Принцесса Марса 31 страница

maniacal [mq'naIqkl], emissary ['emIs(q)rI], prey [preI]

Finally all the hatred and maniacal loathing for these awful creatures who had placed me in this horrible place was centered by my tottering reason upon this single emissary who represented to me the entire horde of Warhoons.

I had noticed that he always advanced with his dim torch to where he could place the food within my reach and as he stooped to place it upon the floor his head was about on a level with my breast. So, with the cunning of a madman, I backed into the far corner of my cell when next I heard him approaching and gathering a little slack of the great chain which held me in my hand I waited his coming, crouching like some beast of prey. As he stooped to place my food upon the ground I swung the chain above my head and crashed the links with all my strength upon his skull. Without a sound he slipped to the floor, stone dead.

Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming (смеясь и болтая как идиот, которым я быстро становился; to chatter — болтать, тараторить) I fell upon his prostrate form (я упал на его распростертое тело) my fingers feeling for his dead throat (/при этом/ мои пальцы наощупь искали его мертвое горло; to feel for — нащупывать, искать ощупью). Presently they came in contact with a small chain (вскоре они натолкнулись на небольшую цепочку; to come in contact with smth. — наталкиваться на что-либо; соприкасаться с чем-либо) at the end of which dangled a number of keys (на конце которой болталось несколько ключей; to dangle — свободно свисать, висеть). The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason (прикосновение пальцев к этим ключам вернуло мне разум; to bring back — принести обратно; восстановить) with the suddenness of thought (с быстротой мысли). No longer was I a jibbering idiot (больше я не был невнятно бормочущим идиотом; to jibber — говорить невнятно), but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my very hands (но здоровым, разумным человеком со средствами к спасению в своих собственных руках).

chatter ['tSxtq], presently ['prezntlI], jibber ['dZIbq], reasoning ['ri:znIN]

Laughing and chattering like the idiot I was fast becoming, I fell upon his prostrate form, my fingers feeling for his dead throat. Presently they came in contact with a small chain at the end of which dangled a number of keys. The touch of my fingers on these keys brought back my reason with the suddenness of thought. No longer was I a jibbering idiot, but a sane, reasoning man with the means of escape within my very hands.

As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck (когда я наощупь /пытался/ снять цепочку с шеи моей жертвы) I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes (я взглянул в темноту и увидел шесть пар мерцающих глаз) fixed, unwinking, upon me (которые уставились на меня, не мигая). Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back (медленно они приближались, и медленно я пятился назад; to shrink back — отпрянуть) from the awful horror of them (в неописуемом ужасе перед ними). Back into my corner (/отступив/ назад в свой угол) I crouched holding my hands palms out, before me (я сжался и протянул руки ладонями вперед перед собой), and stealthily on came the awful eyes (и осторожно приближались эти ужасные глаза) until they reached the dead body at my feet (пока они не приблизились к мертвому телу у моих ног). Then slowly they retreated (затем медленно они отступили) but this time with a strange grating sound (но на этот раз со странным скрипучим звуком) and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon (и, наконец, они исчезли в каких-то темных и отдаленных уголках моей темницы).

unwinking ["An'wINkIN], recess [rI'ses], dungeon ['dAndZ(q)n]

As I was groping to remove the chain from about my victim's neck I glanced up into the darkness to see six pairs of gleaming eyes fixed, unwinking, upon me. Slowly they approached and slowly I shrank back from the awful horror of them. Back into my corner I crouched holding my hands palms out, before me, and stealthily on came the awful eyes until they reached the dead body at my feet. Then slowly they retreated but this time with a strange grating sound and finally they disappeared in some black and distant recess of my dungeon.

CHAPTER XIX

BATTLING IN THE ARENA (сражение на арене)

Slowly I regained my composure (медленно ко мне вернулось самообладание; composure — спокойствие, самообладание; to regain — обретать снова; возвращать себе; восстанавливать) and finally essayed again to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer (и наконец, /я/ вновь попытался снять ключи с мертвого тела моего бывшего тюремщика; to essay — пробовать, пытаться). But as I reached out into the darkness to locate it (но когда я протянул руку в темноте, чтобы найти их) I found to my horror that it was gone (то, к своему ужасу обнаружил, что оно исчезло). Then the truth flashed on me (тогда /свет/ истины озарил меня; to flash on — осенять, озарять); the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away from me (обладатели этих мерцающих глаз утащили мой трофей у меня) to be devoured in their neighboring lair (чтобы сожрать его рядом в своем логове); as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for months (так, как они ожидали дни, недели, месяцы), through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment (в течение всей этой ужасной вечности моего заключения) to drag my dead carcass to their feast (чтобы утащить мое мертвое тело на свой пир).

For two days no food was brought me (два дня мне не приносили никакой пищи), but then a new messenger appeared (но затем появился новый посыльный) and my incarceration went on as before (и мое заточение продолжилось, как и раньше; to go on — продолжить, продолжать), but not again did I allow my reason to be submerged by the horror of my position (но больше я не позволял своему разуму помутиться от ужасов моего положения; to submerge — погружаться в воду; исчезать).

composure [kqm'pouZq], essay ['eseI], neighboring ['neIb(q)rIN], imprisonment [Im'prIz(q)nmqnt], incarceration [In"kQ:sq'reIS(q)n], submerge [sqb'mWdZ]

Slowly I regained my composure and finally essayed again to attempt to remove the keys from the dead body of my former jailer. But as I reached out into the darkness to locate it I found to my horror that it was gone. Then the truth flashed on me; the owners of those gleaming eyes had dragged my prize away from me to be devoured in their neighboring lair; as they had been waiting for days, for weeks, for months, through all this awful eternity of my imprisonment to drag my dead carcass to their feast.

For two days no food was brought me, but then a new messenger appeared and my incarceration went on as before, but not again did I allow my reason to be submerged by the horror of my position.

Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained near me (вскоре после этого события другого пленника привели /в темницу/ и приковали цепью возле меня; episode — эпизод; случай). By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian (в тусклом свете факела я увидел, что он был красным марсианином) and I could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him (и я едва мог дождаться ухода его стражников, чтобы обратиться к нему). As their retreating footsteps died away in the distance (когда их удаляющиеся шаги затихли в отдалении; to die away — замирать, затихать), I called out softly the Martian word of greeting (я тихо произнес марсианское слово приветствия; softly — мягко; тихо), kaor.

"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered (кто ты, тот, кто говорит из темноты? — отозвался он).

"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium (друг красных людей Гелиума)."

"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name (я из Гелиума, но я не припоминаю твоего имени)."

episode ['epIsoud], retreat [rI'tri:t]

Shortly after this episode another prisoner was brought in and chained near me. By the dim torch light I saw that he was a red Martian and I could scarcely await the departure of his guards to address him. As their retreating footsteps died away in the distance, I called out softly the Martian word of greeting, kaor.

"Who are you who speaks out of the darkness?" he answered.

"John Carter, a friend of the red men of Helium."

"I am of Helium," he said, "but I do not recall your name."

And then I told him my story as I have written it here (и затем я рассказал ему мою историю так, как я описал ее здесь), omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris (опустив только любые упоминания о моей любви к Деже Торис). He was much excited by the news of Helium's princess (он был очень взволнован известиями о принцессе Гелиума) and seemed quite positive (и казался совершенно уверенным; positive — уверенный, убежденный) that she and Sola could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me (что она и Сола могли добраться до безопасного места оттуда, где они меня оставили). He said that he knew the place well (он сказал, что знает это место хорошо) because the defile through which the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us (потому что узкий проход, через который прошли ворхунские воины, когда они обнаружили нас) was the only one ever used by them when marching to the south (был единственным, который они вообще использовали, когда продвигались на юг).

"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great waterway (углубились в холмы не далее, чем в пяти милях от великого канала) and are now probably quite safe," he assured me (и теперь, вероятно, в полной безопасности, — уверил он меня).

omit [q'mIt], march [mQ:tS], assure [q'Suq]

And then I told him my story as I have written it here, omitting only any reference to my love for Dejah Thoris. He was much excited by the news of Helium's princess and seemed quite positive that she and Sola could easily have reached a point of safety from where they left me. He said that he knew the place well because the defile through which the Warhoon warriors had passed when they discovered us was the only one ever used by them when marching to the south.

"Dejah Thoris and Sola entered the hills not five miles from a great waterway and are now probably quite safe," he assured me.

My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of Helium (моим товарищем по тюрьме был Кантос Кан, лейтенант флота Гелиума). He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition (он был участником злополучной экспедиции) which had fallen into the hands of the Tharks (которая попала в лапы тарков) at the time of Dejah Thoris' capture (во время захвата Дежи Торис), and he briefly related the events (и он коротко пересказал те события) which followed the defeat of the battleships (которые последовали за поражением боевых кораблей).

Badly injured and only partially manned (сильно поврежденные и только частично укомплектованные командой; to man — укомплектовывать личным составом) they had limped slowly toward Helium (они медленно и с трудом продвигались к Гелиуму; to limp — хромать; двигаться медленно или с трудом), but while passing near the city of Zodanga (но когда они проходили возле города Зоданги), the capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom (столицы потомственных врагов Гелиума среди красных людей Барсума; hereditary — наследственный, потомственный), they had been attacked by a great body of war vessels (они были атакованы большой группой военных судов) and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan belonged (и все /суда/, за исключением судна, к которому был приписан Кантос Кан; to belong — принадлежать; быть частью группы) were either destroyed or captured (были либо уничтожены, либо захвачены). His vessel was chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships (его судно несколько дней преследовали три зодангианских военных корабля) but finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night (но наконец /ему/ удалось ускользнуть во тьме безлунной ночи).

battleship ['bxtlSIp], injure ['IndZq], vessel [vesl], escape [Is'keIp]

My fellow prisoner was Kantos Kan, a padwar (lieutenant) in the navy of Helium. He had been a member of the ill-fated expedition which had fallen into the hands of the Tharks at the time of Dejah Thoris' capture, and he briefly related the events which followed the defeat of the battleships.

Badly injured and only partially manned they had limped slowly toward Helium, but while passing near the city of Zodanga, the capital of Helium's hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom, they had been attacked by a great body of war vessels and all but the craft to which Kantos Kan belonged were either destroyed or captured. His vessel was chased for days by three of the Zodangan war ships but finally escaped during the darkness of a moonless night.

Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris (через тридцать дней после пленения Дежи Торис), or about the time of our coming to Thark (или примерно ко времени нашего прибытия в Тарк), his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors (его судно достигло Гелиума с примерно десятью выжившими /на борту/) of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men (из первоначальной команды из семисот офицеров и рядовых; man — военнослужащий рядового состава). Immediately seven great fleets (немедленно семь больших флотилий), each of one hundred mighty war ships (каждая из которых /состояла/ из сотни мощных военных кораблей) had been dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris (были отправлены на поиски Дежи Торис), and from these vessels two thousand smaller craft (и, кроме этих судов, две тысячи более мелких кораблей) had been kept out continuously in futile search for the missing princess (постоянно находились: «их держали вне /порта/» в тщетных поисках исчезнувшей принцессы; futile — бесполезный, тщетный).

Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by the avenging fleets (две общины зеленых марсиан были стерты с лица земли мстящими флотами; avenging — мстящий, карающий; to avenge — мстить), but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found (но не было обнаружено и следа Дежи Торис). They had been searching among the northern hordes (они искали среди северных племен), and only within the past few days had they extended their quest to the south (и только в последние несколько дней они расширили свой поиск к югу).

survivor [sq'vaIvq], dispatch [dIs'pxtS], futile ['fju:taIl], avenge [q'vendZ]

Thirty days after the capture of Dejah Thoris, or about the time of our coming to Thark, his vessel had reached Helium with about ten survivors of the original crew of seven hundred officers and men. Immediately seven great fleets, each of one hundred mighty war ships, had been dispatched to search for Dejah Thoris, and from these vessels two thousand smaller craft had been kept out continuously in futile search for the missing princess.

Two green Martian communities had been wiped off the face of Barsoom by the avenging fleets, but no trace of Dejah Thoris had been found. They had been searching among the northern hordes, and only within the past few days had they extended their quest to the south.

Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers (Кантос Кан был назначен на один из маленьких одноместных летательных аппаратов; to detail — назначать) and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons (и имел несчастье быть обнаруженным ворхунцами) while exploring their city (когда обследовал их город). The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect and admiration (отвага и смелость этого человека завоевали мое высочайшее уважение и восхищение). Alone he had landed at the city's boundary (/будучи совсем/ один, он приземлился у границы города) and on foot had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza (и пешком пробрался к зданиям, которые окружали площадь; to penetrate — проникать, проходить). For two days and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons (в течение двух дней и ночей он обследовал их жилища и их темницы) in search of his beloved princess (в поисках своей любимой принцессы) only to fall into the hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave (и все лишь для того, чтобы попасть в лапы отряда ворхунцев, когда он уже собирался уходить), after assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there (убедившись, что Дежа Торис не была пленницей там).

misfortune [mIs'fO:tSn], penetrate ['penItreIt], beloved [bI'lAvd]

Kantos Kan had been detailed to one of the small one-man fliers and had had the misfortune to be discovered by the Warhoons while exploring their city. The bravery and daring of the man won my greatest respect and admiration. Alone he had landed at the city's boundary and on foot had penetrated to the buildings surrounding the plaza. For two days and nights he had explored their quarters and their dungeons in search of his beloved princess only to fall into the hands of a party of Warhoons as he was about to leave, after assuring himself that Dejah Thoris was not a captive there.

During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well acquainted (за период нашего заточения Кантос Кан и я хорошо познакомились), and formed a warm personal friendship (и у нас возникла теплая личная дружба; to form — образовывать). A few days only elapsed, however (прошло только несколько дней, однако; to elapse — проходить, протекать), before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the great games (как нас выволокли наружу из нашей темницы для больших игр). We were conducted early one morning to an enormous amphitheater (однажды ранним утром нас привели в огромный амфитеатр), which instead of having been built upon the surface of the ground (который, вместо того, чтобы быть построенным на поверхности земли) was excavated below the surface (был выкопан ниже ее поверхности; to excavate — копать, рыть). It had partially filled with debris (он частично заполнился мусором; debris — обломки; строительный мусор) so that how large it had originally been was difficult to say (поэтому трудно было судить о том, насколько велик он был изначально). In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons of the assembled hordes (в его нынешнем состоянии он вмещал все двадцать тысяч ворхунцев из собравшихся /вместе/ племен).

acquaint [q'kweInt], elapse [I'lxps], amphitheater ['xmfI"TIqtq], debris ['deIbri:]

During the period of our incarceration Kantos Kan and I became well acquainted, and formed a warm personal friendship. A few days only elapsed, however, before we were dragged forth from our dungeon for the great games. We were conducted early one morning to an enormous amphitheater, which instead of having been built upon the surface of the ground was excavated below the surface. It had partially filled with debris so that how large it had originally been was difficult to say. In its present condition it held the entire twenty thousand Warhoons of the assembled hordes.

The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt (арена была огромной, но чрезвычайно неровной и неухоженной; unkempt — неопрятный, запущенный). Around it the Warhoons had piled building stone (вокруг нее ворхунцы нагромоздили строительный камень) from some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city (от некоторых разрушенных зданий древнего города) to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping into the audience (чтобы помешать животным и пленникам выбежать к зрителям; audience — публика, зрители), and at each end had been constructed cages (а у каждого ее конца были сооружены клетки) to hold them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena (чтобы держать их /там/, пока не придет их черед встретить ужасную смерть на арене).

Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages (Кантоса Кана и меня держали вместе в одной из клеток; to confine — заточать, держать взаперти). In the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and women of other hordes (в других были дикие калоты, тоты, бешеные зитидары, зеленые воины и женщины других племен), and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had never before seen (а также множество странных и свирепых диких животных Барсума, которых я никогда прежде не видел). The din of their roaring, growling and squealing was deafening (гвалт от их рычания, ворчания и визга был оглушающим; din — шум, грохот) and the formidable appearance of any one of them (а устрашающей внешности любого из них; formidable — вызывающий опасения, грозный; жуткий, пугающий, чудовищный; the formidable appearance — устрашающая внешность) was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave forebodings (было достаточно, чтобы самый смелый человек ощутил тяжелые предчувствия; stout — крепкий; отважный; stout heart — смелый, отважный человек).

unkempt ["An'kempt], edifice ['edIfIs], audience ['O:dIqns], deafening ['defnIN], formidable ['fO:mIdqbl], foreboding [fO:'boudIN]

The arena was immense but extremely uneven and unkempt. Around it the Warhoons had piled building stone from some of the ruined edifices of the ancient city to prevent the animals and the captives from escaping into the audience, and at each end had been constructed cages to hold them until their turns came to meet some horrible death upon the arena.

Kantos Kan and I were confined together in one of the cages. In the others were wild calots, thoats, mad zitidars, green warriors, and women of other hordes, and many strange and ferocious wild beasts of Barsoom which I had never before seen. The din of their roaring, growling and squealing was deafening and the formidable appearance of any one of them was enough to make the stoutest heart feel grave forebodings.

Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these prisoners would gain freedom (Кантос Кан объяснил мне, что к концу этого дня один из пленников получит свободу; to gain — выигрывать, добиваться; получать, приобретать) and the others would lie dead about the arena (а другие будут лежать мертвыми на арене). The winners in the various contests of the day (победителей в разнообразных состязаниях дня) would be pitted against each other (будут стравливать друг с другом; to pit against — стравливать, выставлять; pit — яма, углубление, впадина, лунка; арена для петушиных боев) until only two remained alive (пока только двое не останутся в живых); the victor in the last encounter being set free (победитель в последней схватке будет отпущен на свободу), whether animal or man (будь то животное или человек). The following morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims (на следующее утро клетки будут заполнены новой партией жертв; consignment — груз, партия), and so on throughout the ten days of the games (и так далее на протяжении всех десяти дней игр).

Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill (вскоре после того, как нас поместили в клетку, амфитеатр начал заполняться) and within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied (и в течение часа все доступные свободные места: «вся доступная часть пространства для сидения» были заняты). Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains (с его джедами и вождями), sat at the center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform (сидел в центре на одной стороне арены на большой трибуне; raised platform — возвышение: «поднятый настил»).

remain [rI'meIn], consignment [kqn'saInmqnt], occupy ['OkjupaI]

Kantos Kan explained to me that at the end of the day one of these prisoners would gain freedom and the others would lie dead about the arena. The winners in the various contests of the day would be pitted against each other until only two remained alive; the victor in the last encounter being set free, whether animal or man. The following morning the cages would be filled with a new consignment of victims, and so on throughout the ten days of the games.

Shortly after we had been caged the amphitheater began to fill and within an hour every available part of the seating space was occupied. Dak Kova, with his jeds and chieftains, sat at the center of one side of the arena upon a large raised platform.

At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open (по сигналу Дака Ковы двери клеток распахнули; to throw open — распахивать, открывать) and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena (и дюжину зеленых марсианских женщин согнали в центр арены; to drive — гнать). Each was given a dagger and then (каждой из них дали кинжал, а затем), at the far end, a pack of twelve calots, or wild dogs were loosed upon them (с дальнего конца арены на них выпустили свору из двенадцати калотов, или диких собак).

As the brutes, growling and foaming (когда звери, рыча и испуская пену; foam — пена), rushed upon the almost defenseless women (бросились на почти беззащитных женщин) I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight (я отвернулся: «повернул голову», чтобы не видеть ужасного зрелища). The yells and laughter of the green horde (вопли и смех зеленой орды) bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport (свидетельствовали о великолепном качестве развлечения) and when I turned back to the arena (а когда я обернулся назад к арене), as Kantos Kan told me it was over (когда Кантос Кан сказал мне, что все кончено), I saw three victorious calots (я увидел трех победивших калотов), snarling and growling over the bodies of their prey (которые рычали и ворчали над телами своих жертв; to snarl — рычать, ворчать; to growl — рычать). The women had given a good account of themselves (женщины дорого продали свои жизни; account — счет, расчет; отчет; to give a good account of — успешно справиться, хорошо себя зарекомендовать).

foaming ['foumIN], victorious [vIk'tO:rIqs], snarl [snRl]

At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. Each was given a dagger and then, at the far end, a pack of twelve calots, or wild dogs, were loosed upon them.

As the brutes, growling and foaming, rushed upon the almost defenseless women I turned my head that I might not see the horrid sight. The yells and laughter of the green horde bore witness to the excellent quality of the sport and when I turned back to the arena, as Kantos Kan told me it was over, I saw three victorious calots, snarling and growling over the bodies of their prey. The women had given a good account of themselves.

Next a mad zitidar was loosed among the remaining dogs (затем бешеный зитидар был выпущен на оставшихся собак), and so it went throughout the long, hot, horrible day (и так это продолжалось весь длинный, жаркий, ужасный день).

During the day I was pitted against first men and then beasts (в течение этого дня меня выставляли вначале против людей, а затем и зверей), but as I was armed with a long-sword (но так как я был вооружен длинным мечом) and always outclassed my adversary in agility and generally in strength as well (и всегда превосходил своего противника в ловкости и в целом по силе; to outclass — превосходить; generally — обычно, в целом), it proved but child's play to me (все это оказалось просто детской игрой для меня; to prove — доказывать; оказываться). Time and time again I won the applause of the bloodthirsty multitude (раз за разом я удостаивался аплодисментов кровожадного большинства; to win — выиграть, заслужить), and toward the end there were cries that I be taken from the arena (и ближе к концу стали /раздаваться/ крики, чтобы меня убрали с арены) and be made a member of the hordes of Warhoon (и сделали членом ворхунских племен).

Finally there were but three of us left (наконец, осталось только трое из нас), a great green warrior of some far northern horde, Kantos Kan, and myself (большой зеленый воин из какого-то дальнего северного племени, Кантос Кан и я).

The other two were to battle (те двое должны были сразиться) and then I to fight the conqueror for the liberty which was accorded the final winner (а затем мне /предстояло/ вступить в бой с победителем за свободу, которую даровали последнему победителю; to accord — предоставить).

throughout [Tru:'aut], adversary ['xdvqs(q)rI], bloodthirsty ['blAd"TWstI], northern ['nO:Dqn], conqueror ['kONkqrq]

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14