"Needful Things" part 4

 

Word	Definition	Synonyms	Antonyms	Translation	Example of usage from the book
canopy	A covering that provides shelter or shade, often the top layer of trees	cover, roof, shelter	floor, ground	навес, крона	As he passed under the canopy (p46)
jutted	Stuck out or extended beyond the main part	protruded, extended	recessed, indented	выступал	He glanced at Needful Things as he drove past, approving of the dark-green canopy which jutted out over the street (p33)
squat	To sit very low with knees bent close to the body	crouch, hunch	stand, rise	приседать	the narrow passage between the squat brick block (p34)
ached	Experienced a continuous dull pain	hurt, throb	felt good, relieved	болел, ноет	His head ached gently. (p34)
buzzers	Devices that make a buzzing or ringing sound	alarms, bells	silence, quiet	звонки	The boy had been entranced with the cheapjack arcana sold there: joy buzzers, sneezing powder (p35)
demurred	To raise doubts or objections; to show reluctance	objected, hesitated	agreed, accepted	возразил, заперечил	how Alan himself had demurred (p35)
dribble	To flow or let fall in small drops; to move a ball by bouncing lightly	drip, trickle, bounce	gush, flow	капать, вести мяч	The boy had been entranced with the cheapjack arcana sold there: joy buzzers, sneezing powder, dribble glasses (p35)

goddam	An informal, rude intensifier used to express anger or emphasis	damn, blasted	-	чертов, проклятый (ругательство)	Why had he let Todd buy the goddam thing? (p36)
mopped	To clean by wiping with a wet cloth or mop	wiped, cleaned	dirtied, soiled	вытирал, мылил	He pulled his handkerchief out of his back pocket and mopped the tears from his face (p36)
gasoline	A liquid fuel used mainly for cars and engines	petrol (UK), fuel	water	бензин	There was a foot-long scratch along the side of the wagon, just above the gasoline port. (p39)

 

 For each customer, Tallanman finds the perfect product, offering to buy it for a small price plus a small additional gift, which seems insignificant, but has profound consequences.

For example, a salesman at a toy store buys a toy soldier that reminds him of his childhood, and is assigned to act out a fight scene with another salesman. A schoolteacher acquires a rare book and is instructed to write an anonymous letter to another teacher accusing her of plagiarism. Each customer finds themselves embroiled in a minor conflict or intrigue that gradually begins to destroy friendship and trust among the residents of the city.

The chapter also reveals the character of the main character Alan Pangborn, a local sheriff who notices the unusual behavior of some townspeople and begins to suspect that the store is playing some role in the events. However, while he is trying to figure out the situation, the conflicts continue to escalate, creating an atmosphere of tension and distrust in the city.