Принцесса Марса 39 страница

surpass [sW'pQ:s], superhuman ["sju:pq'hju:mqn], endurance [In'djuqrqns]

"It is the truth, my Jeddak," replied the psychologist. "In fact the impressions were strongly marked on the brain of each of the four guardsmen. Their antagonist was a very tall man, wearing the metal of one of your own guardsmen, and his fighting ability was little short of marvelous for he fought fair against the entire four and vanquished them by his surpassing skill and superhuman strength and endurance. Though he wore the metal of Zodanga, my Jeddak, such a man was never seen before in this or any other country upon Barsoom.

"The mind of the Princess of Helium (ум принцессы Гелиума) whom I have examined and questioned (который я исследовал и расспросил) was a blank to me (был непроницаем для меня; blank — белый; бледный, бесцветный; невыразительный, непроницаемый), she has perfect control (она полностью владеет им), and I could not read one iota of it (и я не смог прочесть ни йоты из него). She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter (она сказала, что была свидетелем части поединка), and that when she looked (и что когда она посмотрела) there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen (там был только один человек, сражающийся: «занятый» со стражниками); a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen (человек, которого она никогда раньше не видела: «не узнала как такого, которого видела»)."

witness ['wItnIs], portion ['pO:Sn]

"The mind of the Princess of Helium whom I have examined and questioned was a blank to me, she has perfect control, and I could not read one iota of it. She said that she witnessed a portion of the encounter, and that when she looked there was but one man engaged with the guardsmen; a man whom she did not recognize as ever having seen."

"Where is my erstwhile savior (где мой бывший спаситель; erstwhile — прежний, былой)?" spoke another of the party (заговорил еще один из группы), and I recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis (и я узнал голос двоюродного брата Тана Косиса), whom I had rescued from the green warriors (которого я спас от зеленых воинов). "By the metal of my first ancestor (клянусь знаками моего первого предка)," he went on (продолжил он), "but the description fits him to perfection (но это описание идеально подходит ему), especially as to his fighting ability (особенно в том, что касается его способности сражаться)."

erstwhile ['WstwaIl], especially [Is'peS(q)lI]

"Where is my erstwhile savior?" spoke another of the party, and I recognized the voice of the cousin of Than Kosis, whom I had rescued from the green warriors. "By the metal of my first ancestor," he went on, "but the description fits him to perfection, especially as to his fighting ability."

"Where is this man (где этот человек)?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at once (немедленно приведите его ко мне). What know you of him, cousin (что ты знаешь о нем, кузен)? It seemed strange to me now that I think upon it (теперь мне кажется странным, когда я думаю об этом) that there should have been such a fighting man in Zodanga (что может быть такой воин в Зоданге), of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today (чьего имени мы даже не знали до сегодняшнего дня). And his name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom (а также его имя, Джон Картер, кто когда-либо слышал подобное имя на Барсуме)!"

Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found (вскоре принесли известие, что меня нигде не могут найти), either in the palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout squadron (ни во дворце, ни в моем прежнем жилище в казармах эскадрильи воздушных разведчиков). Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned (они нашли и расспросили Кантоса Кана), but he knew nothing of my whereabouts (но он ничего не знал о моем местонахождении), and as to my past (а что касается моего прошлого), he had told them he knew as little (он сказал им, что знает так же мало), since he had but recently met me during our captivity among the Warhoons (так как он встретил меня лишь недавно, во время нашего плена у ворхунцев).

ignorant ['Ignqrqnt], squadron ['skwOdrqn]

"Where is this man?" cried Than Kosis. "Have him brought to me at once. What know you of him, cousin? It seemed strange to me now that I think upon it that there should have been such a fighting man in Zodanga, of whose name, even, we were ignorant before today. And his name too, John Carter, who ever heard of such a name upon Barsoom!"

Word was soon brought that I was nowhere to be found, either in the palace or at my former quarters in the barracks of the air-scout squadron. Kantos Kan, they had found and questioned, but he knew nothing of my whereabouts, and as to my past, he had told them he knew as little, since he had but recently met me during our captivity among the Warhoons.

"Keep your eyes on this other one (не спускайте глаз и с этого; to keep eyes on smb. — не спускать глаз с кого-либо, следить за кем-либо)," commanded Than Kosis (приказал Тан Косис). "He also is a stranger and as likely as not (он тоже иностранец и, вполне вероятно; as likely as not — вполне вероятно, возможно) they both hail from Helium (они оба родом из Гелиума; to hail from — быть родом из), and where one is we shall sooner or later find the other (там, где один, там рано или поздно мы найдем другого). Quadruple the air patrol (увеличьте вчетверо: «учетверите» воздушные патрули), and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground (и пусть каждый человек, который покидает город по воздуху или по земле) be subjected to the closest scrutiny (будет подвергнут самой тщательной проверке; scrutiny — внимательное изучение, проверка)."

quadruple ['kwOdrupl], scrutiny ['skru:tInI]

"Keep your eyes on this other one," commanded Than Kosis. "He also is a stranger and as likely as not they both hail from Helium, and where one is we shall sooner or later find the other. Quadruple the air patrol, and let every man who leaves the city by air or ground be subjected to the closest scrutiny.

Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the palace walls (теперь вошел еще один посыльный с известием, что я все еще нахожусь внутри дворцовых стен).

"The likeness of every person (внешность каждого человека; likeness — сходство; вид, образ) who has entered or left the palace grounds today (который сегодня входил или покидал территорию дворца) has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow (была тщательно изучена, — закончил этот человек), "and not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards (и ни один из них не похож на: «не приближается к сходству» этого нового падвара стражи), other than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered (так, как его запомнили в то время, когда он вошел во дворец)."

examine [Ig'zxmIn], messenger ['mesIndZq]

Another messenger now entered with word that I was still within the palace walls.

"The likeness of every person who has entered or left the palace grounds today has been carefully examined," concluded the fellow, "and not one approaches the likeness of this new padwar of the guards, other than that which was recorded of him at the time he entered."

"Then we will have him shortly (тогда мы его скоро заполучим)," commented Than Kosis contentedly (заметил Тан Косис с удовлетворением), "and in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of Helium (а пока мы направимся в покои принцессы Гелиума; to repair — отправляться, направляться) and question her in regard to the affair (и расспросим ее в отношении этого дела). She may know more than she cared to divulge to you (она может знать больше, чем захотела рассказать тебе; to care — иметь желание, хотеть; to divulge — разглашать, обнародовать), Notan. Come."

They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without (они покинули зал, и когда снаружи опустилась темнота; without — снаружи), I slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony (я легко выскользнул из укрытия и поспешил к балкону; lightly — проворно; легко). Few were in sight (немного /людей/ было видно), and choosing a moment when none seemed near (и, улучив момент, когда, казалось, никого не было поблизости) I sprang quickly to the top of the glass wall (я быстро запрыгнул на верхнюю часть стеклянной стены) and from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds (а оттуда — на улицу за пределы территории дворца).

meanwhile ['mi:nwaIl], lightly ['laItlI]

"Then we will have him shortly," commented Than Kosis contentedly, "and in the meanwhile we will repair to the apartments of the Princess of Helium and question her in regard to the affair. She may know more than she cared to divulge to you, Notan. Come."

They left the hall, and, as darkness had fallen without, I slipped lightly from my hiding place and hastened to the balcony. Few were in sight, and choosing a moment when none seemed near I sprang quickly to the top of the glass wall and from there to the avenue beyond the palace grounds.

CHAPTER XXIII

LOST IN THE SKY (заблудившийся в небе)

Without effort at concealment (не пытаясь прятаться; concealment — сокрытие, утаивание; to conceal — скрывать; утаивать) I hastened to the vicinity of our quarters (я поспешил поближе к нашему жилью; vicinity — соседство, близость), where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan (где, я был уверен, я смогу найти Кантоса Кана). As I neared the building I became more careful (когда я приблизился к зданию, я стал осторожнее), as I judged, and rightly, that the place would be guarded (так как я рассудил, и справедливо, что это место будут охранять). Several men in civilian metal (несколько людей со знаками различия гражданских лиц) loitered near the front entrance (слонялись около переднего входа; to loiter — слоняться без дела) and in the rear were others (а у заднего были другие). My only means of reaching, unseen, the upper story (моя единственная возможность добраться незамеченным до верхнего этажа) where our apartments were situated (где находились наши апартаменты) was through an adjoining building (заключалась в том, /чтобы пройти/ через соседнее здание), and after considerable maneuvering (и после значительных маневров) I managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away (я ухитрился добраться до крыши магазина в нескольких подъездах /от нужного/).

concealment [kqn'si:lmqnt], loiter ['lOItq], maneuvering [mq'nu:vrIN]

Without effort at concealment I hastened to the vicinity of our quarters, where I felt sure I should find Kantos Kan. As I neared the building I became more careful, as I judged, and rightly, that the place would be guarded. Several men in civilian metal loitered near the front entrance and in the rear were others. My only means of reaching, unseen, the upper story where our apartments were situated was through an adjoining building, and after considerable maneuvering I managed to attain the roof of a shop several doors away.

Leaping from roof to roof (прыгая с крыши на крышу), I soon reached an open window in the building (я вскоре добрался до открытого окна здания) where I hoped to find the Heliumite (где я надеялся найти гелиумца), and in another moment I stood in the room before him (и через мгновение я уже стоял в комнате перед ним). He was alone and showed no surprise at my coming (он был один и не проявил удивления при моем появлении), saying he had expected me much earlier (сказав, что он ожидал меня гораздо раньше), as my tour of duty must have ended some time since (так как мое дежурство должно было закончиться некоторое время назад; tour of duty — дежурство, наряд: «срок долга/обязанности»).

I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace (я понял, что он ничего не знал о событиях дня во дворце), and when I had enlightened him he was all excitement (и когда я просветил его, он пришел в сильное волнение; to enlighten — просвещать; информировать; all — /эмоц./ весь). The news that Dejah Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay (новость о том, что Дежа Торис пообещала свою руку Сабу Тану, привела его в смятение: «наполнила его смятением»; dismay — смятение, тревога).

expect [Ik'spekt], enlighten [In'laItn], dismay [dIs'meI]

Leaping from roof to roof, I soon reached an open window in the building where I hoped to find the Heliumite, and in another moment I stood in the room before him. He was alone and showed no surprise at my coming, saying he had expected me much earlier, as my tour of duty must have ended some time since.

I saw that he knew nothing of the events of the day at the palace, and when I had enlightened him he was all excitement. The news that Dejah Thoris had promised her hand to Sab Than filled him with dismay.

"It cannot be," he exclaimed (этого не может быть, — воскликнул он). "It is impossible (это невозможно)! Why no man in all Helium but would prefer death (ведь нет ни одного человека в Гелиуме, который не предпочел бы смерть) to the selling of our loved princess to the ruling house of Zodanga (продаже нашей возлюбленной принцессы правящему дому Зоданги). She must have lost her mind (она, должно быть, потеряла разум) to have assented to such an atrocious bargain (/если/ согласилась на такую возмутительную сделку; atrocious — злой, свирепый, чудовищный, жестокий; отвратительный, гнусный). You, who do not know how we of Helium love the members of our ruling house (ты, тот, кто не знает, как мы, гелиумцы, любим членов нашего правящего дома), cannot appreciate the horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance (не можешь постичь тот ужас, с которым я размышляю об этом нечестивом союзе; unholy — нечестивый; ужасный, жуткий; holy — святой, священный)."

"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued (что можно сделать: «что может быть сделано», — продолжил он). "You are a resourceful man (ты человек находчивый; resourceful — находчивый, изобретательный; resource — запасы, ресурсы, средства; изобретательность, находчивость; умение выходить из трудного положения). Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace (не можешь ли ты придумать какой-нибудь способ спасти Гелиум от этого бесчестья)?"

atrocious [q'trouSqs], bargain ['bQ:gIn], appreciate [q'pri:SIeIt], resourceful [rI'sO:sful], disgrace [dIs'greIs]

"It cannot be," he exclaimed. "It is impossible! Why no man in all Helium but would prefer death to the selling of our loved princess to the ruling house of Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to have assented to such an atrocious bargain. You, who do not know how we of Helium love the members of our ruling house, cannot appreciate the horror with which I contemplate such an unholy alliance."

"What can be done, John Carter?" he continued. "You are a resourceful man. Can you not think of some way to save Helium from this disgrace?"

"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered (если бы я мог подойти к Сабу Тану на расстояние /удара/ меча, — ответил я), "I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned (я мог бы решить эту проблему: «затруднение» в том, что касается Гелиума), but for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah Thoris (но по личным причинам я бы предпочел, чтобы другой нанес удар, который освободит Дежу Торис)."

Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke (Кантос Кан пристально посмотрел на меня, прежде чем заговорил; narrowly — подробно, пристально).

"You love her!" he said (ты любишь ее! — сказал он). "Does she know it (знает ли она об этом)?"

"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised to Sab Than (и отвергает меня только потому, что она обещана Сабу Тану = помолвлена с Сабом Таном)."

The splendid fellow sprang to his feet (превосходный = мой прекрасный товарищ вскочил на ноги), and grasping me by the shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming (и, схватив меня за плечо, высоко поднял свой меч и воскликнул):

"And had the choice been left to me (а если бы выбор был предоставлен мне) I could not have chosen a more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom (я не мог бы найти более подходящего супруга для первой принцессы Барсума; mate — товарищ, супруг). Here is my hand upon your shoulder (вот моя рука на твоем плече), John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at the point of my sword (и мое слово, что Саб Тан падет от моего меча: «острия моего меча») for the sake of my love for Helium (во имя моей любви к Гелиуму; for the sake of — ради, для), for Dejah Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters in the palace (этой же ночью я постараюсь добраться до его жилища во дворце)."

repulse [rI'pAls], fitting ['fItIN]

"If I can come within sword's reach of Sab Than," I answered, "I can solve the difficulty in so far as Helium is concerned, but for personal reasons I would prefer that another struck the blow that frees Dejah Thoris."

Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before he spoke.

"You love her!" he said. "Does she know it?"

"She knows it, Kantos Kan, and repulses me only because she is promised to Sab Than."

The splendid fellow sprang to his feet, and grasping me by the shoulder raised his sword on high, exclaiming:

"And had the choice been left to me I could not have chosen a more fitting mate for the first princess of Barsoom. Here is my hand upon your shoulder, John Carter, and my word that Sab Than shall go out at the point of my sword for the sake of my love for Helium, for Dejah Thoris, and for you. This very night I shall try to reach his quarters in the palace."

"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force patrols the sky (тебя усиленно охраняют, и учетверенные силы патрулируют небо)."

He bent his head in thought a moment (он на мгновение наклонил голову в раздумьи), then raised it with an air of confidence (а затем поднял ее с уверенным видом; air — воздух; выражение лица).

"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it (мне нужно только миновать этих стражей, и я смогу сделать это)," he said at last (сказал он наконец). "I know a secret entrance to the palace (я знаю тайный проход во дворец) through the pinnacle of the highest tower (через шпиль самой высокой башни; pinnacle — шпиц; верхушка). I fell upon it by chance one day (я случайно обнаружил его однажды) as I was passing above the palace on patrol duty (когда я пролетал над дворцом во время дежурства). In this work it is required (на этой работе требуется) that we investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness (чтобы мы расследовали любое необычное происшествие, которое можем заметить; to witness smth. — быть свидетелем чего-либо), and a face peering from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace (а лицо, выглядывающее со шпиля высокой башни дворца) was, to me, most unusual (показалось мне очень необычным). I therefore drew near (поэтому я приблизился) and discovered that the possessor of the peering face was none other than Sab Than (и обнаружил, что лицо это принадлежало Сабу Тану: «обладателем этого выглядывающего лица был не кто иной, как Саб Тан»). He was slightly put out at being detected (он был слегка смущен от того, что его обнаружили; to put out — выбивать из колеи, выводить из равновесия) and commanded me to keep the matter to myself (и приказал мне держать это дело в тайне), explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his apartments (объяснив, что проход из башни ведет прямо в его апартаменты), and was known only to him (и известен только ему). If I can reach the roof of the barracks (если я смогу добраться до крыши казарм) and get my machine (и заполучить свою машину) I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five minutes (то я могу быть в жилище Саба Тана через пять минут); but how am I to escape from this building (но как мне выбраться из этого здания), guarded as you say it is (/которое/, как ты говоришь, так охраняется)?"

quadruple ['kwOdrupl], pinnacle ['pInqkl], peer [pIq]

"How?" I asked. "You are strongly guarded and a quadruple force patrols the sky."

He bent his head in thought a moment, then raised it with an air of confidence.

"I only need to pass these guards and I can do it," he said at last. "I know a secret entrance to the palace through the pinnacle of the highest tower. I fell upon it by chance one day as I was passing above the palace on patrol duty. In this work it is required that we investigate any unusual occurrence we may witness, and a face peering from the pinnacle of the high tower of the palace was, to me, most unusual. I therefore drew near and discovered that the possessor of the peering face was none other than Sab Than. He was slightly put out at being detected and commanded me to keep the matter to myself, explaining that the passage from the tower led directly to his apartments, and was known only to him. If I can reach the roof of the barracks and get my machine I can be in Sab Than's quarters in five minutes; but how am I to escape from this building, guarded as you say it is?"

"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded (насколько хорошо охраняются ангары для машин при казармах; shed — навес, сарай; ангар)?" I asked.

"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof (обычно на дежурстве только один человек ночью на крыше)."

"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there (отправляйся на крышу этого здания, Кантос Кан, и жди меня там)."

Without stopping to explain my plans (не останавливаясь, чтобы объяснить мои планы) I retraced my way to the street (я вернулся прежним путем на улицу; to retrace — возвращаться по пройденному пути) and hastened to the barracks (и поспешил к казармам). I did not dare to enter the building (я не решался войти в здание), filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron (заполненное членами эскадрильи воздушных разведчиков), who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me (которые вместе со всей Зодангой разыскивали меня; in common — совместно, заодно).

barrack ['bxrqk], retrace [rI'treIs], air-scout ['eq"skaut]

"How well are the machine sheds at the barracks guarded?" I asked.

"There is usually but one man on duty there at night upon the roof."

"Go to the roof of this building, Kantos Kan, and wait me there."

Without stopping to explain my plans I retraced my way to the street and hastened to the barracks. I did not dare to enter the building, filled as it was with members of the air-scout squadron, who, in common with all Zodanga, were on the lookout for me.

The building was an enormous one (здание было огромным), rearing its lofty head fully a thousand feet into the air (и гордо возносилось вверх: «поднимающим величественный верх» на целых тысячу футов; to rear — поднимать, возносить). But few buildings in Zodanga were higher than these barracks (только немногие здания в Зоданге были выше этих казарм), though several topped it by a few hundred feet (хотя несколько и превышали их на несколько сотен футов); the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen hundred feet from the ground (доки огромных боевых линейных кораблей поднимались на высоту около тысячи пятисот футов от земли), while the freight and passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high (в то время как грузовые и пассажирские терминалы торговых кораблей поднимались почти на такую же высоту; freight — грузовой, товарный; squadrons — соединение кораблей).

rear [rIq], battleship ['bxtl"SIp], freight [freIt], merchant ['mWtS(q)nt]

The building was an enormous one, rearing its lofty head fully a thousand feet into the air. But few buildings in Zodanga were higher than these barracks, though several topped it by a few hundred feet; the docks of the great battleships of the line standing some fifteen hundred feet from the ground, while the freight and passenger stations of the merchant squadrons rose nearly as high.

It was a long climb up the face of the building (это был длинный подъем по фасаду здания; face — лицо; фасад), and one fraught with much danger (и такой, который был сопряжен с большой опасностью; fraught — полный, чреватый), but there was no other way (но другого пути не было), and so I essayed the task (и поэтому я взялся за эту задачу; to essay — пытаться; to essay a task — взять на себя трудную задачу). The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate (тот факт, что архитектура Барсума чрезвычайно декоративна; ornate — изысканно украшенный) made the feat much simpler than I had anticipated (сделал это предприятие гораздо более простым, чем я предполагал; feat — подвиг; проявление большой ловкости; to anticipate — ожидать, предполагать), since I found ornamental ledges and projections (так как я находил уступы и выступы украшений) which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me (которые образовывали практически идеальную лестницу для меня) all the way to the eaves of the building (на всем пути к карнизу здания; eaves — карниз). Here I met my first real obstacle (здесь я наткнулся на первое настоящее препятствие). The eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung (карниз выдавался вперед примерно на двадцать футов от стены, к которой я прижимался), and though I encircled the great building (и хотя я прополз вокруг огромного здания; to encircle — окружать; делать круг) I could find no opening through them (я не мог найти проход через него).

The top floor was alight (верхний этаж был освещен), and filled with soldiers engaged in the pastimes of their kind (и заполнен солдатами, занятыми своими делами; pastime — занятие, времяпрепровождение); I could not, therefore, reach the roof through the building (и я не мог, таким образом, попасть на крышу через здание; therefore — поэтому, следовательно).

fraught [frO:t], essay [e'seI], anticipate [xn'tIsIpeIt], obstacle ['Obstqkl], pastime ['pQ:staIm]

It was a long climb up the face of the building, and one fraught with much danger, but there was no other way, and so I essayed the task. The fact that Barsoomian architecture is extremely ornate made the feat much simpler than I had anticipated, since I found ornamental ledges and projections which fairly formed a perfect ladder for me all the way to the eaves of the building. Here I met my first real obstacle. The eaves projected nearly twenty feet from the wall to which I clung, and though I encircled the great building I could find no opening through them.

The top floor was alight, and filled with soldiers engaged in the pastimes of their kind; I could not, therefore, reach the roof through the building.

There was one slight, desperate chance (был только один незначительный, отчаянный шанс), and that I decided I must take (и я решил, /что/ должен им воспользоваться) — it was for Dejah Thoris (это было ради Дежи Торис), and no man has lived (и не было еще такого мужчины) who would not risk a thousand deaths for such as she (который не подвергся бы риску тысячи смертей ради такой, как она).

Clinging to the wall with my feet and one hand (цепляясь за стену ногами и одной рукой), I unloosened one of the long leather straps of my trappings (я расстегнул один из длинных кожаных ремней моей амуниции) at the end of which dangled a great hook (на конце которого висел большой крюк) by which air sailors are hung to the sides and bottoms of their craft (с помощью которого воздушные моряки подвешиваются к бортам и днищам своих судов) for various purposes of repair (с целью различного ремонта), and by means of which landing parties (и с помощью которых сходящие на сушу/приземляющиеся группы) are lowered to the ground from the battleships (спускаются на землю с военных кораблей).

desperate ['desprIt], unloosen [An'lu:sn], sailor ['seIlq]

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14