×

We use cookies to help make LingQ better. By visiting the site, you agree to our cookie policy.

image

Neil Gaiman "American Gods", Chapter 1 (p8)

Chapter 1 (p8)

“Hello,” said Shadow. You're the first strange woman I've spoken to, in the flesh, in three years. “I've got an e-ticket number. I was supposed to be traveling on Friday but I have to go today. There was a death in my family.”

“Mm. I'm sorry to hear that.” She tapped at the keyboard, stared at the screen, tapped again. “No problem. I've put you on the three thirty. It may be delayed, because of the storm, so keep an eye on the screens. Checking any baggage?”

He held up a shoulder bag. “I don't need to check this, do I?”

“No,” she said. “It's fine. Do you have any picture ID?”

Shadow showed her his driver's license. Then he assured her that no one had given him a bomb to take onto the plane, and she, in return, gave him a printed boarding pass. Then he passed through the metal detector while his bag went through the X-ray machine.

It was not a big airport, but the number of people wandering, just wandering, amazed him. He watched people put down bags casually, observed wallets stuffed into back pockets, saw purses put down, unwatched, under chairs. That was when he realized he was no longer in prison.

Thirty minutes to wait until boarding. Shadow bought a slice of pizza and burned his lip on the hot cheese. He took his change and went to the phones. Called Robbie at the Muscle Farm, but the machine answered.

“Hey, Robbie,” said Shadow. “They tell me that Laura's dead. They let me out early. I'm coming home.”

Then, because people do make mistakes, he'd seen it happen, he called home, and listened to Laura's voice.

“Hi,” she said. “I'm not here or I can't come to the phone. Leave a message and I'll get back to you. And have a good day.”

Shadow couldn't bring himself to leave a message.

He sat in a plastic chair by the gate, and held his bag so tight he hurt his hand.

He was thinking about the first time he had ever seen Laura. He hadn't even known her name then. She was Audrey Burton's friend. He had been sitting with Robbie in a booth at Chi-Chi's, talking about something, probably how one of the other trainers had just announced she was opening her own dance studio, when Laura had walked in a pace or so behind Audrey, and Shadow had found himself staring. She had long, chestnut hair and eyes so blue Shadow mistakenly thought she was wearing tinted contact lenses. She had ordered a strawberry daiquiri, and insisted that Shadow taste it, and laughed delightedly when he did.

Laura loved people to taste what she tasted.

He had kissed her good night, that night, and she had tasted of strawberry daiquiris, and he had never wanted to kiss anyone else again. A woman announced that his plane was boarding, and Shadow's row was the first to be called. He was in the very back, an empty seat beside him. The rain pattered continually against the side of the plane: he imagined small children tossing down dried peas by the handful from the skies.

As the plane took off he fell asleep.

Shadow was in a dark place, and the thing staring at him wore a buffalo's head, rank and furry with huge wet eyes. Its body was a man's body, oiled and slick.

“Changes are coming,” said the buffalo without moving its lips. “There are certain decisions that will have to be made.”

Firelight flickered from wet cave walls.

“Where am I?” Shadow asked.

“In the earth and under the earth,” said the buffalo man. “You are where the forgotten wait.” His eyes were liquid black marbles, and his voice was a rumble from beneath the world. He smelled like wet cow. “Believe,” said the rumbling voice. “If you are to survive, you must believe.”

“Believe what?” asked Shadow. “What should I believe?”

He stared at Shadow, the buffalo man, and he drew himself up huge, and his eyes filled with fire. He opened his spit-flecked buffalo mouth and it was red inside with the flames that burned inside him, under the earth.

“Everything,” roared the buffalo man.

Learn languages from TV shows, movies, news, articles and more! Try LingQ for FREE

Chapter 1 (p8) Capítulo 1 (p8) Capítulo 1 (p8) Bölüm 1 (s8) Розділ 1 (стор. 8) 第 1 章(第 8 页)

“Hello,” said Shadow. You’re the first strange woman I’ve spoken to, in the flesh, in three years. ||||||||||亲自||| Ты первая незнакомая женщина, с которой я заговорил во плоти за три года. “I’ve got an e-ticket number. I was supposed to be traveling on Friday but I have to go today. There was a death in my family.”

“Mm. I’m sorry to hear that.” She tapped at the keyboard, stared at the screen, tapped again. “No problem. I’ve put you on the three thirty. Я поставил вас на три тридцать. It may be delayed, because of the storm, so keep an eye on the screens. ||||||||||||||屏幕 ||||||||||||||экраны Это может быть отложено из-за шторма, так что следите за экранами. Checking any baggage?” 检查||行李

He held up a shoulder bag. Он поднял сумку через плечо. “I don’t need to check this, do I?” — Мне не нужно это проверять, не так ли?

“No,” she said. “It’s fine. Do you have any picture ID?” ||||照片|

Shadow showed her his driver’s license. 影子向她出示了他的驾照。 Then he assured her that no one had given him a bomb to take onto the plane, and she, in return, gave him a printed boarding pass. ||向她保证|||||||||炸弹|||||||||作为回报||||打印的|| ||уверил|||||||||бомбу|||на борт|||||||||||| Тогда он заверил ее, что никто не давал ему бомбу, чтобы взять ее в самолет, а она, в свою очередь, дала ему распечатанный посадочный талон. 然后他向她保证没有人给他炸弹带上飞机,而她则给了他一张打印的登机牌。 Then he passed through the metal detector while his bag went through the X-ray machine. ||通过||||金属探测器||||||||| |||||||mientras|||||||| |||через|||металлоискатель||||||||| 然后,他通过了金属探测器,他的包也通过了X光机。

It was not a big airport, but the number of people wandering, just wandering, amazed him. |||||||||||||漫无目的地|让他惊讶| |||||||||||vagando|||asombró| 这个机场并不大,但是闲逛的人数之多让他感到惊讶。 He watched people put down bags casually, observed wallets stuffed into back pockets, saw purses put down, unwatched, under chairs. |||||包|||钱包|塞满|||||钱包|||无人看管||椅子上 ||||||||||||||carteras|||descuidadas|| ||||||небрежно||кошельки|набитыми|||||сумочки|||без присмотра|| Он видел, как люди небрежно кладут сумки, видел кошельки, засунутые в задние карманы, видел, как кошельки без присмотра кладут под стулья. 他看到人们随意地放下包,看到钱包被塞在后口袋里,看到钱包被放在椅子下面,无人看管。 That was when he realized he was no longer in prison. ||||осознал||||больше не|| ||||||||不再|| 直到那时,他才意识到自己已经不再身处监狱。

Thirty minutes to wait until boarding. Shadow bought a slice of pizza and burned his lip on the hot cheese. |||||比萨饼||||嘴唇|||| |||||pizza slice|||||||| 影子买了一片披萨,结果嘴唇被热奶酪烫伤了。 He took his change and went to the phones. ||||||||电话亭 他拿着零钱走到电话机旁。 Called Robbie at the Muscle Farm, but the machine answered. |||||||||接听 Позвонил Робби на Muscle Farm, но аппарат ответил.

“Hey, Robbie,” said Shadow. “They tell me that Laura’s dead. ||||劳拉| ||||Лауры| They let me out early. 他们提早放我出去了。 I’m coming home.”

Then, because people do make mistakes, he’d seen it happen, he called home, and listened to Laura’s voice. |||делают|||||||||||||| 然后,因为人都会犯错,他亲眼目睹了这种事情的发生,他打电话回家,听了劳拉的声音。

“Hi,” she said. “I’m not here or I can’t come to the phone. “我不在这里,或者我无法接电话。 Leave a message and I’ll get back to you. Оставьте сообщение, и я свяжусь с вами. And have a good day.”

Shadow couldn’t bring himself to leave a message. ||bring||||| 影子不忍心留下一条消息。

He sat in a plastic chair by the gate, and held his bag so tight he hurt his hand. ||||塑料||||门口|||||||||| |||||||||y||||||||| ||||||||||||||так крепко|||| 他坐在登机口旁边的一把塑料椅子上,紧紧地抓着包,以至于手都抓痛了。

He was thinking about the first time he had ever seen Laura. 他正在想第一次见到劳拉的情景。 He hadn’t even known her name then. |那时没||||| Тогда он даже не знал ее имени. 那时他甚至不知道她的名字。 She was Audrey Burton’s friend. ||奥黛丽|| ||Одри|Бёртон| He had been sitting with Robbie in a booth at Chi-Chi’s, talking about something, probably how one of the other trainers had just announced she was opening her own dance studio, when Laura had walked in a pace or so behind Audrey, and Shadow had found himself staring. ||||||||包厢|||奇奇餐厅||||||||||||||||开设||||舞蹈工作室|||||||一步|||||||||| ||||||||cabina||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||mirando ||||||||кабина||Чи(1)|Чи-Чи||||||||||тренеров|||||||||||||||||шагов|||позади|||||||пристально смотрел Он сидел с Робби в кабинке у Чи-Чи, о чем-то разговаривая, вероятно, о том, как один из других тренеров только что объявил, что открывает свою собственную танцевальную студию, когда Лаура прошла примерно в шаге позади Одри, а Тень поймал себя на том, что смотрит. 当时他正和罗比坐在 Chi-Chi 餐厅的一个小隔间里,谈论着一些事情,大概是说另一位教练刚刚宣布她要开办自己的舞蹈工作室,这时劳拉从后面走了进来,跟在奥黛丽后面不远,影子发现自己正盯着他看。 She had long, chestnut hair and eyes so blue Shadow mistakenly thought she was wearing tinted contact lenses. ||||||||||ошибочно|||||цветные||контактные линзы |||castaño|||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||隐形眼镜 She had ordered a strawberry daiquiri, and insisted that Shadow taste it, and laughed delightedly when he did. ||点了|||草莓代基里||坚持|||||||||| ||||||||||||||entzückt||| ||||||||||||||deliciosamente||| |||||дайкири||настаивала|||||||восторженно|||

Laura loved people to taste what she tasted. Лаура любила, чтобы люди пробовали то, что пробовала она. 劳拉喜欢人们品尝她所品尝过的味道。

He had kissed her good night, that night, and she had tasted of strawberry daiquiris, and he had never wanted to kiss anyone else again. ||吻过||||||||||||草莓代基里|||||||||| ||||||||||||||коктейли дайкири|||||||||| В ту ночь он поцеловал ее на прощание, и она попробовала клубничный дайкири, и он никогда больше не хотел целовать кого-либо еще. 那天晚上,他吻了她道晚安,她尝到了草莓代基里酒的味道,他再也不想亲吻其他人了。 A woman announced that his plane was boarding, and Shadow’s row was the first to be called. ||объявила||||||||ряд|||||| 一位女士播报说他的飞机已经登机,而 Shadow 所在的那排座位是第一个被叫到的。 He was in the very back, an empty seat beside him. |||||в самом конце||||| |||||||空的||| 他坐在最最后面,旁边有一个空座位。 The rain pattered continually against the side of the plane: he imagined small children tossing down dried peas by the handful from the skies. ||轻轻拍打|不断地||||||||||||||豌豆||||||天空 ||||||||||||||||secas||||puñados||| ||стучала||||||||||||бросая|||горошек|||горстью|||небес Дождь то и дело барабанил по борту самолета: он представлял себе, как маленькие дети горстями сбрасывают с неба сушеный горох. 雨水不断地拍打着飞机的侧面:他想象着小孩子们从天上一把一把地扔下干豌豆。

As the plane took off he fell asleep. ||||起飞||睡着了|睡着了 Когда самолет взлетел, он заснул.

Shadow was in a dark place, and the thing staring at him wore a buffalo’s head, rank and furry with huge wet eyes. ||||||||существо|смотря|||имела на себе||бивнями буйвола||||пухлый|||| |||||||||mirando|||llevaba|||||||||| ||||||||||||||水牛的||发臭的||毛茸茸的||巨大的|| Тень находился в темном месте, а существо, смотревшее на него, носило буйволиную голову, грубую и пушистую, с огромными влажными глазами. 影子处在一个黑暗的地方,盯着他的东西长着一个水牛头,毛茸茸的,还有一双湿漉漉的大眼睛。 Its body was a man’s body, oiled and slick. ||||||涂油的||光滑 ||||||||гладкий Его тело было телом мужчины, смазанным маслом и скользким.

“Changes are coming,” said the buffalo without moving its lips. |||||水牛||动|| |||||бизон|||| — Грядут перемены, — сказал буйвол, не шевеля губами. “There are certain decisions that will have to be made.” ||определённые|решения|||||| |||决定|||||| «Необходимо принять определенные решения».

Firelight flickered from wet cave walls. 火光||||洞穴| ||||пещера| Свет огня мерцал на мокрых стенах пещеры.

“Where am I?” Shadow asked.

“In the earth and under the earth,” said the buffalo man. ||地球|||||||| ||tierra|||||||| «В земле и под землей», — сказал человек-бизон. “You are where the forgotten wait.” His eyes were liquid black marbles, and his voice was a rumble from beneath the world. ||||забытые|||||жидкие||||||||громкий звук||под землёй|| |||||||||||||||||retumbar||debajo|| |||||||||液体的||大理石||||||||世界之下|| «Ты там, где забытые ждут». Его глаза были жидкими черными шариками, а голос — рокотом из-под земли. “你在被遗忘者等待的地方。”他的眼睛是水汪汪的黑色大理石,他的声音是来自世界之下的隆隆声。 He smelled like wet cow. ||||vaca От него пахло мокрой коровой. “Believe,” said the rumbling voice. |||低沉的| |||гремящий| — Верь, — сказал рокочущий голос. “If you are to survive, you must believe.” ||||生存||| ||||sobrevivas|||

“Believe what?” asked Shadow. “What should I believe?”

He stared at Shadow, the buffalo man, and he drew himself up huge, and his eyes filled with fire. |взглянул||||||||вытянулся||вырос огромным||||||| |||||||||挺起||||||||| Он уставился на Тень, человека-бизона, и выпрямился огромным, и его глаза наполнились огнем. 他盯着野牛人影子,然后挺直身子,眼里充满了怒火。 He opened his spit-flecked buffalo mouth and it was red inside with the flames that burned inside him, under the earth. |||слюна|покрытый слюной||||||||||||||||| ||||带有唾液||||||||||火焰||||||| Он открыл свою забрызганную слюной пасть бизона, и она была красной внутри от пламени, которое горело внутри него, под землей. 他张开了沾满唾沫的水牛嘴,里面一片通红,他的体内,在地下,燃烧着火焰。

“Everything,” roared the buffalo man. |吼叫||| |rugió||| — Все, — зарычал человек-бизон.