Читаем без скачивания Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса - Эдгар Берроуз

forenoon ['fO: nu:n], addition [q'dIS(q)n], scarlet ['skQ: lIt]

Believing that I had come too far to the north and west, I turned back in a southeasterly direction, passing during the forenoon several other large cities, but none resembling the description which Kantos Kan had given me of Helium. In addition to the twin-city formation of Helium, another distinguishing feature is the two immense towers, one of vivid scarlet rising nearly a mile into the air from the center of one of the cities, while the other, of bright yellow and of the same height, marks her sister.

CHAPTER XXIV

About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars (около полудня я низко пролетал над огромным мертвым городом древнего Марса), and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond (и когда я скользил над равниной за ним; to skim — едва касаться, нестись, скользить) I came full upon several thousand green warriors (я наткнулся на несколько тысяч зеленых воинов; to come upon — натолкнуться) engaged in a terrific battle (вовлеченных в ужасающую битву/занятых ужасной битвой). Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of shots was directed at me (едва я увидел их, как залп выстрелов был направлен на меня), and with the almost unfailing accuracy of their aim (и при почти безупречной точности их прицела; unfailing — неизменный, безотказный) my little craft was instantly a ruined wreck (мое маленькое суденышко мгновенно превратилось в «разрушенные» обломки; wreck — обломки), sinking erratically to the ground (хаотично опускающиеся на землю).

ancient ['eInS(q)nt], unfailing [An'feIlIN], erratic [I'rxtIk]

About noon I passed low over a great dead city of ancient Mars, and as I skimmed out across the plain beyond I came full upon several thousand green warriors engaged in a terrific battle. Scarcely had I seen them than a volley of shots was directed at me, and with the almost unfailing accuracy of their aim my little craft was instantly a ruined wreck, sinking erratically to the ground.

I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat (я упал почти прямо в центре жестокого сражения), among warriors who had not seen my approach (среди воинов, которые не видели моего приближения) — so busily were they engaged in life and death struggles (настолько сильно они были заняты борьбой не на жизнь, а на смерть; busily — энергично, деловито). The men were fighting on foot with long-swords (мужчины сражались в пешем строю длинными мечами), while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict (при этом отдельные выстрелы снайперов с краев битвы; sharpshooter — снайпер; outskirt — окраина) would bring down a warrior who might for an instant separate himself from the entangled mass (сражали воина, который на мгновение отделялся от спутанной массы; to entangle — запутывать, впутывать).

As my machine sank among them (когда моя машина опустилась среди них) I realized that it was fight or die (я понял, что надо сражаться или умереть), with good chances of dying in any event (с большой вероятностью умереть в любом случае), and so I struck the ground with drawn long-sword (и поэтому я приземлился: «ударился о землю» с уже обнаженным длинным мечом) ready to defend myself as I could (готовый защищать себя, как только мог).

sharpshooter ['SQ: p" Su: tq], outskirt ['autskWt], entangle [In'txNgl]

I fell almost directly in the center of the fierce combat, among warriors who had not seen my approach — so busily were they engaged in life and death struggles. The men were fighting on foot with long-swords, while an occasional shot from a sharpshooter on the outskirts of the conflict would bring down a warrior who might for an instant separate himself from the entangled mass.

As my machine sank among them I realized that it was fight or die, with good chances of dying in any event, and so I struck the ground with drawn long-sword ready to defend myself as I could.

I fell beside a huge monster (я упал рядом с огромным чудовищем) who was engaged with three antagonists (который сражался с тремя противниками), and as I glanced at his fierce face (и когда я взглянул в его свирепое лицо), filled with the light of battle (освещенное: «заполненное» светом битвы), I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark (я узнал Тарса Таркаса, тарка). He did not see me, as I was a trifle behind him (он не видел меня, так как я находился немного позади него; a trifle — немного; trifle — пустяк), and just then the three warriors opposing him (и как раз тогда те три воина, которые противостояли ему), and whom I recognized as Warhoons (и в которых я узнал ворхунцев), charged simultaneously (атаковали одновременно). The mighty fellow made quick work of one of them (могучий воин быстро расправился с одним из них; to make quick work of smb. — в два счета расправиться с кем-либо: «сделать быструю работу»), but in stepping back for another thrust (но, отступив назад для следующего удара) he fell over a dead body behind him (он упал, /споткнувшись/ о мертвое тело позади него; to fall over — опрокидываться) and was down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant (/он/ лежал и мгновенно оказался во власти своих врагов; mercy — милосердие; at the mercy of — во власти; foe — враг, недруг). Quick as lightning they were upon him (с быстротой молнии они набросились на него), and Tars Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order (и Тарс Таркас отправился бы к своим праотцам незамедлительно; to gather — собирать; to be gathered to fathers — отправиться: «быть присоединенным» к праотцам; in short order — быстро, немедленно) had I not sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries (если бы я не прыгнул перед его распростертым телом и не отвлек на себя его противников; to engage — занимать; привлекать). I had accounted for one of them (я разделался с одним из них; to account for — отчитываться, давать отчет; /разг./ убить, уничтожить) when the mighty Thark regained his feet and quickly settled the other (когда могучий тарк вновь встал на ноги и быстро разобрался со вторым; to settle — улаживать; разделываться).

trifle [traIfl], simultaneously ["sIml'teInjqslI], adversary ['xdvqs(q)rI]

I fell beside a huge monster who was engaged with three antagonists, and as I glanced at his fierce face, filled with the light of battle, I recognized Tars Tarkas the Thark. He did not see me, as I was a trifle behind him, and just then the three warriors opposing him, and whom I recognized as Warhoons, charged simultaneously. The mighty fellow made quick work of one of them, but in stepping back for another thrust he fell over a dead body behind him and was down and at the mercy of his foes in an instant. Quick as lightning they were upon him, and Tars Tarkas would have been gathered to his fathers in short order had I not sprung before his prostrate form and engaged his adversaries. I had accounted for one of them when the mighty Thark regained his feet and quickly settled the other.

He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip (он взглянул на меня, и легкая улыбка тронула его мрачные губы) as, touching my shoulder, he said (когда, прикоснувшись к моему плечу, он сказал),

"I would scarcely recognize you (я вряд ли узнал бы тебя), John Carter, but there is no other mortal upon Barsoom (но нет другого такого смертного на Барсуме) who would have done what you have for me (который бы сделал то, что ты сделал для меня). I think I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship (я думаю, что я узнал, что существует такая вещь, как дружба), my friend."

He said no more (он больше ничего не сказал), nor was there opportunity (да и не было возможности), for the Warhoons were closing in about us (потому что ворхунцы окружали нас; to close in — наступать, сближаться), and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder (и вместе мы сражались, плечом к плечу; to fight) during all that long, hot afternoon (в течение всего этого долгого, жаркого дня), until the tide of battle turned (пока ход боя не изменился; tide — течение, направление; tide of battle — ход боя; to turn — поворачивать) and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde (и остатки свирепого ворхунского племени; remnant — след; остаток) fell back upon their thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness (не вскочили на своих тотов и не сбежали в сгущающейся темноте; to flee — бежать, спасаться бегством).

friendship ['frendSIp], opportunity ["Opq'tju: nItI], remnant ['remnqnt]

He gave me one look, and a slight smile touched his grim lip as, touching my shoulder, he said,

"I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend."

He said no more, nor was there opportunity, for the Warhoons were closing in about us, and together we fought, shoulder to shoulder, during all that long, hot afternoon, until the tide of battle turned and the remnant of the fierce Warhoon horde fell back upon their thoats, and fled into the gathering darkness.

Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle (десять тысяч человек принимали участие в этой титанической битве), and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead (и на поле сражения осталось лежать три тысячи мертвых). Neither side asked or gave quarter (ни одна сторона не просила и не давала пощады; quarter — пощада, милосердие /проявляемые по отношению к пленнику/; to ask for quarter — просить пощады), nor did they attempt to take prisoners (равно как они не старались брать пленных).

On our return to the city after the battle (когда мы вернулись в город после битвы) we had gone directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters (мы пошли прямо в жилище Тарса Таркаса), where I was left alone (где меня оставили одного) while the chieftain attended the customary council (пока вождь присутствовал на традиционном совете) which immediately follows an engagement (который немедленно следует за битвой; engagement — стычка, бой).

quarter ['kwO: tq], council ['kauns(q)l], engagement [In'geIdZmqnt]

Ten thousand men had been engaged in that titanic struggle, and upon the field of battle lay three thousand dead. Neither side asked or gave quarter, nor did they attempt to take prisoners.

On our return to the city after the battle we had gone directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters, where I was left alone while the chieftain attended the customary council which immediately follows an engagement.

As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior (пока я сидел, ожидая возвращения зеленого воина) I heard something move in an adjoining apartment (я услышал, что кто-то движется в соседней комнате), and as I glanced up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous creature (и когда я взглянул, на меня внезапно бросилось огромное и отвратительное создание) which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and furs upon which I had been reclining (которое опрокинуло меня назад на груду шелков и мехов, на которых я полулежал; to recline — откидываться назад, полулежать). It was Woola — faithful, loving Woola (это был Вула, верный, любящий Вула). He had found his way back to Thark (он нашел дорогу назад в Тарк) and, as Tars Tarkas later told me (и как позднее сказал мне Тарс Таркас), had gone immediately to my former quarters (немедленно пошел в мое прежнее жилье) where he had taken up his pathetic and seemingly hopeless watch for my return (где стал трогательно и, казалось, безнадежно ожидать моего возвращения; pathetic — трогательный; watch — высматривание; стража, караул).