Analytical reading-Part 31

Graham Greene

From The Quiet American

T

he canal was full of bodies: I am reminded now of an Irish stew containing too much meat. The bodies overlapped: one head, seal-grey, and anonymous as a convict with a shaven scalp, stuck up out of the water like a buoy. There was no blood: I suppose it had flowed away a long time ago. I have no idea how many there were: they must have been caught in a cross-fire, trying to get back, and I suppose every man of us along the bank was thinking “Two can’t play at that game.” I too took my eyes away; we didn’t want to be reminded of how little we counted, how quickly, simply and anonymously death came. Even though my reason wanted the state of death, I was afraid like a virgin of the act. I would have liked death to come with due warning, so that I could prepare myself. For what? I didn’t know, nor how, except by taking a look around at the little I would be leaving.

                The lieutenant sat beside the man with the walkie-talkie and stared at the ground between his feet. The instrument began to crackle instructions and with a sigh as though he had been roused from sleep he got up. There was an odd comradeliness about all their movements, as though they were equals engaged on a task they had performed together times out of mind. Nobody waited to be told what to do. Two men made for the plank and tried to cross it, but they were unbalanced by the weight of their arms and had to sit astride and work their way across a few inches at a time. Another man had found a punt hidden in some bushes down the canal and he worked it to where the lieutenant stood. Six of us got in and he began to pole it towards the other bank, but we ran on a shoal of bodies and stuck. He pushed away with his pole, sinking it into this human clay, and one body was released and floated up all its length beside the boat like a bather lying in the sun. Then we were free again, and once on the other side we scrambled out, with no backward look. No shots had been fired: we were alive: death had withdrawn perhaps as far as the next canal.

Notes and comments:

due warning-suitable, proper = своевременно предупреждение

after due consideration—след задълбочено обсъждане/обмисляне

in due course-at the right and proper time = своевременно

When is the rent due (to be paid)?—Кога трябва да се плати наема?

When is the steamer/train/etc. due? When is the steamer/train/etc. expected?

The train is due at 11:30.—Влакът трябва/се очаква да пристигне в 11:30.

Mr. Hill is due to lecture twice tomorrow.—Г-н Хил трябва да чете лекция два пъти утре.

a shoal of bodies-(here) a great number of bodies = маса/много тела

(see also) a shoal of fish-… swimming in shoals = рибен пасаж

to rouse-to incite-to excite = (прен.) раздвижвам, събуждам, пробуждам, стряскам, раздразвам, ядосвам, предизвиквам, възбуждам, вълнувам, подбуждам, подтиквам, подстрекавам, стимулирам

He was roused by the ringing of a bell.

He is a terrible man when he is roused.

to rouse someone to action—подбуждам някого да действа

to rouse interest—възбуждам интерес

Insults incite resentment.

The soldier was shot for inciting his comrades to rise against their officers.

to excite admiration/envy/affection in somebody—предизвиквам възхищение/завист/любов у някого

to excite a riot—подстрекавам към/предизвиквам размирици

pole-pillar-post-shaft-pier-stock = прът, върлина, стълб, колона

the pole of a flag—прът на знаме

a telegraph pole—телеграфен стълб

tent poles—колчета на палатка

a pillar box—пощенска кутия

a pillar of fire—огнен стълб

a pillar of smoke—димен стълб

to be driven from pillar to post-минавам всички митарства, разиграван съм, (прен.) бивам разкарван от място на място, разкарват ме по корта (при игра на тенис)

an arrow shaft-пръчка от стрела

a spear shaft-прът на копие

a shaft of light-сноп светлина

the stock of a rifle-приклад

the stock of a plough (or plow)-дръжка на плуг

(to) scramble—боричкам се, блъскам се, сбивам се (за нещо); боричкане за пръснати неща, блъсканица, суматоха

The players scrambled for the ball.—Играчите се сбиха за топката.

There was a scramble for the best seats.—Имаше блъсканица за най-добрите места.

count-matter-weigh = имам (съм от) значение

Knowledge without common sense counts for little.—Знанието без здрав разум има малко значение.

Such men do not count for anything.—Такива хора нямат никакво значение.

The evidence did not weigh with the judge.—Доказателствата на повлияха на съдията.

The problem weighs heavy in my mind-...има голямо значение за мен