knee [ni: ], pouch [pautʃ], sleeve [sli: v]
The stillness of the forest trail was so primeval that the tread of a soft-booted foot was a startling disturbance. At least it seemed so to the ears of the wayfarer, though he was moving along the path with the caution that must be practised by any man who ventures beyond Thunder River. He was a young man of medium height, with an open countenance and a mop of tousled tawny hair unconfined by cap or helmet. His garb was common enough for that country — a coarse tunic, belted at the waist, short leather breeches beneath, and soft buckskin boots that came short of the knee. A knife-hilt jutted from one boot-top. The broad leather belt supported a short, heavy sword and a buckskin pouch. There was no perturbation in the wide eyes that scanned the green walls which fringed the trail. Though not tall, he was well built, and the arms that the short wide sleeves of the tunic left bare were thick with corded muscle.
He tramped imperturbably along, although the last settler's cabin lay miles behind him (он шел спокойно вперед, хотя хижина последнего поселенца лежала /в/ милях позади него), and each step was carrying him nearer the grim peril that hung like a brooding shadow over the ancient forest (и каждый шаг нес его ближе к мрачной опасности, которая нависла как тягостная тень над древним лесом; to hang — висеть; to brood — высиживать; нависать /об облаках, тьме и т. п./; тяготить /о заботах/).
last [lɑ: st], hung [hʌŋ], cabin [ˈkæbɪn]
He tramped imperturbably along, although the last settler's cabin lay miles behind him, and each step was carrying him nearer the grim peril that hung like a brooding shadow over the ancient forest.
He was not making as much noise as it seemed to him (он не создавал так много = столько шума, как /это/ ему казалось), though he well knew that the faint tread of his booted feet would be like a tocsin of alarm to the fierce ears that might be lurking in the treacherous green fastness (хотя он хорошо знал, что слабый = легкий шаг его обутой ступни был бы как набатный колокол для шустрых ушей, которые, возможно, таились в предательской зеленой тиши; might — прошедшее время от may — может, образует конструкцию вероятности — возможно, может быть, вероятно). His careless attitude was not genuine (его беспечное состояние = беспечность не была искренней = была наигранной); his eyes and ears were keenly alert (его глаза и уши были очень насторожены), especially his ears, for no gaze could penetrate the leafy tangle for more than a few feet in either direction (особенно его уши, так как никакой взгляд /не/ мог /бы/ проникнуть /за/ сплетение листьев более, чем для = на несколько футов в любом направлении).
noise [nɔɪz], well [wel], tangle [tæŋɡl]
He was not making as much noise as it seemed to him, though he well knew that the faint tread of his booted feet would be like a tocsin of alarm to the fierce ears that might be lurking in the treacherous green fastness. His careless attitude was not genuine; his eyes and ears were keenly alert, especially his ears, for no gaze could penetrate the leafy tangle for more than a few feet in either direction.
But it was instinct more than any warning by the external senses which brought him up suddenly (но /это был/ скорее инстинкт, нежели какое-либо предупреждение от его наружных /органов/ чувств, /который/ вдруг остановил его), his hand on his hilt (его рука на его эфесе /меча/ = его рука /скользнула/ на эфес). He stood stock-still in the middle of the trail (он стоял не шелохнувшись посредине тропы; to stand stock-still — стоять не шелохнувшись; stock — главный ствол /дерева/; пень), unconsciously holding his breath (бессознательно = невольно задерживая /свое/ дыхание), wondering what he had heard, and wondering if indeed he had heard anything (спрашивая себя, что он услышал, и спрашивая себя, действительно ли он услышал что- то). The silence seemed absolute (тишина казалась абсолютной). Not a squirrel chattered or bird chirped (ни одна белка /не/ шуршала, ни /одна/ птица /не/ щебетала). Then his gaze fixed itself on a mass of bushes beside the trail a few yards ahead of him (затем его взгляд сосредоточил себя = сосредоточился на скоплении кустов за тропой в нескольких ярдах перед ним). There was no breeze, yet he had seen a branch quiver (/не/ было никакого ветра, но он увидел ветка колыхаться = как ветка колыхнулась). The short hairs on his scalp prickled (короткие волосы на его скальпе = у него на голове встали дыбом), and he stood for an instant undecided (и он стоял мгновение в нерешительности: «нерешенный»; to decide — решать), certain that a move in either direction would bring death streaking at him from the bushes (уверенный /в том/, что движение в любом направлении принесет ему смерть, устремясь к нему из кустов).
warning [wɔ: nɪŋ], suddenly [ˈsʌdnlɪ], unconsciously [ʌnˈkɔnʃəslɪ]
But it was instinct more than any warning by the external senses which brought him up suddenly, his hand on his hilt. He stood stock-still in the middle of the trail, unconsciously holding his breath, wondering what he had heard, and wondering if indeed he had heard anything. The silence seemed absolute. Not a squirrel chattered or bird chirped. Then his gaze fixed itself on a mass of bushes beside the trail a few yards ahead of him. There was no breeze, yet he had seen a branch quiver. The short hairs on his scalp prickled, and he stood for an instant undecided, certain that a move in either direction would bring death streaking at him from the bushes.
A heavy chopping crunch sounded behind the leaves (тяжелый рубящий хруст раздался за листьями). The bushes were shaken violently (кусты были потрясены = затряслись сильно), and simultaneously with the sound, an arrow arched erratically from among them and vanished among the trees along the trail (и одновременно с /этим/ звуком стрела вылетела по дуге неправильно = по неправильной дуге из /среди/ кустов и исчезла среди деревьев вдоль тропы; arch — арка; свод; to arch — изгибать(ся) дугой). The wayfarer glimpsed its flight as he sprang frantically to cover (путник заметил ее полет, в то время как /он/ прыгнул отчаянно, /чтобы/ укрыться).
bush [bʋʃ], simultaneously [sɪməlˈteɪnjəslɪ], flight [flaɪt]
A heavy chopping crunch sounded behind the leaves. The bushes were shaken violently, and simultaneously with the sound, an arrow arched erratically from among them and vanished among the trees along the trail. The wayfarer glimpsed its flight as he sprang frantically to cover.
Crouching behind a thick stem, his sword quivering in his fingers (пригнувшись за толстым стволом, /с/ /его/ мечом, дрожащим в его пальцах), he saw the bushes part, and a tall figure stepped leisurely into the trail (он увидел, /как/ кусты расступились, и высокая фигура ступила неторопливо в = на тропу). The traveller stared in surprise (странник уставился в удивлении). The stranger was clad like himself in regard to boots and breeches (незнакомец был одет, как он сам — в том, что касалось сапог и штанов), though the latter were of silk instead of leather (хотя последние были из шелка вместо кожи; in regard to — в отношении, что касается). But he wore a sleeveless hauberk of dark mesh-mail in place of a tunic, and a helmet perched on his black mane (но он носил = был одет в кольчугу без рукавов из темных колец вместо туники и шлем, усаженный на его черную гриву). That helmet held the other's gaze; it was without a crest, but adorned by short bull's horns (этот шлем приковал взгляд другого: он был без гребня, но украшенный короткими бычьими рогами; to hold — держать; удерживать). No civilized hand ever forged that head-piece (ни /одна/ цивилизованная рука /не/ ковала когда-либо этот головной убор). Nor was the face below it that of a civilized man (лицо под ним тоже не было таковым = лицом цивилизованного человека): dark, scarred, with smoldering blue eyes (темное, в шрамах, с горящими синими глазами), it was a face as untamed as the primordial forest which formed its background (это было лицо такое же неукротимое, как первобытный лес, который образовывал /его/ фон; nor — тоже не). The man held a broad-sword in his right hand, and the edge was smeared with crimson (мужчина держал палаш в /своей/ правой руке, и лезвие было измазано красным).
clad [klæd], tunic [ˈtju: nɪk]
Crouching behind a thick stem, his sword quivering in his fingers, he saw the bushes part, and a tall figure stepped leisurely into the trail. The traveller stared in surprise. The stranger was clad like himself in regard to boots and breeches, though the latter were of silk instead of leather. But he wore a sleeveless hauberk of dark mesh-mail in place of a tunic, and a helmet perched on his black mane. That helmet held the other's gaze; it was without a crest, but adorned by short bull's horns. No civilized hand ever forged that head-piece. Nor was the face below it that of a civilized man: dark, scarred, with smoldering blue eyes, it was a face as untamed as the primordial forest which formed its background. The man held a broad-sword in his right hand, and the edge was smeared with crimson.
"Come on out," he called, in an accent unfamiliar to the wayfarer (давай выходи, — он позвал = он позвал в = с акцентом, незнакомым путнику; to come out — выходить; come on — ну, давай). "All's safe now (все безопасно теперь). There was only one of the dogs (был только один из псов). Come on out (давай выходи)."
"Come on out," he called, in an accent unfamiliar to the wayfarer. "All's safe now. There was only one of the dogs. Come on out."
The other emerged dubiously and stared at the stranger (другой вышел нерешительно и уставился на незнакомца). He felt curiously helpless and futile as he gazed on the proportions of the forest man (он чувствовал /себя/ беспомощным и ничтожным, когда посмотрел на пропорции лесного человека = человека из леса) — the massive iron-clad breast (массивная одетая в железо грудь), and the arm that bore the reddened sword (и рука, которая держала окровавленный: «покрасневший» меч), burned dark by the sun and ridged and corded with muscles (с темным загаром от солнца и вспученная и узловатая от мускулов; to bear — носить, держать). He moved with the dangerous ease of a panther (он двигался с опасной легкостью пантеры); he was too fiercely supple to be a product of civilization (он был слишком /сильно/ гибким, /чтобы/ быть продуктом цивилизации), even of that fringe of civilization which composed the outer frontiers даже той периферии цивилизации, которая составляла дальние рубежи).
futile [ˈfju: taɪl], ease [i: z], breast [brest]
The other emerged dubiously and stared at the stranger. He felt curiously helpless and futile as he gazed on the proportions of the forest man — the massive iron-clad breast, and the arm that bore the reddened sword, burned dark by the sun and ridged and corded with muscles. He moved with the dangerous ease of a panther; he was too fiercely supple to be a product of civilization, even of that fringe of civilization which composed the outer frontiers.
Turning, he stepped back to the bushes and pulled them apart (обернувшись, он шагнул обратно к кустам и развел их в стороны). Still not certain just what had happened, the wayfarer from the east advanced and stared down into the bushes (все еще неуверенный = непонимающий, что же произошло, путник с востока вышел вперед и всмотрелся вниз в кусты; to advance — идти/двигаться вперед). A man lay there, a short, dark, thickly-muscled man (мужчина лежал там = там лежал мужчина, низкорослый, смуглый, очень мускулистый мужчина), naked except for a loin-cloth, a necklace of human teeth and a brass armlet (обнаженный за исключением набедренной повязки, /с/ ожерельем из человеческих зубов и медного браслета). A short sword was thrust into the girdle of the loin-cloth (короткий меч был заткнут за пояс набедренной повязки; to thrust — воткнуть, заткнуть), and one hand still gripped a heavy black bow и одна рука еще сжимала тяжелый черный лук). The man had long black hair (мужчина имел = у мужчины были длинные черные волосы); that was about all the wayfarer could tell about his head (это было почти все, /что/ путник мог сказать о его голове), for his features were a mask of blood and brains (так как его черты были /скрыты/ маской из крови и мозгов). His skull had been split to the teeth (его череп был раскроен до зубов; to split — расщеплять, раскалывать, разбивать).
