KAZUO ISHIGURO

Never Let Me Go - fragments
 

Even Ruth looked daunted that sunny day the minibus dropped us in front of the farmhouse, circled round the little pond and disappeared up the slope. We could see hills in the distance that reminded us of the ones in the distance at Hailsham, but they seemed to us oddly crooked, like when you draw a picture of a friend and it’s almost right but not quite, and the face on the sheet gives you the creeps. But at least it was the summer, not the way the Cottages would get a few months on, with all the puddles frozen over and the rough ground frosted bone hard. The place looked beautiful and cosy, with overgrown grass everywhere—a novelty to us. We stood together in a huddle, the eight of us, and watched Keffers go in and out of the farmhouse, expecting him to address us at any moment. But he didn’t, and all we could catch was the odd irritated mutter about the students who already lived there. Once, as he went to get something from his van, he gave us a moody glance, then returned to the farmhouse and closed the door behind him.

Ruxandra Georgescu

Kazuo Ishiguro
 

Chiar si Ruth parea descurajata in acea zi insorita cand microbuzul ne-a lasat in fata fermei, inconjurand micul iaz si disparand pe dupa panta. Puteam vedea dealuri in departare, care ne aminteau de cele din imprejurimile Hailsham-ului, dar ne pareau in mod ciudat incovoiate ca atunci cand desenezi portretul unui prieten si este aproape corect dar nu chiar, iar fata de pe foaie te cam ingrozeste. Dar macar era vara, nu cum urma sa fie in Cottages peste cateva luni, cu toate baltile inghetate si pamantul rigid, inghetat complet. Locul arata minunat si primitor, cu iarba crescuta peste tot-o noutate pentru noi. Stateam ingramaditi, toti opt si-l urmaream pe Keffers intrand si iesind din casa, asteptandu-ne sa ni se adreseze in orice moment. Dar nu a facut asta si tot ce am putut observa era murmurul iritat in legatura cu studentii care deja traiau aici. Odata, s-a dus sa ia ceva din furgoneta, ne-a aruncat o privire indispusa si apoi s-a intors in casa si a inchis usa dupa el.