[26]

 The Mex had a black and white checked sport shirt, heavily pleated black slacks without a belt, two-tone black and white buckskin shoes, spotlessly clean.
Mex (メキシコ人) [名] a Mexican
sport shirt (スポーツシャツ) [名] a shirt that is designed to be worn for sports
heavily (ひどく) [副] to a great degree
pleat (ひだ) [名] a fold in a garment or other item
black slacks (黒いスラックス) [名] a pair of trousers
two-tone (ツートンカラー) [形] having two colors
black and white (黒と白) [形] of the color that is the opposite of white
buckskin (バックスキン) [名] a soft leather made from the skin of a deer
メキシコ人は黒と白のチェックのスポーツシャツ、ベルトのないひだの多い黒いスラックス、黒と白のツートンカラーのバックスキンの靴を履いていて、しみ一つなくきれいだった。
His thick black hair was brushed straight back and shining with some kind of hair oil or cream.
brush (撫でつける) [動] move or cause to move lightly and gently
straight (後ろ) [形] not bent or curved
hair oil (ヘアオイル) [名] a cosmetic product applied to the hair to improve its appearance
彼の濃い黒髪は後ろに撫でつけられていて、何かのヘアオイルかクリームで輝いていた。

 “Señor,” he said, and sketched a brief sarcastic bow.
「セニョール」と彼は言い、短く皮肉っぽいお辞儀をした。

 “Help Mr. Marlowe carry my husband upstairs, Candy.
「キャンディ、マーロウさんに夫を二階に運ぶのを手伝って。
He fell and hurt himself a little.
fall (転ぶ) [動] move from a higher to a lower position
彼は転んで少し怪我をしたの。
I'm sorry to trouble you.”
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません」

 “De nada, señora,” Candy said smiling.
De nada (デ・ナダ) [名] you're welcome
señora (セニョーラ) [名] a Spanish word for a married woman
「デ・ナダ、セニョーラ」とキャンディは笑顔で言った。

 “I think I'll say goodnight,” she said to me.
say goodnight (おやすみなさい) [動] a phrase used to express a farewell in the evening
「おやすみなさい」と彼女は私に言った。
“I'm tired out. Candy will get you anything you want.”
be tired out (疲れた) [動] to be exhausted
get (持ってくる) [動] to obtain or receive
「疲れたよ。キャンディが欲しいものを何でも持ってくるよ」

 She went slowly up the stairs.
彼女はゆっくりと階段を上っていった。
Candy and I watched her.
キャンディと私は彼女を見送った。

 “Some doll,” he said confidentially.
doll (いい女) [名] a pretty girl
confidentially (内緒話のように) [副] in a confidential manner
「いい女だ」と彼は内緒話のように言った。
“You stay the night?”
stay the night (泊まる) [動] to sleep somewhere for one night
「泊まるの?」

 “Hardly.”
hardly (ほとんど) [副] almost not at all; barely
「ほとんど」

 “Es lástima. She is very lonely, that one.”
Es lástima (残念だ) [句] it's a pity
「残念だ。彼女はとても孤独だ」

 “Get that gleam out of your eyes, kid.
「そんな目で見るんじゃない。
Let's put this to bed.”
これを寝かせよう」

 He looked sadly at Wade snoring on the couch.
彼はソファでイビキをかいているウェードを悲しそうに見た。
“Pobrecito,” he murmured as if he meant it.
Pobrecito (かわいそうに) [名] poor little thing
murmur (つぶやく) [動] say something in a low voice
「かわいそうに」彼はそうつぶやいた。
“Borracho como una cuba.”
borracho (酔っ払い) [名] a person who is drunk
como (として) [前] in the manner of
una (1つの) [冠] the number one
「酔っ払い」

 “He may be drunk as a sow but he sure ain't little,” I said.
sow (雌豚) [名] an adult female pig
「彼は酔っ払っているかもしれないが、小さくはない」と私は言った。
“You take the feet.”
feet (足) [名] the end of the leg on which a person or animal stands or walks
「足を持って」

 We carried him and even for two he was as heavy as a lead coffin.
coffin (棺桶) [名] a box in which a dead person is buried
私たちは彼を運んだが、二人がかりでも彼は鉛の棺桶のように重かった。
At the top of the stairs we went along an open balcony past a closed door.
balcony (バルコニー) [名] a platform with a railing that projects from the wall of a building, typically at an upper level
closed (閉じた) [形] not open
階段の一番上で、私たちは閉じたドアを通り過ぎて開いたバルコニーに沿って進んだ。
Candy pointed to it with his chin.
キャンディは顎でそれを指さした。

 “La señora,” he whispered.
señora (奥様) [名] a married woman
「奥様」彼はささやいた。
“You knock very light maybe she let you in.”
「とても軽くノックすれば、彼女はあなたを入れてくれるかもしれない」

 I didn't say anything because I needed him.
私は彼が必要だったので何も言わなかった。
We went on with the carcass and turned in at another door and dumped him on the bed.
carcass (死体) [名] the dead body of an animal
dump (放り投げる) [動] throw or drop something in a careless or violent way
私たちは死体を運び続け、別のドアから入って彼をベッドに放り投げた。
Then I took hold of Candy's arm high up near the shoulder where dug-in fingers can hurt.
それから私はキャンディの腕を肩の近くの指を食い込ませると痛い部分をつかんだ。
I made mine hurt him.
私は彼を傷つけた。
He winced a little and then his face set hard.
wince (顔をしかめる) [動] to make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body, as from pain or embarrassment
set (固める) [動] to make or become hard or solid
彼は少し顔をしかめたが、すぐに顔を固くした。

 “What's your name, cholo?”
cholo (チョロ) [名] a Mexican-American youth who is a member of a street gang
「あなたの名前はなんだ、チョロ?」

 “Take your hand off me,” he snapped.
「手を離せ」と彼は言った。
“And don't call me a cholo. I'm no wetback.
wetback (不法移民) [名] a Mexican who enters the U.S. illegally
「それに私をチョロと呼ぶな。私は不法移民じゃない。
My name is Juan Garcia de Soto yo Soto-mayor.
Juan Garcia de Soto yo Soto-mayor (フアン・ガルシア・デ・ソト・ヨ・ソトマヨル) [名] a Spanish name
私の名前はフアン・ガルシア・デ・ソト・ヨ・ソトマヨルだ。
I am Chileno.”
Chileno (チリ人) [名] a person from Chile
私はチリ人だ」

 “Okay, Don Juan. Just don't get out of line around here.
Don Juan (ドン・ファン) [名] a legendary Spanish nobleman and libertine
「分かった、ドン・ファン。ただ、この辺りで羽目を外さないように。
Keep your nose and mouth clean when you talk about the people you work for.”
雇い主の話をするときの口の利き方に気をつけろ」

 He jerked loose and stepped back, his black eyes hot with anger.
hot (燃える) [形] having a high degree of heat or a high temperature
彼はぐいと振りほどいて後ろに下がり、黒い目は怒りで燃えていた。
His hand slipped inside his shirt and came out with a long thin knife.
彼の手はシャツの中へ滑り込み、長く細いナイフを持って出てきた。
He balanced it by the point on the heel of his hand, hardly even glancing at it.
balance (支える) [動] keep or put (something) in a steady position
彼はほとんどナイフを見ることなく、手のひらの付け根でナイフの先端を支えた。
Then he dropped the hand and caught the handle of the knife while it hung in the air.
それから彼は手を下ろし、ナイフが空中に浮かんでいる間に柄をつかんだ。
It was done very fast and without any apparent effort.
effort (努力) [名] a vigorous or determined attempt
それはとても素早く、何の努力もせずに行われた。
His hand went up to shoulder height, then snapped forward and the knife sailed through the air and hung quivering in the wood of the window frame.
snap (投げ出す) [動] move or cause to move quickly and suddenly
sail (舞う) [動] move smoothly and quickly through the air
quiver (震える) [動] shake or tremble slightly
彼の手は肩の高さまで上がり、それから前方に投げ出され、ナイフは空中を舞い、窓枠の木に震えながら刺さった。

 “Cuidado, señor!” he said with a sharp sneer.
Cuidado (気をつけろ) [名] care
「気をつけろ、旦那」彼は鋭く冷笑しながら言った。
“And keep your paws to yourself.
paw (手) [名] the foot of an animal with claws
「そして、自分の手は自分で守れ。
Nobody fools with me.”
with (で) [前] used to indicate the instrument or means by which an action is performed
誰も私を馬鹿にすることはできない」

 He walked lithely across the room and plucked the knife out of the wood, tossed it in the air, spun on his toes and caught it behind him.
catch (キャッチする) [動] intercept and hold (something which is thrown, propelled, or dropped)
彼はしなやかに部屋を横切り、木からナイフを抜き取り、空中に放り投げ、つま先で回転して後ろでキャッチした。
With a snap it disappeared under his shirt.
with a snap (パチンと音を立てて) [副] quickly and suddenly
パチンと音を立てて、それは彼のシャツの下に消えた。

 “Neat,” I said, “but just a little on the gaudy side.”
neat (素敵だ) [形] tidy, organized, and clean
gaudy (派手すぎる) [形] excessively bright or showy
「素敵だ」と私は言った。「でも、ちょっと派手すぎるかな」

 He strolled up to me smiling derisively.
derisively (嘲笑しながら) [副] in a scornfully humorous manner
彼は嘲笑しながら私のところまで歩いてきた。

 “And it might get you a broken elbow,” I said.
「そして、肘を折られるかもしれない」と私は言った。
“Like this.”
like this (こんな風に) [副] in this manner
「こんな風に」

 I took hold of his right wrist, jerked him off balance, swung to one side and a little behind him, and brought my bent forearm up under the back of his elbow joint.
right wrist (右手首) [名] the joint connecting the hand and arm
bent (曲げた) [形] having an angle or curve
forearm (前腕) [名] the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist
elbow joint (肘関節) [名] the joint connecting the upper and lower arm
私は彼の右手首を掴み、バランスを崩させ、彼の横に回り込み、少し後ろに回り、曲げた前腕を彼の肘関節の後ろに当てた。
I bore down on it, using my forearm as a fulcrum.
bore down (押し下げる) [動] to exert downward pressure
fulcrum (支点) [名] the point on which a lever pivots
私は前腕を支点にして、それを押し下げた。

 “One hard jerk,” I said, “and your elbow joint cracks.
joint (関節) [名] a point of connection between two or more bones
「強く引っ張れば」と私は言った。「肘関節が折れる。
A crack is enough.
折れれば十分だ。
You'd be out of commission as a knife thrower for several months.
be out of commission (できなくなる) [動] be not in working order
thrower (投げ) [名] a person who throws something
several months (数ヶ月) [名] a period of time
ナイフ投げは数ヶ月できなくなる。
Make the jerk a little harder and you'd be through permanently.
もっと強く引っ張れば、永久にできなくなる。
Take Mr. Wade's shoes off.”
shoe (靴) [名] an item of footwear with a sole and an upper part that covers the foot and ankle
ウェード氏の靴を脱がせろ」

 I let go of him and he grinned at me.
私は彼を放し、彼は私にニヤリと笑った。
“Good trick,” he said.
trick (技) [名] a clever or skillful act or performance
「いい技だ」と彼は言った。
“I will remember.”
「覚えておく」

 He turned to Wade and reached for one of his shoes, then stopped.
彼はウェードに向き直り、彼の靴の片方に手を伸ばしたが、そこで止まった。
There was a smear of blood on the pillow.
smear (血痕) [名] a mark or stain of something
枕に血痕があった。

 “Who cut the boss?”
「誰がボスを切ったんだ?」

 “Not me, chum. He fell and cut his head on something.
「私じゃない、相棒。彼は転んで頭を何かにぶつけた。
It's only a shallow cut.
浅い切り傷だけだ。
The doctor has been here.”
医者が来たよ」

 Candy let his breath out slowly.
let (吐く) [動] allow or enable to do something
キャンディはゆっくりと息を吐いた。
“You see him fall?”
「彼が落ちたのを見たのか?」

 “Before I got here.
「私がここに来る前に。
You like this guy, don't you?”
君はこの男が好きなんだね?」

 He didn't answer me.
彼は私に答えなかった。
He took the shoes off.
彼は靴を脱いだ。
We got Wade undressed little by little and Candy dug out a pair of green and silver pajamas.
little by little (少しずつ) [副] gradually; slowly
dig out (掘り出す) [動] to find or obtain something with difficulty
私たちは少しずつウェードの服を脱がせ、キャンディは緑と銀のパジャマを掘り出した。
We got Wade into those and got him inside the bed and well covered up.
get (着せる) [動] cause to be in a certain state
私たちはウェードにそれを着せ、ベッドに入れて、よく覆った。
He was still sweaty and still snoring.
彼はまだ汗をかいて、いびきをかいていた。
Candy looked down at him sadly, shaking his sleek head from side to side, slowly.
sleek (なめらかな) [形] smooth and glossy
キャンディは悲しそうに彼を見下ろし、なめらかな頭をゆっくりと左右に振った。

 “Somebody's got to take care of him,” he said.
「誰かが彼の面倒を見なければならない」と彼は言った。
“I go change my clothes.”
「着替えてくる」

 “Get some sleep. I'll take care of him.
get some sleep (少し寝ろ) [動] sleep for a short period of time
「少し寝ろ。私が彼の面倒を見る。
I can call you if I need you.”
必要なら電話する」

 He faced me.
彼は私と向き合った。
“You better take care of him good,” he said in a quiet voice.
「彼の面倒をよく見ろ」と彼は静かな声で言った。
“Very good.”
「とても良い」

 He went out of the room.
彼は部屋から出て行った。
I went into the bathroom and got a wet washcloth and a heavy towel.
私は浴室に入り、濡れた手ぬぐいと厚手のタオルを手に入れた。
I turned Wade over a little and spread the towel on the pillow and washed the blood off his head gently so as not to start the bleeding again.
wash off (洗い流す) [動] remove by washing
私はウェードを少しひっくり返し、枕にタオルを広げ、再び出血しないように優しく頭から血を洗い流した。
Then I could see a sharp shallow cut about two inches long.
それから私は約2インチの長さの鋭い浅い切り傷を見ることができた。
It was nothing.
大したことではなかった。
Dr. Loring had been right that much.
ローリング博士はその点では正しかった。
It wouldn't have hurt to stitch it but it probably was not really necessary.
stitch (縫う) [動] make or repair (something) with stitches
縫っても痛くなかっただろうが、おそらく本当に必要ではなかった。
I found a pair of scissors and cut the hair away enough so that I could put on a strip of adhesive.
pair of scissors (はさみ) [名] a tool with two blades used to cut or trim
adhesive (接着剤) [名] a sticky substance that bonds items together
私ははさみを見つけて、接着剤のストリップを貼ることができるように十分に髪を切った。
Then I turned him on his back and washed his face.
それから私は彼を仰向けにして顔を洗った。
I guess that was a mistake.
それは間違いだったと思う。

 He opened his eyes.
彼は目を開けた。
They were vague and unfocused at first, then they cleared and he saw me standing beside the bed.
unfocused (焦点が合っていない) [形] not focused
clear (はっきりする) [動] become free of clouds, mist, or rain
最初はぼんやりとして焦点が合っていなかったが、その後はっきりしてきて、彼は私がベッドの横に立っているのを見た。
His hand moved and went up to his head and felt the adhesive.
彼の手は動き、頭に上がって接着剤を感じた。
His lips mumbled something, then his voice cleared up also.
mumble (口ごもる) [動] say something indistinctly
彼の唇は何かを口ごもった後、声もはっきりした。

 “Who hit me? You?”
「誰が私を殴った? あなた?」
His hand felt for the adhesive.
feel for (探す) [動] try to find something by touching
彼の手は接着剤を探した。

 “Nobody hit you. You took a fall.”
take a fall (転ぶ) [動] fall down
「誰も殴っていない。転んだんだ。」

 “Took a fall? When? Where?”
「転んだ? いつ? どこで?」

 “Wherever you telephoned from. You called me.
「電話をかけた場所で。電話をかけたのは君だ。
I heard you fall.
君が倒れる音が聞こえた。
Over the wire.”
over the wire (電話で) [名] by telephone
電話で」

 “I called you?”
「私が電話をかけた?」
He grinned slowly.
彼はゆっくりとニヤリと笑った。
“Always available, aren't you, fella?
available (暇な) [形] able to be used or obtained
fella (相棒) [名] a man or boy
「いつも暇なんだろ、なあ、相棒?
What time is it?”
今何時?」

 “After one a.m.”
「午前1時過ぎ」

 “Where's Eileen?”
「アイリーンは?」

 “Gone to bed. She had it rough.”
「寝た。彼女は大変だった」

 He thought that over silently.
彼は黙って考えた。
His eyes were full of pain.
be full of (満ちている) [動] to be filled with something
彼の目は痛みに満ちていた。
“Did I--”
did (した) [助] used in questions and negative statements
「私は・・・」
He stopped and winced.
彼は立ち止まり、顔をしかめた。

 “You didn't touch her as far as I know.
as far as I know (私の知る限り) [副] to the extent of my knowledge
「私の知る限り、あなたは彼女に触れませんでした。
If that's what you mean.
それがあなたの言いたいことなら。
You just wandered outdoors and passed out near the fence.
wander (さまよう) [動] move about or go to a place aimlessly or unsystematically
outdoors (屋外) [名] all of the area that is not inside a building
あなたはただ屋外をさまよい、塀の近くで気を失っただけです。
Quit talking.
話すのはやめろ。
Go to sleep.”
go to sleep (寝る) [動] rest with the eyes closed
寝ろ」

 “Sleep,” he said quietly and slowly, like a child reciting its lesson.
recite (暗唱する) [動] repeat aloud from memory
「眠れ」と彼は子供が教科書を暗唱するように静かにゆっくりと言った。
“What would that be?”
「それは何だろう?」

 “Maybe a pill would help. Got any?”
pill (薬) [名] a small round mass of solid medicine intended to be swallowed whole
help (効く) [動] be of use to
「薬が効くかもしれない。何か持っているか?」

 “In the drawer. Night table.”
「引き出しの中。ナイトテーブル。」

 I opened it and found a plastic bottle with red capsules in it.
bottle (瓶) [名] a container with a neck and mouth that is typically used to hold liquids
capsule (カプセル) [名] a small container made of gelatine or plastic that contains a drug or other substance
私はそれを開けて、赤いカプセルの入ったプラスチックの瓶を見つけた。
Seconal, 11⁄2 grains.
Seconal (セコナル) [名] a barbiturate used as a sedative
grain (粒) [名] a small, hard, roundish seed of a cereal
セコナル、11⁄2粒。
Prescription by Dr. Loring.
ローリング医師の処方箋。
That nice Dr. Loring.
あの親切なローリング医師。
Mrs. Roger Wade's prescription.
ロジャー・ウェード夫人の処方箋。

 I shook two of them loose and put the bottle back and poured a glass of water from a thermos jug on the night table.
私はそのうちの二錠を振り落として瓶を元に戻し、ナイトテーブルの魔法瓶からコップ一杯の水を注いだ。
He said one capsule would be enough.
彼は一錠で十分だと言った。
He took it and drank some water and lay back and stared at the ceiling again.
lay (横になる) [動] be in or move into a horizontal position
彼はそれを飲み、水を飲み、横になって再び天井を見つめた。
Time passed.
時間が経った。
I sat in a chair and watched him.
私は椅子に座って彼を見た。
He didn't seem to get sleepy.
get sleepy (眠くなる) [動] to become tired and ready to sleep
彼は眠くならないようだった。
Then he said slowly:
それから彼はゆっくりと言った。

 “I remember something.
「何かを思い出した。
Do me a favor, Marlowe.
頼みがあるんだ、マーロウ。
I wrote some crazy stuff I don't want Eileen to see.
アイリーンには見られたくない狂ったことを書いたんだ。
It's on top of the typewriter under the cover.
on top of (上に) [前] on the upper surface of
タイプライターの上のカバーの下にある。
Tear it up for me.
tear up (破る) [動] to rip or cut something into pieces
破っておいてくれ。

 “Sure. That all you remember?”
「もちろん。覚えているのはそれだけか?」

 “Eileen is all right?
「アイリーンは大丈夫か?
Positive about that?”
positive (間違いない) [形] having or showing a good opinion of someone or something
間違いないか?」

 “Yes. She's just tired.
yes (ああ) [間] used to express assent or agreement
「ああ。ただ疲れているだけだ。
Let it ride, Wade.
そのままにしておけ、ウェード。
Stop thinking.
考えるのをやめろ。
I shouldn't have asked you.”
shouldn't (すべきではない) [助] should not
君に聞くべきではなかった」

 “Stop thinking, the man says.”
「考えるのをやめろ、と男は言う」
His voice was a little drowsy now.
drowsy (眠そう) [形] sleepy or tired
彼の声は今や少し眠そうだった。
He was talking as if to himself.
to oneself (独り言) [名] the act of talking to oneself
彼は独り言を言っているようだった。
“Stop thinking, stop dreaming, stop loving, stop hating.
thinking (考える) [動] direct one's mind toward someone or something; use one's mind actively to form connected ideas
dreaming (夢を見る) [動] have a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
loving (愛する) [動] feel a deep or constant affection for
hating (憎む) [動] feel intense or passionate dislike for
「考えるのをやめろ、夢を見るのをやめろ、愛するのをやめろ、憎むのをやめろ。
Goodnight, sweet prince.
goodnight (おやすみ) [間] a farewell said at night
prince (王子様) [名] a male member of a royal family other than the king
おやすみ、優しい王子様。
I'll take that other pill.”
もう一つの薬を飲もう」

 I gave it to him with some more water.
私は彼にそれをもう少しの水と一緒に与えた。
He lay back again, this time with his head turned so that he could see me.
lay back (横になる) [動] to lie down in a relaxed way
this time (今度は) [名] on this occasion
彼は再び横になったが、今度は私を見ることができるように頭を向けた。
“Look, Marlowe, I wrote some stuff I don't want Eileen--”
「ほら、マーロウ、アイリーンには見られたくないものを書いたんだ」

 “You told me already.
「もう言ったよ。
I'll attend to it when you go to sleep.”
attend to (出席する) [動] to be present at
あなたが寝たら、私はそれに出席します。」

 “Oh. Thanks. Nice to have you around. Very nice.”
「ああ、ありがとう。君が近くにいてくれてよかった。とてもよかった。」

 Another longish pause.
longish (長い) [形] somewhat long
再び長い沈黙。
His eyelids were getting heavy.
eyelid (まぶた) [名] either of the two movable folds of skin and muscle that cover the front of the eyeball
彼のまぶたは重くなってきた。

 “Ever kill a man, Marlowe?”
「人を殺したことがあるか、マーロウ?」

 “Yes.”
「ある。」

 “Nasty feeling, isn't it?”
isn't it (だろう) [助] used in speech to turn a statement into a yes-no question
「嫌な気分だろう?」

 “Some people like it.”
「それを好む人もいる。」

 His eyes went shut all the way.
彼の目は完全に閉じられた。
Then they opened again, but they looked vague.
それから再び開いたが、ぼんやりとしていた。
“How could they?”
「どうして?」

 I didn't answer.
私は答えなかった。
The eyelids came down again, very gradually, like a slow curtain in the theater.
gradually (ゆっくりと) [副] in a gradual manner
theater (劇場) [名] a building or area for dramatic performances and a motion-picture house
まぶたは、劇場のゆっくりとしたカーテンのように、とてもゆっくりと再び下がった。
He began to snore.
彼はいびきをかき始めた。
I waited a little longer.
a little longer (もう少し) [副] for a short time more
私はもう少し待った。
Then I dimmed the light in the room and went out.
それから私は部屋の明かりを暗くして出て行った。