| The director stared at him, then broke into a smile. | Директор с улыбкой посмотрел на Неваду. |
| "You must've heard that every man in Hollywood turned that jump down." | - Вы должны знать, что такой прыжок в Голливуде может сделать любой. |
| Nevada didn't answer. | Невада молчал. |
| "O.K. Five hundred it is," the director said casually and turned back to the cameraman. | - Хорошо, пусть будет пятьсот, - небрежно бросил директор и повернулся к оператору. |
| Nevada stood near the horse's head, feeding him an occasional lump of sugar. | Невада стоял рядом с лошадью, держа на ладони несколько кусков сахара. |
| The horse nuzzled his hand. He patted the horse's neck. | Лошадь лизнула его ладонь, и он погладил ее по шее. |
| It was a good horse. The animal responded quickly and there wasn't a frightened bone in his body. | Это была хорошая лошадь, и Невада не чувствовал страха. |
| "We're about ready," the director said. "I've got cameras covering you from every angle, so you don't have to worry which way to look. | - Мы почти готовы, - сказал директор. - Камеры будут снимать вас с различных ракурсов. |
| You go when I give the signal." | Начнете по моему сигналу. |
| Nevada nodded and mounted the horse. | Невада кивнул и запрыгнул в седло. |
| The director stood limned against the edge of the cliff, his hand raised in the air. | Директор стоял недалеко от края обрыва с поднятой рукой. |
| Suddenly, his hand dropped and Nevada dug his spurs into the horse. | Внезапно он опустил руку, и Невада пришпорил лошадь. |
| The animal leaped forward in almost a full gallop. | Животное пустилось с места в галоп. |
| Nevada gave him his head and led him into the jump. | Отпустив поводья, Невада направил лошадь к обрыву. |
| Nevada took him high and the horse started down, his legs stiff, braced for a short fall. Nevada felt the great beast's heart suddenly pound between his legs as his hoofs didn't meet the expected ground. | Перед самым его краем лошадь слегка замешкалась, и в тот же миг Невада ощутил, как она задрожала от страха, не встретив ногами земли. |
| The animal writhed in sudden panic as it began to tumble forward. | Падая, животное билось в панике. |
| Quickly Nevada kicked free of the stirrups and threw himself over the horse's side. | Невада быстро освободил ноги из стремени и перекинулся набок. |
| He saw the water rushing up toward him and hoped he had jumped far enough so that the horse didn't land on top of him. | Он видел приближающуюся воду и надеялся, что сумеет отпрыгнуть достаточно далеко, чтобы лошадь не придавила его. |
| He hit the water in a clean dive and let the momentum carry him deep. | Невада прыгнул и ушел поглубже в воду. |
| He felt an explosion in the water near him. That would be the horse. | Рядом раздался глухой удар - это упала лошадь. |
| His lungs were burning but he stayed down as long as he could. | Он постарался пробыть под водой как можно дольше. |
| At last, he had to come up. | Он вынырнул на поверхность и тяжело задышал. |
| It seemed like forever till he broke the surface, gasping. | Оглянувшись, он увидел лошадь, плывущую на боку. |
| He turned his head and saw the horse floating on its side, its head twisted in a peculiar manner. There was a look of great agony in its eyes. | Г олова ее как-то странно дергалась, в глазах застыл ужас. |
| He turned and swam quickly toward the bank. Angrily he strode toward the director. | Невада быстро выплыл на береги в раздражении направился к директору. |
| The director was smiling. | Директор широко улыбался. |
| "That was great. | - Это было великолепно. |
| The greatest shot ever made!" | Мы сняли отличнейший кадр. |
| "That hoss's back is probably broke!" Nevada said. He turned and looked out at the horse again. The animal was struggling to keep its head above water. "Why don't somebody shoot the poor son of a bitch?" Nevada demanded. | - У лошади, наверное, сломана спина, - сказал Невада, оборачиваясь в сторону несчастного животного, которое из последних сил старалось держать голову над водой. - Почему никто не пристрелит беднягу? |
| "We already sent for the wrangler to bring a rifle. | - Мы уже послали за ружьем, но оно там, на другом холме. |
| He's back on the other hill." "That hoss'll be drowned before he gets here," Nevada snapped. "Hasn't anybody got a gun?" | - Пока его принесут, лошадь отнесет течением, -резко возразил Невада. - Есть у кого-нибудь револьвер? |
| "Sure, but nobody could hit him. A revolver's no good at that distance." | - Есть, но с такого расстояния вряд ли кто попадет. |
| Nevada stared at the director. | Невада посмотрел на директора. |
| "Give me a gun." Nevada took the gun and hefted it in his hand. He spun the cylinder. "These are blanks," he said. | - Дайте мне. - Он взял револьвер, взвесил его в руке и повернул барабан. - Но он пуст. |
| Someone gave him bullets. He reloaded the gun quickly and walked over to the side of the stream. | Неваде дали патроны, он быстро снарядил барабан и подошел к берегу. |
| He fired at a piece of wood in the water. | Сначала он выстрелил в какую-то деревяшку. |
| The gun dragged a little to the left. | Револьвер бил немного левее. |
| He waited a moment until the horse raised its head again, then shot the animal between the eyes. | Подождав, пока лошадь поднимет голову, Невада выстрелил ей точно между глаз. |
| Nevada walked back and gave the director the gun. | Затем вернулся и протянул револьвер директору. |
| Silently the big man took it and held out a pack of cigarettes. | Тот молча взял его и протянул Неваде пачку сигарет. |
| Nevada took one and the director held the match for him. Nevada let the smoke fill his lungs. | Невада вытащил сигарету, прикурил от протянутой директором спички и глубоко затянулся. |
| A man came running up, gasping and short of breath. | Запыхавшись, подбежал какой-то мужчина: |
| "I'm sorry, Mr. Von Elster," he said hoarsely. "I just can't locate that stunt man anywhere. But I'll get you another one tomorrow." "Didn't anybody tell you? |