Bones of his skull, Bonasera turned to his still uncomprehending wife and

explained to her, "They have made fools of us." He paused and then made his

decision, no longer fearing the cost. "For justice we must go on our knees to Don

Corleone."

1 In a garishly (роскошно, крикливо) decorated Los Angeles hotel suite, Johnny

Fontane was as jealously drunk (так же «ревниво пьян» = пьян из-за ревности) as

any ordinary husband. Sprawled (развалившись) on a red couch, he drank straight

(прямо) from the bottle of scotch in his hand, then washed the taste away by dunking

(макая) his mouth in a crystal bucket of ice cubes and water. It was four in the morning

and he was spinning drunken fantasies (плел = воображал пьяные фантазии) of

murdering his trampy wife (что он убивает свою гулящую жену; to tramp −

бродяжничать) when she got home, if she ever did come home (если вообще придет).

It was too late to call his first wife and ask about the kids and he felt funny about calling

any of his friends (ему было неловко, как-то не хотелось звонить кому-нибудь из

друзей) now that his career was plunging downhill (летела: «падала вниз; ныряла»

вниз по склону, с горки). There had been a time when they would have been delighted

(были бы в восторге), flattered (польщены) by his calling them at four in the morning

but now he bored them (он был им скучен = казался им занудой). He could even

smile a little to himself as he thought that on the way up (когда дело шло в гору)

Johnny Fontane's troubles had fascinated (привлекали, были интересны для) some

of the greatest female stars in America.

2 Gulping (потягивaя: «глотая») at his bottle of scotch, he heard finally his wife's key

in the door, but he kept drinking until she walked into the room and stood before him.

She was to him so very beautiful, the angelic face, soulful (живые, «одушевленные»)

violet eyes, the delicately fragile (нежно-хрупкое) but perfectly formed body. On the

screen her beauty was magnified, spiritualized (на экране ее красота была

возвеличенной, одухотворенной). A hundred million men all over the world were in

love with the face of Margot Ashton. And paid to see it on the screen.

3 "Where the hell were you?" Johnny Fontane asked.

4 "Out fucking (да потрахаться ходила)," she said.

5 She had misjudged his drunkenness (неверно оценила его опьянение = степень

его опьянения). He sprang over the cocktail table and grabbed her by the throat

(схватил за глотку). But close up to that magical face, the lovely violet eyes, he lost his

anger (утратил свою злобу) and became helpless again. She made the mistake of

smiling mockingly (насмешливо), saw his fist draw back (увидела, что он снова занес

кулак). She screamed, "Johnny, not in the face, I'm making a picture."

6 She was laughing. He punched her (ударил ее; to punch – ударить кулаком) in the

stomach and she fell to the floor. He fell on top of her. He could smell her fragrant

breath (ароматное, благоуханное дыхание) as she gasped for air (ловила ртом

воздух). He punched her on the arms and on the thigh muscles of her silky tanned legs

(шелковистых загорелых ног). He beat her as he had beaten snotty (сопливых)

smaller kids long ago when he had been a tough (крутым: «жестким, крепким»)

teenager in New York's Hell's Kitchen (в Адской Кухне = в одном из кварталов

бедноты). A painful punishment (болезненное наказание) that would leave no lasting

disfigurement of loosened teeth (никакого длящегося = надолго повреждения вроде

выбитого зуба) or broken nose.

7 But he was not hitting her hard enough. He couldn't. And she was giggling (хихикала)

at him. Spread-eagled (раскинувшись, распластавшись) on the floor, her brocaded

gown (платье с бархатной оторочкой, с бархатными нашивками; brocade [br∂u’keıd])

hitched up (задранное) above her thighs, she taunted him (насмехалась над ним)

between giggles. "Come on, stick it in (воткни его). Stick it in, Johnny, that's what you

really want."

8 Johnny Fontane got up. He hated the woman on the floor but her beauty was a

magic shield. Margot rolled away (откатилась в сторону), and in a dancer's spring

(прыжком танцовщицы) was on her feet facing him (напротив него, перед ним). She

went into a childish mocking dance (она начала по-детски насмешливо

пританцовывать) and chanted (напевала), "Johnny never hurt me, Johnny never hurt

me." Then almost sadly (почти грустно, с досадой) with grave beauty (со строгой

красотой) she said, "You poor silly bastard (жалкий, глупый выродок), giving me

cramps (судороги /сводящие ноги/) like a kid. Ah, Johnny, you always will be a dumb

romantic guinea (тупым индюком, глупым романтичным итальяшкой; guinea-hen –

цесарка ['gını]; /сленг, презрит./ итальяшка), you even make love like a kid. You still

think screwing is really like those dopey songs (глуповатые, жалкие, пошлые; dopey

также – находящийся под воздействием dope − наркотика) you used to sing." She

shook her head and said, "Poor Johnny. Good-bye, Johnny." She walked into the

bedroom and he heard her turn the key in the lock (в замке).

9 Johnny sat on the floor with his face in his hands. The sick, humiliating despair

overwhelmed him (унизительное, унижающее отчаяние одолевало, захлестывало

его). And then the gutter toughness (упрямство, крепость уличного мальчишки;

gutter – водосток, канава) that had helped him survive the jungle of Hollywood made

him pick up the phone and call for a car to take him to the airport. There was one

person who could save him. He would go back to New York. He would go back to the

one man with the power, the wisdom, he needed and a love he still trusted. His

Godfather Corleone.