GRAMMAR. I. The text is abundant in verbal expressions denoting human state

I. The text is abundant in verbal expressions denoting human state. Mind
that they arc formed with the help of link verbs be, become, get, grow,
look, remain, etc. and Participle II of the meaningful verb:

Diana became anaesthetised by the very fact of driving her Audi. The boy got interested in literature.

II. Study the following sentences from the text and comment on the
use of Participle II. Translate them into your native language:

1 The boy was growing bored.

2 He stood transfixed as he stared at the woman.

3 For a moment he remained mesmerised.

4 Mystified, the boy set out on the last part of his journey home.

III. Make up your own sentences with similar verbal expressions of
state. The sentences should be based on the contents of the story.

E. READING COMPREHENSION

I. Find facts in the text to prove that:

1 Pontius was a naughty boy;

2 The boy was lonely in the compound;

3 Pontius always imitated Marcus;

4 The boy didn't like the country of staying and he missed his native land;

5 Locals in the land of Judah were afraid of the Romans;

6 By his nature Pontius was a good boy. II. Answer the following questions:

1 Why was Pontius dreading his father's return home?

2 Was the boy really naughty?

3 What chance did the mother give her son that she would forget about his bad behaviour?

4 How did the boy fulfil his mother's assignment?

5 Was the boy's conduct in the marketplace natural for him? Why?

6 Why didn't the stall-keepers protest against the boy's manner of buying?

7 What made Pontius delay on the edge of the village?

8 Why did he follow the bearded man and the fat woman on the donkey?

9 What did he see in the barn?

10 Why did he give the woman all the food he had bought?

11 What was unusual with the stars in the sky when the boy resumed his journey home?

12 What was strange with the shepherds in the hills that night?

13 What blocked the boy's path?

14 Who were the three men on the camels?

15 Why did the magi (wise men) come to Judaea?

16 How was the boy met at home by the guard and by his father?

17 What made the Governor more angry?

18 What characteristic feature did the Governor want to bring up in his son?

19 How did the boy survive the leathering?

20 Why did the boy's mother believe in her son's story?

»UNIT13

I. Think over and say when and where the story happened
and what outstanding event in the world history it is
devoted to.

II. Meditate on the title of the story. Give your arguments to
prove your belief or disbelief in the first miracle Jesus
Christ made.

HI. Discuss with your peers if honesty is always the best policy.

IV.* Make a brief report to the class on Jesus Christ and his role in the history of religions.

V.* Speak about how the Slavonic tradition of Kolyady (a week before Christmas) is celebrated and explain how the sun, symbol of paganism, was changed into the star of Bethlehem.

A. PREPARING TO READING

Before reading the story " Dougie Mortimer's Riglil Arm", you should try to predict what the story might be about or what area of human interests it could cover. Discuss with your partner what associations the title of the story can bring forth.

B. READING

6. WRITING

I. Write down the character sketch of the boy. II Prepare a reproduction of the story. HI.* Prepare a short essay on the times when Christianity was born.

I. Read the story so as to understand the gist of it. Mind the
notes that follow it.

II. Read the story carefully to say if your expectations have
been met. Be ready to participate in its discussion^

DOUGIE MORTIMER'S RIGHT ARM

ROBERT HENRY KEFFORD III, known to his friends as Bob, first heard about Dougie Mortimer's right arm from a girl called Helen.

Bob was sorry to be leaving Cambridge. He had spent three glorious years at St John's, and although he hadn't read as many books as he had done for his undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago, he had striven every Ml as hard to come head of the river.

It wasn't unusual for an American to win a rowing blue in the early 1970s, but to have stroked a victorious Cambridge eight for three years in a row was acknowledged as a first.

Bob's father, Robert Henry Kefford II, known to his friends as Robert, had travelled over to England to watch his son take part in all three races from PutneJ' to Mortlake. After Bob had stroked Cambridge to victory for the third time, his father told him that he must not return to his native Illinois without having presented a memento to the University Boat Club that they would remember him by.

" And don't forget, my boy, " declared Robert Henry Kefford II, " the gift must not be ostentatious. Better to show that you have made an effort to present them with an object of historic value than give them something that obviously cost a great deal of money. The British appreciate that sort of thing."

Bob spent many hours pondering on his father's words, but completely failed to come up with any worthwhile ideas. After all, the Cambridge University Boat Club had more silver cups and trophies than they could possibly display.

It was Helen who first mentioned the name of Dougie Mortimer. She did it one day, when she was prodding Bob's biceps.

" Is this some form of ancient British play that I ought to know about? " Bob asked, placing his free arm around Helen's shoulder.

" Certainly not, " Helen replied. " I was simply trying to discover if your biceps are as big as Dougie Mortimer's."

" And are they? " he enquired, flexing his muscles.

" Hard to tell, " Helen replied. " I've never actually touched Dougie's arm, only seen it at a distance."

" And where did you come across this magnificent specimen of manhood? "

" It hangs over the bar at my dad's local, in Hull."

" Doesn't Dougie Mortimer find that a little painful? " asked Bob, laughing.

" Doubt if he cares that much, " said Helen. " After all, he's been dead for over sixty years."

" And his arm still hangs above a bar? " asked Bob in disbelief. " Hasn't it begun to smell a bit by now? "

This time it was Helen's turn to laugh. " No, you Yankee fool. It's a bronze cast of his arm. In those days, if you were in the University crew for three years in a row, they made a cast of your arm to hang in the clubhouse. Not to mention a card with your picture on it in every packet of Player's cigarettes. I've never seen your picture in a cigarette packet, come to think of it, " said Helen.

" Did he row for Oxford or Cambridge? " asked Bob.

" No idea."

" So, what's the name of this pub in Hull? "

" The King William, " Helen replied.

Later that morning Bob began searching his shelves for a book with a blue cover. He dug out his much-thumbed History of the Boat Race and flicked through the index, to discover that there were seven Mortimers listed. Five had rowed for Oxford, two for Cambridge. He began to pray as he checked their initials. Mortimer, AJ. (Westminster and Wadham, Oxon), Mortimer, C.K. (Uppingham and Oriel, Oxon), Mortimer, D.J.T. (Harrow and St Catharine's, Cantab), Mortimer, E.L. (Oundle and Magdalen, Oxon). Bob turned his attention to Mortimer, D.J.T., biography page 129, and flicked the pages backwards until he reached the entry he sought. Douglas John Townsend Mortimer (St Catharine's), Cambridge 1907, -08, -09 stroke. He then read the short summary of Mortimer's rowing career.

Dougie Mortimer stroked the Cambridge boat to victory in 1907, a feat which he repeated in 1908. But in 1909, when the experts considered Cambridge to have one of the finest crews for years, the light blues lost to an Oxford boat that was regarded as the rank outsider. Although many explanations were suggested by the pi ess at the time, the result of the race remains a mystery to this day. Mortimer died in 1914.

Bob closed the book and returned it to the shelf, assuming the great oarsman must have been killed in the

'irst World War. He perched on the end of the bed, onsidering the information he now possessed. If he could ring Dougie Mortimer's right arm back to Cambridge and resent it to the Club at the annual Blues' Dinner, it would urely be a prize that met his father's demanding criterion.

He dressed quickly and went downstairs to the pay phone i the corridor. Once directory enquiries had given him the эиг numbers he required, he set about trying to remove the ext obstacle.

The first calls he made were to the King William — or, э be precise, the King Williams, because the directory had jpplied him with the numbers of three pubs in Hull which ore that name. When he was put through to the first, he sked, " Does Dougie Mortimer's right arm hang above your Dunter? " He couldn't quite make out every word of the road northern accent that replied, but he was left in no oubt that it didn't.

The second call was answered by a girl who said, " Do ou mean that thing that's nailed to the wall above the ar? "

" Yes. I guess that will be it, " said Bob.

" Well then, this is the pub you're looking for."

After Bob had taken down the address and checked the ub's opening hours, he made a third call. " Yes, that's ossible, " he was told. " You can take the 3.17 to eterborough, where you'll have to change and catch the.09 for Doncaster, then change again. You'll arrive in Hull i 6.32."

" What about the last train back? " asked Bob.

" 8.52, change at Doncaster and Peterborough. You iould be back in Cambridge just after midnight."

" Thank you, " said Bob. He strolled off to his college for Mich and took a place at the large centre table, but proved ausually poor company for those around him.

He boarded the train to Peterborough later that ^: ternoon, still thinking about how he could possibly relieve le pub owners of their prize possession. At Peterborough he jumped out, walked across to a waiting train on platform: hree and climbed aboard, still deep in thought. When his train pulled into Hull a couple of hours later he was no nearer to solving the problem. He asked the first taxi on the rank to take him to the Ктд William.

" Market Place, Harold's Corner or Percy Street? " asked the cabbie.

" Percy Street, please, " replied Bob.

" They don't open until seven, lad, " the cabbie told him once he had dropped Bob outside the front door.

Bob checked the time. Twenty minutes to kill. He walked down a side street at tie back of the pub, and stopped to watch some young L\ds playing football. They were using the front walls of two houses on either side of the street as goals, and showed amazing accuracy in never hitting any of the windows.

He became so captivated by the youngsters' skill that they stopped to ask him if he wanted to join in. He said, " No thank you, " confident that if he did play with them, he would be the one person who ended up breaking a window.

He arrived back outside the King William a few minutes after seven, and strolled into the empty pub, hoping that no one would pay much attention to him. But at six feet four inches, and dressed in a double-breasted blue blazer, grey flannels, a blue shirt and college tie, the three people behind the bar might well have wondered if he had dropped in from another planet. He stopped himself from looking above the bar, as a young blonde barmaid stepped forward and asked him what he would like.

" A half a pint of your best bitter, " Bob said, trying to sound like one of his English friends when they ordered a drink from the college buttery.

The landlord eyed Bob suspiciously as he took his half-pint glass over to a small round table in the corner and sat down quietly on a stool. He was pleased when two other men entered the pub, so that the landlord's attention was distracted.

Bob took a sip of the dark liquid and nearly- choked. When he had recovered, he allowed his eyes to glance above the bar. He tried to hide his excitement when he saw the bronze cast of a massive arm embedded in large piece of varnished wood. He thought the object both dreadful and inspiring at the same time. His eyes moved down to the bold lettering printed in beneath it:

D. J. T. MORTIMER 1907-08-09 (ST CATHARINE'S, STROKE)

Bob kept his eye on the landlord as the pub began to fill up, but he soon became aware that it was his wife — everyone called her Nora — who was not only in charge but who did most of the serving.

When he had finished his drink, he made his way to her end of the bar.

" What can I do for you, young man? " Nora asked.

" I'll have another, thank you, " said Bob.

" An American, " she said, as she pulled the pump and began to refill his glass. " We don't get many of you lot up 'ere, at least not since the bases closed." She placed his half-pint on the counter in front of him. " So, what brings you to " nil? "

" You do, " Bob replied, ignoring his drink.

Nora looked suspiciously at the stranger, who was young enough to be her son.

Bob smiled, " Or, to be more accurate, Dougie Mortimer docs."

" Now I've figured you out, " said Nora. " You phoned this morning, didn't you? My Christie told me. I should 've guessed."

Bob nodded. " How did the arm end up in Hull? " he asked.

" Now, that's a long story, " said Nora. " It was my grand­father's, wasn't it. Born in Ely 'e was, and 'e used to spend his holidays fishin' the Cam. Said it was the only catch he managed that year, which I suppose is one better than sayin' it fell off the back of a lorry. Still, when 'e died a few years back, my father wanted to throw the bloody thing out with the rest of the rubbish, but I wouldn't 'ear of it, told 'im 'e should 'ang it in the pub, didn't I? I cleaned and polished it, it came up real nice, and then I 'ung it above the bar. Still, it's a long way for you to travel just to 'ave a look at that load of old cobblers."

Bob looked up and admired the arm once again. He held his breath. " I didn't come just to look."

" Then why did you come? " she asked.

" I came to buy."

" Get a move on, Nora, " said the landlord. " Can't you see there are customers waitin' to be served? "

Nora swung round and said, " Just 'old your tongue, Cyril Bamsworth. This young man's come all the way up to 'ull just to see Dougie Mortimer's arm, and what's more, 'e wants to buy it." This caused laughter from the regulars standing nearest to the bar, but as Nora didn't join in they quickly fell silent.

" Then it's been a wasted journey, 'asn't it? " said the landlord. " Because it's not for sale."

" It's not yours to sell, " said Nora, placing her hands on her hips. " Mind you, lad, 'e's right, " she said, turning back to face Bob. " I wouldn't part with it for a 'undred quid, " said Nora. Several others in the room were beginning to show an interest in the proceedings.

" How about two hundred, " said Bob quietly. This time Nora burst out laughing, but Bob didn't even smile.

When Nora had stopped laughing, she stared directly at the strange young man. " My God, 'e means it, " she said.

" I certainly do, " said Bob. " I would like to see the arm returned to its rightful home in Cambridge, and I'm willing to pay two hundred pounds for the privilege."

The landlord looked across at his wife, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. " We could buy that little second-hand car I've had my eye on, " he said.

" Not to mention a summer 'oliday and a new overcoat for next winter, " Nora added, staring at Bob as if she still needed to be convinced that he wasn't from another planet. Suddenly she thrust her hand over the counter and said, " You've got yourself a deal, young man."

Bob ended up having to supply several rounds of drinks for those customers who claimed to have been close personal friends of Nora's grandfather, even if some of them looked rather obviously too young. He also had to stay overnight in a local hotel, because Nora wouldn't pan with her grandfather's " heirloom", as she now kept referring to it, until her bank manager had phoned Cambridge to check that Robert Henry Kef ford III was good for two hundred pounds.

Bob clung onto his treasure all the way back to Cam­bridge, and then lugged the heavy object from the station to his digs in Grange Road, where he hid it under the bed. The following day he handed it over to a local furniture restorer, who promised to return the arm to its former glory in time for the night of the Blues' Dinner.

When, three weeks later, Bob was allowed to see the results of the restorer's efforts, he immediately felt confident that he now possessed a prize not only worthy of the C.U.B.C., but that also complied with his father's wishes. He resolved not to share his secret with anyone — not even Helen — until the night of the Blues' Dinner, although he did warn the puzzled President that he was going to make a presentation, and that he required two hooks, eighteen inches apart and eight feet from the floor, to be screwed into the wall beforehand.

The University Blues' Dinner is an annual event held in che Boat House overlooking the Cam. Any former or current rowing blue is eligible to attend, and Bob was delighted to find when he arrived that night that it was a near-record turnout. He placed the carefully wrapped brown paper parcel under his chair, and put his camera on the table in front of him.

Because it was his last Blues' Dinner before returning to America, Bob had been seated at the top table, between the Honorary Secretary and the current President of Boats. Tom Adams, the Honorary Secretary, had gained his blue some twenty years before, and was recognised as the club's walking encyclopedia, because he could name not only everyone in the room, but all the great oarsmen of the past.

Tom pointed out to Bob three Olympic medallists in the room. " The oldest is sitting on the left of the President/ he said. " Charles Forester. He rowed at number three for the club in 1908-09, so he must be over eighty."

" Can it be possible? " said Bob, recalling Forester's youthful picture on the clubhouse wall.

" Certainly can, " said the Secretary. " And what's more, young man, " he added, laughing, 'you'll look like that one day too.'

" What about the man at the far end of the table? " asked Bob. " He looks even older."

" He is, " said the Secretary. " That's Sidney Fisk. He was boatman from 1912 to 1945, with only a break for the First World War. Took over from his uncle at short notice, if I remember correctly."

" So he would have known Dougie Mortimer, " said Bob wistfully.

" Now, there's a great name from the past, " said Adams. 'Mortimer. D.J.T., 1907-08-09, St Catharine's, stroke. Oh, yes, Fisk would certainly have known Mortimer, that's for sure. Come to think of it, Charles Forester must have been in the same boat as Mortimer when he was stroke."

During the meal, Bob continued to quiz Adams about Dougie Mortimer, but he was unable to add a great deal to the entry in Bob's History of the Boat Race, other than to confirm that Cambridge's defeat in 1909 still remained a mystery, as the light blues demonstrably had the superior crew.

When the last course had been cleared away, the Presi­dent rose to welcome his guests and to make a short speech.

Bob enjoyed the parts he was able to hear above the noise made by the rowdy undergraduates, and even joined in the frenzy whenever Oxford was mentioned. The President ended with the words, " There will be a special presentation to the club this year, by our colonial stroke Bob Kefford, which I'm sure we're all going to appreciate."

When Bob rose from his place the cheering became even nore raucous, but he spoke so softly that the noise quickly lied away. He told his fellow members how he had come to iiscover, and later retrieve Dougie Mortimer's right arm.

With a flourish, he unwrapped the parcel that had been; ecreted under his chair, and revealed the newly restored > ronze cast. The assembled members rose to their feet and: heered. A smile of satisfaction came over Bob's face as he ooked around, only wishing his father could have been > resent to witness their reaction.

As his eyes swept the room, Bob couldn't help noticing, hat the oldest blue present, Charles Forester, had remained eated, and was not even joining in the applause. Bob's gaze hen settled on Sidney Fisk, the only other person who had. ot risen to his feet. The old boatman's lips remained fixed i a straight line, and his hands didn't move from his knees.

Bob forgot about the two old men when the President, ssisted by Tom Adams, hung the bronze arm on the wall, lob began to take photographs of the ceremony, so that he 'ould have a record to show his father that he had carried ut his wishes.

When the hanging was over, many of the members and Id blues surrounded Bob to thank and congratulate him. saving him in no doubt that all the trouble he had taken to ■ ack down the arm had been worthwhile.

Bob was among the last to leave that night, because so any members had wanted to wish him good luck for the iture. He was strolling along the footpath back to his digs, hen he suddenly remembered that he had left his camera on le table. He decided to collect it in the morning, as he was ire that the clubhouse would be locked and deserted by now, but when he turned round to check, he saw a single light coming from the ground floor.

He turned and began walking back towards the club­house. When he was a few paces away, he glanced through the window, and saw that there were two figures standing in the committee room. He strode over to take a closer look, and was surprised to see the elderly blue, Charles Forester, and Sidney Fisk, the retired boatman, trying to shift a heavy table. He would have gone in to assist them if Fisk hadn't suddenly pointed up towards Dougie Mortimer's arm. Bob remained motionless as he watched the two old men drag the table inch by inch nearer to the wall, until it was directly below the plaque.

Fisk picked up a chair and placed it against the wall, and Forester used it as a step to climb onto the table. Forester then bent down and took the arm of the older man, to help him up.

Once they were both safely on the table, they held a short conversation before reaching up to the bronze cast, easing it off its hooks and slowly lowering it until it rested between their feet. Forester, with the help of the chair, stepped back down onto the floor, then turned round to assist his companion again.

Bob still didn't move, as the two old men carried Dougie Mortimer's arm across the room and out of the boathouse. Having placed it on the ground outside the door, Forester returned to switch off the lights. When he stepped back outside into the cold night air, the boatman quickly locked the door.

Once again the two old men held a short conversation before lifting Bob's trophy up and stumbling off with it along the towpath. They had to stop, lower the arm to the ground, rest, and start again several times. Bob followed silently in their wake, using the broad-trunked trees to conceal himself, until the elderly pair suddenly turned and made their way down the bank towards the river. They came to a halt at the water's edge, and lowered their bounty into a small rowing boat.

The old blue untied the rope, and the two men pushed the boat slowly out into the river, until the water was lapping around the knees of their evening dress trousers.

Neither seemed at all concerned about the fact that they were getting soaked. Forester managed to clamber up into the little boat quite quickly, but it took Fisk several minutes to join him. Once they were both aboard, Forester took his place at the oars, while the boatman remained in the bow, clutching on to Dougie Mortimer's arm.

Forester began to row steadily towards the middle of the river. His progress was slow, but his easy rhythm revealed that he had rowed many times before. When the two men calculated that they had reached the centre of the Cam, at its deepest point, Forester stopped rowing and joined his companion in the bow. They picked up the bronze arm and, without ceremony, cast it over the side and into the river. Bob heard the splash and saw the boat rock dangerously from side to side. Fisk then took his turn at the oars; his progress back to the river-bank was even slower than Forester's. They eventually reached land, and both men stumbled out and shoved the boat up towards its mooring,; he boatman finally securing the rope to a large ring.

Soaked and exhausted, their breath rising visibly in the dear night air, the two old men stood and faced each other. They shook hands like two business tycoons who had closed in important deal, before disappearing into the night.

Tom Adams, the Club's Honorary Secretary, rang Bob he following morning to tell him something he already: new. In fact he had lain awake all night thinking of little lse.

Bob listened to Adams's account of the break-in.

" What's surprising is that they only took one thing." He aused. " Your arm — or rather, Dougie's arm. It's very trange, especially as someone had left an expensive camera n the top table."

" Is there anything I can do to help? " asked Bob.

" No, I don't think so, old boy, " said Adams. " The local police are making enquiries, but my bet is that whoever stole the arm will probably be halfway across the county by now."

" I expect you're right, " said Bob. " While you're on the line, Mr Adams, I wonder if I could ask you a question about the history of the club."

" I'll do my best, " said Adams. " But you must remember that it's only a hobby for me, old chap."

" Do you by any chance know who is the oldest living Oxford rowing blue? " There was a long silence on the other end of the line. " Are you still there? " Bob asked eventually.

" Yes. I was just trying to think if old Harold Deering is still alive. I can't remember seeing his obituary in the Times."

" Deering? " said Bob.

" Yes. Radley and Keble, 1909-10-11. He became a bishop, if I remember correctly, but I'm damned if I can recall where."

" Thank you, " said Bob, " that's most helpful."

" I could be wrong, " Adams pointed out. " After all, I don't read the obituary columns every day. And I'm a bit rusty when it comes to Oxford."

Bob thanked him once again before ringing off.

After a college lunch which he didn't eat, Bob returned to his digs and rang the porter's lodge at Keble.

" Do you have any record of a Harold Deering, a former member of the college? " Bob asked.

" Deering... Deering..." said the voice. " That's a new one on me. Let me see if he's in the college handbook." Another long pause, during which Bob really did begin to think he'd been cut off, until the voice said, " Good heavens, no wonder. It was just a bit before my time. Deering, Harold, 1909-11, BA 1911, MA 1916 (Theology). Became Bishop of Truro. Is that the one? "

" Yes, that's the man, " said Bob. " Do you by any chance have an address for him? "

" I do, " said the voice. " The Rt. Revd. Harold Deering, he Stone House, Mill Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire."

" Thank you, " said Bob. " You've been very helpful."

Bob spent the rest of the afternoon composing a letter to he former bishop, in the hope that the old blue might agree о see him.

He was surprised to receive a call at his digs three days ater from a Mrs Elliot, who turned out to be Mr Deering's aughter, with whom he was now living.

" The poor old chap can't see much beyond his nose these ays, " she explained, " so I had to read your letter out to im. But he'd be delighted to meet you, and wonders if you ould call on him this Sunday at 11.30, assuming that's not. ^convenient for you."

" That's fine, " said Bob. " Please tell your father to expect le around 11.30."

" It has to be in the morning, " Mrs Elliot went on to xplain, " because, you see, he has a tendency to fall asleep fter lunch. I'm sure you understand. By the way, I'll send irections to your college."

On the Sunday morning, Bob was up long before the sun ase, and started out on his journey to Tewkesbury in a car e had hired the previous day. He would have gone by train, ut British Rail didn't seem willing to rise quite early nough for him to reach his destination on time. As he jurneyed across the Cotswolds, he tried to remember to eep the car on the left, and couldn't help wondering how)ng it would be before the British started to build some ighways with more than one lane.

He drove into Tewkesbury a few minutes after eleven, nd thanks to Mrs Elliot's clear directions, quickly found ле Stone House. He parked the car outside a little gate.

A woman had opened the door of the house even before iob was halfway up the path. " It must be Mr Kefford, " she eclared. " I'm Susan Elliot." Bob smiled and shook her and. " I should warn you, " Mrs Elliot explained as she led im towards the front door, " that you'll have to speak up.

Father's become rather deaf lately, and I'm afraid his memory isn't what it used to be. He can recall everything that happened to him at your age, but not even the most simple things that I told him yesterday. I've had to remind him what time you would be coming this morning, ' she said as they walked through the open door. " Three times."

" I'm sorry to have put you to so much trouble, Mrs Elliot, " said Bob.

" No trouble at all, " said Mrs Elliot as she led him down the corridor. " The truth is, my father's been rather excited by the thought of an American blue from Cambridge comir g to visit him after all these years. He hasn't stopped talking about it for the past two days. He's also curious about why you wanted to see him in the first place, " she added conspiratorially.

She led Bob into the drawing room, where he immedi­ately came face to face with an old man seated in a leather chair, wrapped in a warm plaid dressing gown and propped up on several cushions, his legs covered by a blanket. Bob fsund it hard to believe that this frail figure had once been an Olympic oarsman.

" Is it him? " the old man asked in a loud voice.

" Yes, Father, " Mrs Elliot replied, equally loudly. " It's Mr Kefford. He's driven over from Cambridge especially to see you."

Bob walked forward and shook the old man's bony outstretched hand.

" Good of you to come all this way, Kefford, " said the former bishop, pulling his blanket up a little higher.

" I appreciate your seeing me, sir, " said Bob, as Mrs Elliot directed him to a comfortable chair opposite her father.

" Would you care for a cup of tea, Kefford? " " No, thank you, sir, " said Bob. " I really don't want anything."

" As you wish, " said the old man. " Now, I must warn you, Kefford, that my concentration span isn't quite what it used to be, so you'd better tell me straight away why you've come to see me."

Bob attempted to marshal his thoughts. " I'm doing k\ little research on a Cambridge blue who must have rowe< J^? around the same time as you, sir."

" What's his name? " asked Deering. " I can't remember* them all, you know."

Bob looked at him, fearing that this was going to turn out to be a wasted journey.

" Mortimer. Dougie Mortimer, " he said.

" D.J.T. Mortimer, " the old man responded without hesitation. " Now, there's someone you couldn't easily forget. One of the finest strokes Cambridge ever produced — as Oxford found out, to their cost." The old man paused. " You're not a journalist, by any chance? "

" No, sir. It's just a personal whim. I wanted to find out one or two things about him before I return to America."

" Then I will certainly try to help if I can, " said the old man in a piping voice.

" Thank you, " said Bob. " I'd actually like to begin at the end, if I may, by asking if you knew the circumstances of his death."

There was no response for several moments. The old cleric's eyelids closed, and Bob began to wonder if he had fallen asleep.

" Not the sort of thing chaps talked about in my day, " he eventually replied. " Especially with its being against the law at the time, don't you know."

" Against the law? " said Bob, puzzled.

" Suicide. A bit silly, when you think about it, " the old priest continued, " even if it is a mortal sin. Because yoif can't put someone in jail who's already dead, now can you? Not that it was ever confirmed, you understand."

" Do you think it might have been connected with Cam­bridge losing the Boat Race in 1909, when they were such clear favourites? "

" It's possible, I suppose, " said Deering, hesitating oner again. " I must admit, the thought had crossed my mind. I took part in that race, as you may know." He paused again, breathing heavily. " Cambridge were the clear favourites, and we didn't give ourselves a chance. The result was never properly explained, I must admit. There were a lot of rumours doing the rounds at the time, but no proof — no proof, you understand."

" What wasn't proved? " asked Bob. There was another long silence, during which Bob began to fear that the old man might have thought he'd gone too far.

" My turn to ask you a few questions, Kefford, " he said eventually.

" Of course, sir."

" My daughter tells me that you've stroked the winning boat for Cambridge three years in a row." " That's correct, sir."

" Congratulations, my boy. But tell me: if you had wanted to lose one of those races, could you have done so, without the rest of the crew being aware of it? "

It was Bob's turn to ponder. He realised for the first time since he had entered the room that he shouldn't assume that a frail body necessarily indicates a frail mind.

" Yes, I guess so, " he eventually said. " You could always change the stroke rate without warning, or even catch a crab as you took the Surrey bend. Heaven knows, there's always enough flotsam on the river to make it appear unavoidable." Bob looked the old man straight in the eye. " But it would never have crossed my mind that anyone might do so deliberately."

" Nor mine, " said the priest, " had their cox not taken holy orders."

" I'm not sure I understand, sir, " said Bob.

" No reason you should, young man. I'll try to be less obscure. The cox of the 1909 Cambridge boat was a chap called Bertie Partridge. He went on to become a parish priest in some outpost called Chersfield in Rutland. Probably the only place that would have him, " he chuckled. " But when I became Bishop of Truro, he wrote and invited me to address his flock. It was such an arduous journey from Cornwall to Rutland in those days, that I could easily have made my excuses, but like you, I wanted the mystery of the 1909 race solved, and I thought this might be my only chance."

Bob made no attempt to interrupt, fearing he might stop the old man's flow.

" Partridge was a bachelor, and bachelors get very lonely, don't you know. If you give them half a chance, they love to gossip. I stayed overnight, which gave him every chance. He told me, over a long dinner accompanied by a bottle of non*^1, vintage wine, that it was well known that Mortimer had run up debts all over Cambridge. Not many undergraduates don't, t you might say, but in Mortimer's case they far exceeded even, his potential income. I think he rather hoped that his fame' and popularity would stop his creditors from pressing their" claims. Not unlike Disraeli when he was Prime Minister, " he i added with another chuckle.

" But in Mortimer's case one particular shopkeeper, who had absolutely no interest in rowing, and even less in undergraduates, threatened to bankrupt him the week before the 1909 Boat Race. A few days after the race had been lost, Mortimer seemed, without explanation, to have cleared all his obligations, and nothing more was heard of the matter."

Once again the old man paused as if in deep thought. Bob remained silent, still not wishing to distract him.

" The only other thing I can recall is that the bookies made a killing, " Deering said without warning. " I know that to my personal cost, because my tutor lost a five-pound wager, and never let me forget that I had told him we didn't have a snowball's chance in hell. Mind you, I was always able to offer that as my excuse for not getting a first." He looked up and smiled at his visitor.

Bob sat on the edge of his seat, mesmerised by the old man's recollections.

" I'm grateful for your candour, sir, " he said. " And you can be assured of my discretion."

" Thank you, Kefford, " said the old man, now almost whispering. " I'm only too delighted to have been able to assist you. Is there anything else I can help you with? "

" No, thank you, sir, " said Bob. " I think you've covered everything I needed to know."

Bob rose from his chair, and as he turned to thank Mrs Elliot he noticed for the first time a bronze cast of an arm hanging on the far wall. Below it was printed in gold: H.R.R. DEERING

1909-10-11 (KEBLE, BOW)

" You must have been a fine oarsman, sir."

" No, not really, " said the old blue. " But I was lucky enough to be in the winning boat three years in a row, which wouldn't please a Cambridge man like yourself."

Bob laughed. " Perhaps one last question before I leave, sir."

" Of course, Kefford."

" Did they ever make a bronze of Dougie Mortimer's arm? "

" They most certainly did, " replied the priest. " But it mysteriously disappeared from your boathouse in 1912. A few weeks later the boatman was sacked without expla­nation — caused quite a stir at the time."

" Was it known why he was sacked? " asked Bob.

" Partridge claimed that when the old boatman got drunk one night, he confessed to having dumped Mortimer's arm in the middle of the Cam." The old man paused, smiled, and added, " Best place for it, wouldn't you say, Kefford? "

Bob thought about the question for some time, wondering how his father would have reacted. He then replied simply, " Yes, sir. Best place for it."

NOTES:

Cambridge University — an oldest British University that was founded in 1284; it is situated in Cambridge on the river Cam; the University consists of a number of colleges such as St. John's (founded in 1511), St. Catharine's (founded in 1473), etc.

Oxford University — the first British University that is situated in Oxford on the river Thames; Oriel (founded in 1326), Magdalen (founded in 1448) and Wadham (founded in 1613) are its colleges.

rowing — both Cambridge and Oxford Universities are famous for boat races; crews are formed to race in the University Boat Race over what has become known as the Championship Course on the river Thames in London: from Putney to Mortlake, 41, 4 miles. The major summer event is the Eights Week (actually 4 days, from Wednesday to Saturday) in May. 145 University Boat races had been held by 1973 in which Cambridge won 76. The colours are pale blue for Cambridge and dark blue for Oxford.

Illinois — the 21st state of the USA founded in 1818

Hull — a city in England (founded in the 12^th century) that due to its geographical position (situated on the river Hull and having access to the North Sea) benefited a lot from commerce and trade

Yankee (AE, Coll.) — an inhabitant of New England or one of the northern American states

Player's cigarettes — a Canadian brand of Imperial Tobacco (founded in 1901) owned by American company Philip Morris; known for pictures of famous films-stars, sportsmen, animals, etc. printed on the packets of cigarettes; also known for sponsorship of Formula One Racing

Harrow, Westminster, Uppingham, Oundle — Britain's public schools famous for high quality of education

Cantab — of Cambridge (University); short for cantabrigiensis, from Cantabrigia, the Latin form of Cambridge;

Oxon — " of Oxford (University)"; short for the I.aim for Oxoniensis

Peterborough, Doncaster — towns in the eastern and northern parts of England

cabbie, cabby (Coll.) — a taxi-driver

bitter — a kind of beer

buttery — a room, especially in a college, where

provisions are kept and supplied to students

'ere, 'ull — in the northern accent " h" at the beginning

of the word is not pronounced, so 'ere stands for " here", 'ull

stands for " Hull", etc.

bases — here: US military bases

quid (pi. quid) — sovereign or pound sterling

C.U.B.C. — Cambridge University Boat Club (founded

in 1828)

top-table (British) — a table at the upper place for important persons and guests

obituary in the Times — a notice of death in a newspaper; the Times is Britain's quality newspaper

Rt. Revd. (the Right Reverend) — the title of a bishop

Gloucestershire — a west Midland county in England;

Rutland — the smallest inland county of England; its greatest length (north to south) is 18 miles, greatest breadth — 17 miles;

Cornwall — the most South Westerly county in England which has one land border with the county of Devon

British Rail — a government railway corporation which was sold to private rail companies by the last Tory government in the mid-1990s

Cotswolds — the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire

crab — occurs when a rower fails to get the oar out of the water at the end of the stroke; it can result in the rower being ejected by the oar from boat to water

Surrey bend — a bend where the Thames makes a bend to the Surrey side, largely industrial London's district south of the Thames

cox — short for a coxswain, especially of a racing-boat

WORDS

C. VOCABULARY FOCUS

I. Look up and learn the words and expressions listed below:

II. Study the definitions of the following words. Memorize them to use later in practice:

acknowledge — express appreciation of (a service, etc.)

specimen — an individual or part taken as an example of a class or whole

thumb, v. — turn over pages with a thumb

directory — a book listing alphabetically or thematically a group of individuals or organizations

relieve of — take away from somebody

lettering — letters inscribed

embed — fix firmly into a surrounding mass

drag — pull away with effort or difficulty

turn-out — the number of people attending the meeting

shove — push vigorously

quiz — examine by questioning

claim — a demand or request for something considered one's due

make a killing (Coll.) — get a great (especially financial) success

ponder on = think over make out = understand comply with = agree, conform rowdy = noisy, loud figure out = understand obscure = unclear, puzzling tycoon (AE, Coll.) = a (business) magnate arduous = difficult, tiresome

dig out

relieve smb. of smth.

get a deal

at short notice

in the wake of smb.

at the oars

row, rowing the eights stroke, v., n. crew oarsman boatman take a bend

lug = drag, carry, tug

crew = team

fame = glory, name

chap, lad (Coll.) = boy, man

whim = caprice

digs (BE, Coll.) = lodgings

bounty = gift, reward

rusty = ill-tempered

in the bow catch a crab run up debts clear obligations cause a stir

change the stroke rate

cox, coxswain

in the wake of smb.

defeat

rank outsider favourite

VII. Grye the key words or expressions from the text to the following
definitions. Recollect the sentences in which they were used in
the text:

An unmarried man is....

A piece of personal property that has been in a family for several generations or received as part of an inheritance is....

A Christian congregation or body of believers in relation to one minister is....

Wreckage found floating is....

To arrange a transaction with somebody is....

The intentional killing of oneself is....

To cross with one step is....

A genera] talk of doubtful accuracy is....

To arrange facts, soldiers, one's thoughts in due order is....

To throw out, shoot or deposit something like rubbish is....

A competitor, applicant, etc. who is thought to have little chance of success is....

VIII. Study the sentences made up on the contents of the text and fill
in the gaps in them with the key words and expressions:

1 Robert Henry Kefford II advised his son that his gift to the C.U.B.C. must not be and Bob spent many hours... his father's words.

2 A bronze cast of Dougie Mortimer's right arm showed that he was a magnificent....

3 Dougie Mortimer stroked the Cambridge eight to victory in 1907, the... which he repeated in 1908. But in 1909 the light blues lost to an Oxford boat that was regarded as....

4 As Mortimer died in 1914, Bob thought that the great... must have been killed in the First World War. He didn't know that Dougie had committed....

5 Bob went downstairs to the pay phone and studied a... that gave him the four numbers.

6 Dressed in a blue grey a blue shirt and a college tie Bob seemed to have dropped in the pub from another planet.

7 Above the bar Bob saw a bronze... of a massive arm... in a large piece of... wood.

8 Nora didn't want to part with her grandfather's... even for a hundred....

9 Now he possessed a prize not only worthy of the Blues' Club, but that also... his father's wishes.

10 When Bob arrived at the Dinner Party he was delighted to find that it was a near-record....

11 Whenever Oxford was mentioned Bob joined the... undergraduates in.... So when he started to speak, the... became even more....

12 Bob followed Charles Forester and Sidney Fisk silently using the trees to conceal himself. The two old men were... Bob's... to the river.

13 Forester was younger so he managed to... into the boat quite quickly.

14 When Forester and Fisk eventually reached land, they stumbled out and... the boat up toward its....

15 Bob explained to the old... that as he was doing a little research on Dougie Mortimer, a Cambridge blue, it was his personal... to find out some things about him.

16 There were a lot of... on Cambridge blues'... in 1909, but no proof was given.

17 The old clergyman was wise and witty. Bob shouldn't have assumed that a... body necessarily indicates a... mind.

18 Mysterious disappearing of Mortimer's arm from the boathouse in 1912 and the... was sacked without explanation.

IX. Give the English equivalents of the Russian expressions that follow; give their synonyms if there are any:

дощечка с надписью раздражительный тон теплый халат из шотландки отправить кого-либо в тюрьму священник прихода избавить от чего-либо

книга, которую много раз листали сесть на весла
загребной на лодке-восьмерке отчет о взломе

ввинтить два крюка в стену обратиться к пастве

принять должность от кого-либо водитель такси великолепный образец мужчины совершить сделку наделать долгов по всему Кембриджу семейная реликвия промышленный или финансовый сорвать куш магнат

X. Translate these sentences into English using the key expressions from the text. Mind the English and Russian way of expressing the same notion or reality:

1 Боб провел три восхитительных года в колледже Святого Иоанна, где он всегда стремился к реке.

2 Американец трижды приводил Кембриджскую восьмерку к победе, задавая такт гребцам.

3 В те времена, если гребец находился в команде уни­верситета три года, они отливали из бронзы его руку, что­бы повесить в помещении клуба.

4 Боб раскопал свою много раз читанную книгу о ло­дочных гонках и бегло провел указательным пальцем по указателю имен.

5 Телефонный справочник выдал Бобу номера четы­рех пабов в Галле, которые назывались " Король Уильям".

6 Боб едва мог разобрать половину слов северного ди­алекта, но он понял, что руки Мортимера в этом набе нет.

7 Водитель такси спросил Боба, куда его везти.

8 Мальчишки использовали фасады двух домов по обеим сторонам улицы как футбольные ворота.

9 Боб сделал глоток пива и едва не задохнулся.

10 Массивная рука, отлитая в бронзе и вставленная в большой кусок полированного дерева, одновременно и ужасала, и воодушевляла.

11 Нора сразу поняла, кто такой Боб, когда тот завел разговор о руке Мортимера.

12 Бронзовую отливку руки дедушка Норы выловил it
реке Кем, и это было его единственным уловом в тот отпуск.

13 Боб сам предложил сделку, и Нора была рада полу-
чить двести соверенов за дедушкин трофей.

14 В своей берлоге Боб уселся на край кровати и стал
обдумывать предстоящую речь по случаю вручения столь
щедрого подарка.

15 Он долго пытал Тома Адамса, Почетного Секретаря
клуба, о Дуги Мортимере и о поражении Кембриджа в
гонке 1909 года.

16 Заметив две неясные фигуры в помещении клуба, Боб одним прыжком перемахнул поближе к окну, чтобы лучше видеть.

17 Два старика тащили трофей Боба к реке; сам Боб тихо следовал за ними по пятам.

18 Старики с трудом столкнули лодку на воду; Форес-тег/сел на весла, а Фиск остался на носу, держась за руку Мортимера.

19 Адаме не помнил, чтобы в газете " Тайме" он читал некролог о смерти оксфордского гребца.

20 Адаме всегда раздражался, когда речь заходила об Оксфорде.

21 Его преосвященство Гарольд Диаринг жил в граф­стве Глостер, и дорога туда не казалась Бобу трудной.

22 Он попытался привести в порядок свои мысли.

23 Старый священник считал самоубийство смертным грехом.

24 Нельзя же загребного посадить в тюрьму только за то, что он " поймал леща" при повороте на Суррей, где всегда плавает всякий мусор.

25 Боб понял, что слабое тело не всегда предполагает слабоумие.

26 Мортимер наделал долгов по всему городу, надеясь, что его слава и популярность помогут ему избежать исков кредиторов.

27 Букмекеры сорвали большой куш, когда восьмерка Кембриджа, считавшаяся фаворитом, проиграла Оксфорду.

28 Признание гребца в том, что он бросил в реку руку Дуги Мортимера, наделало много шума в те времена.

D. GRAMMAR NOTES AND PRACTICE

I. Recollect the grammar material on the Complex Object with
Participle I. Mind that after the verbs of sense perception see,
hear, watch, observe, feel, notice, etc. Participle I is used to
denote an action going on at the moment of perception:

He was happy to see the rescue men approaching him. She heard him calling for help.

II. Pick out from the text some sentences with the Complex Object
with Participle I and translate them into your native language.

III. Make up 6-8 sentences of your own where Participle I is used as
part of Complex Object. The sentences should be based on the
contents of the story.

E. READING COMPREHENSION

I. Say if you agree or disagree with the statements that follow. Prove your agreement or disagreement by giving facts from the text:

1 Bob Kefford was a good stroke.

2 Bob liked Cambridge University because he liked studying there.

3 Bob was liked by his mates from St John's.

4 Dougie Mortimer was a great oarsman, too.

5 Bob was so fond of football that even in Hull waiting for the pub to open he was playing it with the boys.

6 Nora was the owner of the pub The King William.

7 Bob paid 200 quid for Mortimer's right arm because it was really priceless.

8 Helen was the first person Bob told about his trophy.

9 Bob wasn't surprised at seeing the elderly blues dragging the cast to the Cam.

10 Forester and Fisk left the cast lying on the river bank as they were concerned about getting soaked.

11 It was only Bob's whim to go to Gloucestershire to see the Rt. Revd. Deering.

12 The cast of Dougie Mortimer's right arm was sunk twice.

II. Answer the following questions using as many key words and expressions from the text as possible:

1 Why was Bob looking for a gift for the Cambridge University Boat Club?

2 What kind of gift did he want to find? Why?

3 How did he manage to know about Dougie Mortimer's right arm?

4 Bob went to Hull willing to learn more about the cast there, didn't he?

5 How was he received in the pub The King William?

6 What was the story of Nora's getting the cast of Mortimer's arm?

7 Did Nora keep her grandfather's heirloom because she expected to sell it for a high price one day?

8 Why was the Dinner Party of the C.U.B.C. considered an important event in the University life?

9 How did the guests of the party receive Bob's bounty?

10 What did Bob notice in the boathouse when he returned for his camera?

11 Why did he refrain from helping the elderly oarsmen?

12 What did Forester and Fisk do with the cast?

13 What further inquiry about the history of Cambridge and Oxford boat racing did Bob undertake after the break-in to the boathouse? Why?

14 How did Dougie Mortimer die?

15 What was the reason for Cambridge eight's defeat in the 1909 racing? Prove your opinion.

16 Is it easy for clear favourites to lose the racing? Why?

17 How did Mortimer manage to clear all his obligations,?

18 What evidence of Mortimer's being guilty existed?

19 How was the cast of Mortimer's arm sunk for the first time?

G. WRITING

F. DISCUSSION

I. Meditate on the list of the themes of the story. Compare
your list with your partner's and prove your choice.

II. Discuss with the partner if great people may not clear
their financial obligations, like Benjamin Disraeli did
when he became Prime-Minister. Did Mortimer know
about Disraeli when he was running up debts over
Cambridge? Why did he fail?

III. Do you share the opinion that great people can be forgiven their mistakes as their merits and contributions may exceed their mistakes? Why didn't it help Dougie then and he committed suicide?

IV. Discuss with your peers if it is easy to combine good studies and success in sport. What activity do you give priority to? Why?

V.* Say what you consider to be strength and power of a sport team: team spirit, reliability of its members, talents of the team leader, or something else. Give arguments to prove your opinion. VI.* Say what you have learnt about boat racing at Cambridge and Oxford Universities, their traditional sport. What other sports and traditions cultivated at those ancient British universities do you know? Compare sports activities there with those at your University.

I. Write down the way Bob Kefford obtained his precious trophy.

II. Imagine that you were Bob watching the elderly oarsmen Forester and Fisk in the boathouse. Describe what they did with the cast trying to use as many Participles I as part of the Complex Object as possible.

III. Imagine you were Bob trying to marshal his thoughts
and opinions about Dougie Mortimer after visiting the
Rt. Revd. Deering. Give his tho ughts in written form.

A. PREPARING ТО READING

The word " coup" (or " coup d'etat") means " a violent or illegal seizure of power". Before reading the story " The Coup", you should try to predict what the story might be about. Discuss with your partner if the title of the story has brought forth the same associations.

B. READING

I. Read the story to the end of Part I and try to predict what
might be the end of the story. Compare your ideas with
the partner's.

II. Finish reading, the story so as to understand the gist of it.

Mind the notes that follow.

III. Read the story carefully to say if your expectations have
been met. Be ready to participate in its discussion.

THE COUP

PART I. The blue and silver 707 jet, displaying a large " P" on its tail plane, taxied to a halt at the north end of Lagos International Airport. A fleet of six black Mercedes drove up to the side of the aircraft and waited in a line resembling a land-bound crocodile. Six sweating, uniformed drivers leaped out and stood to attention. When the driver of the front car opened his rear door, Colonel Usman of the Federal Guard stepped out, and walked quickly to the bottom of the passenger steps which had been hurriedly pushed into place by four of the airport staff.

The front section cabin door swung back and the colonel stared up into the gap, to see, framed against the dark interior of the cabin, a slim, attractive hostess dressed in a blue suit with silver piping. On her jacket lapel was a large " P". She turned and nodded in the direction of the cabin. A few seconds later, an immaculately dressed tall man with thick black hair and deep brown eyes replaced her in the doorway. The man had an air of effortless style about him which self-made millionaires would have paid a considerable part of their fortune to possess. The colonel saluted as Senhor Eduardo Francisco de Silveira, head of the Prentino empire gave a curt nod.

De Silveira emerged from the coolness of his air-conditioned 707 into the burning Nigerian sun without showing the slightest sign of discomfort. The colonel guided the tall, elegant Brazilian, who was accompanied only by his private secretary, to the front Mercedes while the rest of the Prentino staff filed down the back stairway of the aircraft and filled the other five cars. The driver, a corporal who had been detailed to be available night and day for the honoured guest, opened the rear door of the front car and saluted. Eduardo de Silveira showed no sign of acknowledgment. The corporal smiled nervously, revealing the largest set of white teeth the Brazi