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

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.

All around the castle now, the defenders were dying from spear and arrow wounds (со всех сторон замка = повсюду на стенах защитники от ран, /нанесенных/ копьями и стрелами). At least fifty were dead or badly hurt and the remaining hundred were spread very thinly (по крайней мере пятьдесят погибли или были тяжело ранены, а оставшиеся сто распространились = рассредоточились /по стенам/ очень редко).

Corum made a rapid tour of the defences, encouraging the warriors to greater efforts (Корум совершил быстрый обход = быстро обошел укрепления, подбадривая воинов на большие усилия; to encourage — ободрять, поощрять; подстрекать), but now the boiling lead was finished and arrows and spears were running short (но теперь кипящий свинец закончился, а стрелы и копья подходили к концу; to run short — истощаться; заканчиваться). Soon the hand-to-hand fighting would begin (вскоре рукопашная схватка начнется).

Night fell (наступила ночь). Flare arrows revealed bands of barbarians all around the castle (горящие стрелы обнаруживали = высвечивали отряды варваров со всех сторон замка). Beacons burned on the battlements (сигнальные огни горели на стенах). The fighting continued (битва продолжалась).

The barbarians reconcentrated on the main gates (варвары вновь сосредоточились на главных воротах). More rams were brought up (еще больше таранов было подтащено). The gates began to groan and give way (ворота начали трещать и гнуться; to groan — стонать, скрипеть; трещать /под тяжестью/; to give way — уступать; гнуться).

wound [wu:nd] revealed [rɪˈvi:ld] reconcentrated [rɪˈkɔns (ə) ntreɪtɪd]

All around the castle now, the defenders were dying from spear and arrow wounds. At least fifty were dead or badly hurt and the remaining hundred were spread very thinly.

Corum made a rapid tour of the defences, encouraging the warriors to greater efforts, but now the boiling lead was finished and arrows and spears were running short. Soon the hand-to-hand fighting would begin.

Night fell. Flare arrows revealed bands of barbarians all around the castle. Beacons burned on the battlements. The fighting continued.

The barbarians reconcentrated on the main gates. More rams were brought up. The gates began to groan and give way.

Corum took all the men he could spare into the main hall (Корум собрал всех людей, /которых/ мог сберечь = снять со стен, в главном зале). There they mounted their horses and formed a semicircle behind the archers, waiting for the barbarians to come through (там они оседлали коней и построились полукругом позади лучников, ожидая, /когда/ варвары пройдут внутрь).

More rams pierced the gates and Corum heard the sound of swords and axes beating on the splintered timbers outside (еще несколько таранов пробили ворота, и Корум слышал звук мечей и топоров, ударявших по = рубивших расщепленные бревна снаружи; to pierce — прокалывать, пронзать; прорываться /сквозь/).

Suddenly they were through, yelling and howling (внезапно они ворвались внутрь, крича и ревя). Firelight glinted on their masks of brass, making them look even more evil and terrifying (свет огня ярко блестел на их латунных масках, делая их еще более злыми и устрашающими). Their ponies snorted and reared (их лошади фыркали и вставали на дыбы).

There was time for only one wave of arrows (было время лишь для одного залпа стрел), then the archers retreated to make way for Corum and his cavalry to charge the disconcerted barbarians (потом лучники отступили, чтобы дать дорогу Коруму и его кавалерии для атаки приведенных в замешательство варваров).

semicircle [ˈsemi, sə: k (ə) l] howling [ˈhaulɪŋ] cavalry [ˈkæv (ə) lrɪ]

Corum took all the men he could spare into the main hall. There they mounted their horses and formed a semicircle behind the archers, waiting for the barbarians to come through.

More rams pierced the gates and Corum heard the sound of swords and axes beating on the splintered timbers outside.

Suddenly they were through, yelling and howling. Firelight glinted on their masks of brass, making them look even more evil and terrifying. Their ponies snorted and reared.

There was time for only one wave of arrows, then the archers retreated to make way for Corum and his cavalry to charge the disconcerted barbarians.

Corum's sword smashed into a mask, sheared through it and destroyed the face beneath (меч Корума обрушился на маску, разрубил ее и рассек лицо под ней). Blood splashed high and a nearby brand fizzed as the liquid hit it (кровь брызнула сильно, и расположенная поблизости головня зашипела, когда жидкость попала на нее). Forgetful of the pain of his wounds, Corum swung the sword back and forth (забывчивый = забыв о боли и ранах, Корум размахивал мечом во все стороны: «взад и вперед»), knocking riders from their mounts, striking heads from shoulders, limbs from bodies (выбивая всадников из седел, снося головы с плеч, /отделяя/ конечности от тел; mount — опора; лошадь, мул и т. д. под седлом). But slowly he and his remaining men were retreating as fresh waves of Pony Tribesmen surged into the castle (но понемногу он и его оставшиеся люди отступали, так как свежие волны = новые толпы варваров ломились в замок; to surge — подниматься; /на/хлынуть).

Now they were at the far end of the hall, where a stone stairway curled up to the next floor (теперь они были в дальнем конце зала, где каменная лестница винтом поднималась на следующий этаж; to curl — виться, клубиться; закручивать/ся/). The archers were positioned here, along the stairs, and began to shoot their arrows into the barbarians (здесь располагались лучники, вдоль лестницы, и они начали пускать стрелы в варваров). The barbarians not directly engaged with Corum's men (варвары, не напрямую сражавшиеся с людьми Корума) retaliated with javelins and arrows and slowly Moidel's archers fell (отвечали метательными копьями и стрелами, и медленно = постепенно лучники Мойдела пали).

beneath [bɪˈni:Ɵ] liquid [ˈlɪkwɪd] engaged [ɪnˈɡeɪʤd]

Corum's sword smashed into a mask, sheared through it and destroyed the face beneath. Blood splashed high and a nearby brand fizzed as the liquid hit it. Forgetful of the pain of his wounds, Corum swung the sword back and forth, knocking riders from their mounts, striking heads from shoulders, limbs from bodies. But slowly he and his remaining men were retreating as fresh waves of Pony Tribesmen surged into the castle.

Now they were at the far end of the hall, where a stone stairway curled up to the next floor. The archers were positioned here, along the stairs, and began to shoot their arrows into the barbarians. The barbarians not directly engaged with Corum's men retaliated with javelins and arrows and slowly Moidel's archers fell.

Corum glanced around him as he fought (Корум взглянул вокруг = огляделся, сражаясь). There were few left with him — perhaps a dozen (/лишь/ немногие остались с ним — может быть, дюжина) — and there were some fifty barbarians in the hall (и примерно пятьдесят варваров было в зале). The fight was nearing its conclusion (битва подходила к завершению). Within moments he and his friends would all be dead (через /несколько/ мгновений он и его друзья все погибнут).

He saw Beldan begin to descend the stairs (он увидел, что Белдан спускается по лестнице). At first Corum thought he was bringing up reinforcements, but he had only two warriors with him (сначала Корум подумал, что он ведет подкрепление, но с ним было только два воина).

`Corum! Corum!

Corum was pressed by two barbarians (Корум сражался с двумя варварами; to press — сжимать, прижимать; теснить, нападать). He could not reply (он не ответил).

`Corum! Where is the Lady Rhalina (где леди Ралина)?

dozen [dʌzn] conclusion [kənˈklu:ʒ (ə) n] reinforcement [, ri:ɪnˈfɔ:smənt] reply [rɪˈplaɪ]

Corum glanced around him as he fought. There were few left with him — perhaps a dozen — and there were some fifty barbarians in the hall. The fight was nearing its conclusion. Within moments he and his friends would all be dead.

He saw Beldan begin to descend the stairs. At first Corum thought he was bringing up reinforcements, but he had only two warriors with him.

`Corum! Corum!

Corum was pressed by two barbarians. He could not reply.

`Corum! Where is the Lady Rhalina?

Corum found extra strength now (Корум нашел дополнительные силы теперь). He delivered a blow to the first barbarian's skull which killed him (он нанес удар по черепу первого варвара, который убил его). He kicked the man from his saddle, then stood on the back of his horse and jumped to the stairs (ногой выбил /другого/ из седла, затем встал на спину своего коня и прыгнул на лестницу).