unmarred [ʌnˈmɑ:d], beside [bɪˈsaɪd], swallow [ˈswɔləu]
Balthus said nothing as he looked down at the pitiful forms in the road beside the burning wain. Both were young, the woman little more than a girl. By some whim of chance the Picts had left her face unmarred, and even in the agonies of an awful death it was beautiful. But her soft young body had been hideously slashed with many knives — a mist clouded Balthus' eyes and he swallowed chokingly. The tragedy momentarily overcame him. He felt like falling upon the ground and weeping and biting the earth.
"Some young couple just hitting out on their own," Conan was saying as he wiped his sword unemotionally (какая-то молодая пара как раз отправились самостоятельно, — Конан говорил, когда вытирал свой меч бесстрастно = говорил бесстрастно, вытирая свой меч). "On their way to the fort when the Picts met them (в путь в форт, когда пикты встретили их). Maybe the boy was going to enter the service; maybe take up land on the river (возможно, парень собирался поступить на службу, возможно, взять землю на реке). Well, that's what will happen to every man, woman, and child this side of Thunder River if we don't get them into Velitrium in a hurry (ну, вот что случится с каждым мужчиной, женщиной и ребенком по эту сторону Громовой реки, если мы не доставим их в Велитриум по-быстрее; in a hurry — в спешке, быстро)."
young [jʌŋ], couple [kʌpl], unemotionally [ʌnɪˈməuʃənlɪ]
"Some young couple just hitting out on their own," Conan was saying as he wiped his sword unemotionally. "On their way to the fort when the Picts met them. Maybe the boy was going to enter the service; maybe take up land on the river. Well, that's what will happen to every man, woman, and child this side of Thunder River if we don't get them into Velitrium in a hurry."
Balthus' knees trembled as he followed Conan (колени Балтуса задрожали, когда он последовал за Конаном). But there was no hint of weakness in the long easy stride of the Cimmerian (но не было /и/ намека на усталость в широком легком шаге киммерийца). There was a kinship between him and the great gaunt brute that glided beside him (было родство между ним и огромным поджарым животным, которое скользило возле него). Slasher no longer growled with his head to the trail (Задира больше не рычал, с /его/ головой, /склоненной/ к тропе). The way was clear before them (путь был чист перед ними). The yelling on the river came faintly to them, but Balthus believed the fort was still holding (крики на реке доносились слабо до них, но Балтус верил, /что/ форт еще держится). Conan halted suddenly, with an oath (Конан вдруг остановился с ругательством = ругнувшись).
Balthus' knees trembled as he followed Conan. But there was no hint of weakness in the long easy stride of the Cimmerian. There was a kinship between him and the great gaunt brute that glided beside him. Slasher no longer growled with his head to the trail. The way was clear before them. The yelling on the river came faintly to them, but Balthus believed the fort was still holding. Conan halted suddenly, with an oath.
He showed Balthus a trail that led north from the road (он показал Балтусу тропу, которая вела на север от дороги). It was an old trail, partly grown with new young growth, and this growth had recently been broken down (это была старая тропа, частично заросшая новой молодой порослью, и эта поросль недавно была сломана). Balthus realized this fact more by feel than sight, though Conan seemed to see like a cat in the dark (Балтус осознал этот факт больше ощущением, нежели зрением, хотя Конана, казалось, видит как кошка в темноте). The Cimmerian showed him where broad wagon tracks turned off the main trail, deeply indented in the forest mold (киммериец показал ему, где широкие следы телеги свернули с главной тропы, глубоко отпечатавшиеся в лесном рыхлом грунте).
show [ʃəu], recently [ˈri: sntlɪ], wagon [ˈwæɡən]
He showed Balthus a trail that led north from the road. It was an old trail, partly grown with new young growth, and this growth had recently been broken down. Balthus realized this fact more by feel than sight, though Conan seemed to see like a cat in the dark. The Cimmerian showed him where broad wagon tracks turned off the main trail, deeply indented in the forest mold.
"Settlers going to the licks after salt," he grunted (поселенцы едут на солончаки за солью, — проворчал он). "They're at the edges of the marsh, about nine miles from here (они на краю болота, около девяти миль отсюда). Blast it (проклятие)! They'll be cut off and butchered to a man (они будут отрезаны и убиты все до последнего: «до одного человека»)! Listen (слушай)! One man can warn the people on the road (один человек может предупредить людей на дороге). Go ahead and wake them up and herd them into Velitrium (иди вперед и буди их, и гони их в Велитриум). I'll go and get the men gathering the salt (я пойду и заберу людей, собирающих соль). They'll be camped by the licks (они станут лагерем у солончаков). We won't come back to the road (мы не будем возвращаться на дорогу). We'll head straight through the woods (мы пойдем напрямую через лес)."
salt [sɔ: lt], marsh [mɑ:ʃ], road [rəud]
"Settlers going to the licks after salt," he grunted. "They're at the edges of the marsh, about nine miles from here. Blast it! They'll be cut off and butchered to a man! Listen! One man can warn the people on the road. Go ahead and wake them up and herd them into Velitrium. I'll go and get the men gathering the salt. They'll be camped by the licks. We won't come back to the road. We'll head straight through the woods."
With no further comment Conan turned off the trail and hurried down the dim path (без дальнейших комментариев Конан свернул с тропы и поспешил по неясной тропинке), and Balthus, after staring after him for a few moments, set out along the road (а Балтус, посмотрев несколько секунд ему вслед, отправился по дороге). The dog had remained with him, and glided softly at his heels (пес остался с ним и плавно скользил вслед за ним; heel — пятка; каблук). When Balthus had gone a few rods he heard the animal growl (когда Балтус прошел несколько родов,[46] он услышал, /как/ животное зарычало). Whirling, he glared back the way he had come (повернувшись, он посмотрел назад туда, откуда: «путь» он пришел), and was startled to see a vague ghostly glow vanishing into the forest in the direction Conan had taken (и был поражен, увидев неясный призрачный свет, исчезающий в лесу в том направлении, /в котором/ пошел Конан). Slasher rumbled deep in his throat (Задира зарычал низким горловым звуком: «глубоко в его глотке»), his hackles stiff and his eyes balls of green fire (его шерсть на загривке вздыбилась, а его глаза /стали/ шарами из зеленого пламени). Balthus remembered the grim apparition that had taken the head of the merchant Tiberias not far from that spot, and he hesitated (Балтус вспомнил страшное привидение, которое забрало голову купца Тибериаса недалеко от того места, и он заколебался). The thing must be following Conan (должно быть, тварь преследует Конана). But the giant Cimmerian had repeatedly demonstrated his ability to take care of himself (но гигантский киммериец неоднократно демонстрировал свою способность позаботиться о самом себе), and Balthus felt his duty lay toward the helpless settlers who slumbered in the path of the red hurricane (и Балтус чувствовал, что его долг лежал к = распространялся на беспомощных поселенцев, которые спали на пути кровавого урагана). The horror of the fiery phantom was overshadowed by the horror of those limp, violated bodies beside the burning ox-wain (ужас перед пламенным фантомом был перевешен ужасом от тех безвольных оскверненных тел рядом с горящей телегой с волами).
further [fə: ðə], remain [rɪˈmeɪn], hesitate [ˈhezɪteɪt]
With no further comment Conan turned off the trail and hurried down the dim path, and Balthus, after staring after him for a few moments, set out along the road. The dog had remained with him, and glided softly at his heels. When Balthus had gone a few rods he heard the animal growl. Whirling, he glared back the way he had come, and was startled to see a vague ghostly glow vanishing into the forest in the direction Conan had taken. Slasher rumbled deep in his throat, his hackles stiff and his eyes balls of green fire. Balthus remembered the grim apparition that had taken the head of the merchant Tiberias not far from that spot, and he hesitated.
The thing must be following Conan. But the giant Cimmerian had repeatedly demonstrated his ability to take care of himself, and Balthus felt his duty lay toward the helpless settlers who slumbered in the path of the red hurricane. The horror of the fiery phantom was overshadowed by the horror of those limp, violated bodies beside the burning ox-wain.
He hurried down the road, crossed Scalp Creek and came in sight of the first settler's cabin — a, long, low structure of ax-hewn logs (он поспешил по дороге, пересек приток Скальп и вошел в видимость = заметил первую хижину поселенца — длинное, низкое строение из отесанных /топором/ бревен). In an instant he was pounding on the door (через миг он колотил по двери). A sleepy voice inquired his pleasure (сонный голос поинтересовался о его желании = поинтересовался, что ему угодно).
"Get up! The Picts are over the river (вставайте! Пикты перешли реку; to be over — пересечь, переправиться)!"
sleepy [ˈsli: pɪ], inquire [ɪnˈkwaɪə], door [dɔ:]
He hurried down the road, crossed Scalp Creek and came in sight of the first settler's cabin — a, long, low structure of ax-hewn logs. In an instant he was pounding on the door. A sleepy voice inquired his pleasure.
"Get up! The Picts are over the river!"
That brought instant response (это вызвало мгновенный ответ). A low cry echoed his words and then the door was thrown open by a woman in a scanty shift (тихий крик эхом повторил его слова, и потом дверь была распахнута женщиной в скудной = короткой сорочке). Her hair hung over her bare shoulders in disorder; she held a candle in one hand and an ax in the other (ее волосы свисали через ее голые плечи в беспорядке[47] = ее волосы в беспорядке свисали на голые плечи, она держала свечу в одной руке и топор в другой). Her face was colorless, her eyes wide with terror (ее лицо было бледным, ее глаза расширены от ужаса).
"Come in!" she begged (входите! — умоляла она). "We'll hold the cabin (мы удержим хижину)."
"No. We must make for Velitrium (нет, мы должны двигаться в Велитриум). The fort can't hold them back (форт не может их удержать). It may have fallen already (возможно, он уже пал). Don't stop to dress (не задерживайтесь, чтобы одеться). Get your children and come on (хватайте детей и вперед)."
brought [brɔ: t], colorless [ˈkʌləlɪs], children [ˈʧɪldrən]
That brought instant response. A low cry echoed his words and then the door was thrown open by a woman in a scanty shift. Her hair hung over her bare shoulders in disorder; she held a candle in one hand and an ax in the other. Her face was colorless, her eyes wide with terror.
"Come in!" she begged. "We'll hold the cabin."
"No. We must make for Velitrium. The fort can't hold them back. It may have fallen already. Don't stop to dress. Get your children and come on."
"But my man's gone with the others after salt!" she wailed, wringing her hands (но мой муж ушел с остальными за солью! — она запричитала, заламывая /ее/ руки). Behind her peered three tousled youngsters, blinking and bewildered (за ней выглядывали три взъерошенных юнца, щурящиеся и смущенные). "Conan's gone after them (Конан пошел за ними). He'll fetch them through safe (он проведет их в целости и сохранности). We must hurry up the road to warn the other cabins (мы должны спешить по дороге, /чтобы/ предупредить остальные дома)."
