The tale of the doctor who defied Death - Iseult Gillespie

Prevodilac: Stefan Vesić Lektor: Ivana Krivokuća

In their ramshackle hut on the edge of the woods,

U svojoj trošnoj kolibi na ivici šume,

a husband and wife were in despair.

muž i žena su očajavali.

The woman had just given birth to their thirteenth child,

Žena samo što je rodila njihovo 13. dete

and the growing family was quickly running out of food and money.

i sve većoj porodici brzo je nestajalo hrane i novca.

The father walked into the woods to ponder their problem.

Otac je otišao u šumu da razmisli o njihovom problemu.

After hours spent wandering through the trees,

Nakon što je satima lutao u šumi,

he encountered two shadowy silhouettes.

naišao je na dve mračne siluete.

The first figure appeared to be the man’s God,

Činilo se da je prva figura bog,

while the second resembled the Devil.

dok je druga ličila na đavola.

Both figures offered to lighten the man’s burden,

Obe figure ponudile su da olakšaju čoveku

and act as Godfather to his most recent child.

i budu kum njegovom najmlađem detetu,

But the man refused their offer—

ali je čovek odbio njihovu ponudu -

he wouldn’t entrust his son to those who passed judgment on human life.

nije hteo da poveri svog sina nekome ko sudi o ljudskim životima.

He ventured deeper into the tangled thicket.

Zašao je dublje u zamršeno šipražje.

Here in the darkest part of the woods, the father made out a third figure.

Tu u najmračnijem delu šume otac je ugledao treću figuru.

Sunken eyes stared out of its gaunt face, which broke into a crooked smile.

Upale oči gledale su ga sa suvog lica koje se razvuklo u zao osmeh.

This was Death himself, come to offer his services as Godfather.

Bila je to Smrt lično, koja je došla da ponudi da bude kuma.

He promised to return when the child came of age,

Obećala je da će se vratiti kada dete odraste,

to bring him happiness and prosperity.

da mu donese sreću i uspeh.

The father— knowing that all people are equal in the eyes of Death—

Znajući da su svi ljudi jednaki u očima Smrti,

accepted his offer.

otac je prihvatio njenu ponudu.

Years later, when the child had grown into an ambitious young man,

Godinama kasnije, kada je dete poraslo u ambicioznog mladića,

his skeletal Godfather came for his promised visit.

njegova kosturska kuma došla je u posetu, kao što je i obećala.

In his gnarled hand he held a flask containing the cure

U svojoj kvrgavoj ruci držala je bočicu koja je sadržala lek

for all human ailments.

za sve ljudske bolesti.

Death had brought this flask for his Godson,

Smrt je donela ovu bočicu svom kumčetu,

promising to make him a successful doctor.

obećavši da će ga učiniti uspešnim doktorom.

But the powerful potion came with very strict rules.

Međutim, uz moćni napitak išla su veoma stroga pravila.

If his Godson encountered a sick person

Ako bi njeno kumče naišlo na bolesnu osobu

and Death was hovering at the top of their bed,

i Smrt je lebdela nad uzglavljem njenog kreveta,

the doctor could heal them with just a waft of the antidote’s fumes.

doktor bi mogao da je izleči samo mirisom pare iz bočice,

But if Death lingered at the foot of the bed,

ali ako je Smrt ležala u podnožju kreveta,

he’d already claimed the patient as his own—

to je značilo da je već uzela bolesnika za sebe

and the doctor could do nothing for them.

i doktor nije mogao ništa da uradi za njega.

In time, the doctor’s potent potion and uncanny instincts

Vremenom su doktorov moćni napitak i neverovatni instinkti

became known throughout the land.

postali poznati širom zemlje.

He grew rich and famous, casting off the hardships of his early life.

Postao je bogat i poznat i tako se rešio tegoba iz svoje mladosti.

When the king fell ill, he summoned the famous physician to treat him.

Kada se kralj razboleo, pozvao je poznatog doktora da mu pomogne.

The doctor swept into the palace, ready to show off his skills.

Doktor je doleteo u palatu spreman da pokaže svoje veštine,

But when he entered the king’s chamber,

ali kada je ušao u kraljevu odaju,

he was dismayed to see Death settled at the foot of the bed.

obeshrabrio se jer je video da se Smrt smestila u podnožju kreveta.

The doctor desperately wanted the glory of saving the king—

Doktor je očajnički želeo slavu koju bi donelo spašavanje kralja,

even if it meant deceiving his Godfather.

čak i ako je to značilo prevariti svoju kumu.

And so, he swiftly spun the bed around and reversed Death’s position,

Tako je on brzo okrenuo krevet i promenio položaj Smrti,

leaving the doctor free to administer the antidote.

što je doktoru omogućilo da izleči kralja.

Death was livid.

Smrt je bila van sebe od besa.

He warned his arrogant Godson that if he ever cheated Death again,

Upozorila je svoje drsko kumče da će, ako još jednom prevari Smrt,

he would pay for it with his life.

platiti svojim životom.

Death and the doctor continued their travels.

Smrt i doktor nastavili su svoja putovanja.

After some time, the king’s messengers came to collect the doctor yet again.

Nakon nekog vremena, kralj je ponovo poslao po doktora.

The princess was gravely ill,

Princeza je bila strašno bolesna

and the king had promised incredible riches to anyone who could cure her.

i kralj je obećao ogromno bogatstvo onome ko je izleči.

The doctor approached the princesses’ chamber with gold in his eyes.

Doktor je prišao princezinoj odaji sa zlatom u očima,

But upon seeing the sleeping princess, his greed fell away.

ali kada je ugledao princezu kako spava, njegova pohlepa je nestala.

He was so struck by her grace,

Toliko je bio zadivljen njenom lepotom

that he failed to notice Death lurking by her feet.

da nije primetio Smrt koja vreba kod njenih nogu.

He swiftly healed the princess,

Brzo je izlečio princezu,

but before she could even utter her thanks,

ali pre nego što je mogla da se zahvali,

Death had dragged his lovesick Godson away.

Smrt je odvukla svoje zaljubljeno kumče.

In an instant, the palace dissolved around them.

Palata je u trenutku nestala oko njih.

The doctor found himself in an immense cave

Doktor se našao u ogromnoj pećini

lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life.

sa bezbroj sveća koje trepere, a svaka od njih predstavlja životni vek.

As punishment for his Godson’s foolish attempt to master mortality,

Kao kaznu za budalast pokušaj svog kumčeta da zagospodari smrtnošću,

Death whittled his candle down to its wick.

Smrt je srezala njegovu sveću do fitilja.

Seeing his own dwindling light,

Videvši svoje jenjavajuće svetlo,

the doctor felt the fear he’d often glimpsed in his patients’ eyes.

doktor je osetio strah koji je često viđao u očima svojih pacijenata.

Desperately, he begged Death to transfer his dying light onto a new candle.

Očajnički je molio Smrt da presadi njegovo umiruće svetlo u novu sveću.

His Godfather considered the request— but the doctor’s betrayal was too great.

Njegova kuma je razmišljala da to uradi, ali doktorova izdaja bila je prevelika.

He loosened his bony grip, and his Godson’s candle fell to the floor.

Opustila je svoj kosturski stisak i sveća njenog kumčeta pala je na pod.

Death stood motionless,

Smrt je stajala nepomično,

his inscrutable face fixed on the sputtering flame—

njeno mračno lice bilo je fiksirano za plamen koji je prštao,

until all that was left of the doctor was a wisp of smoke.

sve dok jedino što je ostalo od doktora nije bio tračak dima.