The art of racing in the rain by Garth Stein
Fictional autobiography
A dog named Enzo remembers the lessons he has learned from Denny, his owner and a renowned racing driver.
Párrafo introductorio
Introductory paragraph
A driver must have faith. In his talent, his judgement, the judgment of those around him, physics. A driver must have faith in his crew, his tires, his brakes, himself. The apex sets up wrong. He is forced off his usual line. He carries too much speed. His tires have lost grip. The track has gotten greasy. And he suddenly finds himself at turn exit with no more track and too much speed.
As the gravel trap rushes at him, the driver must make decisions that will impact his race, his future. To tuck in would be devastating: wrenching the front wheels against their nature will only spin the car. To lift is equally bad, taking grip away from the rear of the car. What is to be done? The driver must accept his fate. He must accept the fact that mistakes have been made.
Un conductor debe tener fé. En su talento, su criterio, el juicio de quienes lo rodean, la física. Un conductor debe tener fé en su equipo, sus neumáticos, sus frenos, en sí mismo. El ápice se configura mal. Se ve obligado a abandonar su línea habitual. Lleva demasiada velocidad. Sus neumáticos han perdido agarre. La pista se ha engrasado. Y de repente se encuentra en la salida de la curva sin más pista y con demasiada velocidad.
Mientras la trampa de grava se abalanza sobre él, el piloto debe tomar decisiones que afectarán su carrera y su futuro. Meterse hacia adentro sería devastador: girar las ruedas delanteras contra su naturaleza sólo hará que el coche haga girar. Levantar es igualmente malo, quitando agarre a la parte trasera del coche. ¿Y qué se puede hacer? El conductor debe aceptar su destino. Debe aceptar el hecho de que se han cometido errores.
Literal translation
Reduction: at turn exit - salida de la curva
Adaptation: to tuck in - meterse hacia adentro
Párrafo final
Closing paragraph
Denny had said; he paid for that with a second mortgage, which Eve had encouraged. Always pushing the extremes. Finding himself broke. And finding himself on the telephone with his blind mother, asking her for some kind of help, any kind of help, so that he could keep his daughter; and her response that she would give him everything if only she could meet her grandchild. Her hands on Zoe´s hopeful face; her tears on Zoe´s dress.
¨Such a sad story¨, Mike said, pouring himself another shot of tequila.
¨Actually,¨ Denny said, examining his can of Diet Coke, ¨I believe it has a happy ending¨.
Denny había dicho; lo pagó con una segunda hipoteca, que Eve había alentado. Siempre llevando a los extremos. Encontrandose arruinado. Y encontrandose hablando por teléfono con su madre ciega, pidiéndole algún tipo de ayuda, cualquier tipo de ayuda, para poder quedarse con su hija; y su respuesta de que le daría todo si pudiera conocer a su nieta. Sus manos sobre el rostro esperanzado de Zoe; sus lágrimas en el vestido de Zoe.
¨Qué historia tan triste¨, dijo Mike, sirviéndose otro trago de tequila.
¨En realidad¨ dijo Denny, examinando su lata de Coca-Cola Light, ¨creo que tiene un final feliz¨.
Literal translation
Transposition: blind mother - madre ciega
Reduction: such a sad story - qué historia tan triste