The Children of Jhebbal Sag 2 страница

by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it (когда они не могут

объяснить что-то их недоношенной: «полу-испеченной» наукой, они

отказываются верить этому)."

call [kO:l], science ['saIqns], refuse [rI'fju:z]

Balthus did not reply; he had strained at a Pictish stake and seen the nighted jungle

give up its fanged horrors at a shaman's call.

"Civilized men laugh," said Conan. "But not one can tell me how Zogar Sag can

call pythons and tigers and leopards out of the wilderness and make them do his

bidding. They would say it is a lie, if they dared. That's the way with civilized men.

When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to

believe it."

The people on the Tauran were closer to the primitive than most Aquilonians

(люди в Тауране были ближе к первобытным /людям/, чем большинство

аквилонцев); superstitions persisted, whose sources were lost in antiquity

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(сохранились суеверия, чьи источники = источники которых затерялись в

древности). And Balthus had seen that which still prickled his flesh (а Балтус

видел то, которое все еще будоражило его плоть). He could not refute the

monstrous thing which Conan's words implied (он не мог опровергнуть

чудовищную вещь = истину, которую заключали в себе слова Конана).

"I've heard that there's an ancient grove sacred to Jhebbal Sag somewhere in this

forest," said Conan (я слышал, что есть древняя роща, священная для

Джеббала Сага, где-то в этом лесу, — сказал Конан). "I don't know (/я/ не

знаю). I've never seen it (я никогда /не/ видел ее). But more beasts remember in

this country than any I've ever seen (но больше тварей помнят в этих краях, чем

я видел где-либо = но в этих краях помнят /Джеббал Сага/ больше тварей,

чем я видел где-либо)."

people [pi:pl], source [sO:s], antiquity [xn'tIkwItI]

The people on the Tauran were closer to the primitive than most Aquilonians;

superstitions persisted, whose sources were lost in antiquity. And Balthus had seen

that which still prickled his flesh. He could not refute the monstrous thing which

Conan's words implied.

"I've heard that there's an ancient grove sacred to Jhebbal Sag somewhere in this

forest," said Conan. "I don't know. I've never seen it. But more beasts remember in

this country than any I've ever seen."

"Then others will be on our trail (значит /и/ другие будут = пойдут по нашему

следу)?"

"They are now," was Conan's disquieting answer (они уже /идут/, — был

тревожный = вселяющий тревогу ответ Конана). "Zogar would never leave our

tracking to one beast alone (Зогар никогда бы /не/ оставил наше преследование

лишь одному зверю)."

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"What are we to do, then?" asked Balthus uneasily, grasping his ax as he stared at

the gloomy arches above him (что же нам тогда делать? — спросил Балтус

обеспокоенно, сжимая свой топор, когда он уставился на мрачные арки над

ним). His flesh crawled with the momentary expectation of ripping talons and

fangs leaping from the shadows (у него по телу побежали мурашки от

моментального ожидания рвущих когтей и клыков, выпрыгивающих из теней

= от моментального опасения, что из теней выпрыгнут рвущие когти и

клыки; to crawl — ползти (о мурашках)).

disquiet [dIs'kwaIqt], alone [q'lqun], ask [Rsk]

"Then others will be on our trail?"

"They are now," was Conan's disquieting answer. "Zogar would never leave our

tracking to one beast alone."

"What are we to do, then?" asked Balthus uneasily, grasping his ax as he stared at

the gloomy arches above him. His flesh crawled with the momentary expectation

of ripping talons and fangs leaping from the shadows.

"Wait (подожди)!"

Conan turned, squatted and with his knife began scratching a curious symbol in the

mold (Конан повернулся, сел на корточки и своим ножом начал

выцарапывать необычный символ в рыхлой земле). Stooping to look at it over

his shoulder, Balthus felt a crawling of the flesh along his spine, he knew not why

(наклонившись, /чтобы/ посмотреть на него = знак через его плечо, Балтус

почувствовал, как побежали мурашки вдоль позвоночника: «бегание

мурашек плоти вдоль позвоночника», он не знал почему). He felt no wind

against his face (он не ощущал ветра в лицо), but there was a rustling of leaves

above them (но было шуршание листьев над ними) and a weird moaning swept

ghostily through the branches (и причудливый стон пронесся призрачно через

ветви; to sweep — мести; проноситься). Conan glanced up inscrutably, then

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rose and stood staring somberly down at the symbol he had drawn (Конан

взглянул вверх непроницаемо, потом поднялся и стоял, угрюмо уставясь

/вниз/ на символ, /который/ он нарисовал; to draw — рисовать).

symbol ['sImbql], mold [mquld], inscrutably [In'skru:tqblI]

"Wait!"

Conan turned, squatted and with his knife began scratching a curious symbol in the

mold. Stooping to look at it over his shoulder, Balthus felt a crawling of the flesh

along his spine, he knew not why. He felt no wind against his face, but there was a

rustling of leaves above them and a weird moaning swept ghostily through the

branches. Conan glanced up inscrutably, then rose and stood staring somberly

down at the symbol he had drawn.

"What is it?" whispered Balthus (что это? — прошептал Балтус). It looked

archaic and meaningless to him (он = знак казался архаичным и

бессмысленным для него). He supposed that it was his ignorance of artistry

which prevented his identifying it as one of the conventional designs of some

prevailing culture (он предположил, что это было его незнание искусства,

которое = что его невежество мешало ему отождествить его как = с одним

из условных знаков какой-то господствующей культуры; to prevail —

торжествовать (over), одержать победу; достигать цели; преобладать,

господствовать, превалировать). But had he been the most erudite artist in the

world, he would have been no nearer the solution (но если бы он был = но будь

он /даже/ самым эрудированным художником в мире, он не подошел бы

ближе к решению).

archaic [R'keIIk], suppose [sq'pquz], ignorance ['Ignqrqns]

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"What is it?" whispered Balthus. It looked archaic and meaningless to him. He

supposed that it was his ignorance of artistry which prevented his identifying it as

one of the conventional designs of some prevailing culture. But had he been the

most erudite artist in the world, he would have been no nearer the solution.

"I saw it carved in the rock of a cave no human had visited for a million years,"

muttered Conan (я видел его высеченным в скале пещеры, /которую/ ни один

человек не посещал в течение миллиона лет, — пробормотал Конан), "in the

uninhabited mountains beyond the Sea of Vilayet, half a world away from this spot

(в необитаемых горах за морем Вилайет, на расстоянии в полмира: «полмира

прочь» от этого места). Later I saw a black witch-finder of Kush scratch it in the

sand of a nameless river (позже я видел, /как/ черный = чернокожий искатель

ведьм из Куша нацарапал его на песке безымянной реки). He told me part of

its meaning — it's sacred to Jhebbal Sag and the creatures which worship him (он

рассказал мне часть его значения — это священный /знак/ Джеббала Сага и

созданий, которые поклоняются ему). Watch (смотри)!"

year [jq:], sacred ['sekrId], watch [wOC]

"I saw it carved in the rock of a cave no human had visited for a million years,"

muttered Conan, "in the uninhabited mountains beyond the Sea of Vilayet, half a

world away from this spot. Later I saw a black witch-finder of Kush scratch it in

the sand of a nameless river. He told me part of its meaning — it's sacred to

Jhebbal Sag and the creatures which worship him. Watch!"

They drew back among the dense foliage some yards away and waited in tense

silence (они отступили среди = в густую листву на несколько ярдов /прочь/ и

ждали = стали ждать в напряженной тишине). To the east drums muttered and

somewhere to north and west other drums answered (на востоке глухо грохотали

барабаны, а где-то на севере и западе отвечали другие барабаны). Balthus

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shivered, though he knew long miles of black forest separated him from the grim

beaters of those drums (Балтус вздрогнул, хотя он знал, /что/ долгие мили

черного леса отделяли его от мрачных барабанщиков тех барабанов) whose

dull pulsing was a sinister overture that set the dark stage for bloody drama (чей

унылый ритмичный бой был зловещей увертюрой, которая готовила темную

сцену для кровавой драмы; to set the stage — готовить сцену, монтировать

декорации).

north [nO:T], overture ['quvqtjuq], drama [drRmq]

They drew back among the dense foliage some yards away and waited in tense

silence. To the east drums muttered and somewhere to north and west other drums

answered. Balthus shivered, though he knew long miles of black forest separated

him from the grim beaters of those drums whose dull pulsing was a sinister

overture that set the dark stage for bloody drama.

Balthus found himself holding his breath (Балтус обнаружил себя

задерживающим дыхание = обнаружил, что затаил дыхание). Then with a

slight shaking of the leaves, the bushes parted (потом, с легким дрожанием

листьев, кусты разошлись) and a magnificent panther came into view (и

появилась внушительная пантера; to come into view — появиться). The

moonlight dappling through the leaves (лунный свет, образуя пятнистый

рисунок сквозь листья) shone on its glossy coat rippling with the play of the great

muscles beneath it (блестел на ее лоснящейся шкуре, перекатываясь от игры

огромных мускулов под ней; to ripple — производить волнообразные

движения, волновать(ся), колыхать(ся)).

magnificent [mxg'nIfIsnt], view [vju:], panther ['pxnTq]

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Balthus found himself holding his breath. Then with a slight shaking of the leaves,

the bushes parted and a magnificent panther came into view. The moonlight

dappling through the leaves shone on its glossy coat rippling with the play of the

great muscles beneath it.

With its head low it glided toward them (с ее головой низко = опустив голову,

она скользнула к ним). It was smelling out their trail (она вынюхивала их след).

Then it halted as if frozen, its muzzle almost touching the symbol cut in the mold

(затем она остановилась, словно застывшая, ее морда почти касалась

символа, вырезанного в рыхлой земле). For a long space it crouched motionless;

it flattened its long body and laid its head on the ground before the mark (долгое

время она сидела неподвижно, она расправила свое длинное тело и положила

свою голову на землю перед меткой). And Balthus felt the short hairs stir on his

scalp (и Балтус почувствовал, /что/ его короткие волосы на голове

зашевелились). For the attitude of the great carnivore was one of awe and

adoration (ибо поза огромного хищника была одной = позой страха и

обожания = преклонения, благоговения).

attitude ['xtItju:d], carnivore ['kRnIvO:], awe [O:]

With its head low it glided toward them. It was smelling out their trail. Then it

halted as if frozen, its muzzle almost touching the symbol cut in the mold. For a

long space it crouched motionless; it flattened its long body and laid its head on the

ground before the mark. And Balthus felt the short hairs stir on his scalp. For the

attitude of the great carnivore was one of awe and adoration.

Then the panther rose and backed away carefully, belly almost to the ground

(затем пантера поднялась и осторожно попятилась, почти /касаясь/ брюхом

земли). With his hind-quarters among the bushes he wheeled as if in sudden panic

and was gone like a flash of dappled light (своей задней частью среди кустов

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она описала круг, словно в неожиданной панике, и пропала, как вспышка

пятнистого света; to wheel — описывать круг, поворачивать; wheel —

колесо).

Balthus mopped his brow with a trembling hand and glanced at Conan (Балтус

вытер /свой/ лоб дрожащей рукой и посмотрел на Конана).

Then the panther rose and backed away carefully, belly almost to the ground. With

his hind-quarters among the bushes he wheeled as if in sudden panic and was gone

like a flash of dappled light.

Balthus mopped his brow with a trembling hand and glanced at Conan.

The barbarian's eyes were smoldering with fires that never lit the eyes of men bred

to the ideas of civilization (глаза варвара тлели огнями, которые никогда не

освещали глаза людей, воспитанный в идеях цивилизации; to light —

освещать). In that instant he was all wild, and had forgotten the man at his side (в

тот миг он был совершенно дикий и забыл о человеке рядом с собой: «у его

бока / стороны»). In his burning gaze Balthus glimpsed and vaguely recognized

pristine images and half-embodied memories (в его горящем взоре Балтус

углядел и смутно распознал незамутненные образы и полувоплощенные

воспоминания), shadows from Life's dawn (тени с = времен рассвета Жизни),

forgotten and repudiated by sophisticated races (забытые и отвергнутые

искушенными расами) — ancient, primeval fantasms unnamed and nameless

(древние, первобытные фантомы, безымянные и неизвестные).

Then the deeper fires were masked and Conan was silently leading the way deeper

into the forest (потом более глубокие огни были скрыты = скрылись, и Конан

молча возглавлял путь / вел путем глубже в лес).

smolder ['smquldq], barbarian [bR'bFqrIqn], idea [aI'dIq]

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The barbarian's eyes were smoldering with fires that never lit the eyes of men bred

to the ideas of civilization. In that instant he was all wild, and had forgotten the

man at his side. In his burning gaze Balthus glimpsed and vaguely recognized

pristine images and half-embodied memories, shadows from Life's dawn, forgotten

and repudiated by sophisticated races — ancient, primeval fantasms unnamed and

nameless.

Then the deeper fires were masked and Conan was silently leading the way deeper

into the forest.

"We've no more to fear from the beasts," he said after a while, "but we've left a

sign for men to read (нам не нужно больше бояться животных, — он сказал

через некоторое время, — но мы оставили знак для людей /чтобы

прочитать/). They won't follow our trail very easily (они не пойдут по нашему

следу очень легко), and until they find that symbol they won't know for sure

we've turned south (и пока они /не/ найдут этот символ, они не будут знать

наверняка, /что/ мы повернули на юг). Even then it won't be easy to smell us out

without the beasts to aid them (даже тогда /это/ будет нелегко вынюхать нас без

зверей чтобы помочь им = без помощи зверей). But the woods south of the trail

will be full of warriors looking for us (но леса южнее тропинки будут полны

воинов, ищущих нас). If we keep moving after daylight, we'll be sure to run into

some of them (если мы /будем/ продолжать движение после рассвета, мы

наверняка наткнемся на кого-то из них; to run into — наткнуться, налететь

на). As soon as we find a good place we'll hide and wait until another night to

swing back and make the river (как только мы найдем хорошее место, мы

спрячемся и подождем, пока /не/ наступит еще одна ночь и направимся к

реке; to make (for) — направляться, двигаться). We've got to warn Valannus,

but it won't help him any if we get ourselves killed (мы должны предупредить

Валаннуса, но /это/ никоим образом не поможет ему, если мы сами погибнем;

to get killed — стать убитым, погибнуть)."

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while [waIl], sign [saIn], find [faInd]

"We've no more to fear from the beasts," he said after a while, "but we've left a

sign for men to read. They won't follow our trail very easily, and until they find

that symbol they won't know for sure we've turned south. Even then it won't be

easy to smell us out without the beasts to aid them. But the woods south of the trail

will be full of warriors looking for us. If we keep moving after daylight, we'll be

sure to run into some of them. As soon as we find a good place we'll hide and wait

until another night to swing back and make the river. We've got to warn Valannus,

but it won't help him any if we get ourselves killed."

"Warn Valannus (предупредить Валаннуса)?"

"Hell, the woods along the river are swarming with Picts (ад = проклятие, лес

вдоль реки кишит пиктами)! That's why they got us (поэтому /они/ нас достали

= обнаружили). Zogar's brewing war-magic; no mere raid this time (Зогар

готовит военную магию, не просто рейд /на/ этот раз; to brew — варить

(пиво); замышлять (мятеж, заговор и т.п.)). He's done something no Pict has

done in my memory — united as many as fifteen or sixteen clans (он сделал что-

то, /чего/ /не/ делал ни один пикт на моей памяти — объединил целых: «так

много как» пятнадцать или шестнадцать кланов). His magic did it; they'll

follow a wizard farther than they will a war-chief (его магия сделала это, они

пойдут за чародеем дальше, чем /они пойдут/ за военным вождем). You saw

the mob in the village (ты видел сборище в поселке); and there were hundreds

hiding along the river bank that you didn't see (и были сотни, прячущихся вдоль

берега реки, которых ты не видел). More coming, from the farther villages (еще

больше придет из дальних селений). He'll have at least three thousand fighting-

men (он будет иметь = у него будет, по крайней мере, три тысячи бойцов). I

lay in the bushes and heard their talk as they went past (я лежал в кустах и

слышал их разговор, когда они проходили мимо). They mean to attack the fort;

when, I don't know, but Zogar doesn't dare delay long (они хотят атаковать форт,

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когда, я не знаю, но Зогар не осмеливается откладывать надолго). He's

gathered them and whipped them into a frenzy (он собрал их и привел их в

неистовство). If he doesn't lead them into battle quickly, they'll fall to quarreling

with one another (если он не поведет их в битву быстро, они распадутся в

ссорах = рассорятся друг с другом). They're like blood-mad tigers (они словно

кровожадные тигры).

brew [bru:], wizard ['wIzqd], chief [Ci:f]

"Warn Valannus?"

"Hell, the woods along the river are swarming with Picts! That's why they got us.

Zogar's brewing war-magic; no mere raid this time. He's done something no Pict

has done in my memory — united as many as fifteen or sixteen clans. His magic

did it; they'll follow a wizard farther than they will a war-chief. You saw the mob

in the village; and there were hundreds hiding along the river bank that you didn't

see. More coming, from the farther villages. He'll have at least three thousand

fighting-men. I lay in the bushes and heard their talk as they went past. They mean

to attack the fort; when, I don't know, but Zogar doesn't dare delay long. He's

gathered them and whipped them into a frenzy. If he doesn't lead them into battle

quickly, they'll fall to quarreling with one another. They're like blood-mad tigers.

"I don't know whether they can take the fort or not (я не знаю, возьмут ли они

форт или нет). Anyway, we've got to get back across the river and give the

warning (как бы там ни было, мы должны вернуться через реку и дать =

сделать предупреждение). The settlers on the Velitrium road must either get into

the fort or back to Velitrium (поселенцы на дороге в Велитириум должны либо

попасть в форт, либо вернуться в Велитриум; either … or … — либо …, либо

…). While the Picts are besieging the fort, war parties will range the road far to the

east (пока пикты будут осаждать форт, военные отряды будут рыскать по

дороге далеко на востоке) — might even cross Thunder River and raid the

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thickly settled country behind Velitrium (возможно даже пересекут Громовую

реку и совершат налеты на густо населенную местность за Велитриумом)."

whether ['weDq], warning ['wO:nIN], country ['kAntrI]

"I don't know whether they can take the fort or not. Anyway, we've got to get back

across the river and give the warning. The settlers on the Velitrium road must

either get into the fort or back to Velitrium. While the Picts are besieging the fort,

war parties will range the road far to the east — might even cross Thunder River

and raid the thickly settled country behind Velitrium."

As he talked he was leading the way deeper and deeper into the ancient wilderness

(пока он говорил, он вел глубже и глубже в древние дикие дебри). Presently

he grunted with satisfaction (некоторое время спустя он промычал с

удовлетворением). They had reached a spot where the underbrush was more

scattered (они достигли места, где подлесок был более редкий), and an

outcropping of stone was visible, wandering off southward (и был виден выход

камня /обнажение каменной породы/, отклонявшийся на юг). Balthus felt more

secure as they followed it (Балтус почувствовал /себя/ более уверенным, когда

они последовали за ним = выходом). Not even a Pict could trail them over naked

rock (даже пикт не мог выследить их по голой скале).

"How did you get away?" he asked presently (как ты выбрался? — спросил он

через некоторое время).

Conan tapped his mail-shirt and helmet (Конан постучал /по/ своей кольчуге и

шлему).

talk [tO:k], visible ['vIzIbl], secure [sI'kjuq]

As he talked he was leading the way deeper and deeper into the ancient wilderness.

Presently he grunted with satisfaction. They had reached a spot where the

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underbrush was more scattered, and an outcropping of stone was visible,

wandering off southward. Balthus felt more secure as they followed it. Not even a

Pict could trail them over naked rock.

"How did you get away?" he asked presently.

Conan tapped his mail-shirt and helmet.

"If more borderers would wear harness there'd be fewer skulls hanging on the altar-

huts (если бы больше пограничников носили доспехи, было бы меньше

черепов, висящих на хижинах с алтарями). But most men make noise if they

wear armor (но большинство людей создают шум, если они носят = на них

латы). They were waiting on each side of the path, without moving (/они/ ждали с

обеих сторон тропы, не двигаясь: «без движения»). And when a Pict stands

motionless, the very beasts of the forest pass him without seeing him (а когда

пикт стоит неподвижно, даже твари леса проходят мимо него, не замечая

его). They'd seen us crossing the river and got in their places (они видели нас,

пересекающих = как мы пересекали реку и стали по местам). If they'd gone

into ambush after we left the bank, I'd have had some hint of it (если бы они сели

в засаду, после того как мы покинули берег, я бы имел = почувствовал какой-

то намек /этого/). But they were waiting, and not even a leaf trembled (но они

ждали, и даже листик не дрогнул). The devil himself couldn't have suspected

anything (сам дьявол не мог бы заподозрить = не заподозрил бы ничего). The

first suspicion I had was when I heard a shaft rasp against a bow as it was pulled

back (первое подозрение я имел = у меня возникло, когда я услышал скрежет

стрелы о лук, когда она была оттянута = ее оттягивали; to pull back —

оттягивать). I dropped and yelled for the men behind me to drop, but they were

too slow, taken by surprise like that (я упал и закричал людям за мной падать,

но они были слишком медленные, застигнутые вот так врасплох; to take by

surprise — застигнуть врасплох).

wear [wFq], armor ['Rmq], leaf [li:f]

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

"If more borderers would wear harness there'd be fewer skulls hanging on the altar-

huts. But most men make noise if they wear armor. They were waiting on each

side of the path, without moving. And when a Pict stands motionless, the very

beasts of the forest pass him without seeing him. They'd seen us crossing the river

and got in their places. If they'd gone into ambush after we left the bank, I'd have

had some hint of it. But they were waiting, and not even a leaf trembled. The devil

himself couldn't have suspected anything. The first suspicion I had was when I

heard a shaft rasp against a bow as it was pulled back. I dropped and yelled for the

men behind me to drop, but they were too slow, taken by surprise like that.

"Most of them fell at the first volley that raked us from both sides (большинство

их пали при первом залпе, который обстрелял = накрыл нас с обеих сторон).

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