reflection [rɪˈflekʃn], element [ˈelɪmənt], ghastly [ˈɡɑ:stlɪ]
He halted in the court. The drum was still muttering, and he caught the reflection of a leaping red glare through the groves. Cannibalism was more than a perverted appetite with the black men of Darfar; it was an integral element of their ghastly cult. The black vultures were already in conclave. But whatever flesh filled their bellies that night, it would not be his.
To reach Aram Baksh, he must climb one of the walls which separated the small enclosure from the main compound (/чтобы/ добраться до Арама Бахша, он должен взобраться по одной из стен, которые отделяли небольшое огороженное место от главного строения). They were high, meant to keep out the man-eaters (они были высокие, предназначенные для того, чтобы удержать снаружи = не впустить людоедов); but Conan was no swamp-bred black man (но Конан был не выросшим на болотах чернокожим); his thews had been steeled in boyhood on the sheer cliffs of his native hills (его мышцы были закалены = закалились в отрочестве на отвесных утесах его родных холмов). He was standing at the foot of the nearer wall when a cry echoed under the trees (он стоял у подножия ближней стены, когда крик отдался эхом под деревьями).
climb [klaɪm], meant [ment], sheer [ʃɪə]
To reach Aram Baksh, he must climb one of the walls which separated the small enclosure from the main compound. They were high, meant to keep out the man-eaters; but Conan was no swamp-bred black man; his thews had been steeled in boyhood on the sheer cliffs of his native hills. He was standing at the foot of the nearer wall when a cry echoed under the trees.
In an instant Conan was crouching at the gate, glaring down the road (через миг Конан пригнулся = стоял пригнувшись у ворот, глядя на дорогу). The sound had come from the shadows of the huts across the road (звук донесся из теней от хижин через дорогу). He heard a frantic choking and gurgling such as might result from a desperate attempt to shriek (он услышал яростное удушье и бульканье = звуки неистового удушья и бульканья, такие, которые могли бы возникнуть от отчаянной попытки закричать), with a black hand fastened over the victim's mouth (с черной рукой, перехватившей горло жертвы). A close-knit clump of figures emerged from the shadows beyond the huts (тесно сбившаяся группа фигур появилась из теней за хижинами) and started down the road — three huge black men carrying a slender, struggling figure between them (и отправилась по дороге — три огромных негра, несущие тонкую, отбивающуюся фигурку между ними). Conan caught the glimmer of pale limbs writhing in the starlight (Конан уловил = разглядел мерцание бледных конечностей, извивающихся в звездном свете), even as, with a convulsive wrench, the captive slipped from the grasp of the brutal fingers and came flying up the road (как раз когда судорожным рывком пленник выскользнул из хватки жестоких пальцев и полетел по дороге), a supple young woman, naked as the day she was born (гибкая молодая женщина, нагая как /в тот/ день, /когда/ она родилась; to be born — родиться, быть рожденным). Conan saw her plainly before she ran out of the road and into the shadows between the huts (Конан видел ее отчетливо, прежде чем он убежала с дороги /и/ в тень между хижинами). The blacks were at her heels, and back in the shadows the figures merged and an intolerable scream of anguish and horror rang out (черные были = шли по /ее/ пятам, и позади в тенях фигуры исчезли, и раздался невыносимый визг боли и ужаса; to ring out — прозвучать, раздаться).
sound [saund], come [kʌm], fasten [fɑ:sn]
In an instant Conan was crouching at the gate, glaring down the road. The sound had come from the shadows of the huts across the road. He heard a frantic choking and gurgling such as might result from a desperate attempt to shriek, with a black hand fastened over the victim's mouth. A close-knit clump of figures emerged from the shadows beyond the huts and started down the road — three huge black men carrying a slender, struggling figure between them. Conan caught the glimmer of pale limbs writhing in the starlight, even as, with a convulsive wrench, the captive slipped from the grasp of the brutal fingers and came flying up the road, a supple young woman, naked as the day she was born. Conan saw her plainly before she ran out of the road and into the shadows between the huts. The blacks were at her heels, and back in the shadows the figures merged and an intolerable scream of anguish and horror rang out.
Stirred to red rage by the ghoulishness of the episode, Conan raced across the road (вызванный до красного гнева = доведенный до белого каления мерзостью эпизода, Конан помчался через дорогу; to stir (up) smb’s rage — вызывать (чей-л.) гнев).
Neither victim nor abductors were aware of his presence (ни жертва, ни похитители /не/ заметили его присутствия) until the soft swish of the dust about his feet brought them about (пока мягкое шуршание пыли у его ног /не/ вызвало их = не заставило их обратить внимание /на его присутствие/); and then he was almost upon them, coming with the gusty fury of a hill wind (а потом он был почти на них = почти нагнал их, придя = налетев с бурной яростью ветра холмов = горного ветра; to be aware of — знать, сознавать, отдавать себе полный отчет в). Two of the blacks turned to meet him, lifting their bludgeons (двое /из/ черных повернулись, /чтобы/ встретить его, поднимая своих дубинки). But they failed to estimate properly the speed at which he was coming (но им не удалось оценить надлежащим образом скорости, с которой он шел = несся). One of them was down, disemboweled, before he could strike (один из них был внизу = упал, выпотрошенный, прежде чем он смог ударить), and wheeling catlike, Conan evaded the stroke of the other's cudgel and lashed in a whistling counter-cut (и, извернувшись по-кошачьи, Конан избежал удара дубины другого = второго, и хлестнул свистящим контрударом). The black's head flew into the air (голова черного = негра взлетела в воздух; to fly — летать); the headless body took three staggering steps, spurting blood and clawing horribly at the air with groping hands (безголовое тело взяло = сделало три нетвердых шага, брызгая кровью и цепляясь жутко за воздух шарящими руками), and then slumped to the dust (а потом рухнуло в пыль).
presence [ˈprezəns], about [əˈbaut], properly [ˈprɔpəlɪ]
Stirred to red rage by the ghoulishness of the episode, Conan raced across the road.
Neither victim nor abductors were aware of his presence until the soft swish of the dust about his feet brought them about; and then he was almost upon them, coming with the gusty fury of a hill wind. Two of the blacks turned to meet him, lifting their bludgeons. But they failed to estimate properly the speed at which he was coming. One of them was down, disemboweled, before he could strike, and wheeling catlike, Conan evaded the stroke of the other's cudgel and lashed in a whistling counter-cut. The black's head flew into the air; the headless body took three staggering steps, spurting blood and clawing horribly at the air with groping hands, and then slumped to the dust.
The remaining cannibal gave back with a strangled yell, hurling his captive from him (оставшийся каннибал подался назад с подавленным воплем, отшвырнув свою пленницу от себя). She tripped and rolled in the dust (она упала и покатилась в пыль), and the black fled in panic toward the city (а негр побежал в панике к городу; to flee — убегать, спасаться бегством). Conan was at his heels (Конан последовал за ним; to be at one’s heels — следовать за кем-либо). Fear winged the black feet (страх подгонял черные ноги), but before they reached the easternmost hut (но прежде чем он достиг самой восточной хижины), he sensed death at his back, and bellowed like an ox in the slaughter yards (он ощутил смерть спиной и заревел, как бык на скотобойне; to wing — окрылять, ускорять, подгонять; to slaughter — забивать, резать (скот)).
captive [ˈkæptɪv], death [deƟ], slaughter [ˈslɔ: tə]
The remaining cannibal gave back with a strangled yell, hurling his captive from him. She tripped and rolled in the dust, and the black fled in panic toward the city. Conan was at his heels. Fear winged the black feet, but before they reached the easternmost hut, he sensed death at his back, and bellowed like an ox in the slaughter yards.
"Black dog of Hell (черная собака ада = проклятая черная собака)!" Conan drove his sword between the dusky shoulders with such vengeful fury (Конан вогнал свой меч между темных лопаток с такой мстительной яростью) that the broad blade stood out half its length from the black breast (что широкий клинок вышел на половину своей длины из черной груди; to stand — стоять). With a choking cry the black stumbled headlong (с давящимся криком черный рухнул головой вперед), and Conan braced his feet and dragged out his sword as his victim fell (а Конан напряг /свои/ ноги и вытащил свой меч, когда его жертва упала = при падении жертвы).
half [hɑ:f], length [leŋƟ], sword [sɔ: d]
"Black dog of Hell!" Conan drove his sword between the dusky shoulders with such vengeful fury that the broad blade stood out half its length from the black breast. With a choking cry the black stumbled headlong, and Conan braced his feet and dragged out his sword as his victim fell.
Only the breeze disturbed the leaves (только бриз тревожил листья). Conan shook his head as a lion shakes its mane (Конан тряхнул /своей/ головой, как лев трясет своей гривой) and growled his unsatiated blood lust (и зарычал от неутоленной жажды крови). But no more shapes slunk from the shadows, and before the huts the starlit road stretched empty (однако из теней больше не крались фигуры, и перед хижинами освещенная звездами дорога тянулась пустая = тянулась пустая, освещенная звездами дорога; to slink — красться). He whirled at the quick patter of feet behind him (он обернулся при быстром топоте ног позади него), but it was only the girl, rushing to throw herself on him and clasp his neck in a desperate grasp (но это была лишь девушка, несшаяся, /чтобы/ броситься на него и сжать его шею в отчаянных объятиях), frantic from terror of the abominable fate she had just escaped (неистовых от ужаса /перед/ гнусной участью, которой она только что избежала).
"Easy, girl," he grunted (полегче, девушка, — проворчал он). "You're all right (с тобой все в порядке). How did they catch you (как они тебя поймали)?"
lion [ˈlaɪən], girl [ɡə: l], throw [Ɵrəu]
Only the breeze disturbed the leaves. Conan shook his head as a lion shakes its mane and growled his unsatiated blood lust. But no more shapes slunk from the shadows, and before the huts the starlit road stretched empty. He whirled at the quick patter of feet behind him, but it was only the girl, rushing to throw herself on him and clasp his neck in a desperate grasp, frantic from terror of the abominable fate she had just escaped.
"Easy, girl," he grunted. "You're all right. How did they catch you?"
She sobbed something unintelligible (она прорыдала что-то неразборчивое). He forgot all about Aram Baksh as he scrutinized her by the light of the stars (он забыл все об Араме Бахше, когда он рассмотрел ее при свете звезд). She was white, though a very definite brunette (она была белая, хотя ярко выраженная брюнетка), obviously one of Zamboula's many mixed breeds (очевидно одна из многих смешанных рас Замбулы). She was tall, with a slender, supple form, as he was in a good position to observe (она была высокая, со стройными гибкими формами, так как он был в удобном положении для наблюдения). Admiration burned in his fierce eyes as he looked down on her splendid bosom and her lithe limbs (восхищение загорелось в его страстных глазах, когда он посмотрел сверху на ее роскошную грудь и ее гибкие конечности = руки), which still quivered from fright and exertion (которые еще дрожали от страха и напряжения / усилия). He passed an arm around her flexible waist and said, reassuringly: "Stop shaking, wench; you're safe enough (он просунул руку вокруг ее гибкой талии = он обнял ее рукой за талию и сказал обнадеживающе: перестань трястись, девушка, ты в достаточной безопасности)."
