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

scrawny ['skrLnI], intermediary ["Intq'mJdIqrI], permit [pq'mIt]

Five or six had already hatched and the grotesque caricatures which sat blinking in the sunlight were enough to cause me to doubt my sanity. They seemed mostly head, with little scrawny bodies, long necks and six legs, or, as I afterward learned, two legs and two arms, with an intermediary pair of limbs which could be used at will either as arms or legs. Their eyes were set at the extreme sides of their heads a trifle above the center and protruded in such a manner that they could be directed either forward or back and also independently of each other, thus permitting this queer animal to look in any direction, or in two directions at once, without the necessity of turning the head.

The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together (уши, которые находились несколько выше глаз и ближе друг к другу), were small, cup-shaped antennae (представляли собой небольшие, чашевидные отростки; antenna — антенна; усик, щупальце ), protruding not more than an inch on these young specimens (которые торчали не более чем на дюйм у этих юных созданий: «образцов»; specimen — образец, образчик ). Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center of their faces (носами им служили лишь продольные щели посередине их лиц), midway between their mouths and ears (между их ртами и ушами; midway — на пол пути ).

There was no hair on their bodies (на их телах не было волос), which were of a very light yellowish-green color (и они были очень светлого желтовато-зеленого оттенка). In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon (у взрослых, как мне предстояло узнать позднее), this color deepens to an olive green (этот цвет сгущается до оливково-зеленого; to deepen — углублять; усиливать ) and is darker in the male than in the female (и у мужчин темнее, чем у женщин). Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies (кроме того, головы взрослых не так непропорциональны по отношению к телу) as in the case of the young (как это наблюдается у детей; case — случай, обстоятельство, положение дел ).

longitudinal ["lOnGI'tjHdIn(q)l], female ['fi: meIl], adult ['xdAlt]

The ears, which were slightly above the eyes and closer together, were small, cup-shaped antennae, protruding not more than an inch on these young specimens. Their noses were but longitudinal slits in the center of their faces, midway between their mouths and ears.

There was no hair on their bodies, which were of a very light yellowish-green color. In the adults, as I was to learn quite soon, this color deepens to an olive green and is darker in the male than in the female. Further, the heads of the adults are not so out of proportion to their bodies as in the case of the young.

The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos (радужки их глаз кроваво-красные, как у альбиносов; iris — радужная оболочка глаза ), while the pupil is dark (в то время как зрачок черный; pupil — зрачок ). The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth (само глазное яблоко очень белое, как и зубы). These latter add a most ferocious appearance (эти последние придают особенно жестокое выражение) to an otherwise fearsome and terrible countenance (к и без того устрашающей и жуткой физиономии; otherwise — иначе; в других отношениях; countenance — выражение лица ), as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points (так как нижние клыки загибаются вверх, /переходя/ в острые концы; tusk — клык ) which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located (которые оканчиваются примерно там, где расположены глаза земных людей; human beings — люди; being — существо ). The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory (белизна зубов не такая, как у слоновой кости; ivory — слоновая кость ), but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china (но как у самого белоснежного и сверкающего фарфора; china —/китайский/ фарфор ). Against the dark background of their olive skins (на темном фоне их оливковой кожи) their tusks stand out in a most striking manner (их клыки выделяются самым поразительным образом; to stand out — выделяться, выступать ), making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance (придавая этому оружию особенно устрашающий вид; to present — являть, представлять собой; formidable — страшный, грозный ).

ferocious [fq'rouSqs], countenance ['kauntInqns], singularly ['sINgjulqlI]

The iris of the eyes is blood red, as in Albinos, while the pupil is dark. The eyeball itself is very white, as are the teeth. These latter add a most ferocious appearance to an otherwise fearsome and terrible countenance, as the lower tusks curve upward to sharp points which end about where the eyes of earthly human beings are located. The whiteness of the teeth is not that of ivory, but of the snowiest and most gleaming of china. Against the dark background of their olive skins their tusks stand out in a most striking manner, making these weapons present a singularly formidable appearance.

Most of these details I noted later (большую часть из этих деталей я заметил позднее), for I was given but little time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery (так как мне дали слишком мало времени, /чтобы/ поразмыслить о чудесах моего нового открытия; to speculate — размышлять, раздумывать ). I had seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching (я видел, что яйца находились в процессе вылупливания), and as I stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their shells (и пока я стоял /и/ смотрел, как ужасные маленькие чудовища прорываются из своих оболочек) I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me (я не сумел заметить, как ко мне сзади приближается два десятка взрослых марсиан ; score — счет; два десятка ).

hatching ['hxtSIN], approach [q'proutS], hideous ['hIdIqs]

Most of these details I noted later, for I was given but little time to speculate on the wonders of my new discovery. I had seen that the eggs were in the process of hatching, and as I stood watching the hideous little monsters break from their shells I failed to note the approach of a score of full-grown Martians from behind me.