Flying finish / Бурный финиш. Книга для чтения на английском языке

They waited nearly all day, then they came back without him.’

�And that’s all?’

�That’s the lot,’ he agreed. �Just one of life’s little mysteries. What’s the matter, are you afraid Peters will reappear and take back his job?’

�Something like that.’

�He was an awkward bastard,’ he said thoughtfully. �Stood on his rights. Always arguing; that sort of chap. Belligerent. Never stood any nonsense from foreign customs officers.’ He grinned. �I’ll bet they’re quite glad to see you instead.

’

�I dare say I’ll be just as cussed in a year or two.’

�A year or two?’ He looked surprised. �Henry, it’s all very well you taking Peters’s job for a bit of a giggle[42 - for a bit of a giggle – (разг.) для развлечения] but you surely can’t mean to go on with it permanently?’

�You think it would be more suitable if I was sitting behind a nice solid desk at Anglia?’ I asked ironically.

�Yes,’ he said seriously.

�Of course it would.’

I sighed. �Not you too. I thought you at least might understand.’ I stopped wryly.

�Understand what?’

�Well… that who one’s father is has nothing to do with the sort of work one is best suited for. And I am not fitted for sitting behind a desk. I came to that conclusion my first week at Anglia, but I stayed there because I’d kicked up a fuss and insisted on getting an ordinary job, and I wasn’t going to admit I’d made a mistake with it.

I tried to like it. At any rate I got used to it, but now… now. I don’t think I could face that nine-to-five routine ever again[43 - I don't think I could face that nine-to-five routine ever again – (разг.) я даже и подумать не могу о том, чтобы снова высиживать положенные рабочие часы].’

�Your father’s in his eighties, isn’t he?’ Simon said thoughtfully.

I nodded.

�And do you think that when he dies you will be allowed to go on carting horses round the world? And for how long could you do it without becoming an eccentric nut? Like it or not, Henry, it’s easy enough to go up the social scale, but damn difficult to go down.

And still be respected, that is.’

�And I could be respected sitting behind a desk at Anglia, transferring horses from owner to owner on paper, but not if I move about and do it on aeroplanes?’

He laughed. �Exactly.