Принцесса Марса 38 страница

"Who are you, Zodangan?" she whispered. "Another enemy to harass me in my misery?"

"I am a friend," I answered, "a once cherished friend."

"No friend of Helium's princess wears that metal," she replied, "and yet the voice! I have heard it before; it is not — it cannot be — no, for he is dead."

"It is, though, my Princess, none other than John Carter," I said. "Do you not recognize, even through paint and strange metal, the heart of your chieftain?"

As I came close to her (когда я подошел к ней вплотную) she swayed toward me with outstretched hands (она покачнулась ко мне с простертыми руками), but as I reached to take her in my arms (но когда я потянулся, чтобы обнять ее) she drew back with a shudder and a little moan of misery (она отшатнулась с дрожью и тихим стоном горя; to draw back — отступать, подаваться назад).

"Too late, too late," she grieved (слишком поздно, слишком поздно, — горевала = с горечью проговорила она). "O my chieftain that was, and whom I thought dead (о, мой вождь, который был и которого я считала мертвым), had you but returned one little hour before (о, если бы ты вернулся хотя бы на часок раньше) — but now it is too late, too late (но теперь уже слишком поздно, слишком поздно)!"

"What do you mean (что ты имеешь в виду), Dejah Thoris?" I cried (воскликнул я). "That you would not have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince (что ты не пообещала бы /отдать/ себя зодангианскому принцу) had you known that I lived (если бы знала, что я выжил)?"

sway [sweI], shudder ['SAdq], grieve [gri:v]

As I came close to her she swayed toward me with outstretched hands, but as I reached to take her in my arms she drew back with a shudder and a little moan of misery.

"Too late, too late," she grieved. "O my chieftain that was, and whom I thought dead, had you but returned one little hour before — but now it is too late, too late."

"What do you mean, Dejah Thoris?" I cried. "That you would not have promised yourself to the Zodangan prince had you known that I lived?"

"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday and today to another (ты думаешь, что я могла бы отдать свое сердце тебе — вчера, а сегодня — другому)? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in the pits of Warhoon (я думала, что оно лежит, погребенное вместе с твоим прахом в темницах Ворхуна; pit — яма; темница), and so today I have promised my body to another (и поэтому сегодня я пообещала свое тело другому) to save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army (чтобы спасти мой народ от погибели из-за победоносной зодангианской армии; curse — проклятие; бедствие)."

"But I am not dead, my princess (но я не умер, моя принцесса). I have come to claim you, and all Zodanga cannot prevent it (я пришел за тобой: «заявить на тебя права», и вся Зоданга не сможет помешать этому; to claim — заявлять права; to prevent — предотвращать)."

"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given (слишком поздно, Джон Картер, мое обещание дано), and on Barsoom that is final (а на Барсуме это окончательно). The ceremonies which follow later (церемонии, которые последуют позже) are but meaningless formalities (это просто пустые формальности). They make the fact of marriage no more certain (они ничего не прибавляют к факту замужества: «не делают факт замужества более определенным») than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him (так же, как и похоронная процессия джеддака не налагает на него вновь печать смерти). I am as good as married (я все равно что замужем), John Carter. No longer may you call me your princess (ты больше не можешь называть меня своей принцессой). No longer are you my chieftain (ты больше не мой вождь)."

victorious [vIk'tO:rIqs], meaningless ['mi:nINlIs], formality [fO:'mxlItI]

"Think you, John Carter, that I would give my heart to you yesterday and today to another? I thought that it lay buried with your ashes in the pits of Warhoon, and so today I have promised my body to another to save my people from the curse of a victorious Zodangan army."

"But I am not dead, my princess. I have come to claim you, and all Zodanga cannot prevent it."

"It is too late, John Carter, my promise is given, and on Barsoom that is final. The ceremonies which follow later are but meaningless formalities. They make the fact of marriage no more certain than does the funeral cortege of a jeddak again place the seal of death upon him. I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your princess. No longer are you my chieftain."

"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom (я мало знаю ваши обычаи здесь, на Барсуме), Dejah Thoris, but I do know that I love you (но я знаю, что люблю тебя), and if you meant the last words you spoke to me (и если ты /действительно/ подразумевала те слова, сказанные мне в последний раз; to mean — подразумевать, иметь в виду) that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us (в тот день, когда орды Ворхунов напали на нас), no other man shall ever claim you as his bride (то ни один мужчина не смеет называть тебя своей невестой). You meant them then, my princess (ты думала так, моя принцесса), and you mean them still (и ты по-прежнему так думаешь)! Say that it is true (скажи, что это правда)."

meant [ment], horde [hO:d], charge [tSQ:dZ]

"I know but little of your customs here upon Barsoom, Dejah Thoris, but I do know that I love you, and if you meant the last words you spoke to me that day as the hordes of Warhoon were charging down upon us, no other man shall ever claim you as his bride. You meant them then, my princess, and you mean them still! Say that it is true."

"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered (я так думала, — прошептала она). "I cannot repeat them now (я не могу повторить их теперь) for I have given myself to another (потому что я отдала себя другому). Ah, if you had only known our ways, my friend (ах, если бы ты только знал наши обычаи, мой друг)," she continued, half to herself (продолжила она почти про себя), "the promise would have been yours long months ago (ты получил бы мое обещание много месяцев тому назад), and you could have claimed me before all others (и ты мог бы претендовать на меня перед всеми). It might have meant the fall of Helium (и пусть пал бы весь Гелиум: «это могло бы означать падение Гелиума»), but I would have given my empire for my Tharkian chief (но я отдала бы все свое царство за моего таркианского вождя)."

whisper ['wIspq], repeat [rI'pi:t], continue [kqn'tInju:]

"I meant them, John Carter," she whispered. "I cannot repeat them now for I have given myself to another. Ah, if you had only known our ways, my friend," she continued, half to herself, "the promise would have been yours long months ago, and you could have claimed me before all others. It might have meant the fall of Helium, but I would have given my empire for my Tharkian chief."

Then aloud she said (затем она сказала вслух): "Do you remember the night (ты помнишь ту ночь) when you offended me (когда ты обидел меня)? You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me (ты назвал меня своей принцессой, не попросив у меня моей руки), and then you boasted that you had fought for me (а потом ты хвастался, что сражался за меня; to fight). You did not know, and I should not have been offended (ты не знал, и я не должна была обижаться); I see that now (я понимаю это теперь). But there was no one to tell you (но не было никого, кто сказал бы тебе) what I could not (то, чего я не могла), that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of women in the cities of the red men (что на Барсуме есть два типа женщин в городах красных людей). The one they fight for that they may ask them in marriage (за одних они сражаются, чтобы иметь возможность попросить их руки); the other kind they fight for also, but never ask their hands (за других они также сражаются, но никогда не просят их руки). When a man has won a woman (когда мужчина завоевывает женщину) he may address her as his princess (он может называть ее своей принцессой), or in any of the several terms which signify possession (или несколькими другими определениями, означающими /ее/ принадлежность /ему/). You had fought for me (ты сражался за меня), but had never asked me in marriage (но так и не попросил моей руки), and so when you called me your princess (и поэтому, когда ты назвал меня своей принцессой), you see," she faltered, "I was hurt (ты понимаешь, — она заколебалась, — я была оскорблена; to falter — говорить неуверенно; колебаться), but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse you (но даже тогда я не оттолкнула тебя; to repulse — отвергать, отталкивать), as I should have done (как я должна была сделать), until you made it doubly worse (пока ты не сделал вдвое хуже) by taunting me with having won me through combat (когда насмехался надо мной, /говоря/, что выиграл меня в сражении; to taunt — насмехаться, дразнить)."

offendedly [q'fendIdlI], possession [pq'zeS(q)n], marriage ['mxrIdZ], repulse [rI'pAls]

Then aloud she said: "Do you remember the night when you offended me? You called me your princess without having asked my hand of me, and then you boasted that you had fought for me. You did not know, and I should not have been offended; I see that now. But there was no one to tell you what I could not, that upon Barsoom there are two kinds of women in the cities of the red men. The one they fight for that they may ask them in marriage; the other kind they fight for also, but never ask their hands. When a man has won a woman he may address her as his princess, or in any of the several terms which signify possession. You had fought for me, but had never asked me in marriage, and so when you called me your princess, you see," she faltered, "I was hurt, but even then, John Carter, I did not repulse you, as I should have done, until you made it doubly worse by taunting me with having won me through combat."

"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried (мне нет нужды теперь просить у тебя прощения). "You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs (ты должна знать, что моя вина состояла в незнании обычаев Барсума). What I failed to do, through implicit belief (то, чего я не сделал раньше из-за моей полной уверенности; implicit — безоговорочный, полный) that my petition would be presumptuous and unwelcome (в том,что моя просьба будет самонадеянной и нежеланной; petition — прошение, просьба; presumptuous — самоуверенный, самонадеянный), I do now (я делаю теперь), Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife (я прошу тебя стать моей женой), and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins you shall be (и клянусь всей своей виргинской воинственной кровью, которая течет в моих жилах, — ты станешь /ею/)!"

"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly (нет, это бесполезно, — воскликнула она безнадежно), "I may never be yours while Sab Than lives (я никогда не могу быть твоей, пока Саб Тан жив)."

forgiveness [fq'gIvnIs], implicit [Im'plIsIt], presumptuous [prI'zAmptjuqs]

"I do not need ask your forgiveness now, Dejah Thoris," I cried. "You must know that my fault was of ignorance of your Barsoomian customs. What I failed to do, through implicit belief that my petition would be presumptuous and unwelcome, I do now, Dejah Thoris; I ask you to be my wife, and by all the Virginian fighting blood that flows in my veins you shall be."

"No, John Carter, it is useless," she cried, hopelessly, "I may never be yours while Sab Than lives."

"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess — Sab Than dies (ты подписала его смертный приговор, моя принцесса — Саб Тан умрет)."

"Nor that either," she hastened to explain (только не это, — поспешила она объяснить). "I may not wed the man who slays my husband (я не могу выйти замуж за человека, который убьет моего мужа), even in self-defense (даже при самозащите). It is custom (таков обычай). We are ruled by custom upon Barsoom (обычаи правят нами здесь, на Барсуме). It is useless, my friend (это бесполезно, мой друг). You must bear the sorrow with me (ты должен переносить это горе со мной). That at least we may share in common (это, по крайней мере, мы можем разделить вместе; in common — сообща, вместе). That, and the memory of the brief days among the Tharks (это — и воспоминание о коротких днях среди тарков). You must go now (теперь ты должен уйти), nor ever see me again (и никогда не встречаться со мной больше). Good-bye, my chieftain that was (прощай, мой былой вождь).

warrant ['wOrqnt], husband ['hAzbqnd], brief [bri:f], useless ['ju:slIs], sorrow ['sOrou]

"You have sealed his death warrant, my princess — Sab Than dies."

"Nor that either," she hastened to explain. "I may not wed the man who slays my husband, even in self-defense. It is custom. We are ruled by custom upon Barsoom. It is useless, my friend. You must bear the sorrow with me. That at least we may share in common. That, and the memory of the brief days among the Tharks. You must go now, nor ever see me again. Good-bye, my chieftain that was."

Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room (с разбитым сердцем и удрученный, я вышел из комнаты; to deject — подавлять, угнетать, расстраивать, удручать, приводить в уныние; to dishearten — приводить в уныние, сломить волю, дух, расхолаживать), but I was not entirely discouraged (не я не был полностью обескуражен; to discourage — приводить в уныние, обескураживать), nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to me (и я не хотел допускать, что Дежа Торис потеряна для меня) until the ceremony had actually been performed (пока церемония на самом деле не совершилась).

As I wandered along the corridors (пока я блуждал по коридорам), I was as absolutely lost in the mazes of winding passageways (я совершенно заблудился в лабиринте извилистых переходов) as I had been before I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments (как это было перед тем, как я нашел апартаменты Дежи Торис).

I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga (я знал, что моя единственная надежда на спасение заключалась в бегстве из города Зоданги), for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained (так как вопрос о четырех мертвых стражниках потребует разъяснений), and as I could never reach my original post without a guide (а так как я никак не смогу добраться до своего первоначального поста без проводника), suspicion would surely rest on me (подозрение обязательно падет на меня; to rest on — возлагать, покоиться) so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the palace (как только меня обнаружат бесцельно слоняющимся по дворцу).

dishearten [dIs'hQ:t(q)n], discourage [dIs'kArIdZ], suspicion [sq'spIS(q)n], surely ['SuqlI], aimlessly ['eImlIslI]

Disheartened and dejected, I withdrew from the room, but I was not entirely discouraged, nor would I admit that Dejah Thoris was lost to me until the ceremony had actually been performed.

As I wandered along the corridors, I was as absolutely lost in the mazes of winding passageways as I had been before I discovered Dejah Thoris' apartments.

I knew that my only hope lay in escape from the city of Zodanga, for the matter of the four dead guardsmen would have to be explained, and as I could never reach my original post without a guide, suspicion would surely rest on me so soon as I was discovered wandering aimlessly through the palace.

Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor (наконец я подошел к спиральной лестнице, ведущей на нижний этаж), and this I followed downward for several stories (и по ней я последовал вниз на несколько этажей) until I reached the doorway of a large apartment (пока не дошел до двери в большую комнату) in which were a number of guardsmen (в которой было много стражников). The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries (стены этой комнаты были увешаны прозрачными тканями) behind which I secreted myself without being apprehended (за которыми я и спрятался, оставшись незамеченным; to apprehend — понимать, постигать, разгадывать, схватывать; арестовывать, задерживать).

downward ['daunwqd], transparent ["trxns'peqrqnt], apprehend ["xprI'hend]

Presently I came upon a spiral runway leading to a lower floor, and this I followed downward for several stories until I reached the doorway of a large apartment in which were a number of guardsmen. The walls of this room were hung with transparent tapestries behind which I secreted myself without being apprehended.

The conversation of the guardsmen was general (разговор стражников был общим), and awakened no interest in me (и не пробудил во мне никакого интереса) until an officer entered the room (пока в комнату не вошел офицер) and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail (и не приказал четырем рядовым сменить караул; detail — наряд, команда; to relieve — сменять) who were guarding the Princess of Helium (который охранял принцессу Гелиума). Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest (теперь, я знал, у меня начнутся серьезные проблемы; in earnest — всерьез) and indeed they were upon me all too soon (и, действительно, они свалились на меня слишком быстро), for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the guardroom (так как, казалось, команда едва покинула караульное помещение) before one of their number burst in again breathlessly (как один из их числа ворвался внутрь, задыхаясь; to burst in — врываться, вломиться; breathless — запыхавшийся), crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the antechamber (и выкрикивая, что они нашли своих четверых товарищей безжалостно убитыми в прихожей; to butcher — бить /скот/; безжалостно и бессмысленно убивать; butcher — мясник).

relieve [rI'li:v], breathless ['breTlIs], butcher ['butSq]

The conversation of the guardsmen was general, and awakened no interest in me until an officer entered the room and ordered four of the men to relieve the detail who were guarding the Princess of Helium. Now, I knew, my troubles would commence in earnest and indeed they were upon me all too soon, for it seemed that the squad had scarcely left the guardroom before one of their number burst in again breathlessly, crying that they had found their four comrades butchered in the antechamber.

In a moment the entire palace was alive with people (через мгновение весь дворец заполнился людьми; alive — живой; изобилующий). Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves (стражники, офицеры, придворные, слуги и рабы) ran helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments (бегали в суматохе по коридорам и комнатам; helter-skelter — беспорядочно, как попало, кое-как) carrying messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin (передавая донесения и приказания и разыскивая следы убийцы).

This was my opportunity (это был мой шанс) and slim as it appeared I grasped it (и каким бы незначительным он ни казался, я ухватился за него; slim — стройный, тонкий, худой; /разг./ незначительный, несущественный), for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place (и когда несколько солдат прошли в спешке мимо моего убежища) I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace (я пристроился позади них и последовал /за ними/ по лабиринтам дворца; to fall in — становиться в строй) until, in passing through a great hall (пока, когда я проходил через большой зал), I saw the blessed light of day coming in through a series of larger windows (я увидел благословенный дневной свет, который проходил через ряд больших окон).

helter-skelter ["heltq'skeltq], assassin [q'sxsIn], blessed ['blesId]

In a moment the entire palace was alive with people. Guardsmen, officers, courtiers, servants, and slaves ran helter-skelter through the corridors and apartments carrying messages and orders, and searching for signs of the assassin.

This was my opportunity and slim as it appeared I grasped it, for as a number of soldiers came hurrying past my hiding place I fell in behind them and followed through the mazes of the palace until, in passing through a great hall, I saw the blessed light of day coming in through a series of larger windows.

Here I left my guides (здесь я оставил своих проводников), and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for an avenue of escape (и, проскользнув к ближайшему окну, /стал/ искать путь к бегству). The windows opened upon a great balcony (окна открывались на большой балкон) which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga (который выходил на одну из широких улиц Зоданги). The ground was about thirty feet below (земля была примерно в тридцати футах внизу), and at a like distance from the building (и примерно на таком же расстоянии от здания) was a wall fully twenty feet high (была стена высотой в целых двадцать футов), constructed of polished glass about a foot in thickness (состоящая из отполированного стекла толщиной примерно около фута). To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared impossible (для красного марсианина бегство этим путем оказалось бы невозможным), but to me, with my earthly strength and agility (но для меня, с моей земной силой и ловкостью), it seemed already accomplished (оно уже казалось свершившимся). My only fear was in being detected before darkness fell (мой единственный страх заключался в том, что меня обнаружат до наступления темноты), for I could not make the leap in broad daylight (потому что я не мог совершить прыжок средь бела дня; in broad daylight — средь бела дня) while the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans (пока двор внизу и улица за ним были заполнены жителями Зоданги).

balcony ['bxlkqnI], thickness ['TIknIs], appear [q'pIq]

Here I left my guides, and, slipping to the nearest window, sought for an avenue of escape. The windows opened upon a great balcony which overlooked one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. The ground was about thirty feet below, and at a like distance from the building was a wall fully twenty feet high, constructed of polished glass about a foot in thickness. To a red Martian escape by this path would have appeared impossible, but to me, with my earthly strength and agility, it seemed already accomplished. My only fear was in being detected before darkness fell, for I could not make the leap in broad daylight while the court below and the avenue beyond were crowded with Zodangans.

Accordingly I searched for a hiding place (следовательно, я /начал/ искать укрытие; accordingly — соответственно; следовательно) and finally found one by accident (и, наконец, случайно нашел одно), inside a huge hanging ornament (внутри огромного висячего украшения) which swung from the ceiling of the hall (которое свисало с потолка зала), and about ten feet from the floor (и /заканчивалось/ примерно в десяти футах от пола). Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease (в просторную, похожую на чашу, вазу я запрыгнул с легкостью), and scarcely had I settled down within it (и едва я успел устроиться в ней; to settle down — устраиваться) than I heard a number of people enter the apartment (как услышал, что несколько человек входят в комнату). The group stopped beneath my hiding place (группа остановилась под моим укрытием) and I could plainly overhear their every word (и я мог четко слышать каждое их слово).

"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men (это работа гелиумцев, — сказал один из мужчин).

"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace (но как они попали во дворец; access — доступ)? I could believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen (я мог бы поверить в то, что даже при усердном наблюдении твоих стражников; diligent — прилежный, старательный) a single enemy might reach the inner chambers (один враг мог пробраться во внутренние покои), but how a force of six or eight fighting men (но как отряд из шести или восьми воинов; force — сила; вооруженный отряд) could have done so unobserved is beyond me (мог сделать это, /не будучи/ замеченным, — вне моего понимания; beyond — выше, сверх; beyond me — выше моего понимания). We shall soon know, however (мы вскоре узнаем, однако), for here comes the royal psychologist (так как вот идет королевский психолог).

accordingly [q'kO:dINlI], capacious [kq'peISqs], plainly ['pleInlI], psychologist [saI'kOlqdZIst]

Accordingly I searched for a hiding place and finally found one by accident, inside a huge hanging ornament which swung from the ceiling of the hall, and about ten feet from the floor. Into the capacious bowl-like vase I sprang with ease, and scarcely had I settled down within it than I heard a number of people enter the apartment. The group stopped beneath my hiding place and I could plainly overhear their every word.

"It is the work of Heliumites," said one of the men.

"Yes, O Jeddak, but how had they access to the palace? I could believe that even with the diligent care of your guardsmen a single enemy might reach the inner chambers, but how a force of six or eight fighting men could have done so unobserved is beyond me. We shall soon know, however, for here comes the royal psychologist."

Another man now joined the group (еще один человек теперь присоединился к группе), and, after making his formal greetings to his ruler, said (и после того, как /он/ официально поприветствовал своего правителя, сказал):

"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your faithful guardsmen (странную историю я прочел в мертвых умах твоих верных стражников). They were felled not by a number of fighting men, but by a single opponent (они были сражены не несколькими воинами, но одним противником)."

He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his hearers (он сделал паузу, чтобы вся важность его сообщения дошла до сознания его слушателей; weight — значение, важность; to impress — внушать, внедрять в сознание), and that his statement was scarcely credited (и о том, что его утверждение вряд ли вызвало доверие) was evidenced by the impatient exclamation of incredulity (свидетельствовали нетерпеливые восклицания недоверия) which escaped the lips of Than Kosis (которые сорвались с губ Тана Косиса).

"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me (что за странную историю ты рассказываешь мне; to bring — приносить; высказывать), Notan?" he cried.

announcement [q'naunsmqnt], credit ['kredIt], incredulity ["InkrI'dju:lItI]

Another man now joined the group, and, after making his formal greetings to his ruler, said:

"O mighty Jeddak, it is a strange tale I read in the dead minds of your faithful guardsmen. They were felled not by a number of fighting men, but by a single opponent."

He paused to let the full weight of this announcement impress his hearers, and that his statement was scarcely credited was evidenced by the impatient exclamation of incredulity which escaped the lips of Than Kosis.

"What manner of weird tale are you bringing me, Notan?" he cried.

"It is the truth (это правда), my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four guardsmen (на самом деле, впечатления оставили очень сильный отпечаток в мозгу каждого из четырех стражников). Their antagonist was a very tall man (их противником был очень высокий человек), wearing the metal of one of your own guardsmen (носящий знаки различия одного из твоих собственных стражников), and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous (и его способность сражаться была почти чудесной; little short of smth. — почти, близкий к чему-либо) for he fought fair against the entire four (так как он честно сражался против всех четверых) and vanquished them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance (и победил их благодаря превосходящему /их/ мастерству и сверхчеловеческой силе и выносливости; to surpass — превосходить). Though he wore the metal of Zodanga (хотя он и носил знаки различия Зоданги), my Jeddak, such a man was never seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom (такого человека никогда прежде не видели ни в этой, ни в какой другой стране на Барсуме).

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14