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| EMISAR | The Emissary |
| Martin je shvatio da je ponovno nastupila jesen, jer je u kuću utrčao Pas i donio vjetar i mraz i miris jabuka što su se pod stablom pretvarale u jabukovaču. Crnim satnim spiralama svoje dlake, Pasje uhvatio goldenrod, prah zvjezdana, šeširiće žira, dlaku vjeverice, perce preminulog crvendaća, piljevinu netom izrezanih klada, i lišće od drvenog ugljena, otpalo s javorove vatre. Pas je skočio. Pljusak lomne paprati, vinjaga kupine i barskoga trozupca zaskakutao je po čitavom krevetu, i Martin je kriknuo. Nema dvojbe, nema uopće nikakve dvojbe, daje taj listopad nevjerojatna zvjerka! | Martin knew it was autumn again, for Dog ran into the house bringing wind and frost and a smell of apples turned to cider under trees. In dark clock-springs of hair, Dog fetched goldenrod, dust of farewell-summer, acornhusk, hair of squirrel, feather of departed robin, sawdust from fresh-cut cordwood, and leaves like charcoals shaken from a blaze of maple trees. Dog jumped. Showers of brittle fern, blackberry vine, marsh-grass sprang over the bed where Martin shouted. No doubt, no doubt of it at all, this incredible beast was October! |
| "Amo, momče, ovamo!" | "Here, boy, here!" |
| I Pas se namjestio da Martinu ugrije tijelo svim krijesovima i finim izgaranjima godišnjega doba, da ispuni prostoriju mekim ili teškim, mokrim ili suhim vonjevima dalekih putovanja. U proljeće bi mirisao na jorgovan, peruniku, svježe pokošenu travu; ljeti bi imao brkove od sladoleda, i dolazio bi prožet prodornim vonjem žabica, vatrometa, vatrenoga kola, ispečen na suncu. Ali jesen! Jesen! | And Dog settled to warm Martin's body with all the bonfires and subtle burnings of the season, to fill the room with soft or heavy, wet or dry odors of far-traveling. In spring, he smelled of lilac, iris, lawn-mowered grass; in Summer, ice-cream-mustached, he came pungent with firecracker, Roman candle, pinwheel, baked by the sun. But autumn! Autumn! |
| "Pas, kako je vani?" | "Dog, what's it like outside?" |
| I tako, ležeći tu, Pas mu je pričao kao i uvijek. Dok je ležao tako, Martin je ponovno nalazio jesen onakvu kakva je bila u staro doba, prije nego ga je bolest posve izblijedjela u krevetu. Pas je bila njegova spona, njegova djevojka za sve, hitri dio njegovoga bića koji bi povikom tjerao u trk i zvao da se vrati, da kruži i njuši, da skupi i isporuči vrijeme i teksturu svjetova grada, ladanja, potoka, rijeke, jezera, dolje podruma, gore tavana, ormara i drvarnice. Deset tuceta puta dnevno dobio bi na dar sjeme suncokreta, pošljakanoga trkališta, svilenice, divljega kestena, ili puni, vatreni miris buče. Kroz osnovu svemira, Pasčunak je provlačio svoje povjesmo; uzorak se tkanja krio na njegovoj koži. Ispruži ruku, i ona je tu. | And lying there, Dog told as he always told. Lying there, Martin found autumn as in the old days before sickness bleached him white on his bed. Here was his contact, his carry-all, the quick-moving part of himself he sent with a yell to run and return, circle and scent, collect and deliver the time and texture of worlds in town, country, by creek, river, lake, down-cellar, upattic, in closet or coal-bin. Ten dozen times a day he was gifted with sunflower seed, cinder-path, milkweed, horse-chestnut, or full flame-smell of pumpkin. Through the loomings of the universe Dog shuttled; the design was hid in his pelt. Put out your hand, it was there. . . . |
| "I gdje si jutros bio?" | "And where did you go this morning?" |
| Ali je dječak, i ne čuvši odgovora, znao gdje je to Pas kloparao nizbrdo, gdje to leži jesen u svojoj žitnoj prhkosti, gdje djeca slažu pogrebne lomače, u šuštave hrpe, za mrtvace u lišću zakopane, no bistroga oka, dok kraj njih u vihoru prolaze i svijet i Pas. Martin je zadrhtao prstima, pretražio gusto krzno, pročitao čitavo dugo putovanje. Kroz polja pod strnjikom, preko svjetlucanja potoka u klancu, niz marmorirano prostranstvo groblja, pa u šumu. U velikoj sezoni mirodija i miomirisnih kadova, trčao je Martin posredstvom svog emisara, okolo, uokolo, pa kući! | But he knew without hearing where Dog had rattled down hills where autumn lay in cereal crispness, where children lay in funeral pyres, in rustling heaps, the leaf-buried but watchful dead, as Dog and the world blew by. Martin trembled as his fingers searched the thick fur, read the long journey. Through stubbled fields, over glitters of ravine creek, down marbled spread of cemetery yard, into woods. In the great season of spices and rare incense, now Martin ran through his emissary, around, about, and home! |
| Uto su se otvorila vrata spavaonice. | The bedroom door opened. |
| "Taj tvoj pas opet je napravio zlo." | "That dog of yours is in trouble again." |
| Mati je donijela poslužavnik s voćnom salatom, kakaom i prepečencem, a plave su joj oči zaškljocale. | Mother brought in a tray of fruit salad, cocoa, and toast, her blue eyes snapping. |
| "Mama..." | "Mother . . ." |
| "Stalno negdje nešto kopa. Jutros je iskopao rupu u vrtu gospođice Tarkin. Poludjela je od bijesa. To mu je ovaj tjedan već četvrta rupa u njezinu vrtu." | "Always digging places. Dug a hole in Miss Tarkin's garden this morning. She's spittin' mad. That's the fourth hole he's dug there this week." |
| "Možda nešto traži." | "Maybe he's looking for something." |
| "Možda brus, nego je radoznao ko sam vrag. Ako se ne bude znao ponašati, morat ću ga zaključati." | "Fiddlesticks, he's too darned curious. If he doesn't behave he'll be locked up." |
| Martin ju je pogledao kao da mu je ta žena potpuni neznanac. "O, pa valjda nećeš! Kako ću onda išta doznati? Kako ću išta vidjeti, ako mi Pas ne ispriča?" | Martin looked at this woman as if she were a stranger. "Oh, you wouldn't do that! How would I learn anything? How would I find things out if Dog didn't tell me?" |
| Mamin je glas postao tiši. "To ti on radi - priča ti o svemu?" | Mom's voice was quieter. "Is that what he does--tell you things?" |
| "Kad ode i napravi đir i vrati se, ja onda doznam baš sve, i ne postoji baš ništa što ne mogu od njega doznati!" | "There's nothing I don't know when he goes out and around and back, nothing I can't find out from him!" |
| Sjedili su oboje tako i gledali u Psa i suhe mrvice humusa i sjemenki posute po jorganu. | They both sat looking at Dog and the dry strewings of mold and seed over the quilt. |
| "Pa mislim, kad bi samo prestao kopati gdje ne smije, mogao bi trčati kamo god želi", rekla je mati. | "Well, if he'll just stop digging where he shouldn't, he can run all he wants," said Mother. |
| "Amo, momče, amo!" | "Here, boy, here!" |
| I sad je Martin na pseći ovratnik prikačio limeno pisamce: MOJ VLASNIK JE MARTIN SMITH - STAR DESET GODINA - ON LEŽI BOLESTAN - VESELILO BI GA DA GA POSJETITE. | And Martin snapped a tin note to the dog's collar: MY OWNER IS MARTIN SMITH--TEN YEARS OLD--SICK IN BED-- VISITORS WELCOME. |
| Pas je zalajao. Mati je otvorila vrata u prizemlju i pustila ga van. | Dog barked. Mother opened the downstairs door and let him out. |
| Martin je ležao i osluškivao. | Martin sat listening. |
| U velikoj daljini i daleko od kuće čuo se Pas u tihoj jesenjoj kiši. Čulo se lajanje-zveckanje, kako pada, pa se diže, pa ponovno pada kad bi prosjekao kroz prolaz, pa preko tratine, da dovede gospodina Hollowaya i nauljeni metalni miris satova s nutrinom nježnijom od snježne pahuljice, satova što ih je popravljao u svojoj kućnoj radionici. Ili da možda dovede gospodina Jacobsa, piljara, kojega je odjeća bogata salatom, celerom, rajčicama, kao i tajnim konzerviranim i skrivenim mirisom pravih demona utisnutih na limenke s prženom i jako začinjenom šunkom. *(Neprovediva igra riječi, jer devil znači vrag, ali i pržiti meso s jakim začinima.) Dolje, iz dvorišta, počesto bi mu mahali i gospodin Jacobs i njegovi nevidljivi demoni iz ružičasta mesa. Ili bi Pas doveo gospodina Jacksona, gospodina Gillespija, gospodina Smitha, gospodina Holmesa - a svi su oni bili prijatelji ili skoro prijatelji - ukratko, sve ljude koje bi sreo, pa stjerao u kut, pa ih stao moljakati, gnjaviti, da bi ih napokon dotjerao kući na marendu, ili pak na čaj i biskvite. | Far off and away you could hear Dog run in the quiet autumn rain that was falling now. You could hear the barkingjingling fade, rise, fade again as he cut down alley, over lawn, to fetch back Mr. Holloway and the oiled metallic smell of the delicate snowflake-interiored watches he repaired in his home shop. Or maybe he would bring Mr. Jacobs, the grocer, whose clothes were rich with lettuce, celery, tomatoes, and the secret tinned and hidden smell of the red demons stamped on cans of deviled ham. Mr. Jacobs and his unseen pink-meat devils waved often from the yard below. Or Dog brought Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Gillespie, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Holmes, any friend or near-friend, encountered, cornered, begged, worried, and at last shepherded home for lunch, or tea-and-biscuits. |
| A sad, osluškujući, Martin je dolje čuo Psa, a za njim stope što su se kretale kroz rosulju. Oglasilo se zvono u prizemlju, mama je otvorila vrata, svijetli su glasovi nešto promrmljali. Martin se uspravio, a lice mu se ozarilo. Zaškripala su gazišta stuba. Tiho se nasmijao glas mlade žene. Gospođica Haight, naravno, njegova učiteljica iz škole! | Now, listening, Martin heard Dog below, with footsteps moving in a light rain behind him. The downstairs bell rang, Mom opened the door, light voices murmured. Martin sat forward, face shining. The stair treads creaked. A young woman's voice laughed quietly. Miss Haight, of course, his teacher from school! |
| Vrata spavaonice otvorila su se kao na opruzi. | The bedroom door sprang open. |
| Martin je dobio društvo. | Martin had company. |
| Jutro, popodne, veče, zora i smiraj, Sunce i Mjesec, kružili su s Psom, koji je vjerno izvještavao o temperaturi travnjaka i zraka, boji zemlje i stabala, konzistenciji magle ili kiše, no povrh svega - što i jest bilo od svega najvažnije - stalno isponova dovodio - gospođicu Haight. | Morning, afternoon, evening, dawn and dusk, sun and moon circled with Dog, who faithfully reported temperatures of turf and air, color of earth and tree, consistency of mist or rain, but--most important of all--brought back again and again and again-- Miss Haight. |
| U subotu, nedjelju i ponedjeljak ona bi Martinu pekla kolačiće s posipom od šećera i naranača, donosila mu iz knjižnice knjige o dinosaurima i pećinskim ljudima. Utorkom, srijedom i četvrtkom, nekako bije uvijek uspijevao pobijediti u dominu, nekako bi ona uvijek gubila u igri dame, a ona je bila tako mlada i nasmijana i lijepa i kosa joj je bila meka, i presijavala se smeđe kao godišnje doba pod prozorom, i hodala je jasno, čisto i brzo, bio je to, kad bi ga začuo, topli puls u popodne ispunjeno gorčinom. A, više od svega, ona je vladala tajnom znakova, pa je mogla i čitati i tumačiti i Psa i simbole što bi ih tražila svojim čudotvornim prstima i čerupala ih iz njegova kaputa. Zatvorivši oči, i tiho se smijući, glasom bi Ciganke, po blagu pod prstima, iznalazila čitav svijet. | On Saturday, Sunday and Monday she baked Martin orange-iced cupcakes, brought him library books about dinosaurs and cavemen. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday somehow he beat her at dominoes, somehow she lost at checkers, and soon, she cried, he'd defeat her handsomely at chess. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday they talked and never stopped talking, and she was so young and laughing and handsome and her hair was a soft, shining brown like the season outside the window, and she walked clear, clean and quick, a heartbeat warm in the bitter afternoon when he heard it. Above all, she had the secret of signs, and could read and interpret Dog and the symbols she searched out and plucked forth from his coat with her miraculous fingers. Eyes shut, softly laughing, in a gypsy's voice, she divined the world from the treasures in her hands. |
| A u ponedjeljak popodne, gospođica Haight je bila mrtva. | And on Monday afternoon, Miss Haight was dead. |
| Martin se uspravio u postelji, vrlo polako. | Martin sat up in bed, slowly. |
| "Mrtva?" prošaptao je. | "Dead?" he whispered. |
| Mrtva, odgovorila je majka, da, mrtva, poginula u prometnoj nesreći milju izvan grada. Mrtva, da, mrtva, što je za Martina značilo hladnoću, što je značilo tišinu i bjelinu i zimu što dolazi mnogo prije svog vremena. Mrtva, tiha, hladna, bijela. Misli su se zavrtjele u krugu, pa se ugasile na vjetru, pa se slegnule u šapat. | Dead, said his mother, yes, dead, killed in an auto accident a mile out of town. Dead, yes, dead, which meant cold to Martin, which meant silence and whiteness and winter come long before its time. Dead, silent, cold, white. The thoughts circled round, blew down, and settled in whispers. |
| Martin je grlio Psa, i razmišljao; okrenut zidu. Dama s kosom u boji jeseni. Dama sa smijehom tako nježnim i koja se nikad nije šalila i s očima koje su te gledale u usta da vidi sve što veliš. Dama-druga-polovica-jeseni, koja je pričala sve što je Pas ostavio neispričano, koja je pričala o svijetu. Kucanje srca i mirno središte sivoga popodneva. Kucanje srca što polako zamire... | Martin held Dog, thinking; turned to the wall. The lady with the autumn-colored hair. The lady with the laughter that was very gentle and never made fun and the eyes that watched your mouth to see everything you ever said. The-other-half-of-autumn-lady, who told what was left untold by Dog, about the world. The heartbeat at the still center of gray afternoon. The heartbeat fading . |
| "Mama? Što ljudi rade na groblju, mama, ispod zemlje? Samo leže?" | "Mom? What do they do in the graveyard, Mom, under the ground? Just lay there?" |
| "Leže." | "Lie there." |
| "Leže? I samo leže? Ne čini mi se baš jako zabavno." | "Lie there? Is that all they do? It doesn't sound like much fun." |
| "Za milost Božju, ta groblje i nije za zabavu." | "For goodness sake, it's not made out to be fun." |
| "Zašto pokatkad malo ne skoče i ne istrče se okolo, kad im dodija samo ležati? Bog je bio prilično glup..." | "Why don't they jump up and run around once in a while if they get tired lying there? God's pretty silly--" |
| "Martine!" | "Martin!" |
| "Pa mislim, čovjek bi pomislio da će prema ljudima biti bolji, a ne da će im samo reći da tako leže do kad je svijeta i vijeka. Ali to je nemoguće. Nitko to ne može! Jednom sam probao. I Pas pokušava. Ja mu velim: 'Mrtav Pas!' On se neko vrijeme igra mrtvaca, no onda mu je svega dosta pa mahne repom ii otvori oko, pa me gleda, i strašno mu je dosadno. Momče moje, kladim se da pokatkad i taj svijet na groblju čini upravo to. Što ti veliš, Pas?" | "Well, you'd think He'd treat people better than to tell them to lie still for keeps. That's impossible. Nobody can do it! I tried once. Dog tries. I tell him, 'dead Dog!' He plays dead awhile, then gets sick and tired and wags his tail or opens one eye and looks at me, bored. Boy, I bet sometimes those graveyard people do the same, huh, Dog?" |
| Pas je zalajao. | Dog barked. |
| "Daj pazi što govoriš!" rekla je mati. | "Be still with that kind of talk!" said Mother. |
| Martin se zapiljio u prazno. | Martin looked off into space. |
| "Ali oni čine baš to", odgovorio je on. | "Bet that's exactly what they do," he said. |
| Jesen je spalila krošnje i ogoljela stabla, i potjerala Psa u još dalja trčkaranja, u gaženje preko potoka, u tumaranja grobljem, koja su mu već bila ušla u naviku, i zatim natrag, u suton, da ispali plotune laveža koji su tresli prozorima gdje god bi se okrenuo. | Autumn burnt the trees bare and ran Dog still farther around, fording creek, prowling graveyard as was his custom, and back in the dusk to fire off volleys of barking that shook windows wherever he turned. |
| U kasne posljednje dane listopada, Pas se počeo ponašati kao da se vjetar okrenuo i zapuhao iz čudne neke zemlje. Stajao bi dolje na verandi i drhtao. Zacvilio bi, a pogled bi mu se zalijepio za prazno zemljište izvan grada. Martinu više nije dovodio goste. Stajao bi tako svakodnevno satima, kao da ga netko drži na napetoj, uzdrhtaloj uzici, a onda bi poletio, odapet, kao da ga je netko zovnuo. I svake bi se večeri ponovno vraćao, ali za njim ne bi išao nitko. I svake bi večeri Martin sve dublje tonuo u jastuk. | In the late last days of October, Dog began to act as if the wind had changed and blew from a strange country. He stood quivering on the porch below. He whined, his eyes fixed at the empty land beyond town. He brought no visitors for Martin. He stood for hours each day, as if leashed, trembling, then shot away straight, as if Someone had called. Each night he returned later, with no one following. Each night, Martin sank deeper and deeper in his pillow. |
| "Pa mislim, ljudi imaju svog posla", govorila bi mati. "I nemaju kad opaziti privjesak na Psu. Ili su možda i mislili doći, pa zaboravili." | "Well, people are busy," said Mother. "They haven't time to notice the tag Dog carries. Or they mean to come visit, but forget." |
| Ali tu je zacijelo bilo i još nešto. U Psetovim je očima bio grozničav sjaj, a kasno u noći javljao bi se cvilni tik, u njegovu tajnom nekom snu. I drhturenje u mraku, pod krevetom. I bilo je nešto u načinu na koji bi pokatkad prostajao pola noći, gledajući u Martina kao da je u njemu nekakva velika i nemoguća tajna, a on ne zna kako da je izreče: mogao je samo divlje lupati repom, ili se vrtjeti u beskonačnim krugovima, nikada ne liježući, i vrtjeti se tako i vrtjeti. | But there was more to it than that. There was the fevered shining in Dog's eyes, and his whimpering tic late at night, in some private dream. His shivering in the dark, under the bed. The way he Sometimes stood half the night, looking at Martin as if some great and impossible secret was his and he knew no way to tell it save by savagely thumping his tail, or turning in endless circles, never to lie down, spinning and spinning again. |
| A trinaestoga listopada, Pas je istrčao i nije se više vratio, čak ni poslije večere kad su ga, čuo je Martin, njegovi roditelji zvali i dozivali. Sati su se usitnili, ulice i pločnici stajali su pusti, i zrak se hladno micao oko kuće, a nije bilo ničega, ničega. | On October thirtieth, Dog ran out and didn't come back at all, even when after supper Martin heard his parents call and call. The hour grew late, the streets and sidewalks stood empty, the air moved cold about the house and there was nothing, nothing. |
| Dugo po ponoći, Martin je ostao ležati i promatrati svijet s druge strane hladnih, bistrih staklenih prozora. Sad to više nije bila ni jesen, jer nije bilo Psa da je dovede. A neće biti ni zime, jer tko će donijeti snijeg da ti se otopi na rukama? Mama, tata? Ne, to nije isto. Oni nisu znali igrati igre s njihovih posebnim tajnama i pravilima, zvukovima i pantomimama. Nema više godišnjih doba. Nema više vremena. Njegov posrednik, njegov emisar, izgubio se u divljim buljucima civilizacije; otrovali su ga, pregazio ga je auto, bacili su ga negdje u jarak... | Long after midnight, Martin lay watching the world beyond the cool, clear glass windows. Now there was not even autumn, for there was no Dog to fetch it in. There would be no winter, for who could bring the snow to melt in your hands? Father, Mother? No, not the same. They couldn't play the game with its special secrets and rules, its sounds and pantomimes. No more seasons. No more time. The go-between, the emissary, was lost to the wild throngings of civilization, poisoned, stolen, hit by a car, left somewhere in a culvert. . . . |
| Jecajući, Martin se okrenuo licem u jastuk. Svijet je bio slika pod staklom, nedodirljiv. Svijet je umro. | Sobbing, Martin turned his face to his pillow. The world was a picture under glass, untouchable. The world was dead. |
| Martin se prevrtao u krevetu i za tri dana posljednje su bundeve iz Noći vještica trunule u kantama za smeće, lubanje od papir-mašea gorjele su na lomačama skupa s vješticama, a duhovi su bili poslagani po policama s ostalim rubljem, za dogodine. | Martin twisted in bed and in three days the last Hallowe'en pumpkins were rotting in trash cans, papier-maché skulls and witches were burnt on bonfires, and ghosts were stacked on shelves with other linens until next year. |
| Za Martina, Noć vještica nije bila ništa više od večeri za koje bi se pod hladne jesenje zvijezde iznosili limeni rogovi, kad bi kremenitim stazama djeca letjela kao vilenjačko lišće nošeno vjetrom, pa na verande bacala glave svoje ili kupusove, a na mraznim prozorima sapunom ispisivala imena ili slične magične simbole. I sve je to bilo tako tako daleko, tako bezdano duboko iz najcrnjih snova, kao lutkarska predstava gledana s udaljenosti od toliko milja, tako velike da se od nje ne čuje niti glasa, tako velike da ona nema baš nikakva značenja. | To Martin, Hallowe'en had been nothing more than one evening when tin horns cried off in the cold autumn stars, children blew like goblin leaves along the flinty walks, flinging their heads, or cabbages, at porches, soap-writing names or similar magic symbols on on icy windows. All of it as distant, unfathomable, and nightmarish as a puppet show seen from so many miles away that there is no sound or meaning. |
| Tri je studenačka dana Martin gledao kako se stropom naizmjence prevlače svjetlo i sjena. Plamena je procesija bila gotova jednom zauvijek; jesen je ležala u hladnom pepelu. Martin je utonuo dublje, pa još dublje, u bijele mramorne slojeve kreveta, nepomičan, osluškujući, stalno osluškujući... | For three days in November, Martin watched alternate light and shadow sift across his ceiling. The fire-pageant was over forever; autumn lay in cold ashes. Martin sank deeper, yet deeper in white marble layers of bed, motionless, listening always listening. . . . |
| U petak uveče, roditelji su ga poljubili za laku noć i izišli iz kuće po katedralski zanijemjelu vremenu, i krenuli prema kinu. Gospođica Tarkin, prva susjeda, ostala je dolje u salonu sve dok Martin nije doviknuo da mu se spava, nakon čega je svoj štrikeraj odnijela kući. | Friday evening, his parents kissed him good-night and walked out of the house into the hushed cathedral weather toward a motion-picture show. Miss Tarkins from next door stayed on in the parlor below until Martin called down he was sleepy, then took her knitting off home. |
| Martin je ležao u tišini i slijedio veliko gibanje zvijezda niz bistro i mjesečinom obasjano nebo, i prisjećao se takvih noći kad bi prekoračivao čitav grad s Psom koji mu je bio sprijeda, okolo naokolo, slijedeći klanac od zelenoga pliša, i laptao grobno usnulu bujicu omliječenu puninom Mjeseca, preskakivao grobne spomenike šapćući mramorna imena; dalje, brzo dalje, preko izbrijanih tratina na kojima je jedino gibanje bilo uzdrhtalo paljenje i gašenje zvijezda, do ulica na kojima se sjene od tebe ne odmiču nego se gomilaju po nogostupima milju za miljom. Trči, daj trči! progonitelj i progonjen gorkim dimom, magluštinom i sumaglicom, vjetrom, utvarom svog uma, strahom uspomena; kući, siguran, zdrav, ugodno utopljen, usnuo... | In silence, Martin lay following the great move of stars down a clear and moonlit sky, remembering nights such as this when he'd spanned the town with Dog ahead, behind, around about, tracking the green-plush ravine, lapping slumbrous streams gone milky with the fullness of the moon, leaping cemetery tombstones while whispering the marble names; on, quickly on, through shaved meadows where the only motion was the off-on quivering of stars, to streets where shadows would not stand aside for you but crowded all the sidewalks for mile on mile. Run now run! chasing, being chased by bitter smoke, fog, mist, wind, ghost of mind, fright of memory; home, safe, sound, snug-warm, asleep. . . . |
| Devet sati. | Nine o'clock. |
| Zvon. Dremljivi san u dubokom stubištu dolje. Zvon. | Chime. The drowsy clock in the deep stairwell below. Chime. |
| Pas, vrati se kući, da s tobom optrčim svijet. Pas, donesi čičak i na njemu mraz, ili ne donesi ništa osim vjetra. Pas, gdje si sada? O, poslušaj me, ja te zovem. | Dog, come home, and run the world with you. Dog, bring a thistle with frost on it, or bring nothing else but the wind. Dog, where are you? Oh, listen, now, I'll call. |
| Martin je zadržao dah. | Martin held his breath. |
| Daleko negdje u daljini - zvuk. | Way off somewhere--a sound. |
| Martin je ustao, sav uzdrhtao. | Martin rose up, trembling. |
| Evo opet - zvuk. | There, again--the sound. |
| Sitan zvuk, poput oštroga vrška igle što grebe nebo duge i mnoge milje daleko. | So small a sound, like a sharp needle-point brushing the sky long miles and many miles away. |
| Snoviti odjek pseta - lajanje. | The dreamy echo of a dog--barking. |
| Zvuk psa što prelazi polja i farme, zemljane ceste i zečje puteljke, i trči, trči, iz grla izvijajući veliki zapareni lavež, od kojega puca noć. Zvuk psa što kruži, što dolazi i odlazi, diže se i zamire, otvara se svijetu i zatvara u sebe, giba se naprijed, povlači se natrag, baš kao da ga netko drži na fantastično dugome lancu. Baš kao da je pas trčao, i netko mu zviznuo ispod kestenove krošnje, iz pljesnive sjene, katranski crne sjene, mjesečinaste sjene, hodajući, i pas je zakružio natrag i skočio i poletio domu. | The sound of a dog crossing fields and farms, dirt roads and rabbit paths, running, running, letting out great barks of steam, cracking the night. The sound of a circling dog which came and went, lifted and faded, opened up, shut in, moved forward, went back, as if the animal were kept by someone on a fantastically long chain. As if the dog were running and someone whistled under the chestnut trees, in mold-shadow, tar-shadow, moon-shadow, walking, and the dog circled back and sprang out again toward home. |
| Pas! pomislio je Martin, o, Pas, vrati se kudi, momče! Čuj me, o počuj me, gdje si to bio? Idemo, momče, vrati se svojim tragom! | Dog! Martin thought, oh Dog, come home, boy! Listen, oh, listen, where you been? Come on, boy, make tracks! |
| Pet, deset, petnaest minuta; blizu, posve blizu, lavež, zvuk. Martin je kriknuo, izbacio noge iz kreveta, nagnuo se prema prozoru. Pas! Slušaj me, momče! Pas! Pas! Ponavljao je to i ponavljao. Pas! Pas! Zločesti pas, pobjeći tako i da te nema tolike dane! Loš Pas, dobar Pas, kući, momče, požuri, i donesi sve što možeš! | Five, ten, fifteen minutes; near, very near, the bark, the sound. Martin cried out, thrust his feet from the bed, leaned to the window. Dog! Listen, boy! Dog! Dog! He said it over and over. Dog! Dog! Wicked Dog, run off and gone all these days! Bad Dog, good Dog, home, boy, hurry, and bring what you can! |
| Sad već blizu, blizu, dolazi ulicom, laje, i lupa zvukom u kućne fasade preklopne građe, i vitla željeznim pijevcima na krovu sve do Mjeseca, ispaljuje plotune - Pas! sad na vrata dolje... | Near now, near, up the street, barking, to knock clapboard housefronts with sound, whirl iron cocks on rooftops in the moon, firing off volleys--Dog! now at the door below. . . . |
| Martin se stresao. | Martin shivered. |
| Da potrči - pusti Psa u kuću, ili pričeka na mamu i tatu? Da čeka? O, Bože, da čeka? No što ako Pas ponovno pobjegne? Ne, otići će dolje, zgrabiti vrata i raskriliti ih, povikati, zgrabiti Psa i uvući ga, i potrčati gore tako brzo, smijući se, plačući, stišćući ga tako čvrsto da... | Should he run--let Dog in, or wait for Mom and Dad? Wait? Oh, God, wait? But what if Dog ran off again? No, he'd go down, snatch the door wide, yell, grab Dog in, and run upstairs so fast, laughing, crying, holding tight, that . . . |
| Pas je prestao lajati. | Dog stopped barking. |
| Hej! Martin je skoro razbio prozor, takvim se trzajem bacio na nj. | Hey! Martin almost broke the window, jerking to it. |
| Tišina. Kao da je netko Psu rekao tiho, tiho, tiho sada, tiho. | Silence. As if someone had told Dog to hush now, hush, hush. |
| Prošla je čitava minuta. Martin je stiskao šake. | A full minute passed. Martin clenched his fists. |
| Iz prizemlja se čulo tiho cviljenje. | Below, a faint whimpering. |
| I tada, polako, otvorila su se kućna vrata u prizemlju. Netko je bio tako dobar pa je Psu otvorio vrata. Pa naravno! Pas je doveo gospodina Jacobsa ili gospodina Gillespija ili gospođicu Tarkin, ili... | Then, slowly, the downstairs front door opened. Someone was kind enough to have opened the door for Dog. Of course! Dog had brought Mr. Jacobs or Mr. Gillespie or Miss Tarkins, or . . . |
| Vrata u prizemlju su se zatvorila. | The downstairs door shut. |
| Pas je poletio uza stepenice, cvileći, i bacio se na krevet. | Dog raced upstairs, whining, flung himself on the bed. |
| "Pas, Pas, gdje si to bio, što si to radio? Pas, Pas!" | "Dog, Dog, where've you been, what've you done! Dog, Dog!" |
| I kruto je i dugo drobio Psa stišćući ga uz sebe, i plakao. Pas. Pas. Plakao je i vikao. Pas! Ali trenutak potom prestao je i plakati i smijati se, sasvim iznenada. | And he crushed Dog hard and long to himself, weeping. Dog, Dog. He laughed and shouted. Dog! But after a moment he stopped laughing and crying, suddenly. |
| Ustuknuo je. Držao je životinju i gledao je, a oči su mu se sve više širile. | He pulled back away. He held the animal and looked at him, eyes widening. |
| Miris što je dolazio s Psa bio je drukčiji. | The odor coming from Dog was different. |
| Bio je to miris čudne zemlje. Bio je to miris noći u noći, miris kopanja duboko dolje u sjeni kroz zemlju što je ležala obraz uz obraz sa stvarima odavno skrivenim i raspadnutim. Psu je s njuške i šapa u grumenju rasapa padala smrdljiva i užegla zemlja. Kopao je duboko. Kopao je zaista duboko. To je to, zar ne? zar ne? zar ne! | It was a smell of strange earth. It was a smell of night within night, the smell of digging down deep in shadow through earth that had lain cheek by jowl with things that were long hidden and decayed. A stinking and rancid soil fell away in clods of dissolution from Dog's muzzle and paws. He had dug deep. He had dug very deep indeed. That was it, wasn't it? wasn't it? wasn't it! |
| Kakvu je to poruku donio Pas? Što takva poruka može značiti? Taj smrad - zrela i grozna grobljanska zemlja. | What kind of message was this from Dog? What could such a message mean? The stench--the ripe and awful cemetery earth. |
| Pas je loš pas, jer je kopao gdje se ne smije. Pas je dobar pas, jer je uvijek nalazio prijatelje. Pasje volio ljude. Pas ih je dovodio kući. | Dog was a bad dog, digging where he shouldn't. Dog was a good dog, always making friends. Dog loved people. Dog brought them home. |
| I sad, uspinjući se tamnim stubama predvorja, u intervalima je dolazio zvuk nogu, jedne noge što se vuče za drugom, bolno, polako, polako, polako. | And now, moving up the dark hall stairs, at intervals, came the sound of feet, one foot dragged after the other, painfully, slowly, slowly, slowly. |
| Pas se stresao. Kiša je čudne noćne zemlje zapljuštala i provrela na krevetu. | Dog shivered. A rain of strange night earth fell seething on the bed. |
| Pas se okrenuo. | Dog turned. |
| Vrata su se spavaonice šaptom otvorila. | The bedroom door whispered in. |
| Martin je dobio društvo. | Martin had company. |