Сборник рассказов на английском языке. Мистика и детективы. Intermediate. Домашнее чтение с заданиями и ответами

“Indeed. And interestingly enough, humans can only move forward along the time line, while they cannot go back to the starting point again. At the same time, we can return to the original point if we move in space. What a pleasure to have a philosophic talk when the wise companion understands you.”

“H’m! I would argue with you about the return to the starting time point. You know, there’ve been some instances. And I would not agree with you about the time line too. The time is flowing in the spiral.”

The puzzled watchmaker looked at his strange guest. The man was not tall, medium build, wearing a suit, but without a tie. He had a black wide-brimmed hat on, which for some reason he refused to take off in the room, so the shop owner could not fully discern his facial features. However, he drew particular attention to his prominent, determined chin.

“Your thoughts are really intriguing.”

The tired watchmaker could not have helped but get up groaning and come up to his interlocutor.

“Have a sit,” the guest offered.

The watchmaker sat in the armchair opposite to him and with his back to the working desk. Only then he was able to glance into the eyes of the weird visitor. The watchmaker felt something repellent in his cold stare and he asked shivering: “Who are you?”

“Me? Soon you will understand.”

The old man was frightened to the bits, but gave no sign of it. He did not want to discuss anything more with the stranger and wanted to get rid of him the quicker the better. Не returned to the subject of the item being repaired.

“Oh! By the way, your watch. You are the owner of a rare miraculous specimen. You could get for it a decent amount of money at auction. But I cannot understand the cause of the fault. All mechanisms are in good working condition, but the hands refuse to go. I need time to determine the root cause. Will you come back tomorrow?”

“You are wrong. I am not the owner of the watch at all. But you are,” the guest said meaningfully. “And the hands don’t go just because that your time is up. Look behind.”

The old watchmaker turned his head towards the working desk. In horror he saw himself or, rather, his senseless body with the head resting on the desk right in front of the watch. His numb hands clutched the screwdriver and tweezers. The desk was in the far corner of the room, but the watchmaker felt, with every fiber of his soul, that the second hand of the watch gave a slight tremble. It started moving for a new heart of someone else to beat in the Universe.

Questions and Activities

I. Find English equivalents to the following Russian phrases.

– признаюсь, меня всегда интересовала категория времени.

– коллекционные часы в золотом обрамлении.

– работа тонкая и требовала деликатного обращения.

– в понятии времени определённо существует философия и таинство.

– время развивается по спирали.

– озадаченный часовщик.

– чудесный редкий экземпляр.

II. Translate the following words and word-combinations.

– the watchmaker

– be keen on

– his sophisticated work

– a vintage

– to perceive

– instance

– puzzled

– a wide-brimmed hat

– the interlocutor

– the weird visitor

– a rare miraculous specimen

– to get rid of

– repellent

– a decent amount of money

– the root cause

– the screwdriver

– the tweezers

III. Find adjectives in the text. Make up your own sentences with them.

IV. Unscramble the words in bold.

1. There was a watch hmnieamcs resting on the table in front of him.

2. The watch was a vgintae framed in gold.

3. The katamwrceh addressed a visitor.

4. There have been some tsnasecni.

5. The concept of time definitely contains hoolyhipps and mystery.

6. The time is flowing in the prsali

7. You are the owner of a rare miraculous peesminc.

8. I need time to determine the otro cause.

9. His numb hands clutched the cevsidrrewr