Читаем без скачивания Английский язык с М. Муркоком - Майкл Муркок

Again the tide was retreating (снова течение отступало = начинался отлив).

The metallic drum began to beat again (металлический барабан начал бить снова). There was the distant jingle of harness (слышалось далекое звяканье упряжи). Glandyth was speaking to some of the horsemen (Гландит говорил с некоторыми всадниками).

`I think he will attack (думаю, он нападет), said Corum.

The sun was low and all the world seemed turned to a dark, chill grey (солнце было низко, и весь мир, казалось, стал темным, холодно-серым; to turn to — превратиться в). They watched as the causeway gradually became exposed until only a foot or two of water covered it (они наблюдали, как дамба постепенно обнажалась, до тех пор, пока = и вскоре лишь один-два фута воды покрывали ее).

catapult [ˈkætəpʌlt] ammunition [, æmjuˈnɪʃ (ə) n] javelin [ˈʤævlɪn]

Cauldrons of lead bubbled on fires built on the battlements; small catapults had been erected, with piles of stone balls beside them, for ammunition; extra arrows and javelins were heaped by the far wall.

Again the tide was retreating.

The metallic drum began to beat again. There was the distant jingle of harness. Glandyth was speaking to some of the horsemen.

`I think he will attack, said Corum.

The sun was low and all the world seemed turned to a dark, chill grey. They watched as the causeway gradually became exposed until only a foot or two of water covered it.

Then the beat of the drum became more rapid (бой барабана стал более быстрым). There was a howl from the riders (раздался вой всадников). They began to move forward and splash on to the causeway (они двинулись вперед, на дамбу, поднимая брызги; to splash — брызгать/ся/, плескать/ся/; шлепать /по воде, грязи и т. д. /).

The real battle for Moidel's Castle had begun (настоящая битва за замок Мойдел началась).

Not all the horsemen rode along the causeway (не все всадники поскакали по дамбе). About two-thirds of the force remained on the shore (около двух третей войска осталось на берегу). Corum guessed what this meant (Корум догадался, что это значит).

`Are all points of the castle guarded now, Beldan (все места замка охраняются, Белдан)?

`They are, Prince Corum (да, принц Корум).

`Good (хорошо). I think they'll try to swim their horses round and get a hold on the rocks so that they can attack from all sides (думаю, они попытаются переплыть на лошадях вокруг = обойти замок и взобраться по скалам, чтобы атаковать со всех сторон; to hold on — держаться за; прикреплять). When darkness falls, have flare arrows shot regularly at all quarters (когда наступит темнота, прикажи стрелять горящими стрелами постоянно со всех сторон; to fall — падать; спускаться, наступать /о темноте, ночи и т. д. /; flare — сверкание, вспышка или язык пламени; сигнальная вспышка; regularly — регулярно, постоянно, через равные промежутки).

rapid [ˈræpɪd] guessed [ɡest] flare [fleə] quarters [ˈkwɔ:təz]

Then the beat of the drum became more rapid. There was a howl from the riders. They began to move forward and splash on to the causeway.

The real battle for Moidel's Castle had begun.

Not all the horsemen rode along the causeway. About two-thirds of the force remained on the shore. Corum guessed what this meant.

`Are all points of the castle guarded now, Beldan?

`They are, Prince Corum.

`Good. I think they'll try to swim their horses round and get a hold on the rocks so that they can attack from all sides. When darkness falls, have flare arrows shot regularly at all quarters.

Then the horsemen were storming the castle (затем всадники /начали/ штурмовать замок). The cauldrons of lead were upended and beasts and riders screamed in pain as the white-hot metal flooded over them (котлы со свинцом перевернули, и животные и наездники пронзительно закричали от боли, когда раскаленный добела металл хлынул на них; to flood — заливать, затоплять; хлынуть потоком). The sea hissed and steamed as the lead hit it (море шипело и пускало пар, когда свинец попадал в него; to steam — выпускать пар, подниматься в виде пара; to hit — ударять, поражать; попадать в, достигать). Some of the riders had brought up battering rams, slung between their mounts (некоторые всадники подносили тараны, подвешенные между их лошадьми; to bring up — приводить, приносить наверх; поднимать; to batter — сильно бить, колотить; плющить /металл/; ram — баран; таран; mount — лошадь, мул и т. д. под седлом). They began to charge at the gates (они принялись атаковать ворота; to charge — атаковать /особенно в конном строю/, набрасываться; напирать). Riders were shot from their saddles, but the horses ran wildly on (наездники выбивались /стрелами/ из седел, но лошади продолжали дико = безумно бежать; to run on — продолжать/ся/, тянуть/ся/; бежать, лететь). One of the rams struck the gates and smashed into them and through them, becoming jammed (один из таранов ударил ворота и пробил их насквозь, застряв: «становясь зажатым»; to jam — зажимать, заклинивать). The riders strove to extricate it, but could not (всадники попытались вытащить его, но не смогли; to strive — стараться, прилагать усилия; to extricate — вытаскивать, освобождать). They were struck by a wave of boiling lead, but the ram remained (на них обрушилась волна кипящего свинца, но таран остался /в воротах/).

`Get archers to the gates (/еще/ лучников к воротам; to get — получать; достигать, прибывать; устанавливать), Corum commanded (приказал Корум). `And have horses ready in case the main hall is breached (и приготовьте лошадей на случай, если прорвутся в главный зал; to breach — пробивать брешь, проламывать стену).

upended [əˈpendɪd] flooded [ˈflʌdɪd] ready [ˈredɪ] breached [bri:ʧt]

Then the horsemen were storming the castle. The cauldrons of lead were upended and beasts and riders screamed in pain as the white-hot metal flooded over them. The sea hissed and steamed as the lead hit it. Some of the riders had brought up battering rams, slung between their mounts. They began to charge at the gates. Riders were shot from their saddles, but the horses ran wildly on. One of the rams struck the gates and smashed into them and through them, becoming jammed. The riders strove to extricate it, but could not. They were struck by a wave of boiling lead, but the ram remained.

`Get archers to the gates, Corum commanded. `And have horses ready in case the main hall is breached.

It was almost dark, but the fight continued (было почти темно, но бой продолжался). Some of the barbarians were riding round the lowers parts of the hill (некоторые из варваров скакали вокруг /нижних частей/ холма). Corum saw the next rank leave the shore and begin to swim their horses through the shallow waters (Корум увидел, как очередной ряд покидает берег и переправляется на лошадях по мелководью).

But Glandyth and his charioteers remained on the beach taking no part in the battle (но Гландит и его возничие = колесницы оставались на берегу, не принимая участия в сражении). Doubtless Glandyth planned to wait until the castle defences were breached before he crossed the causeway (несомненно, Гландит намеревался подождать, пока стены замка будут проломлены, прежде чем он пересечет дамбу; defences — укрепления, оборонительные сооружения).

Corum's hatred of the Earl of Krae had increased since the betrayal earlier that day (ненависть Корума к Графу Краэ усилилась после предательства, /произошедшего/ раньше в тот день) and now he saw him using the superstitious barbarians for his own purposes (и теперь, /когда/ он видел, как тот использует суеверных варваров в своих собственных целях), Corum knew that his judgement of Glandyth was right (Корум понял, что его мнение о Гландите верно; judgement — приговор, решение; суждение, мнение). The man would corrupt anything with which he came in contact (он разрушал все, с чем соприкасался: «приходил в контакт»; to corrupt — развращать, разлагать; портить).

increased [ɪnˈkri:st] betrayal [bɪˈtreɪəl] purpose [ˈpə: pəs] corrupt [kəˈrʌpt]

It was almost dark, but the fight continued. Some of the barbarians were riding round the lowers parts of the hill. Corum saw the next rank leave the shore and begin to swim their horses through the shallow waters.

But Glandyth and his charioteers remained on the beach taking no part in the battle. Doubtless Glandyth planned to wait until the castle defences were breached before he crossed the causeway.

Corum's hatred of the Earl of Krae had increased since the betrayal earlier that day and now he saw him using the superstitious barbarians for his own purposes, Corum knew that his judgement of Glandyth was right. The man would corrupt anything with which he came in contact.