gone [ɡɔn], jelly [ʤelɪ], translucent [tærnzˈlu: snt]
The mist that had obscured the top of die pylon was gone. The rising half moon shone on and through an amorphous thing, which squatted obscenely on the summit of the column. It was like a huge lump of quivering, semi-translucent jelly — and it lived. Life — throbbing, bloated life — pulsed within it. The moonlight glistened wetly upon it as it beat like a huge, living heart.
As Conan, frozen with horror, watched, the dweller on the top of die monolith sent a trickle of jelly groping down the shaft toward him (когда Конан, застывший от ужаса, наблюдал, /как/ обитатель вершины монолита выпустил струйку желе, двигаясь ощупью вниз по столбу к нему). The slippery pseudopod slithered over the smooth surface of the stone (скользкий псевдопод/ложноножка скользнул через/по гладкой поверхности камня). Conan began to understand the source of the stains that discolored the face of the monolith (Конан начал понимать источник пятен, которые обесцветили лик монолита).
horror [hɔrə], surface [ˈsə: fɪs], source [sɔ: s]
As Conan, frozen with horror, watched, the dweller on the top of die monolith sent a trickle of jelly groping down the shaft toward him. The slippery pseudopod slithered over the smooth surface of the stone. Conan began to understand the source of the stains that discolored the face of the monolith.
The wind had changed (ветер переменился), and a vagrant down-draft wafted a sickening stench to Conan’s nostrils (и движущийся нисходящий поток воздуха донес тошнотворное зловоние до ноздрей Конана). Now he knew why the bones at the base of the shaft bore that oddly eaten appearance (теперь он знал, почему кости у основания колонны носили /на себе/ тот странно изъеденный вид). With a dread that almost unmanned him, he understood that the jellylike thing exuded a digestive fluid (со страхом, который почти лишил его мужества, он понял, что желеобразное существо испускала пищеварительную жидкость), by means of which it consumed its prey (посредством которой оно поглощало свою добычу). He wondered how many men, in ages past, had stood in his place (он спрашивал себя, сколько людей в прошедшие времена стояло на его месте), bound helplessly to the pillar and awaiting the searing caress of the abomination now descending toward him (прикованные беспомощно к столбу и ожидая жгучей ласки мерзости, теперь спускавшейся к нему).
dread [dred], fluid [ˈflu: ɪd], past [pɑ: st]
The wind had changed, and a vagrant down-draft wafted a sickening stench to Conan’s nostrils. Now he knew why the bones at the base of the shaft bore that oddly eaten appearance. With a dread that almost unmanned him, he understood that the jellylike thing exuded a digestive fluid, by means of which it consumed its prey. He wondered how many men, in ages past, had stood in his place, bound helplessly to the pillar and awaiting the searing caress of the abomination now descending toward him.
Perhaps Feng’s weird piping summoned it, or perhaps the odor of living flesh called it to feast (вероятно причудливые звуки /флейты/ Фэна вызвали его, или, возможно, запах живой плоти позвал его на пир). Whatever the cause, it had begun a slow, inching progress down the side of the shaft toward his face (какой бы ни была причина, оно начало медленное, дюйм за дюймом движение вниз по стороне колонны к его лицу; inching — медленный, inch — дюйм, to inch — медленно двигаться, двигаться дюйм за дюймом). The wet jelly sucked and slobbered as it slithered slowly toward him (мокрый студень сосал = издавал сосущие звуки и распускал слюни, по мере того как он скользил медленно к нему).
perhaps [pəˈhæps], odor [ˈəudə], cause [kɔ: z]
Perhaps Feng’s weird piping summoned it, or perhaps the odor of living flesh called it to feast. Whatever the cause, it had begun a slow, inching progress down the side of the shaft toward his face. The wet jelly sucked and slobbered as it slithered slowly toward him.
Despair gave new strength to his cramped, tired muscles (отчаяние придало новые силы его сведенным судорогой, усталым мускулам). He threw himself from side to side (он бросался из стороны в сторону), striving with every last ounce of strength to break the grip of the mysterious force (борясь каждой последней унцией = каплей силы, чтобы сломить захват таинственной силы). To his surprise, he found that, in one of his lunges, he slid to one side, partway around the column (к его удивлению он обнаружил, что в одном из своих рывков он соскользнул в одну сторону частично /пройдя путь/ вокруг колонны; to slide — скользить).
ounce [auns], break [breɪk], surprise [səˈpraɪz]
Despair gave new strength to his cramped, tired muscles. He threw himself from side to side, striving with every last ounce of strength to break the grip of the mysterious force. To his surprise, he found that, in one of his lunges, he slid to one
So the grip that held him did not forbid all movement! (итак хватка, которая держала его, не запрещала всякого движения!) This gave him food for thought (это дало ему пищу для мысли), though he knew that he could not long thus elude the monster of living jelly (хотя он знал, что /он/ не мог = не может долго таким образом ускользать /от/ чудища из живого студня).
Something prodded his mailed side (что-то кольнуло его окольчуженный бок = бок в кольчуге). Looking down, he saw the rust-eaten dagger he had glimpsed before (посмотрев вниз, он увидел изъеденный ржавчиной кинжал, /который/ он заметил прежде). His movement sideways had brought the hilt of the weapon against his ribs (его движение вбок принесло рукоятку оружия к его ребрам).
held [held], food [fu: d], thus [ðʌs]
So the grip that held him did not forbid all movement! This gave him food for thought, though he knew that he could not long thus elude the monster of living jelly.
Something prodded his mailed side. Looking down, he saw the rust-eaten dagger he had glimpsed before. His movement sideways had brought the hilt of the weapon against his ribs.
His upper arm was still clamped against the stone by the sleeve of his mail shirt, but his forearm and hand were free (его верхняя рука = рука выше локтя была все еще прижата к камню рукавом его кольчуги, но его предплечье и кисть были свободны). Could he bend his arm far enough to clasp the haft of the dagger? (мог ли он изогнуть /свою/ руку достаточно далеко, чтобы схватить рукоятку кинжала?)
He strained, inching his hand along the stone (он напрягся, медленно продвигая /свою/ кисть вдоль камня). The mail of his arm scraped slowly over the surface; sweat trickled into his eyes (кольчуга /на/ его руке царапала медленно по поверхности, пот сочился в = заливал его глаза). Bit by bit, his straining arm moved toward the handle of the dagger (понемножку его напряженная рука продвигалась к рукоятке кинжала). The taunting tune of Feng’s flute sang maddeningly in his ears (дразнящий мотив флейты Фэна пел, сводя с ума, в его ушах), while the ungodly stench of the slime-thing filled his nostrils (в то время как ужасное зловоние слизистой твари заполняло его ноздри).
along [əˈlɔŋ], over [ˈəuvə], while [waɪl]
His upper arm was still clamped against the stone by the sleeve of his mail shirt, but his forearm and hand were free. Could he bend his arm far enough to clasp the haft of the dagger?
He strained, inching his hand along the stone. The mail of his arm scraped slowly over the surface; sweat trickled into his eyes. Bit by bit, his straining arm moved toward the handle of the dagger. The taunting tune of Feng’s flute sang maddeningly in his ears, while the ungodly stench of the slime-thing filled his nostrils.
His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast (его кисть коснулась кинжала, и через мгновение он держал рукоятку крепко). But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp ping (но, когда он потянул его от столба, изъеденное ржавчиной лезвие сломалось с резким звоном). Rolling his eyes downward, he saw that about two thirds of the blade, from the tapering point back, had broken off and lay flat against the stone (повернув свои глаза вниз, он увидел, что около двух третей клинка от суживающегося острия назад отломались и лежат горизонтально на камне; to break off — отломаться). The remaining third still projected from the hilt (оставшаяся треть все еще выступала из рукояти). Since there was now less iron in the dagger for the shaft to attract, Conan was able, by a muscle-bulging effort, to tear the stump of the weapon away from the shaft (поскольку теперь было меньше железа в кинжале для колонны притягивать = чтобы его могла притянуть колонна, Конан смог вздувающим мускулы усилием = усилием, от которого вздулись мускулы, оторвать обломок оружия от столба).
touched [tʌtʃt], fast [fɑ: st], effort [ˈefət]
His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast. But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp ping. Rolling his eyes downward, he saw that about two thirds of the blade, from the tapering point back, had broken off and lay flat against the stone. The remaining third still projected from the hilt. Since there was now less iron in the dagger for the shaft to attract, Conan was able, by a muscle-bulging effort, to tear the stump of the weapon away from the shaft.
A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges (взгляд показал ему, что хотя большая часть лезвия была потеряна для него, обломок все еще имел пару очевидно острых граней). With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together (/с/ мускулами, дрожащими от усилия, чтобы удержать инструмент /на расстоянии/ от камня, он поднес одну из этих граней к кожаному ремню, который связывал две половины кольчуги вместе). Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade (осторожно он начал пилить жесткую сыромятную кожу ржавым лезвием; to begin — начинать(ся)).
lost [lɔst], sharp [ʃɑ: p], edges [ˈeʤɪz]
A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges. With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together. Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade.
Every movement was agony (каждое движение было мукой). The torment of suspense grew unbearable (муки от неизвестности стали невыносимыми). His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb (его кисть, изогнутая в неудобном скрюченном положении, болела и стала онемевшей = онемела). The ancient blade was notched, thin, and brittle; a hasty motion might break it, leaving him helpless (старинный клинок был зазубренный, тонкий и хрупкий, поспешное движение могло сломать его, оставляя = оставив его (Конана) беспомощным). Stroke after stroke he sawed up and down, with exquisite caution (взмах за взмахом, он пилил вверх и вниз с большой осторожностью). The scent of the creature grew stronger and the sucking sounds of its progress, louder (запах существа становился сильнее, а чмокающие звуки его передвижения — громче).
numb [nʌm], sawed [sɔ: d], creature [ˈkri: tʃə]
Every movement was agony. The torment of suspense grew unbearable. His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb. The ancient blade was notched, thin, and brittle; a hasty motion might break it, leaving him helpless. Stroke after stroke he sawed up and down, with exquisite caution. The scent of the creature grew stronger and the sucking sounds of its progress, louder.
