英文速読　初級-42

　When I was driving through the mountains of Colorado one day, my car began to slow down. So I pulled up to the side of the road. Something seemed to be wrong with the radiator. So I got out of my car to fix it and looked into it in vain. The service station was a long way off and, what was worse, it was getting dark. No other car passed by, and I was at a loss what to do with the breakdown in the dark. At length a large truck appeared and the driver pulled up at the sight of me standing by my car.

 ‘’Has it broken down?’’ he asked.
‘’Yes. There may be something wrong with the radiator.’’
 ‘’I’ll take a look at that,’’ he said, and he fixed it, with a flashlight in one hand.

　My heart was full of thankfulness so I offered him a bill from my wallet. ‘’I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your stopping and taking the trouble to help me. Won’t you please take this as a token of my thanks?”

　For the first time, his face turned cold.
　‘’I don’t know how you feel, but for my part, I wouldn’t dream of it! If you saw someone in trouble, you would stop and lend him a hand. People don’t help each other for money. You repay them by helping other people whom you can help. Now take care, and drive safely.’’

‘’Thank you, sir,’’ I said. ‘’The same to you.’’ I’ve never forgotten what he told me.

　　When I was driving /through the mountains of Colorado one day, my car began to slow down. So I pulled up to the side of the road. Something seemed to be wrong with the radiator. So I got out of my car /to fix it and looked into it in vain. The service station was a long way off and, what was worse, it was getting dark. No other car passed by, and I was at a loss /what to do with the breakdown in the dark. At length a large truck appeared and the driver pulled up /at the sight of me /standing by my car.

　私が運転していた時、コロラドの山中を、ある日、私の車が速度を落とし始めた。そこで私は道端に止まった。何かラジエーターが壊れたようだった。それで、私は車を降りた、直すために、そして調べたが無駄だった。ガソリンスタンドはずっと先だったし、さらに悪いことに、暗くなっていた。車は他に一台も通らなかったし、私は途方に暮れていた、故障にどうすべきか、暗闇の中。ついに、大きなトラックが現れた、そして運転手は止まった、私を見て、車のそばに立っている。

   ‘’Has it broken down?’’ he asked.
   ‘’Yes. There may be something wrong with the radiator.’’
   ‘’I’ll take a look at that,’’ he said, and he fixed it, with a flashlight in one hand.

　「故障したのですか。」彼は尋ねた。「そうなんです。ラジエーターがおかしいのかもしれない。」「見てみましょう。」彼は言った、そしてそれを直した、懐中電灯を片手に。

　　My heart was full of thankfulness so I offered him a bill from my wallet. ‘’I can’t tell you /how much I appreciate your stopping and taking the trouble to help me. Won’t you please take this /as a token of my thanks?”

　私の心は感謝の念でいっぱいになり、財布から紙幣を差し出した。「私は言う事ができない、どれほど感謝しているか、あなたが車を止めて、わざわざ助けてくれて。どうかこれを受け取ってください、感謝のしるしとして。」

　For the first time, his face turned cold.
　‘’I don’t know /how you feel, but for my part, I wouldn’t dream of it! If you saw someone in trouble, you would stop and lend him a hand. People don’t help each other for money. You repay them /by helping other people /whom you can help. Now take care, and drive safely.’’

‘’Thank you, sir,’’ I said. ‘’The same to you.’’ I’ve never forgotten what he told me.

　初めて、彼の顔が冷たくなった。「私はわかりません、あなたがどう思うか、しかし私としては、夢にも考えていませんよ！もしあなたが困っている人を見たら、あなたは止まって手を貸すでしょう。人は助け合わないでしょう、お金のために。あなたは彼らに返します、他の人を助けることで、あなたが助けてあげられる。じゃあ、気を付けて。安全運転でね。」
　
「ありがとうございます、あなたも。」私は言った。私は決して忘れない、彼が私に言ったことを。