Dracula. A1 / Дракула

© Темурян К. Т., адаптация текста, словарь, упражнения, 2024

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2024

Chapter I

Jonathan Harker's diary

I left Munich on the 1st of May and got to Vienna early next morning, but the train was an hour late. I saw Budapest briefly from the train, and it looked wonderful, but I didn't walk around, because it was late and I needed to leave soon.

That night, I stayed in Klausenburgh at Hotel Royale. I had chicken with red pepper for dinner. It was very good, so I used my basic German to ask the waiter for the recipe for Mina.

In London, when I had some free time, I went to the British Museum to learn about Transylvania. I read about its people and its location. I didn't find Dracula's Castle on a map, but Bistritz, the town he wrote about, is very famous. I learnt that people in Transylvania believe in different superstitions. I want to ask Count Dracula about them.

I didn't sleep well, because I had strange dreams and a dog howled all night. I needed to get on a train to Bistritz, so I ate my breakfast quickly.

In Bistritz, I stayed at the Golden Krone Hotel, as Count Dracula suggested. It was old-fashioned but nice. Count Dracula sent me a letter. His carriage will take me to his castle the next day. I asked the landlord and his wife about Count Dracula, but they became nervous and didn't want to speak about it. After that, the landlord's wife spoke about some superstition and gave me her cross.

The next day, it was cold. I waited for the carriage, and it finally came. I did not feel frightened, but our journey was strange. It was around midnight. Somewhere, dogs started to howl, and the horses felt afraid. It was getting colder, and the wind started howling, too. Suddenly, I saw a blue flame. I thought I was sleeping and this was all a dream.

The moon appeared, and I saw wolves. Then it became dark again, and, when we got to the castle, I was still scared.

Glossary

afraid [æ'freɪd] – adj испуганный

appear [ə'pɪər] – v появляться

basic ['beɪsɪk] – adj элементарный

briefly ['bri:fli] – adv кратко

carriage ['kærɪdʒ] – n карета

castle ['kɑ:sl] – n замок

count [kaʊnt] – n граф

cross [krɒs] – n крест

diary ['daɪəri] – n дневник, ежедневник, записная книжка

flame [fleɪm] – n пламя

free [fri:] – adj свободный

frightened ['fraɪtənd] – adj испуганный

howl [haʊl] – v выть

landlord ['lændlɔ:d] – n хозяин

location [ləʊ'keɪʃən] – n расположение

midnight ['mɪdnaɪt] – n полночь

moon [mu:n] – n луна

nervous ['nɜ:vəs] – adj волнующийся

old-fashioned [,əʊld'fæʃənd] – adj старомодный

scared [skeəd] – adj испуганный

suddenly ['sʌdənli] – adv вдруг, внезапно

suggest [sə'dʒest] – v предлагать, советовать

superstition [,su:pə'stɪʃən] – n суеверие

wolf (wolves) [wʊlf] – n волк

wonderful ['wʌndəfəl] – adj чудесный

Chapter II

Jonathan Harker's diary

In the dark, the castle looked huge. The carriage left, and I just stood there, because I didn't know what to do. It felt like a nightmare. Suddenly, the door opened, and I saw a tall old man with a long white moustache. It was Count Dracula. He welcomed me with a cold, strong handshake and brought my luggage inside.

The dinner was ready, but the Count did not eat. While I was eating, he asked me a lot of questions. Outside, wolves started to howl. Count Dracula smiled and wished me goodnight.

When I woke up, there was a card from the Count. He told me he was busy, so I ate alone, and then tried to find a servant, but there was no one. I explored the castle and found a room with many English books. Suddenly, the Count appeared. He told me he used the books to learn English.

Later, we talked about business – the place I found for him to buy in England. He seemed happy about it. He spoke about his castle, too, and smiled, but to me, it wasn't a kind smile.

The next morning, while I was shaving, Dracula suddenly appeared behind me. He got angry when he saw blood from a small cut, and threw away my mirror. Then, I couldn't find him at breakfast, and ate alone again. I explored the castle some more. It stood on the edge of a cliff. Inside, there were many doors, but all of them were locked. I realised the castle was a prison, and I was a prisoner.

Glossary

angry ['æŋɡri] – adj сердитый

blood [blʌd] – n кровь

bring (brought, brought) [brɪŋ] – v приносить

business ['bɪznɪs] – n бизнес, работа

busy ['bɪzi] – adj занятой

cliff [klɪf] – n скала, утес

cut [kʌt] – n порез

dark [dɑ:k] – n темнота

edge [edʒ] – n край

explore [ɪk'splɔ:r] – v исследовать, изучать

handshake ['hændʃeɪk] – n рукопожатие

inside [,ɪn'saɪd] – adv внутри, внутрь

locked [lɒkt] – adj запертый

luggage ['lʌɡɪdʒ] – n багаж

moustache [mə'stɑ:ʃ] – n усы

nightmare ['naɪtmeər] – n кошмар, страшный сон

outside ['autsaɪd] – adv снаружи, на улице

prison ['prɪzən] – n тюрьма

realise ['rɪəlaɪz] – v понять, осознать

seem [si:m] – v казаться

servant ['sɜ:vənt] – n слуга

shave [ʃeɪv] – v бриться

throw away [θrəʊ ə'weɪ] – v выбрасывать, выкидывать

Chapter III

Jonathan Harker's diary

When I realised Dracula trapped me in the castle, I felt scared. I ran around trying to escape, but soon I felt helpless. I sat down and thought about what to do. I knew I couldn't trust the Count. I decided to stay quiet and alert.

I had a strange encounter with the Count, who seemed to know a lot about history. He talked about his proud ancestry and seemed very passionate. I found it fascinating but also scary. It was almost morning when we went to bed.

The Count asked me questions about business and property in England, and then handed me paper and envelopes. He told me to write a letter to my boss and tell him that I want stay at the castle for a month. The Count told me to only write about business. I knew that as a prisoner, I had no choice. I wrote the letter for my boss – and also one for Mina. Taking the letters, the Count advised me not to sleep outside of my room. “Be warned,” he said, making me feel glad I had a cross around my neck.

At night, I saw a strange sight: the Count was crawling down the castle wall. I couldn't believe my eyes, but told myself it was a strange illusion. The Count's warning frightened me, but that night, I opened one of the doors and wandered into a beautiful room, where I felt calm and fell asleep. When I woke up, I saw three women who did not seem real, because they had no shadow. The women wanted something from me. Suddenly, the Count appeared. “He belongs to me!” Dracula said furiously and chased them away, but instead of using the door they just faded into the moonlight passing through the windows.

I fainted.

Glossary

advise ['welkəm] – v советовать

alert [ə'lɜ:t] – adj бдительный

ancestry ['ænsestri] – n род, происхождение

belong [bɪ'lɒŋ] – v принадлежать

chase away [tʃeɪs ə'weɪ] – v прогонять

crawl [krɔ:l] – v ползти

encounter [ɪn'kaʊntər] – n встреча

envelope ['envələʊp] – n конверт

escape [ɪ'skeɪp] – v сбежать

fade [feɪd] – v блекнуть, постепенно исчезать

faint [feɪnt] – v падать в обморок

fall asleep (fell asleep, fallen asleep) [fɔ:l ə'sli:p] – v засыпать, уснуть

fascinating ['fæsɪneɪtɪŋ] – adj увлекательный, захватывающий

furiously ['fjʊəriəsli] – adv яростно, разъяренно

helpless ['helpləs] – adj беспомощный

instead [ɪn'sted] – adv вместо

pass [pɑ:s] – v проходить

passionate ['pæʃənət] – adj увлечённый

prisoner ['prɪzənər] – n заключенный

property ['prɒpəti] – n собственность

proud [praʊd] – adj гордый

quiet [kwaɪət] – adj тихий

shadow ['ʃædəʊ] – adj тень

trap [træp] – v заманивать в ловушку, замуровывать

trust [trʌst] – v доверять

wander ['wɒndər] – v бродить

warn [wɔ:n] – v предупреждать

Chapter IV

Jonathan Harker's diary

I woke up in my bed. Someone folded my clothes carefully. Was it the Count? I felt uneasy, but I needed to find proof. Fortunately, the Count didn't find my diary. He asked me to write letters again. This time, I needed to write that it was June and I was already in Bistritz. I wanted to argue, but it was dangerous, because the Count was angry. I needed to escape.

Ten days later, there were guests at the castle. I wrote letters for my boss and Mina, and asked the guests to post them secretly. The Count came into my room. In his hands, there were my letters. “I will send the letter to your boss, Mr. Hawkins,” he said before he left and locked the door.

Soon, something strange happened: all the paper disappeared. I couldn't find my suit or my coat. I was terrified. Then I saw the Count with my suit. I also saw many black dots around him. They were tiny, like dust, and moved very quickly. Finally, they turned into the three women! Outside, wolves started to howl.

I couldn't find the Count. I thought he was away, so I left the room to look for his keys. I found an old chapel. Inside, it was dusty, and there were a lot of coffins. In one of them, I found the Count, asleep! He looked lifeless, but the smile on his face was evil.

The Count told me that the next day I would leave. I wanted to leave sooner, but I felt this was a trick. The Count noticed it and called the wolves. He knew it was scary for me. “Have patience!” Dracula said. While he wasn't around, I tried to find the keys again. I knew the Count was sleeping in the coffin – but this time, he looked young!

Glossary

argue ['ɑ:ɡju:] – v спорить

away [ə'weɪ] – adv отсутствующий (в значении находящийся не дома или на работе)

chapel ['tʃæpəl] – n часовня

coffin ['kɒfɪn] – n гроб

disappear [,dɪsə'pɪər] – v исчезать

dot [dɒt] – n точка

dust [dʌst] – n пыль

fold [fəʊld] – v складывать

lifeless ['laɪfləs] – adj мертвый, безжизненный

notice ['nəʊtɪs] – v замечать

patience ['peɪʃəns] – n терпение

proof [pru:f] – n доказательство

tiny ['taɪni] – adj крошечный

turn into [tɜ:n 'ɪntə] – v превращать(ся) в кого-либо/во что-либо

uneasy [ʌn'i:zi] – adj тревожный, беспокойный