (очень умный: «светлый» парень; pretty – красивый, симпатичный; довольно, весьма), aren’t you (не правда ли: «не есть ли ты»)?”

“Sure,” said George.

“Well, you’re not (ну, так вот, ты вовсе не умный парень),” said the other little man (другой маленький человек). “Is he (умный ли он), Al?”

“He’s dumb (тупой: «немой»),” said Al. He turned to Nick (повернулся к Нику). “What’s your name (как тебя зовут: «каково твое имя»)?”

“Adams.”

“Another bright boy (другой = еще один умник),” Al said. “Ain’t he a bright boy, Max (/ну/ не умник ли он; ain't = isn't; aren't)?”

“The town’s full of bright boys (город полон умников),” Max said.

“Got anything to drink?” Al asked.

“Silver beer, bevo, ginger-ale,” George said.

“I mean you got anything to drink?”

“Just those I said.”

“This is a hot town,” said the other. “What do they call it?”

“Summit.”

“Ever hear of it?” Al asked his friend.

“No,” said the friend.

“What do you do here nights?” Al asked.

“They eat the dinner,” his friend said. “They all come here and eat the big dinner.”

“That’s right,” George said.

“So you think that’s right?” Al asked George.

“Sure.”

“You’re a pretty bright boy, aren’t you?”

“Sure,” said George.

“Well, you’re not,” said the other little man. “Is he, Al?”

“He’s dumb,” said Al. He turned to Nick. “What’s your name?”

“Adams.”

“Another bright boy,” Al said. “Ain’t he a bright boy, Max?”

“The town’s full of bright boys,” Max said.

dumb [dLm] pretty [prıtı]

George put the two platters (поставил две тарелки), one of ham and eggs, the other of bacon and eggs, on the counter. He set down two side-dishes of fried potatoes (поставил две порции жареного картофеля; siede-dish – боковое = сопровождающее блюдо – блюдо с гарниром) and closed the wicket into the kitchen (и закрыл окошечко в кухню; wicket – калитка; задвижное окошко).

“Which is yours?” he asked Al.

“Don’t you remember (ты не помнишь)?”

“Ham and eggs.”

“Just a bright boy (просто умница, ну разве не умник),” Max said. He leaned forward and took the ham and eggs (и взял ветчину с яичницей). Both men ate with their gloves on (оба ели с надетыми перчатками). George watched them eat (смотрел, наблюдал, как они едят).

“What are you looking at (на что ты /так/ смотришь)?” Max looked at George.

“Nothing (ни на что: «/на/ ничто»).”

“The hell you were (как же, рассказывай, черта-с-два ты не смотришь). You were looking at me (на меня).”

“Maybe the boy meant it for a joke (может быть, парень пошутил: «имел в виду это, высказал это мнение для шутки = как шутку»), Max,” Al said.

George laughed (засмеялся).

“ You don’t have to laugh (нечего смеяться: «тебе не надо смеяться»),” Max said to him. “ You don’t have to laugh at all (вовсе), see (понял: «видишь»)?”

“All right,” said George.

“So he thinks it’s all right (итак, он полагает, что это в порядке, правильно).” Max turned to Al. He thinks it’s all right. That’s a good one (хорош он).”

“Oh, he’s a thinker (мыслитель),” Al said. They went on eating (продолжали есть).

George put the two platters, one of ham and eggs, the other of bacon and eggs, on the counter. He set down two side-dishes of fried potatoes and closed the wicket into the kitchen.

“Which is yours?” he asked Al.

“Don’t you remember?”

“Ham and eggs.”

“Just a bright boy,” Max said. He leaned forward and took the ham and eggs. Both men ate with their gloves on. George watched them eat.

“What are you looking at?” Max looked at George.

“Nothing.”

“The hell you were. You were looking at me.”

“Maybe the boy meant it for a joke, Max,” Al said.

George laughed.

“ You don’t have to laugh,” Max said to him. “ You don’t have to laugh at all, see?”

“All right,” said George.

“So he thinks it’s all right.” Max turned to Al. He thinks it’s all right. That’s a good one.”

“Oh, he’s a thinker,” Al said. They went on eating.

meant [ment] laugh [lα:f]

“What’s the bright boy’s name down the counter (как зовут того умника, что с другой стороны стойки)?” Al asked Max.

“Hey, bright boy,” Max said to Nick. “You go around on the other side of the counter (зайди за стойку: «иди вокруг на другую сторону стойки») with your boy friend (с твоим дружком = туда, где твой дружок).”

“What’s the idea (а в чем дело, зачем это: «что за идея, в чем идея»)?” Nick asked.

“There isn’t any idea (тут нет никакой идеи = просто так, да ни в чем).”

“You better go around (лучше зайди), bright boy,” Al said. Nick went around behind the counter (за стойку).

“What’s the idea?” George asked.

“None of your damn business (не твое чертово: «проклятое» дело; none – ничто, ни один, никакой),” Al said. “Who’s out in the kitchen (кто там: «снаружи» на кухне)?”

“The nigger (негр).”

“What do you mean the nigger?”

“The nigger that cooks (который готовит, стряпает).”

“Tell him to come in (скажи ему, чтобы зашел).”

“What’s the idea?”

“Tell him to come in.”

“Where do you think you are (где, вы думаете, вы находитесь)?”

“We know damn well where we are (мы знаем чертовски хорошо, где мы находимся),” the man called Max said (сказал человек, которого звали Макс). “Do we look silly (мы выглядим дурачками, глупо)?”

“You talk silly (ты разговариваешь глупо),” Al said to him. “What the hell do you argue with this kid for (какого черта ты споришь с этим ребенком)? Listen (послушай),” he said to George, “tell the nigger to come out here.”

“What are you going to do to him (что вы собираетесь с ним: «ему» сделать)?”

“Nothing. Use your head (пошевели мозгами: «используй свою голову»), bright boy. What would we do to a nigger (что бы мы сделали негру)?”

George opened the slit (открыл окошечко; slit – длинный разрез, щель; to slit – разрезать в длину) that opened back into the kitchen (которое открывалось назад = вовнутрь в кухню). “Sam,” he called. “Come in here a minute (зайди-ка сюда на минутку).”

“What’s the bright boy’s name down the counter?” Al asked Max.

“Hey, bright boy,” Max said to Nick. “You go around on the other side of the counter with your boy friend.”

“What’s the idea?” Nick asked.

“There isn’t any idea.”

“You better go around, bright boy,” Al said. Nick went around behind the counter.

“What’s the idea?” George asked.

“None of your damn business,” Al said. “Who’s out in the kitchen?”

“The nigger.”

“What do you mean the nigger?”

“The nigger that cooks.”

“Tell him to come in.”

“What’s the idea?”

“Tell him to come in.”

“Where do you think you are?”

“We know damn well where we are,” the man called Max said. “Do we look silly?”

“You talk silly,” Al said to him. “What the hell do you argue with this kid for? Listen,” he said to George, “tell the nigger to come out here.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“Nothing. Use your head, bright boy. What would we do to a nigger?”

George opened the slit that opened back into the kitchen. “Sam,” he called. “Come in here a minute.”

idea [aı`dı∂] argue [`α:gju:] minute [`mınıt]

The door to the kitchen opened and the nigger came in. “What was it (в чем дело: «что это было»)?” he asked. The two men at the counter took a look at him (оглядели его: «взяли взгляд»).

“All right (все в порядке), nigger. You stand right there (стань тут),” Al said.

Sam, the nigger, standing in his apron (стоя в своем фартуке), looked at the two men sitting at the counter. “Yes, sir,” he said. Al got down from his stool (слез со своего стула, табурета).

“I’m going back to the kitchen (я пойду назад = туда на кухню) with the nigger and bright boy,” he said. “Go on back to the kitchen, nigger. You go with him, Bright boy.” The little man walked after Nick and Sam (прошел вслед за Ником и Сэмом), the cook (поваром), back into the kitchen. The door shut after them (дверь за ними закрылась). The man called Max sat at the counter opposite George (напротив Джорджа). He didn’t look at George (он не смотрел на Джорджа) but looked in the mirror (а смотрел в зеркало) that ran along back of the counter (которое тянулось: «бежало» вдоль за стойкой). Henry’s had been made over (заведение Генри было переделано) from a saloon into a lunch-counter (из салуна, бара в закусочную).

The door to the kitchen opened and the nigger came in. “What was it?” he asked. The two men at the counter took a look at him.

“All right, nigger. You stand right there,” Al said.

Sam, the nigger, standing in his apron, looked at the two men sitting at the counter. “Yes, sir,” he said. Al got down from his stool.

“I’m going back to the kitchen with the nigger and bright boy,” he said. “Go on back to the kitchen, nigger. You go with him, Bright boy.” The little man walked after Nick and Sam, the cook, back into the kitchen. The door shut after them. The man called Max sat at the counter opposite George. He didn’t look at George but looked in the mirror that ran along back of the counter. Henry’s had been made over from a saloon into a lunch-counter.

apron [`eıpr∂n] opposite [`op∂zıt]

“Well, bright boy,” Max said, looking into the mirror, “why don’t you say something (почему ты не скажешь что-нибудь)?”

“What’s it all about (что все это значит: «о чем все это»)?”

“Hey, Al,” Max called, “bright boy wants to know (хочет знать) what’s all about.”

“Why don’t you tell him (что же ты ему не скажешь)?” Al’s voice came from the kitchen (отозвался голос Эла из кухни).

“What do you think it’s all about?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you think?”

Max looked into the mirror all the time he was talking (все время, пока говорил).

“I wouldn’t say (я бы не сказал, не скажу, пожалуй, не знаю).”

“Hey, Al, bright boy says he wouldn’t what he thinks it’s all about.”

“I can hear you, all right (я могу слышать тебя, в порядке, хорошо = не кричи, я и так слышу),” Al said from the kitchen. He had propped open the slit (он подпер, чтобы оставалось открытым, окошечко, отверстие: «щель») that dishes passed through into the kitchen (через которое передавались блюда на кухню) with a catsup bottle (бутылкой кетчупа). “Listen, bright boy,” he said from the kitchen to George. “Stand a little further (стань немного дальше) along the bar (вдоль бара). You move a little to the left (подвинься немного налево), Max.” He was like a photographer arranging for a group picture (он был точно фотограф, расставляющий /людей/ для групповой фотографии).

“Well, bright boy,” Max said, looking into the mirror, “why don’t you say something?”

“What’s it all about?”

“Hey, Al,” Max called, “bright boy wants to know what’s all about.”

“Why don’t you tell him?” Al’s voice came from the kitchen.

“What do you think it’s all about?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you think?”