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

"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live (господа, — завершил он, нам осталось жить в лучшем случае три дня; at best — в лучшем случае)."

There was absolute silence for several minutes (несколько минут стояло абсолютное молчание), and then a young noble arose (а затем поднялся молодой аристократ), and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed Tardos Mors (и с обнаженным мечом, поднятым высоко над головой, обратился к Тардосу Морсу).

commence [kq'mens], instrument ['Instrumqnt], decrease [dJ'kri: s]

"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom — the engine has stopped."

"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live."

There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed Tardos Mors.

"The men of Helium have prided themselves (мужчины Гелиума гордились тем) that they have ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live (что они всегда показывали Барсуму, как следует жить народу красных людей), now is our opportunity to show them how they should die (теперь у нас есть возможность показать им, как ему следует умереть). Let us go about our duties (давайте заниматься нашими обязанностями) as though a thousand useful years still lay before us (так, как будто нам все еще предстоит тысяча плодотворных лет: «словно перед нами все еще лежат…»)."

The chamber rang with applause (зал разразился аплодисментами) and as there was nothing better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our example (и так как ничего лучшего не оставалось, чем унять страхи народа своим примером; to allay — успокаивать, подавлять /страх, волнение, боль/) we went our ways with smiles upon our faces (мы разошлись /каждый/ своей дорогой с улыбками на лицах) and sorrow gnawing at our hearts (и тревогой, терзающей наши души; to gnaw — грызть; терзать).

When I returned to my palace (когда я вернулся к себе во дворец) I found that the rumor already had reached Dejah Thoris (я узнал, что слух уже достиг ушей Дежи Торис; rumor — слух, молва), so I told her all that I had heard (и поэтому я рассказал ей все, что я услышал).

"We have been very happy (мы были очень счастливы), John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together (и я благодарна любой судьбе, которая постигнет нас, за то, что она позволит нам умереть вместе)."

example [Ig'zQ: mpl], gnaw [nO: ], rumor ['ru: mq]

"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years still lay before us."

The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts.

When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard.

"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together."

The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air (следующие два дня не внесли заметных изменений в подачу воздуха), but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult (но на утро третьего дня стало трудно дышать: «дыхание стало затрудненным») at the higher altitudes of the rooftops (на большей высоте на крышах). The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people (улицы и площади Гелиума были заполнены людьми). All business had ceased (все дела прекратились). For the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom (по большей части люди храбро смотрели в лицо неизбежной судьбе; unalterable — неизменный, непреложный; to alter — изменять; менять). Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief (однако, то тут, то там, мужчины и женщины давали волю тихой печали; to give way — предаваться, давать волю).

Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb (к середине дня многие из более слабых начали не выдерживать; to succumb — поддаваться, уступать) and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness (и в течение часа люди Барсума начали тысячами впадать в бессознательное состояние) which precedes death by asphyxiation (которое предшествует смерти от удушья).

rooftop ['ru: ftOp], unalterable [An'O: ltrqbl], succumb [sq'kAm], asphyxiate [xs'fIkSIeIt], unconsciousness [An'kOnSqsnIs]

The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief.

Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness which precedes death by asphyxiation.

Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family (Дежа Торис и я вместе с другими членами королевской семьи) had collected in a sunken garden (собрались в распложенном во впадине саду; sunken — впалый; ниже какого-то уровня) within an inner courtyard of the palace (во внутреннем дворе дворца). We conversed in low tones (мы переговаривались тихими голосами), when we conversed at all (если вообще разговаривали), as the awe of the grim shadow of death crept over us (пока благоговейный страх перед мрачной тенью смерти охватывал нас; to creep — ползти; подкрадываться, надвигаться). Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the impending calamity (даже Вула, казалось, чувствовал тяжесть грядущего бедствия; impending — надвигающийся, приближающийся; to impend over smth. — нависать над чем-либо; calamity — бедствие, беда), for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully (так как он тесно прижимался к Деже Торис и ко мне, жалобно скуля; to whine — скулить, подвывать).

The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at request of Dejah Thoris (маленький инкубатор принесли с крыши нашего дворца по просьбе Дежи Торис) and now she sat gazing longingly upon the unknown little life (и теперь она сидела, с тоской глядя на неведомую маленькую жизнь; longingly — нетерпеливо, с тоской) that now she would never know (которую она теперь никогда не узнает).

sunken ['sANk(q)n], courtyard ['kO: tjQ: d], calamity [kq'lxmItI], longingly ['lONINlI]

Dejah Thoris and I with the other members of the royal family had collected in a sunken garden within an inner courtyard of the palace. We conversed in low tones, when we conversed at all, as the awe of the grim shadow of death crept over us. Even Woola seemed to feel the weight of the impending calamity, for he pressed close to Dejah Thoris and to me, whining pitifully.

The little incubator had been brought from the roof of our palace at request of Dejah Thoris and now she sat gazing longingly upon the unknown little life that now she would never know.

As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, saying (так как становилось заметно трудно дышать, Тардос Морс поднялся, говоря),

"Let us bid each other farewell (давайте попрощаемся друг с другом). The days of the greatness of Barsoom are over (дни величия Барсума миновали). Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world (завтрашнее солнце будет смотреть на мертвый мир) which through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens (который целую вечность должен вращаться в небесах) peopled not even by memories (не населенный даже воспоминаниями). It is the end (это — конец)."

He stooped and kissed the women of his family (он наклонился и поцеловал женщин своей семьи), and laid his strong hand upon the shoulders of the men (а на плечи мужчин он клал свою сильную руку).

As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris (когда я со скорбью отвернулся от него, мой взгляд упал на Дежу Торис). Her head was drooping upon her breast (ее голова склонилась на грудь; to droop — поникать, свисать, склонять/ся/, наклонять/ся/), to all appearances she was lifeless (по всей видимости, она была мертва; to all appearances — по-видимому, судя по всему). With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms (с криком я подскочил к ней и поднял ее на руки).

Her eyes opened and looked into mine (она открыла глаза и заглянула в мои).

perceptible [pq'septqbl], farewell ['feq'wel], appearance [q'pIqrqns]

As it was becoming perceptibly difficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose, saying,

"Let us bid each other farewell. The days of the greatness of Barsoom are over. Tomorrow's sun will look down upon a dead world which through all eternity must go swinging through the heavens peopled not even by memories. It is the end."

He stooped and kissed the women of his family, and laid his strong hand upon the shoulders of the men.

As I turned sadly from him my eyes fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head was drooping upon her breast, to all appearances she was lifeless. With a cry I sprang to her and raised her in my arms.

Her eyes opened and looked into mine.

"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured (поцелуй меня, Джон Картер! — прошептала она). "I love you! I love you! It is cruel that we must be torn apart (как жестоко расставаться: «быть разорванными на части»; to tear — рвать; apart — на части) who were just starting upon a life of love and happiness (тем, кто только начал жизнь, /полную/ любви и счастья)."

As I pressed her dear lips to mine (когда я прижался к ее милым губам своими) the old feeling of unconquerable power and authority rose in me (старое чувство /обладания/ непобедимой силой и властью возникло внутри меня). The fighting blood of Virginia sprang to life in my veins (воинственная кровь виргинцев ожила в моих жилах).

"It shall not be, my princess," I cried (этого не случится, моя принцесса, — воскликнул я). "There is, there must be some way (существует, должен быть какой-то выход), and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world for love of you, will find it (и Джон Картер, который в битве проложил свой путь в незнакомом мире из любви к тебе, найдет его)."

happiness ['hxpInIs], unconquerable [An'kONkrqbl], authority [O:'TOrItI]

"Kiss me, John Carter," she murmured. "I love you! I love you! It is cruel that we must be torn apart who were just starting upon a life of love and happiness."

As I pressed her dear lips to mine the old feeling of unconquerable power and authority rose in me. The fighting blood of Virginia sprang to life in my veins.

"It shall not be, my princess," I cried. "There is, there must be some way, and John Carter, who has fought his way through a strange world for love of you, will find it."

And with my words there crept above the threshold of my conscious mind (и с этими словами на пороге моего сознания возникла: «перебралась через порог моего сознательного ума»; threshold — порог; conscious mind — рассудок) a series of nine long forgotten sounds (последовательность из девяти давно забытых звуков). Like a flash of lightning in the darkness their full purport dawned upon me — (как вспышка молнии в темноте, их полное значение дошло до меня; purport — смысл, значение; to dawn upon — осенять, приходить в голову) — the key to the three great doors of the atmosphere plant (ключ к трем огромным дверям атмосферной фабрики)!