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.
Then Conan felt the thong snap (потом Конан почувствовал треск ремня). The next instant, he hurled his full strength against the magnetic force that imprisoned him (/в/ следующее мгновение он швырнул его полную силу = всю свою силу против магнитной силы, которая пленила его). The thong unraveled through the loopholes in the mail shirt, until one whole side of the shirt was open (ремень распутался через отверстия в кольчуге, пока одна целая сторона кольчуги = одна сторона кольчуги целиком /не/ раскрылась). His shoulder and half an arm came out through the opening (его плечо и половина руки вышли через отверстие).
next [nekst], against [əˈɡenst], shoulder [ʃəuldə]
Then Conan felt the thong snap. The next instant, he hurled his full strength against the magnetic force that imprisoned him. The thong unraveled through the loopholes in the mail shirt, until one whole side of the shirt was open. His shoulder and half an arm came out through the opening.
Then he felt a light blow on the head (потом он почувствовал легкий удар по голове). The stench became overpowering, and his unseen assailant from above pushed this way and that against his helmet (вонь стала непреодолимой, а его невидимый противник сверху толкался тут и там о его шлем). Conan knew that a jellylike tendril had reached his helmet and was groping over its surface, seeking flesh (Конан знал, что желеобразный усик достиг шлема и ощупывал его поверхность, ища = в поисках мяса). Any instant, the corrosive stuff would seep down over his face (/в/ любое мгновение едкое вещество просочится вниз на его лицо)…
blow [bləu], became [bɪˈkeɪm], stuff [stʌf]
Then he felt a light blow on the head. The stench became overpowering, and his unseen assailant from above pushed this way and that against his helmet. Conan knew that a jellylike tendril had reached his helmet and was groping over its surface, seeking flesh. Any instant, the corrosive stuff would seep down over his face…
Frantically, he pulled his arm out of the sleeve of the unlaced side of the mail shirt (неистово он потянул свою руку из рукава расшнурованной стороны кольчуги). With his free hand, he unbuckled his sword belt and the chin strap of his helmet (свободной рукой он расстегнул ремень меча и ремешок на подбородке его шлема). Then he tore himself loose altogether from the deadly constriction of the mail, leaving his tulwar and his armor flattened against the stone (затем он оторвался /свободный/ полностью от смертельного захвата кольчуги, оставляя свой тульвар и /свои/ доспехи разглаженными на камне; to tear — рвать).
tore [tɔ: ], loose [lu: s], armor [ˈɑ: mə]
Frantically, he pulled his arm out of the sleeve of the unlaced side of the mail shirt. With his free hand, he unbuckled his sword belt and the chin strap of his helmet. Then he tore himself loose altogether from the deadly constriction of the mail, leaving his tulwar and his armor flattened against the stone.
He staggered free of the column and stood for an instant on trembling legs (он шатался свободный от колонны и стоял какое-то мгновение на дрожащих ногах). The moonlit world swam before his eyes (освещенный луной мир поплыл перед его глазами).
Glancing back, he saw that the jelly-beast had now engulfed his helmet (посмотрев назад, он увидел, что студенистая тварь уже поглотила его шлем). Baffled in its quest for flesh (сбитая с толку в своих поисках плоти), it was sending more pseudopods down and outward, wavering and questing in the watery light (она выбрасывала ложноножки вниз и наружу, колыхаясь и ища = ведя поиск/занимаясь поисками в бледном свете).
beast [bi: st], quest [kwest], pseudopod [ˈsju: dəupɔd]
He staggered free of the column and stood for an instant on trembling legs. The moonlit world swam before his eyes.
Glancing back, he saw that the jelly-beast had now engulfed his helmet. Baffled in its quest for flesh, it was sending more pseudopods down and outward, wavering and questing in the watery light.
Down the slope, the demoniac piping continued (внизу склона продолжалась демоническая игра /на флейте/). Feng sat cross-legged on the grass of the slope, tweedling away on his flute (Фэн сидел скрестив ноги на траве склона, наигрывая на своей флейте) as if absorbed in some inhuman ecstasy (как будто погруженный в какой-то нечеловеческий экстаз).
Conan ripped off and threw away the gag (Конан выругался и выбросил кляп). He pounced like a striking leopard (он прыгнул, как атакующий леопард). He came down upon the little duke; the pair rolled down the rest of the slope in a tangle of silken robe and thrashing limbs (он набросился на маленького князя, пара покатилась вниз /по/ остальной /части/ склона в клубке шелкового одеяния и молотящих конечностей). A blow to the side of the head subdued Feng’s struggles (удар в бок головы = боковой удар в голову подавил борьбу = сопротивление Фэна). Conan groped into the Khitan’s wide sleeves and tore out the ivory cylinder containing the documents (Конан щупал в широкие рукава = нащупал в широких рукавах кхитайца и вырвал цилиндр из слоновой кости, содержащий документы; to tear — рвать(ся), разрывать(ся), срывать, отрывать(ся)).
piping [ˈpaɪpɪŋ], grass [ɡrɑ: s], flute [flu: t]
Down the slope, the demoniac piping continued. Feng sat cross-legged on the grass of the slope, tweedling away on his flute as if absorbed in some inhuman ecstasy.
Conan ripped off and threw away the gag. He pounced like a striking leopard. He came down upon the little duke; the pair rolled down the rest of the slope in a tangle of silken robe and thrashing limbs. A blow to the side of the head subdued Feng’s struggles. Conan groped into the Khitan’s wide sleeves and tore out the ivory cylinder containing the documents.
Then Conan lurched back up the hill, dragging Feng after him (затем Конан, шатаясь, вернулся на холм, таща Фэна за собой; to lurch — идти шатаясь). As he reached the level section around the base of the monolith, he heaved Feng into the air over his head (когда он достиг горизонтального участка вокруг основания монолита, он поднял Фэна в воздух над головой). Seeing what was happening to him, the duke uttered one high, thin scream as Conan hurled him at the shaft (видя = увидев, что происходило = происходит с ним, князь издал один высокий тонкий вопль, когда Конан швырнул его на столб). The Khitan struck the column with a thud and slid unconscious to the ground at its base (кхитаец ударился о колонну с /глухим/ стуком и соскользнул без сознания на землю у его основания).
air [ɛə], duke [dju: k], utter [ˈʌtə]
Then Conan lurched back up the hill, dragging Feng after him. As he reached the level section around the base of the monolith, he heaved Feng into the air over his head. Seeing what was happening to him, the duke uttered one high, thin scream as Conan hurled him at the shaft. The Khitan struck the column with a thud and slid unconscious to the ground at its base.
The blow was merciful (удар был милостив), for the duke never felt the slimy touch of the haunter of the monolith as the glassy tentacles reached his face (ибо князь никогда = так и не почувствовал слизистого касания завсегдатая монолита, когда прозрачные щупальца достигли его лица). For a moment,
Conan grimly watched (в течение минуты Конан мрачно наблюдал). Feng’s features blurred as the rippling jelly slid over them (черты Фэна расплылись, когда пульсирующий студень скользнул по ним). Then the flesh faded away, and the skull and teeth showed through in a ghastly grin (затем плоть исчезла, а череп и зубы проступили в жутком оскале). The abomination flushed pink as it fed (мерзость = мерзкая тварь окрасилась в розовый цвет/покраснела, когда она насытилась).
Conan strode back to camp on stiff legs (Конан зашагал назад в лагерь на негнущихся ногах). Behind him, like a giant’s torch, the monolith stood against the sky, wrapped in smoky, scarlet flames (за ним, как гигантский факел, монолит стоял на фоне неба, охваченный дымными алыми языками пламени).
stiff [stɪf], torch [tɔ: tʃ], scarlet [skɑ: lɪt]
The blow was merciful, for the duke never felt the slimy touch of the haunter of the monolith as the glassy tentacles reached his face. For a moment, Conan grimly watched. Feng’s features blurred as the rippling jelly slid over them. Then the flesh faded away, and the skull and teeth showed through in a ghastly grin. The abomination flushed pink as it fed.
Conan strode back to camp on stiff legs. Behind him, like a giant’s torch., the monolith stood against die sky, wrapped in smoky, scarlet flames.
It had been the work of moments only to strike fire into dry tinder with his flint and steel (это было работой нескольких моментов = минутным делом высечь огонь в = поджечь сухой трут кремнем и огнивом). He had watched with grim satisfaction as the oily surface of the slime-monster ignited and blazed (он наблюдал с мрачным удовлетворением, когда маслянистая поверхность слизистого чудища зажглась и запылала) as it squirmed in voiceless agony (когда оно извивалось в безмолвной агонии). Let them both burn, he thought; the half-digested corpse of that treacherous dog and his loathsome pet! (позволь им обоим сгореть = пусть сгорят они оба, думал он, полупереваренный труп этого вероломного пса и его омерзительного любимца!)
fire [ˈfaɪə], tinder [ˈtɪndə], burn [bə: n]
It had been the work of moments only to strike fire into dry tinder with his flint and steel. He had watched with grim satisfaction as the oily surface of the slime-monster ignited and blazed as it squirmed in voiceless agony. Let them both burn, he thought; the half-digested corpse of that treacherous dog and his loathsome pet!
As Conan neared the camp, he saw that the last of his warriors had not yet retired (когда Конан приблизился /к/ лагерю, он увидел, что последние из его воинов еще не легли спать; to retire — уходить, удаляться). Instead, several stood staring curiously at the distant firelight (вместо этого несколько стояли, вглядываясь с любопытством в далекий свет костра). As he appeared, they turned upon him, crying out: ‘Where have you been, Captain? What is that blaze? Where is the duke?’ (когда он появился, они повернулись к нему, восклицая: где ты был, капитан? что это /за/ огонь? где князь?)
distant [ˈdɪstənt], appeared [əˈpɪəd], upon [əˈpɔn]
As Conan neared the camp, he saw that the last of his warriors had not yet retired. Instead, several stood staring curiously at the distant firelight. As he appeared, they turned upon him, crying out: ‘Where have you been, Captain? What is that blaze? Where is the duke?’
‘Ho, you gaping oafs!’ he roared as he strode into the firelight (эй, вы, зевающие олухи! — он проревел, когда вошел в свет костра; to stride — шагать (большими шагами)). ‘Wake the boys and saddle up to run for it (будите парней и седлайте коней, чтобы мчаться изо всех сил). The Jaga headhunters caught us, and they’ll be here any time (джага — охотники за головами — заманили нас, и они будут здесь в любой момент). They got the duke, but I broke free (они схватили князя, но я освободился; to break free — освободиться). Khusro! Mulai! Hop to it, if you do not want your heads hung up in their devil-devil huts! (Кхусро! Мулай! Пошевеливайтесь, если вы не хотите, /чтобы/ ваши головы висели в их нечистых: «дьявольских» хижинах!) And I hope to Crom you’ve left me some of that wine!’ (и я надеюсь на Крома, /что/ вы оставили мне немного того вина!)
