dishearten [dIs'hQ:t(q)n], discourage [dIs'kArIdZ], suspicion [sq'spIS(q)n], surely ['SuqlI], aimlessly ['eImlIslI]
Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to me until the ceremony had actually been performed.
As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments.
I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the palace.
Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor (наконец я подошел к спиральной лестнице, ведущей на нижний этаж), and this I followed downward for several stories (и по ней я последовал вниз на несколько этажей) until I reached the doorway of a large apartment (пока не дошел до двери в большую комнату) in which were a number of guardsmen (в которой было много стражников). The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries (стены этой комнаты были увешаны прозрачными тканями) behind which I secreted myself without being apprehended (за которыми я и спрятался, оставшись незамеченным; toapprehend— понимать, постигать, разгадывать, схватывать; арестовывать, задерживать).
downward ['daunwqd], transparent ["trxns'peqrqnt], apprehend ["xprI'hend]
Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without being apprehended.
The conversation of the guardsmen was general (разговор стражников был общим), and awakened no interest in me (и не пробудил во мне никакого интереса) until an officer entered the room (пока в комнату не вошел офицер) and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail (и не приказал четырем рядовым сменить караул; detail— наряд, команда; torelieve— сменять) who were guarding the Princess of Helium (который охранял принцессу Гелиума). Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest (теперь, я знал, у меня начнутся серьезные проблемы; inearnest— всерьез) and indeed they were upon me all too soon (и, действительно, они свалились на меня слишком быстро), for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the guardroom (так как, казалось, команда едва покинула караульное помещение) before one of their number burst in again breathlessly (как один из их числа ворвался внутрь, задыхаясь; toburstin— врываться, вломиться; breathless— запыхавшийся), crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the antechamber (и выкрикивая, что они нашли своих четверых товарищей безжалостно убитыми в прихожей; tobutcher— бить /скот/; безжалостноибессмысленноубивать; butcher— мясник).
relieve [rI'li:v], breathless ['breTlIs], butcher ['butSq]
The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the antechamber.
In a moment the entire palace was alive with people (через мгновение весь дворец заполнился людьми; alive — живой; изобилующий). Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves (стражники, офицеры, придворные, слуги и рабы) ran helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments (бегали в суматохе по коридорам и комнатам; helter-skelter — беспорядочно, как попало, кое-как) carrying messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin (передавая донесения и приказания и разыскивая следы убийцы).
This was my opportunity (это был мой шанс) and slim as it appeared I grasped it (и каким бы незначительным он ни казался, я ухватился за него; slim — стройный, тонкий, худой; /разг./ незначительный, несущественный), for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place (и когда несколько солдат прошли в спешке мимо моего убежища) I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace (я пристроился позади них и последовал /за ними/ по лабиринтам дворца; to fall in — становитьсявстрой) until, in passing through a great hall (пока, когда я проходил через большой зал), I saw the blessed light of day coming in through a series of larger windows (я увидел благословенный дневной свет, который проходил через ряд больших окон).
helter-skelter ["heltq'skeltq], assassin [q'sxsIn], blessed ['blesId]
In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin.
This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through a series of larger windows.
Here I left my guides (здесь я оставил своих проводников), and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for an avenue of escape (и, проскользнув к ближайшему окну, /стал/ искать путь к бегству). The windows opened upon a great balcony (окна открывались на большой балкон) which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga (который выходил на одну из широких улиц Зоданги). The ground was about thirty feet below (земля была примерно в тридцати футах внизу), and at a like distance from the building (и примерно на таком же расстоянии от здания) was a wall fully twenty feet high (была стена высотой в целых двадцать футов), constructed of polished glass about a foot in thickness (состоящая из отполированного стекла толщиной примерно около фута). To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared impossible (для красного марсианина бегство этим путем оказалось бы невозможным), but to me, with my earthly strength and agility (но для меня, с моей земной силой и ловкостью), it seemed already accomplished (оно уже казалось свершившимся). My only fear was in being detected before darkness fell (мой единственный страх заключался в том, что меня обнаружат до наступления темноты), for I could not make the leap in broad daylight (потому что я не мог совершить прыжок средь бела дня; in broad daylight — средьбеладня) while the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans (пока двор внизу и улица за ним были заполнены жителями Зоданги).
balcony ['bxlkqnI], thickness ['TIknIs], appear [q'pIq]
Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans.
Accordingly I searched for a hiding place (следовательно, я /начал/ искать укрытие; accordingly — соответственно; следовательно) and finally found one by accident (и, наконец, случайно нашел одно), inside a huge hanging ornament (внутри огромного висячего украшения) which swung from the ceiling of the hall (которое свисало с потолка зала), and about ten feet from the floor (и /заканчивалось/ примерно в десяти футах от пола). Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease (в просторную, похожую на чашу, вазу я запрыгнул с легкостью), and scarcely had I settled down within it (и едва я успел устроиться в ней; to settle down — устраиваться) than I heard a number of people enter the apartment (как услышал, что несколько человек входят в комнату). The group stopped beneath my hiding place (группа остановилась под моим укрытием) and I could plainly overhear their every word (и я мог четко слышать каждое их слово).
"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men (это работа гелиумцев, — сказал один из мужчин).
"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace (но как они попали во дворец; access— доступ)? I could believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen (я мог бы поверить в то, что даже при усердном наблюдении твоих стражников; diligent — прилежный, старательный) a single enemy might reach the inner chambers (один враг мог пробраться во внутренние покои), but how a force of six or eight fighting men (но как отряд из шести или восьми воинов; force — сила; вооруженныйотряд) could have done so unobserved is beyond me (мог сделать это, /не будучи/ замеченным, — вне моего понимания; beyond — выше, сверх; beyond me — вышемоегопонимания). We shall soon know, however (мы вскоре узнаем, однако), for here comes the royal psychologist (так как вот идет королевский психолог).
