Platonov translation problem

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

Fairly near the beginning of CHEVENGUR, Sasha Dvanov (probably about 11
years old) is sent out by his foster family to go and beg.  He stops by the
grave of his real father, a suicide, and talks to him:

“His father lay patiently and nearby, not complaining how grim and terrible
it feels to remain alone all winter. What was there down there? It was bad
there, it was quiet and cramped there, and it was impossible from down there
to see the boy with the stick and the beggar’s bag.

 ‘Father, they’ve made me go out begging.  Soon I’ll come and die your way
{Soon I’ll be dead with you / Soon I’ll come and die on you} you must be
lonely there on your own, and I’m lonely too.’”

Тhe Russian of the last sentence is as follows:
– Папа, меня прогнали побираться, я теперь скоро умру к тебе – тебе там ведь
скучно одному, и мне скучно.
Papa, menya prognali pobirat’sya, ya teper’ skoro umru k tebe — tebe tam
ved’  skuchno odnomu, i mne skuchno.
“Skoro umru k tebe” is of course breathtakingly bold, apparently simple yet
unforgettable.  It is as if the child does not recognize the boundary
between life and death, and for this reason says “umru k tebe” as
straightforwardly as he might say “priidu k tebe”.

Any suggestions?  “I’ll be dead with you” is not bad, but a little too
ordinary.  “I’ll come and die your way” lacks the memorable childish
simplicity of the original.  “I’ll come and die on you” has the right
boldness, but perhaps sounds hostile.  Although I’m hoping that the context
and the possible literal meaning (that Sasha will come and die right there
on the grave) may make it acceptable.

Vsego nailuchshego,

Robert

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