Майкл Муркок - Английский язык с М. Муркоком

cough [kɔf] heavy [ˈhevɪ] female [ˈfi:meɪl] treasure [ˈtreʒə] evidence [ˈevɪd (ə) ns] interpret [ɪnˈtə: prɪt] accept [əkˈsept] won [wɔn]

Now, as Corum watched, they began to pass him. He stifled a cough as their smell reached his nose. Many were so drunk they were almost falling out of their chariots. The heavy wheels rumbled and the hooves of the horses plodded on. Corum saw that the waggons did not contain females, but booty. Much of it was Vadhagh treasure, there was no mistaking it.

The evidence was impossible to interpret in any other way. This was a party of warriors — a raiding party or a looting party, Corum could not be sure. But he found it hard to accept that these creatures had lately done battle with Vadhagh warriors and won.

Now the last chariots of the caravan (теперь последние колесницы каравана; caravan — караван, череда, вереница ) began to pass (начали проходить) and Corum saw that a few Mabden walked behind (увидел, что несколько мабденов шли позади), tied to the chariots by ropes (привязанные к колесницам веревками; to tie — завязывать/ся/, связывать ) attached to their hands (завязанными на их руках; to attach — прикреплять/ся/, присоединять/ся/ ). These Mabden bore no weapons (эти мабдены несли никакое оружие = были безоружны) and were hardly clothed at all (были едва одеты; at all — вообще, совсем ). They were thin (они были худыми), their feet were bare and bleeding (их ноги: «ступни» были голыми = босыми и кровоточили), they moaned and cried out (они стонали и вскрикивали; to cry out — объявлять во всеуслышание, кричать, вопить ) from time to time (время от времени). Often the response of the charioteer (часто ответом возничего) to whose chariot they were attached (к чьей колеснице они были привязаны) would be to curse or laugh (были ругательства или смех; to curse — ругаться, проклинать ) and tug at the ropes (и дерганье за веревки; to tug — тащить, дергать с усилием ) to make them stumble (чтобы заставить их споткнуться; to stumble — оступаться, спотыкаться ).

One did stumble and fall (один действительно споткнулся и упал; глагол to do употреблен для усиления значения ) and desperately tried (и отчаянно пытался) to regain his feet (снова встать на ноги; to regain — обретать снова, восстанавливать, возвращаться ) as he was dragged along (в то время как колесница тащила его /по земле/). Corum was horrified (Корум был шокирован; to horrify — ужасать, шокировать ). Why did the Mabden (почему мабдены) treat their own species (обращались со своим собственным видом; to treat — обходиться, относиться, обрабатывать, трактовать ) in such a way (таким образом)? Even the Nhadragh (даже надраги), who were counted more cruel than the Vadhagh (которые считались более жестокими, чем вадаги; to count — считать, полагать ), had not caused such pain (не причиняли такой боли) to their Vadhagh prisoners (своим вадагским пленникам; prisoner — заключенный, узник ) in the old days (в былые времена/раньше: «в старые дни»).

caravan [ˈkærəvæn] charioteer [, ʧærɪəˈtɪə] curse [kə: s] laugh [lɑ:f] desperately [ˈdespərətlɪ] horrified [ˈhɔrɪfaɪd] counted [ˈkauntɪd] prisoner [ˈprɪz (ə) nə]

Now the last chariots of the caravan began to pass and Corum saw that a few Mabden walked behind, tied to the chariots by ropes attached to their hands. These Mabden bore no weapons and were hardly clothed at all. They were thin, their feet were bare and bleeding, they moaned and cried out from time to time. Often the response of the charioteer to whose chariot they were attached would be to curse or laugh and tug at the ropes to make them stumble.

One did stumble and fall and desperately tried to regain his feet as he was dragged along. Corum was horrified. Why did the Mabden treat their own species in such a way? Even the Nhadragh, who were counted more cruel than the Vadhagh, had not caused such pain to their Vadhagh prisoners in the old days.

`These are peculiar brutes (вот уж странные животные), in truth (действительно; truth — правда, истина ), mused Corum, half-aloud (размышлял Корум про себя: «наполовину вслух»; to muse — задумываться, размышлять ).

One of the Mabden (один из мабденов) at the head of the caravan (/бывший/ во главе каравана) called out loudly (/что-то/ крикнул громко) and brought his chariot to a halt (и остановил свою колесницу: «привел к остановке»; to bring to a halt — остановить ) beside the river (у речки). The other chariots and waggons (остальные колесницы и повозки) began to stop (начали останавливаться). Corum saw that they intended to make camp here (понял, что они собираются разбить здесь лагерь; to see — видеть, смотреть; понимать; to see-saw-seen; to intend to — намереваться ).

Fascinated (/словно/ завороженный; to fascinate — очаровывать, пленять, гипнотизировать ), he continued to observe them (он продолжал наблюдать за ними), stock still on his horse (неподвижно /сидя/ на коне; stock still — /совершенно/ неподвижный, как столб; stock — главный ствол /дерева/; опора, подпорка ), hidden by the trees (скрытый деревьями).

brute [bru:t] mused [mju:zd] aloud [əˈlaud] fascinated [ˈfæsɪneɪtɪd]

`These are peculiar brutes, in truth, mused Corum, half-aloud.

One of the Mabden at the head of the caravan called out loudly and brought his chariot to a halt beside the river. The other chariots and waggons began to stop. Corum saw that they intended to make camp here.

Fascinated, he continued to observe them, stock still on his horse, hidden by the trees.

The Mabden removed the yokes from the horses (мабдены сняли ярмо с лошадей = распрягли лошадей; to remove — перемещать, убирать, снимать ) and led them to the water (и повели их к воде; to lead — вести, сопровождать; to lead-led-led ). From the waggons (из повозок) they took cooking pots and poles (они достали горшки для приготовления пищи и жерди; to cook — готовить/ся/, жарить/ся/, варить/ся/; pot — горшок, котелок; pole — столб, жердь, шест ) and began to build fires (и начали разводить костры; to begin-began-begun; to build — сооружать, строить; to build-built-built ).