質問: 日本語訳お願いします。 he counted how long he could hold his breath. each day he improved his time. even back at home he timed himself by the clock, and was proud to find he could hold his breath for two minutes. the authority of the clock brought close the adventure that was so important to him. the day after tomorrow, his mother reminded him casually one morning, they must go home. he swam straight out to the rock and looked down into the water. this was the moment when he would try. if he did not do it now, he never would. he filled his lungs, started to count, and dived to the bottom. he was soon inside the dark, narrow hole. the water pushed him up against the roof. the roof was sharp and hurt his back. he pulled himself along with his hands — fast, fast. his head knocked against something; a sharp pain dizzied him. he counted: one hundred... one hundred and fifteen. the hole had widened! he gave himself a kick forward and swam as fast as he could. he lost track of time and said one hundred and fifteen to himself again. then he saw light. victory filled him. his hands, reaching forward, met nothing; and his feet propelled him out into the open sea. he floated to the surface, pulled himself up onto the rock and lay face down, catching his breath. after a time he felt better and sat up. then he swam to shore and climbed slowly up the path to the house. his mother came to meet him, smiling. “have a nice time?” she asked. “oh, yes, thank you,” he said. “how did you cut your head?” “oh, i just cut it.” they sat down to lunch together. “mom,” he said, “i can hold my breath for two minutes — three minutes.” “can you, darling?” she said. “well, you shouldn’t overdo it. you look a bit pale. i don’t think you ought to swim any more today.” she was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once. it was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay.
回答: 彼は、どれだけの間息を止められるか測った。毎日その記録は伸びた。家に帰ってからも時計で時間を計り、二分間、意味が止めらると誇れるまでになった。 時計は(自分で1、2、と数えるより客観的であり)その正統性で、彼にとって重要な冒険を実現に近づけてくれた。 ある朝、何気なく彼の母は、「明後日、うちに帰るわよ」と言った。彼は早速例の岩に泳いで行き海を見下ろした。 今こそ試みる時だ。今をのがしたら、こんな機会はまたとない。彼は肺にいっぱい息を吸い込んで数え始め、底へ潜った。 彼は、程なく暗くて狭い穴の中にいた。水が彼を洞穴の天井に押し付けた。天井はゴツゴツしていて背中を痛めた。彼は両手で自分を早く、早く、と推し進めた。 頭が何かに当たって、鋭い痛みで目眩がした。彼は数えた。100、、、115。穴が広くなった! 前へ進むよう水を蹴り、できるだけの速さで泳いだ。 時間の感覚がなくなった、また115と自分に言い聞かせる。途端に光が。勝利が彼を満たした。前に出した手に触れる物はなく、脚が彼を広い海に押し出した。 彼は水面に浮き上がった。岩によじ登り、息をつく。しばらくして元気が出、立ち上がった。そして彼は海岸に泳ぎ帰り、家への坂道をゆっくり登って行った。 彼の母は、微笑み見ながら彼を迎えた。「どうだった?」「うん、良かった。」「頭の傷はどうしたの?」「いやちっと傷しただけ」と言ってお昼にした。 「ねえお母さん、僕二分間、(いや)三分間息が止めらるんだよ」 「あら、そう?」と母が言った。「でもやり過ぎないことよ。顔色が少し悪いわ。もう今日はそれ以上泳がないことにしたら?」 彼女はそのあと言い争いが続くものと思っていたが、彼はすぐ母の言うことを聞いた。もうあの入り江に行くことは大切でなかったのである。