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E-Books (english-e-reader), A Kind of Longing (1)

A Kind of Longing (1)

Riding a motorbike is a great way to travel. Who cares if the bike is an old Norton or a shiny new Suzuki? It's the speed, the noise of the wind in your ears, the engine roaring under you, burning up the miles. Bikers are free, alone, they go where they want...

Free, alone - sometimes lonely. And danger waits at every bend in the road. But for Roy, riding home to Auckland as night falls, it's still a great feeling...

Coming up from the river towards the road, Roy looked at his watch. It was half past four. It was cooler now; he could do an hour or two of the journey before dark.'

He started off down the road, feeling the heavy fish in the bag against his leg as he walked. He played the fish again in his mind, feeling it pull on the line, fighting him all the way. He walked happily through the afternoon stillness.

A car was parked off the road by the bridge, with three men standing beside it. They watched him coming. They stood drinking from metal cups, looking pleased with themselves, pleased with the wild boar they had shot. It was tied to the roof of their old American car.

They looked at Roy and his fish as he came by.

'Good fishing, then,' one of them said.

'Sure,' Roy said. 'It looks like everybody's got what they came for.'

He stepped into the long grass, found his old Norton, and pushed it up to the road. He felt the men watching him.

'Have a beer,' one of them offered.

'Well, thanks,' Roy said. He took a cup from one of the bags on his bike and went over to the car.

'That's a nice fish,' the man said, filling his cup with beer.

'Not bad,' Roy said. 'He nearly took the fly last night, and I went back to get him today.' He drank his beer.

'He must have a poor memory then,' the man said.

'He just loves Black Gnats,' Roy said, touching the fishing fly pinned to his shirt. They all looked. You could tell that they were not fishermen.

Roy looked at the dead boar with its long dangerous teeth.

'Big one,' he said, and finished the beer.

The guy offered the bottle.

'No, thanks. I've got to get going.'

He walked back to the bike and went on packing. The men stood around with their beer, watching him. Roy picked up the fish and held it up to show them how big it was, and they smiled. He packed it away in one of the bags. He sat down on the grass and pulled on his boots, thinking that it hadn't been a bad weekend. He felt the men watching him. They were friendly, but there was something about it, a kind of feeling he wasn't sure about.

He put on his crash helmet and his gloves. Then he started the bike and waved goodbye. The men smiled, and one of them lifted his beer for good luck. 'I'm on my own,' Roy thought. 'That's what it is. They're three friends out together in the afternoon, and I'm on my own, with two hundred miles to go. It's a small thing, but that's what it is, all right.'

He turned away and rode the Norton down the road.

The road stayed near the river for the next eight or ten miles. Sometimes the rocky walls of the valley hid the river, and sometimes you could see it far below you. In places, road and river went side by side, and you could see the wet rocks shining in the late afternoon sun, and the deep black water at the bends. It was always good to be close to a river, Roy thought. Next time he would fish down river from the bridge.

The road turned away from the river at last, and joined the highway. Roy let the bike go faster. He felt the old feeling coming as the miles went by. All the things that hurt disappeared, all the things that didn't matter. He didn't need to think, not about being alone, not about anything.

He did sixty-five miles in the first hour. He felt calm and easy. Sometimes it worried him, riding fast, but this afternoon was fine. When it was dark, he would slow down.

He rode on past the rich farmland. He thought about the farmers, finishing work, perhaps having their tea. That made him feel a little hungry. Maybe about halfway he would stop for a cup of coffee and something to eat.

He came round a bend and saw a car just disappearing round the next bend. He slowed down a little, waiting for a place to pass it. It was a big, old car, and as he came up behind it, the driver speeded up and went fast into the next bend. Roy stayed behind him, waiting for a straight piece of road. Maybe the guy just didn't like bikes.

The place came at last, half a mile of straight empty road, going up a small hill. He checked his mirror, and passed the car. He went up the hill, leaving the car behind, and he was alone again on a straight road. And then the world exploded underneath him!

It came with a sudden crash, like a shot from a gun behind him. A moment later, he realized what it was - he was riding a flying machine on a back tyre in pieces, fighting wildly to stay on and to slow the Norton down from sixty-five to zero. The big bike flew from one side of the road to the other, but as it went up the hill, it began to go slower. Then a car was coming and he was off the road, and at last, the bike ran hard against a bank and stopped.

Roy turned off the engine and sat back. Then the car he had passed came up and stopped beside him. An unpleasant face stared at him from the front passenger seat.

'Bad luck!'

The voice sounded pleased. Somebody laughed. Then the old car roared away and disappeared over the hill.

Roy got off the bike. He was shaking just a little. He decided not to think about the guys in the car for a while. He wanted to calm down first. He looked down the road, half a mile of it, straight with no ditch, and he felt how lucky he had been: A long straight road and no ditch, man.

He turned and looked up the road. There was a house near the top of the hill. He half walked, half rode the bike to the farm gate. They would let him leave his bike there, surely. He stopped by the back door and turned off the engine.

A big man in jeans, with only socks on his feet, came to the door. Roy felt the farmer looking at him, deciding about him while he explained.

'On your own?'

'Yes.'

Just a minute, the farmer said, and got his boots.

They put the bike in one of the farm buildings, and Roy felt better about it.

'Lucky it happened there,' the farmer said.

That's true, said Roy. 'And lucky it was the back wheel.'

'I used to have one of these things,' the farmer said, and he reached over to hold the bike. He seemed to be looking back in time. 'It'll be safe here,' he said.

Roy took out the fish and gave it to him.

Well, he's a big one!' said farmer. 'We'll keep him for you.'

No, Roy said. 'Give him to the cook. Do you think I'll get a ride this time of day?'

Easy, the farmer said. 'One of those cattle trucks is what you need - take you all the way to Westfield.'

The first two or three cars did not matter. But then he knew he had a long walk in front of him. Most people did not even slow down before they decided not to take him. He was halfway up the second long hill, and it was quite dark, when he heard the first cattle truck.

He waited as the big truck came closer. Then he saw the driver's face looking at him, and he remembered it when the truck had gone. It wasn't unfriendly, he thought - the guy just didn't care. He watched the truck go slowly up the hill.

He started to walk again. He felt a kind of loneliness walking in the dark. It was the way the truck driver had looked at him. The guy just didn't care. Or maybe he didn't want a stranger with him all that way. Maybe he just didn't want to talk.

More cars passed, but he didn't even try asking for a ride any more. He walked on, not caring, knowing how alone in the world he was.

He had walked perhaps another five miles when he heard his favourite sound. A bike came up fast behind him, and went round the next corner. Roy heard it slow down, turn and come back. The rider stopped and waited for Roy.

It was a big modern bike, Japanese, he guessed. The rider sat looking back at him, crash helmet shining. Roy was next to the bike before he realized that the rider was a girl - a tall, leggy girl in jeans and boots, and perhaps there was fair hair under the helmet. Roy stared as they spoke.

'Which way you going, mister?'

'Auckland.'

'That makes two of us. You have a crash?'

'Tyre went.'

'No fun.'

Roy felt her eyes watching him as she spoke.

'Well,' said, talking about it won't get us home.' Sure, said Roy. His ears were getting hot under his crash helmet. He climbed up behind her and they were off.

She rode fast from the beginning. This was a real bike and a real rider. Roy felt good about it - good to be on wheels again, good that somebody cared enough to stop.

Close to his face the girl asked, 'What kind of bike, mister?'

'Norton. 500cc.'

'Front wheel or back?'

'Back.'

Not so bad, she said. 'Better bade than front, any day.'

'Sure,' Roy said. He wanted to talk to this girl, but he could not get the words out.

They rode on in silence in the dark. She knew about bikes all right. 'With a guy it's easy,' Roy thought. 'You have a crash, you get a ride, you climb on the bike. You don't even notice that he can ride it well. But this is a girl and she knows what she is doing. That doesn't mean you can't talk to her,' he told himself. 'You've seen girls before, man.'

Her voice came back to him: 'Where have you come from, mister?'

'Pukatea Valley.'

'Yes? How was the fishing?'

Not bad, Roy said, before he had time to wonder at her question.

'Nice water by the old bridge. What were they taking?' Black Gnat, he said, and there was more than wonder. He felt that hot pain behind his eyes.

'Wet or dry?'

'Wet,' said Roy, and his voice shook a little with the wonder of it. And in his heart he felt an ache that came from a kind of longing. This was the girl he had been longing for all his life - a tall, leggy girl who rode a 750cc Suzuki and knew about fly-fishing.

For a while, they rode and did not speak. Then, back on straight road, the girl said, close to his face, 'My brother caught a six-pound fish under that bridge one year.'

'Really!' Roy was beginning to understand. 'How long ago was that?'

'Maybe five years ago. Ross played him for half an hour before he pulled him in.'

'Sounds like he's a good fisherman, your brother,' Roy said.

'He was,' she said, and that was all.


A Kind of Longing (1) Eine Art von Sehnsucht (1) Una especie de anhelo (1) Une sorte de nostalgie (1) ある種の憧れ(1) 그리움의 종류 (1) Rodzaj tęsknoty (1) Um tipo de saudade (1) Своего рода тоска (1) Своєрідна туга (1)

Riding a motorbike is a great way to travel. Andar en moto es una gran manera de viajar. バイクに乗るのは旅行に最適な方法です。 Who cares if the bike is an old Norton or a shiny new Suzuki? ¿A quién le importa si la moto es una Norton vieja o una Suzuki nueva y reluciente? バイクが古いノートンなのか、光沢のある新しいスズキなのか、誰が気にしますか? 자전거가 낡은 노턴이든 반짝이는 신형 스즈키든 무슨 상관이겠습니까? Кого волнует, будет ли мотоцикл старым Norton или блестящим новым Suzuki? It's the speed, the noise of the wind in your ears, the engine roaring under you, burning up the miles. 속도, 귓가에 맴도는 바람 소리, 차 아래에서 굉음을 내며 마일을 태우는 엔진 소리입니다. Это скорость, шум ветра в ушах, рев двигателя под вами, сжигающий мили. Bikers are free, alone, they go where they want... 자전거를 타는 사람들은 자유롭고 혼자서 원하는 곳으로 이동합니다...

Free, alone - sometimes lonely. And danger waits at every bend in the road. И опасность поджидает на каждом повороте дороги. But for Roy, riding home to Auckland as night falls, it's still a great feeling... 하지만 밤이 되어 오클랜드로 돌아오는 길은 로이에게 여전히 멋진 느낌입니다... Но для Роя, возвращающегося домой в Окленд с наступлением ночи, это все еще прекрасное чувство...

Coming up from the river towards the road, Roy looked at his watch. Подойдя от реки к дороге, Рой посмотрел на часы. It was half past four. Было половина пятого. It was cooler now; he could do an hour or two of the journey before dark.' Теперь было прохладнее; он мог проделать путь за час или два до наступления темноты».

He started off down the road, feeling the heavy fish in the bag against his leg as he walked. Er machte sich auf den Weg und spürte beim Gehen den schweren Fisch in der Tasche an seinem Bein. 그는 걸을 때 가방에 담긴 무거운 물고기가 다리에 닿는 것을 느끼며 길을 시작했습니다. Он двинулся по дороге, чувствуя, как тяжелая рыба в мешке прижимается к его ноге. He played the fish again in his mind, feeling it pull on the line, fighting him all the way. In Gedanken spielte er den Fisch noch einmal ab, fühlte, wie er an der Leine zog und sich gegen ihn wehrte. 그는 물고기가 낚싯줄을 잡아당기는 것을 느끼며 마음속으로 물고기를 다시 연주했습니다. Он снова прокрутил в уме рыбу, чувствуя, как она тянет леску, борясь с ним всю дорогу. He walked happily through the afternoon stillness. 그는 오후의 고요함 속을 행복하게 걸었습니다. Он счастливо шел сквозь полуденную тишину.

A car was parked off the road by the bridge, with three men standing beside it. У моста у дороги была припаркована машина, рядом с ней стояли трое мужчин. They watched him coming. They stood drinking from metal cups, looking pleased with themselves, pleased with the wild boar they had shot. Они стояли и пили из металлических кружек, довольные собой, довольные подстреленным кабаном. It was tied to the roof of their old American car.

They looked at Roy and his fish as he came by. 그들은 로이가 지나가면서 그의 물고기를 바라보았습니다.

'Good fishing, then,' one of them said.

'Sure,' Roy said. Конечно, - сказал Рой. 'It looks like everybody's got what they came for.' Es sieht so aus, als hätten alle bekommen, was sie wollten. '모두가 원하는 것을 얻은 것 같습니다.' 'Похоже, каждый получил то, за чем пришел'.

He stepped into the long grass, found his old Norton, and pushed it up to the road. 그는 긴 풀숲으로 들어가 낡은 노턴을 찾아 도로 위로 밀어 올렸습니다. Он шагнул в длинную траву, нашел свой старенький "Нортон" и подтолкнул его к дороге. He felt the men watching him.

'Have a beer,' one of them offered.

'Well, thanks,' Roy said. He took a cup from one of the bags on his bike and went over to the car.

'That's a nice fish,' the man said, filling his cup with beer. "좋은 생선이네요." 남자가 맥주잔에 맥주를 가득 채우며 말했습니다.

'Not bad,' Roy said. "나쁘지 않아요." 로이가 말했습니다. 'He nearly took the fly last night, and I went back to get him today.' Er hätte gestern Abend fast die Fliege genommen, und ich bin heute zurückgegangen, um ihn zu holen. '어젯밤에 거의 날아갈 뻔해서 오늘 다시 데리러 갔습니다.' Он чуть не улетел вчера вечером, и я вернулся за ним сегодня". He drank his beer.

'He must have a poor memory then,' the man said. '그럼 기억력이 형편없나 봐요." 그 남자가 말했습니다. "Наверное, у него плохая память, - сказал мужчина.

'He just loves Black Gnats,' Roy said, touching the fishing fly pinned to his shirt. Er liebt einfach Trauermücken", sagte Roy und berührte die Angelfliege, die an seinem Hemd befestigt war. "그는 검은 모기를 좋아해요." 로이는 셔츠에 고정된 낚시 파리를 만지며 말했습니다. Он просто обожает черных мошек", - сказал Рой, потрогав рыболовную мушку, приколотую к его рубашке. They all looked. Sie haben alle geschaut. Все они переглянулись. You could tell that they were not fishermen. Man konnte erkennen, dass sie keine Fischer waren. Было видно, что они не рыбаки.

Roy looked at the dead boar with its long dangerous teeth. Roy betrachtete das tote Wildschwein mit seinen langen, gefährlichen Zähnen.

'Big one,' he said, and finished the beer. "Большой", - сказал он и допил пиво.

The guy offered the bottle.

'No, thanks. I've got to get going.' Я должен идти".

He walked back to the bike and went on packing. The men stood around with their beer, watching him. Roy picked up the fish and held it up to show them how big it was, and they smiled. 로이가 물고기를 집어 들어 얼마나 큰지 보여 주자 그들은 미소를 지었습니다. He packed it away in one of the bags. He sat down on the grass and pulled on his boots, thinking that it hadn't been a bad weekend. 그는 잔디밭에 앉아 부츠를 신고 나쁘지 않은 주말이었다고 생각했습니다. Он сел на траву и натянул ботинки, подумав, что выходные прошли не так уж плохо. He felt the men watching him. They were friendly, but there was something about it, a kind of feeling he wasn't sure about. 그들은 친절했지만 뭔가 알 수 없는 느낌이 들었습니다. Они были дружелюбны, но что-то в этом было, какое-то чувство, в котором он не был уверен.

He put on his crash helmet and his gloves. Он надел шлем и перчатки. Then he started the bike and waved goodbye. The men smiled, and one of them lifted his beer for good luck. 'I'm on my own,' Roy thought. Я один, - подумал Рой. 'That's what it is. 'Вот что это такое. They're three friends out together in the afternoon, and I'm on my own, with two hundred miles to go. 오후에 친구 세 명이 함께 외출하고 저는 혼자서 200마일을 가야 합니다. Они, трое друзей, выезжают днем вместе, а я один, и мне предстоит проехать двести миль. It's a small thing, but that's what it is, all right.' 사소한 일이지만 그게 바로 그것입니다. Это мелочь, но это то, что есть, хорошо".

He turned away and rode the Norton down the road. 그는 돌아서서 노턴을 타고 길을 따라 내려갔습니다. Он отвернулся и поехал на "Нортоне" по дороге.

The road stayed near the river for the next eight or ten miles. Sometimes the rocky walls of the valley hid the river, and sometimes you could see it far below you. Manchmal verbargen die felsigen Wände des Tals den Fluss, und manchmal konnte man ihn weit unter sich sehen. Иногда скалистые стены долины скрывали реку, а иногда ее можно было увидеть далеко внизу. In places, road and river went side by side, and you could see the wet rocks shining in the late afternoon sun, and the deep black water at the bends. 도로와 강이 나란히 이어진 곳에서는 늦은 오후의 햇살에 반짝이는 젖은 바위와 굽이굽이 깊고 검은 물결이 보였습니다. Местами дорога и река шли бок о бок, и можно было видеть мокрые камни, блестящие на позднем полуденном солнце, и глубокую черную воду на поворотах. It was always good to be close to a river, Roy thought. 로이는 강 근처에 있는 것이 항상 좋다고 생각했습니다. Всегда хорошо быть рядом с рекой, подумал Рой. Next time he would fish down river from the bridge. 다음 번에는 다리에서 강을 따라 낚시를 하곤 했습니다. В следующий раз он собирался ловить рыбу ниже по реке от моста.

The road turned away from the river at last, and joined the highway. Наконец дорога свернула в сторону от реки и влилась в шоссе. Roy let the bike go faster. He felt the old feeling coming as the miles went by. 그는 시간이 지날수록 옛 감정이 되살아나는 것을 느꼈습니다. По мере прохождения километров он чувствовал, как приходит старое чувство. All the things that hurt disappeared, all the things that didn't matter. Исчезло все то, что причиняло боль, все то, что не имело значения. He didn't need to think, not about being alone, not about anything. 그는 혼자라는 생각, 그 어떤 생각도 할 필요가 없었습니다. Ему не нужно было думать, ни о том, что он один, ни о чем.

He did sixty-five miles in the first hour. He felt calm and easy. Он чувствовал себя спокойно и легко. Sometimes it worried him, riding fast, but this afternoon was fine. Иногда его беспокоила быстрая езда, но сегодня днем все было в порядке. When it was dark, he would slow down.

He rode on past the rich farmland. Он ехал мимо богатых сельскохозяйственных угодий. He thought about the farmers, finishing work, perhaps having their tea. That made him feel a little hungry. Это заставило его почувствовать себя немного голодным. Maybe about halfway he would stop for a cup of coffee and something to eat. 중간에 커피 한 잔과 간식을 먹으러 들르기도 했습니다. Возможно, на полпути он остановится, чтобы выпить чашку кофе и перекусить.

He came round a bend and saw a car just disappearing round the next bend. Er kam um eine Kurve und sah ein Auto, das gerade um die nächste Kurve verschwand. 그는 커브길을 돌아 나오는데 다음 커브길에서 차 한 대가 사라지는 것을 보았습니다. Он проехал поворот и увидел, как за следующим поворотом исчезает автомобиль. He slowed down a little, waiting for a place to pass it. Er verlangsamte sein Tempo ein wenig und wartete auf eine Stelle, an der er ihn überholen konnte. 그는 속도를 조금 줄이며 지나갈 곳을 기다렸습니다. Он немного притормозил, ожидая места, где можно было бы проехать. It was a big, old car, and as he came up behind it, the driver speeded up and went fast into the next bend. Es war ein großes, altes Auto, und als er hinter ihm auftauchte, beschleunigte der Fahrer und fuhr schnell in die nächste Kurve. 그 차는 크고 낡은 차였는데, 운전자가 뒤에서 다가오자 속도를 높여 다음 커브길로 빠르게 들어갔습니다. Это была большая, старая машина, и когда он подъехал к ней, водитель прибавил скорость и быстро вошел в следующий поворот. Roy stayed behind him, waiting for a straight piece of road. Roy blieb hinter ihm und wartete auf ein gerades Stück Straße. 로이는 그의 뒤에 남아 곧게 뻗은 도로를 기다렸습니다. Maybe the guy just didn't like bikes.

The place came at last, half a mile of straight empty road, going up a small hill. Endlich kam der Ort, eine halbe Meile gerade, leere Straße, die einen kleinen Hügel hinaufführte. 마침내 도착한 곳은 작은 언덕을 올라가는 반 마일의 직선 빈 도로였습니다. Наконец место нашлось: полмили прямой пустой дороги, поднимающейся на небольшой холм. He checked his mirror, and passed the car. He went up the hill, leaving the car behind, and he was alone again on a straight road. And then the world exploded underneath him! 그리고 세상이 그의 밑에서 폭발했습니다! И тут мир взорвался под ним!

It came with a sudden crash, like a shot from a gun behind him. Es kam mit einem plötzlichen Knall, wie ein Schuss aus einem Gewehr hinter ihm. 뒤에서 총이 발사되는 것 같은 갑작스러운 충돌이 일어났습니다. Это произошло с внезапным треском, как выстрел из пистолета позади него. A moment later, he realized what it was - he was riding a flying machine on a back tyre in pieces, fighting wildly to stay on and to slow the Norton down from sixty-five to zero. Einen Moment später wurde ihm klar, was es war - er fuhr auf einer fliegenden Maschine, deren Hinterreifen zerbrochen war, und kämpfte wild darum, auf der Maschine zu bleiben und die Norton von fünfundsechzig auf null abzubremsen. 잠시 후, 그는 그것이 무엇인지 깨달았습니다. 그는 뒷바퀴가 파손된 채로 날아다니는 기계를 타고 노턴의 속도를 65에서 0으로 낮추기 위해 격렬하게 싸우고 있었습니다. Мгновение спустя он понял, что это такое - он ехал на летающем аппарате на разлетевшейся на куски задней шине, дико борясь за то, чтобы удержаться и замедлить Norton с шестидесяти пяти до нуля. The big bike flew from one side of the road to the other, but as it went up the hill, it began to go slower. Das große Fahrrad flog von einer Straßenseite zur anderen, aber als es den Hügel hinauffuhr, wurde es langsamer. 큰 자전거는 도로 한 쪽에서 다른 쪽으로 날아갔지만 언덕을 올라갈수록 속도가 느려지기 시작했습니다. Большой мотоцикл перелетел с одной стороны дороги на другую, но, поднявшись на холм, стал ехать медленнее. Then a car was coming and he was off the road, and at last, the bike ran hard against a bank and stopped. Dann kam ein Auto und er kam von der Straße ab, und schließlich fuhr das Motorrad hart gegen eine Böschung und blieb stehen. 그때 차가 오고 있었고 그는 도로를 벗어났고 마침내 자전거가 둑에 세게 부딪혀 멈췄습니다. Потом ехала машина, он съезжал с дороги, и, наконец, мотоцикл сильно ударился о берег и остановился.

Roy turned off the engine and sat back. Roy stellte den Motor ab und lehnte sich zurück. 로이는 시동을 끄고 자리에 앉았습니다. Рой выключил двигатель и откинулся на спинку сиденья. Then the car he had passed came up and stopped beside him. 그때 그가 지나가던 차가 다가와 그의 옆에 멈췄습니다. Потом подъехала машина, которую он обогнал, и остановилась рядом с ним. An unpleasant face stared at him from the front passenger seat. Ein unangenehmes Gesicht starrte ihn vom Beifahrersitz aus an. 조수석에서 불쾌한 얼굴이 그를 노려보았습니다. С переднего пассажирского сиденья на него смотрело неприятное лицо.

'Bad luck!' '불운!' 'Не повезло!'

The voice sounded pleased. 만족스러운 목소리로 들렸습니다. Somebody laughed. Кто-то засмеялся. Then the old car roared away and disappeared over the hill. 그러자 낡은 차가 굉음을 내며 언덕 너머로 사라졌습니다. Затем старый автомобиль с ревом скрылся за холмом.

Roy got off the bike. 로이는 자전거에서 내렸습니다. Рой слез с мотоцикла. He was shaking just a little. Er zitterte nur ein wenig. 그는 약간 떨고 있었습니다. Он слегка дрожал. He decided not to think about the guys in the car for a while. Er beschloss, eine Weile nicht an die Jungs im Auto zu denken. Он решил пока не думать о парнях в машине. He wanted to calm down first. Er wollte sich erst einmal beruhigen. Сначала он хотел успокоиться. He looked down the road, half a mile of it, straight with no ditch, and he felt how lucky he had been: A long straight road and no ditch, man. Er schaute die Straße hinunter, eine halbe Meile lang, gerade und ohne Graben, und er spürte, wie viel Glück er gehabt hatte: Eine lange gerade Straße und kein Graben, Mann. 그는 도랑 하나 없이 곧게 뻗은 반 마일의 길을 내려다보며 자신이 얼마나 운이 좋은지 느꼈습니다: 길고 곧은 길에 도랑도 없으니까요. Он посмотрел на дорогу, на полмили, прямую, без кювета, и почувствовал, как ему повезло: Длинная прямая дорога без кювета.

He turned and looked up the road. There was a house near the top of the hill. He half walked, half rode the bike to the farm gate. 그는 반은 걷고 반은 자전거를 타고 농장 정문까지 갔습니다. Он наполовину шел, наполовину ехал на велосипеде до ворот фермы. They would let him leave his bike there, surely. 그들은 분명히 자전거를 그곳에 두도록 허락했을 것입니다. Они, конечно, разрешили бы ему оставить там свой велосипед. He stopped by the back door and turned off the engine.

A big man in jeans, with only socks on his feet, came to the door. Roy felt the farmer looking at him, deciding about him while he explained. 로이는 농부가 설명하는 동안 자신을 바라보며 결정하고 있는 것을 느꼈습니다. Рой почувствовал, что фермер смотрит на него, решая, что делать, пока он объясняет.

'On your own?' '혼자서?' 'Самостоятельно?'

'Yes.'

Just a minute, the farmer said, and got his boots. Минутку, - сказал фермер и взял свои сапоги.

They put the bike in one of the farm buildings, and Roy felt better about it. 그들은 자전거를 농장 건물 중 한 곳에 놓았고 로이는 기분이 좋아졌습니다. Они поставили мотоцикл в одну из фермерских построек, и Рою стало легче.

'Lucky it happened there,' the farmer said. 농부는 '운이 좋게도 그곳에서 일어난 일'이라고 말했습니다. "Повезло, что это случилось именно там, - сказал фермер.

That's true, said Roy. 'And lucky it was the back wheel.' '운이 좋게도 뒷바퀴였습니다.'

'I used to have one of these things,' the farmer said, and he reached over to hold the bike. У меня когда-то была такая штука, - сказал фермер и протянул руку, чтобы подержать мотоцикл. He seemed to be looking back in time. Er schien in der Zeit zurückzublicken. 그는 시간을 되돌아보는 것 같았습니다. Казалось, он смотрит в прошлое. 'It'll be safe here,' he said. Здесь будет безопасно, - сказал он.

Roy took out the fish and gave it to him. Рой достал рыбу и протянул ему.

Well, he's a big one!' Ну, он большой! said farmer. 'We'll keep him for you.' '우리가 보관해드리겠습니다.' "Мы оставим его для вас".

No, Roy said. 'Give him to the cook. Отдайте его повару. Do you think I'll get a ride this time of day?' Glauben Sie, dass ich um diese Zeit noch eine Mitfahrgelegenheit bekomme?' '이 시간대에 제가 차를 탈 수 있을까요? Как вы думаете, меня подвезут в это время суток?

Easy, the farmer said. 'One of those cattle trucks is what you need - take you all the way to Westfield.' Sie brauchen einen dieser Viehtransporter, der Sie bis nach Westfield bringt. '웨스트필드까지 데려다 줄 소 트럭이 필요합니다.' 'Один из этих скотовозов - то, что вам нужно, - отвезет вас до самого Вестфилда'.

The first two or three cars did not matter. 처음 두세 대의 차량은 중요하지 않았습니다. Первые две-три машины не имели значения. But then he knew he had a long walk in front of him. 하지만 그는 자신의 앞길이 멀다는 것을 알았습니다. Но потом он понял, что ему предстоит долгая прогулка. Most people did not even slow down before they decided not to take him. Большинство людей даже не притормаживали, прежде чем принять решение не брать его. He was halfway up the second long hill, and it was quite dark, when he heard the first cattle truck.

He waited as the big truck came closer. Then he saw the driver's face looking at him, and he remembered it when the truck had gone. 그러다 자신을 바라보는 운전기사의 얼굴을 보고 트럭이 사라졌을 때를 기억해 냈습니다. It wasn't unfriendly, he thought - the guy just didn't care. 불친절하지도 않았고, 그냥 신경 쓰지 않는 것뿐이라고 생각했습니다. He watched the truck go slowly up the hill.

He started to walk again. He felt a kind of loneliness walking in the dark. 그는 어둠 속을 걷는 것 같은 외로움을 느꼈습니다. It was the way the truck driver had looked at him. 트럭 운전사가 그를 바라보는 눈빛이었습니다. The guy just didn't care. Der Kerl hat sich einfach nicht gekümmert. Or maybe he didn't want a stranger with him all that way. Vielleicht wollte er aber auch nicht, dass ein Fremder den ganzen Weg mit ihm zurücklegt. 아니면 낯선 사람을 그렇게까지 데리고 다니고 싶지 않았을 수도 있습니다. Maybe he just didn't want to talk.

More cars passed, but he didn't even try asking for a ride any more. Weitere Autos fuhren vorbei, aber er versuchte nicht einmal mehr, nach einer Mitfahrgelegenheit zu fragen. He walked on, not caring, knowing how alone in the world he was. Er ging weiter, ohne sich darum zu kümmern, weil er wusste, wie allein er auf der Welt war. 그는 자신이 얼마나 외로운 존재인지 알면서도 신경 쓰지 않고 계속 걸어갔습니다.

He had walked perhaps another five miles when he heard his favourite sound. Er war vielleicht noch fünf Meilen gelaufen, als er sein Lieblingsgeräusch hörte. 그는 아마도 5마일을 더 걸었을 때 자신이 가장 좋아하는 소리를 들었습니다. A bike came up fast behind him, and went round the next corner. Ein Motorrad kam schnell hinter ihm auf und fuhr um die nächste Kurve. Roy heard it slow down, turn and come back. Roy hörte, wie er langsamer wurde, abdrehte und zurückkam. The rider stopped and waited for Roy.

It was a big modern bike, Japanese, he guessed. The rider sat looking back at him, crash helmet shining. Der Fahrer saß da und schaute ihn an, der Sturzhelm glänzte. Roy was next to the bike before he realized that the rider was a girl - a tall, leggy girl in jeans and boots, and perhaps there was fair hair under the helmet. Roy war neben dem Fahrrad, bevor er erkannte, dass die Fahrerin ein Mädchen war - ein großes, langbeiniges Mädchen in Jeans und Stiefeln, und vielleicht hatte sie blonde Haare unter dem Helm. 로이는 자전거 옆에 있던 라이더가 청바지와 부츠를 신은 키가 크고 다리가 길며 헬멧 아래에 머리카락이 있는 여자아이라는 것을 알아차렸습니다. Roy stared as they spoke. Roy starrte sie an, als sie sprachen. 로이는 그들이 말하는 것을 응시했습니다.

'Which way you going, mister?'

'Auckland.'

'That makes two of us. Damit sind wir schon zwei. '우리 둘만 남았네요. You have a crash?'

'Tyre went.' '타이어가 갔다.

'No fun.'

Roy felt her eyes watching him as she spoke.

'Well,' said, talking about it won't get us home.' Nun,' sagte er, 'darüber zu reden, bringt uns nicht nach Hause. '글쎄요, 그 얘기를 한다고 해서 집에 갈 수 있는 건 아니에요. Sure, said Roy. His ears were getting hot under his crash helmet. He climbed up behind her and they were off. 그는 그녀 뒤로 올라갔고 그들은 떠났습니다.

She rode fast from the beginning. This was a real bike and a real rider. Roy felt good about it - good to be on wheels again, good that somebody cared enough to stop. 다시 바퀴를 굴릴 수 있어서 좋았고, 누군가가 멈출 만큼 관심을 가져주어서 좋았습니다.

Close to his face the girl asked, 'What kind of bike, mister?' 소녀는 그의 얼굴 가까이에서 '어떤 자전거예요, 아저씨?"라고 물었습니다.

'Norton. 500cc.'

'Front wheel or back?'

'Back.'

Not so bad, she said. 'Better bade than front, any day.' '언제든 앞보다 뒤가 낫다.'

'Sure,' Roy said. He wanted to talk to this girl, but he could not get the words out. 그는 이 소녀와 이야기하고 싶었지만 말을 꺼내지 못했습니다.

They rode on in silence in the dark. She knew about bikes all right. 그녀는 자전거에 대해 잘 알고 있었습니다. 'With a guy it's easy,' Roy thought. Mit einem Mann ist es einfach", dachte Roy. 로이는 '남자와 함께라면 쉽다'고 생각했습니다. 'You have a crash, you get a ride, you climb on the bike. Du hast einen Unfall, wirst mitgenommen und steigst auf das Fahrrad. '사고가 났을 때, 자전거를 타고, 자전거에 올라타면 됩니다. You don't even notice that he can ride it well. Man merkt nicht einmal, dass er es gut fahren kann. 심지어 잘 타는지도 모를 정도입니다. But this is a girl and she knows what she is doing. 하지만 이 소녀는 자신이 무엇을 하고 있는지 잘 알고 있습니다. That doesn't mean you can't talk to her,' he told himself. Das heißt aber nicht, dass du nicht mit ihr reden kannst", sagte er sich. 'You've seen girls before, man.'

Her voice came back to him: 'Where have you come from, mister?'

'Pukatea Valley.'

'Yes? How was the fishing?' 낚시는 어땠나요?'

Not bad, Roy said, before he had time to wonder at her question. 그녀의 질문에 의아해할 겨를도 없이 로이는 나쁘지 않다고 말했습니다.

'Nice water by the old bridge. What were they taking?' Black Gnat, he said, and there was more than wonder. 그는 검은 모기라고 말하며 경이로움 그 이상을 느꼈습니다. He felt that hot pain behind his eyes.

'Wet or dry?'

'Wet,' said Roy, and his voice shook a little with the wonder of it. And in his heart he felt an ache that came from a kind of longing. Und in seinem Herzen spürte er einen Schmerz, der von einer Art Sehnsucht herrührte. 그리고 그의 마음속에는 일종의 그리움에서 오는 아픔을 느꼈습니다. This was the girl he had been longing for all his life - a tall, leggy girl who rode a 750cc Suzuki and knew about fly-fishing. Das war das Mädchen, nach dem er sich sein ganzes Leben lang gesehnt hatte - ein großes, langbeiniges Mädchen, das eine 750er Suzuki fuhr und sich mit Fliegenfischen auskannte. 750cc 스즈키를 타고 플라이피싱에 대해 잘 알고 키가 크고 다리가 길쭉한 소녀는 그가 평생 동경해왔던 여자였습니다.

For a while, they rode and did not speak. Then, back on straight road, the girl said, close to his face, 'My brother caught a six-pound fish under that bridge one year.' Dann, wieder auf der geraden Straße, sagte das Mädchen, dicht vor seinem Gesicht: "Mein Bruder hat einmal einen Sechs-Pfund-Fisch unter dieser Brücke gefangen".

'Really!' Roy was beginning to understand. 로이는 이해하기 시작했습니다. 'How long ago was that?'

'Maybe five years ago. Ross played him for half an hour before he pulled him in.' Ross hat eine halbe Stunde lang mit ihm gespielt, bevor er ihn zu sich holte. 로스는 그를 30분 동안 연주하고 나서야 그를 끌어들였어요.

'Sounds like he's a good fisherman, your brother,' Roy said. Dein Bruder scheint ein guter Fischer zu sein", sagte Roy.

'He was,' she said, and that was all. '맞아요'라고 그녀는 말했고, 그게 전부였습니다.