"Английский язык с М. Муркоком" - читать интересную книгу автора

CHAPTER TWO (глава вторая) The Eye of Rhynn and the Hand of Kwll (глаз Ринна и рука Кулла)

Corum had been asleep (Корум спал). Now, suddenly, he was standing upright (и тут внезапно он встал прямо). He opened his eyes (он открыл глаза).

`Welcome to my little shop (добро пожаловать в мою маленькую лавку; shop — лавка, магазин). Shool's voice came from behind him (голос Шула раздался сзади него). He turned (Корум обернулся). This time he confronted a beautiful girl of about fifteen (на этот раз он встретился лицом к лицу с красивой девушкой лет пятнадцати). The chuckle that came from the young throat was obscene (хихиканье, исходившее из юного горла = уст было неприличным/отвратительным).

Corum looked around the large room (Корум оглядел большую комнату). It was dark and it was cluttered (она была темна и загромождена /разными вещами/; to clutter — создавать суматоху; приводить в беспорядок, заваливать /чем-либо/). All manner of plants and stuffed animals filled it (всевозможные растения и чучела наполняли ее; stuffed animal — чучело; to stuff — набивать, заполнять, запихивать). Books and manuscripts teetered on crazily leaning shelves (книги и рукописи качались/пошатывались на сильно наклонившихся полках; crazy — ненормальный; шаткий, разваливающийся; shelf). There were crystals of a peculiar colour and cut (там были кристаллы необычного цвета и огранки; cut — разрез, отрезок; форма, очертание), bits of armour, jewelled swords (куски доспехов, украшенные драгоценными камнями мечи), rotting sacks from which treasure, as well as other, nameless, substances, spilled (гниющие мешки, из которых сокровища, а также другие неизвестные вещества сыпались; to spill — проливать/ся/, рассыпать/ся/). There were paintings and figurines (картины и статуэтки), an assortment of instruments and gauges including balances (множество инструментов и приборов, включая весы; assortment — ассортимент, ряд, набор; gauge — мера, размер; измерительный прибор) and what appeared to be clocks with eccentric divisions marked in languages Corum did not know (и /предмет/, похожий на часы со смещенными от центра делениями, /размеченными/ на языках, которые Корум не знал; eccentric — странный, необычайный; смещенный от центра). Living creatures scuffled among the piles or chittered in corners (/какие-то/ живые существа шуршали среди груд /вещей/ и пищали в углах; to scuffle — драться; ходить шаркая ногами; to chitter — чирикать). The place stank of dust and mould and death (это место воняло тленом, плесенью и смертью; to stink; dust — пыль; прах, тлен).

beautiful [ˈbju:tɪfəl] crystal [krɪstl] treasure [ˈtreʒə] gauges [ˈɡeɪʤɪz] eccentric [ɪkˈsentrɪk] language [ˈlæŋɡwɪʤ] mould [məuld]

Corum had been asleep. Now, suddenly, he was standing upright. He opened his eyes.

`Welcome to my little shop. Shool's voice came from behind him. He turned. This time he confronted a beautiful girl of about fifteen. The chuckle that came from the young throat was obscene.

Corum looked around the large room. It was dark and it was cluttered. All manner of plants and stuffed animals filled it. Books and manuscripts teetered on crazily leaning shelves. There were crystals of a peculiar colour and cut, bits of armour, jewelled swords, rotting sacks from which treasure, as well as other, nameless, substances, spilled. There were paintings and figurines, an assortment of instruments and gauges including balances and what appeared to be clocks with eccentric divisions marked in languages Corum did not know. Living creatures scuffled among the piles or chittered in corners. The place stank of dust and mould and death.

`You do not, I should think, attract many customers (ты, следует думать = видимо, не привлекаешь много покупателей), Corum said.

Shool sniffed (Шул /презрительно/ фыркнул).

`There are not many I should desire to serve (не многих я пожелал бы обслуживать). Now… In his young girl's form, he went to a chest (в своем обличье юной девушки он подошел к сундуку) that was partially covered by the shining skins of a beast that must have been large and fierce in life (который был частично накрыт блестящими шкурами зверя, бывшего, должно быть, большим и свирепым при жизни). He pushed away the skins and muttered something over the chest (он отодвинул шкуры и пробормотал что-то над сундуком). Of its own accord, the lid flew back (сама по себе, крышка откинулась; to fly — летать; быстро перемещаться). A cloud of black stuff rose from within and Shool staggered away a pace or two (облако черной пыли поднялось изнутри, и Шул отпрянул, покачнувшись, на шаг-два; to stagger — шататься; идти шатаясь), waving his hands and screaming in a strange speech (отмахиваясь руками и крича на странном языке). The black cloud vanished (черного облако исчезло). Cautiously, Shool approached the chest and peered in (Шул осторожно приблизился к сундуку и заглянул внутрь). He smacked his lips in satisfaction (он причмокнул губами удовлетворенно). `…here we are (а вот и мы = то, что надо)!

partially [ˈpɑ:ʃ (ə) lɪ] fierce [fɪəs] cautiously [kɔ:ʃəslɪ]

`You do not, I should think, attract many customers, Corum said.

Shool sniffed.

`There are not many I should desire to serve. Now… In his young girl's form, he went to a chest that was partially covered by the shining skins of a beast that must have been large and fierce in life. He pushed away the skins and muttered something over the chest. Of its own accord, the lid flew back. A cloud of black stuff rose from within and Shool staggered away a pace or two, waving his hands and screaming in a strange speech. The black cloud vanished. Cautiously, Shool approached the chest and peered in. He smacked his lips in satisfaction. `…here we are!

He drew out two sacks, one smaller than the other (он вытащил два мешка, один меньше другого). He held them up, grinning at Corum (он поднял их, ухмыляясь Коруму).

`Your gifts (твои дары).

`I thought you were going to restore my hand and my eye (я думал, ты собираешься восстановить мне руку и глаз; to restore — восстанавливать; возвращать на прежнее место).

`Not «restore» exactly (не совсем восстановить). I am going to give you a much more useful gift than that (я собираюсь дать тебе намного более полезный дар, чем это). Have you heard of the Lost Gods (ты слышал об Исчезнувших Богах)?

`I have not (нет).

`The Lost Gods who were brothers (об Исчезнувших Богах, которые были братьями)? Their names were Lord Rhynn and Lord Kwll (их имена были Господин Ринн и Господин Кулл). They existed even before I came to grace the universe (они существовали даже до того, как я пришел, чтобы украсить эту вселенную /своим присутствием/; to grace — украшать; удостаивать, награждать). They became involved in a struggle of some kind, the nature of which is now obscured (они ввязались в некую борьбу, природа которой теперь неясна; to obscure — затемнять; скрывать, делать неясным /смысл, значение и т. д. /). They vanished, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, I do not know (они исчезли, либо добровольно, либо вопреки своей воле, я не знаю). But they left a little of themselves behind (но они оставили немного после себя). He held up the sacks again (он снова поднял мешки). `These (/вот/ эти).

useful [ˈju:sfəl] universe [ˈju:nɪvə: s] voluntarily [ˈvɔlənt (ə) rɪlɪ]

He drew out two sacks, one smaller than the other. He held them up, grinning at Corum.

`Your gifts.

`I thought you were going to restore my hand and my eye.

`Not «restore» exactly. I am going to give you a much more useful gift than that. Have you heard of the Lost Gods?

`I have not.

`The Lost Gods who were brothers? Their names were Lord Rhynn and Lord Kwll. They existed even before I came to grace the universe. They became involved in a struggle of some kind, the nature of which is now obscured. They vanished, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, I do not know. But they left a little of themselves behind. He held up the sacks again. `These.

Corum gestured impatiently (Корум сделал нетерпеливое движение).

Shool put out his girl's tongue and licked his girl's lips (Шул высунул свой девичий язык и облизнул девичьи губы). The old eyes glittered at Corum (старые глаза блеснули, /когда он взглянул/ на Корума; to glitter — блестеть, сверкать). `The gifts I have here, they once belonged to those warring gods (подарки, которые тут у меня, когда-то принадлежали тем воюющим богам). I heard a legend that they fought to the death (я слышал легенду, что они сражались на смерть) and only these remained to mark the fact that they had existed at all (и лишь это осталось, чтобы отметить тот факт = единственное напоминание о том, что они вообще существовали). He opened the smaller sack (он открыл меньший мешочек). A large jewelled object fell into his hand (большая, украшенная драгоценными камнями вещь упала на его ладонь). He held it out for Corum to see (он протянул его, чтобы Корум мог разглядеть). It was jewelled and faceted (предмет был украшен драгоценностями и огранен). The jewels shone with sombre colours, deep reds and blues and blacks (самоцветы сияли мрачными цветами, темно-красными, синими и черными; to shine).

`It is beautiful (это красиво), said Corum, `but I (но я) …

jewelled [ˈʤu:əld] faceted [ˈfæsɪtɪd] sombre [ˈsɔmbə]

Corum gestured impatiently.

Shool put out his girl's tongue and licked his girl's lips. The old eyes glittered at Corum. `The gifts I have here, they once belonged to those warring gods. I heard a legend that they fought to the death and only these remained to mark the fact that they had existed at all. He opened the smaller sack. A large jewelled object fell into his hand. He held it out for Corum to see. It was jewelled and faceted. The jewels shone with sombre colours, deep reds and blues and blacks.

`It is beautiful, said Corum, `but I…

`Wait (подожди). Shool emptied the larger sack on the lid of the chest, which had closed (Шул высыпал содержимое большего мешка на крышку сундука, который закрылся /до этого/; to empty — опорожнить, опустошить). He picked up the object and displayed it (поднял предмет и показал его).

Corum gasped (у Корума перехватило дыхание; to gasp — дышать с трудом, задыхаться; открывать рот /от изумления/). It seemed to be a gauntlet with room for five slender fingers and a thumb (казалось, это была латная перчатка с местом для пяти тонких пальцев и большого пальца). It, too, was covered with strange, dark jewels (она тоже была покрыта странными, темными самоцветами).

`That gauntlet is of no use to me (эта перчатка бесполезна для меня), Corum said. `It is for a left hand with six fingers (она для левой руки с шестью пальцами). I have five fingers and no left hand (у меня пять пальцев и нет левой руки).

`It is not a gauntlet. It is Kwll's hand (это рука Кулла). He had four, but he left one behind (у него было четыре /руки/, но он оставил после себя = потерял одну). Struck off by his brother, I understand (отрублена его братом, /насколько/ я понимаю) …

gauntlet [ˈɡɔ:ntlɪt] thumb [Ɵʌm]

`Wait. Shool emptied the larger sack on the lid of the chest, which had closed. He picked up the object and displayed it.

Corum gasped. It seemed to be a gauntlet with room for five slender fingers and a thumb. It, too, was covered with strange, dark jewels.

`That gauntlet is of no use to me, Corum said. `It is for a left hand with six fingers. I have five fingers and no left hand.

`It is not a gauntlet. It is Kwll's hand. He had four, but he left one behind. Struck off by his brother, I understand…

`Your jokes do not appeal to me, sorcerer (твои шутки не нравятся мне, колдун; to appeal — взывать, обращаться; привлекать, нравиться). They are too ghoulish (они слишком мерзкие). Again, you waste time (к тому же, ты тратишь время впустую).

`You had best get used to my jokes, as you call them, Master Vadhagh (тебе бы лучше привыкнуть к моим шуткам, как ты их называешь, господин Корум).

`I see no reason to (не вижу причин).

`These are the gifts. To replace your missing eye — I offer you the Eye of Rhynn (чтобы заменить твой отсутствующий глаз — я предлагаю тебе глаз Ринна). To replace your missing hand — the Hand of Kwll!

Corum's mouth curved with nausea (рот Корума искривился от отвращения; nausea — тошнота).

`I'll have nothing of them (я не возьму ничего от них)! I want no dead being's limbs (мне не нужны части мертвецов)! I thought you would give me back my own (я думал, ты вернешь мои собственные)! You have tricked me, sorcerer (ты обманул меня, колдун)!

ghoulish [ˈɡu:lɪʃ] nausea [ˈnɔ:zɪə] limb [lɪm]

`Your jokes do not appeal to me, sorcerer. They are too ghoulish. Again, you waste time.

`You had best get used to my jokes, as you call them, Master Vadhagh.

`I see no reason to.

`These are the gifts. To replace your missing eye — I offer you the Eye of Rhynn. To replace your missing hand — the Hand of Kwll!

Corum's mouth curved with nausea.

`I'll have nothing of them! I want no dead being's limbs! I thought you would give me back my own! You have tricked me, sorcerer!

`Nonsense (вздор). You do not understand the properties these things possess (ты не понимаешь свойств/качеств, которыми эти вещи обладают). They will give you greater powers than any of your race or the Mabden has ever known (они дадут тебе большие способности, чем кто-либо из твоего народа или мабденов когда-либо знал)! The eye can see into areas of time and space never observed before by a mortal (глаз может заглянуть в области времени и пространства, куда никогда раньше не заглядывал ни один смертный). And the hand — the hand can summon aid from those areas (рука способна призвать помощь из тех мест; area — участок, зона, район). You do not think I would send you into the lair of the Knight of the Swords without some supernatural aid, do you (ты же не думаешь, что я послал бы тебя в логово Рыцаря Мечей без сверхъестественной помощи)?

`What is the extent of their powers (каковы пределы их могущества; extent — объем, пределы, величина)?

Shool shrugged his young girl's shoulders (Шул пожал девичьими плечами).

`I have not had the opportunity to test them (у меня не было возможности испытать их).

`So there could be danger in using them (значит, может быть опасность в использовании их = их опасно использовать)?

`Why should there be (почему же)?

possess [pəˈzes] extent [ɪkˈstent] opportunity [, ɔpəˈtju:nɪtɪ]

`Nonsense. You do not understand the properties these things possess. They will give you greater powers than any of your race or the Mabden has ever known! The eye can see into areas of time and space never observed before by a mortal. And the hand — the hand can summon aid from those areas. You do not think I would send you into the lair of the Knight of the Swords without some supernatural aid, do you?

`What is the extent of their powers?

Shool shrugged his young girl's shoulders.

`I have not had the opportunity to test them.

`So there could be danger in using them?

`Why should there be?

Corum became thoughtful (Корум задумался: «стал задумчивым»). Should he accept Shool's disgusting gifts and risk the consequences (следует ли ему принять отвратительные дары Шула и отважиться на последствия) in order to survive, slay Glandyth and rescue Rhalina (чтобы выжить, убить Гландита и спасти Ралину)? Or should he prepare to die now and end the whole business (или приготовиться умереть сейчас и закончить все дело = со всем покончить)?

Shool said:

`Think of the knowledge these gifts will bring you (подумай о знаниях, /которые/ эти дары принесут тебе). Think of the things you will see on your travels (подумай о вещах, /которые/ ты увидишь во время своих путешествий). No mortal has ever been to the domain of the Knight of the Swords before (ни один смертный никогда прежде не бывал во владениях Рыцаря Мечей)! You can add much to your wisdom, Master Corum (ты сможешь многое добавить к своей мудрости = стать намного мудрее, господин Корум). And remember — it is the Knight who is ultimately responsible for your doom and the deaths of your folk (и запомни — именно Рыцарь в конечном счете ответственен за твою судьбу = несчастье и гибель твоего народа) …

rescue [ˈreskju:] domain [dəˈmeɪn] ultimately [ˈʌltɪmɪtlɪ]

Corum became thoughtful. Should he accept Shool's disgusting gifts and risk the consequences in order to survive, slay Glandyth and rescue Rhalina? Or should he prepare to die now and end the whole business?

Shool said:

`Think of the knowledge these gifts will bring you. Think of the things you will see on your travels. No mortal has ever been to the domain of the Knight of the Swords before! You can add much to your wisdom, Master Corum. And remember — it is the Knight who is ultimately responsible for your doom and the deaths of your folk…

Corum drew deeply of the musty air (Корум вдохнул глубоко затхлый воздух; musty — заплесневелый; прокисший, несвежий). He made up his mind (он решился).

`Very well, I will accept your gifts (хорошо, я приму твои дары).

`I am honoured (это честь для меня; to honour — почитать; удостаивать), Shool said sardonically (язвительно). He pointed a finger at Corum and Corum reeled backwards, fell among a pile of bones and tried to rise (он указал пальцем на Корума, и Корум покачнулся, упал среди = на груду костей и попытался подняться; to reel /backwards/ — покачнуться, пошатнуться /от удара, потрясения и т. д. /). But he felt drowsy (но его клонило в сон; drowsy — засыпающий, дремлющий, вялый).

`Continue your slumbers, Master Corum (продолжай свои сны, господин Корум), Shool said.

He was back in the room in which he had originally met Shool (он был = очнулся снова в зале, в котором сначала = впервые встретил Шула). There was a fierce pain in the socket of his blind eye (ощущалась сильная боль в глазнице его незрячего глаза). There was a terrible agony in the stump of his left hand (ужасная боль в культе левой руки; agony — агония; мука, страдание, сильная боль). He felt drained of energy (он чувствовал себя лишенным сил; to feel drained — чувствовать себя опустошенным, как выжатый лимон; to drain — осушать; истощать /силы, средства и т. д. /). He tried to look about him, but his vision would not clear (он попробовал оглядеться /вокруг себя/, но его зрение было неясным).

sardonically [sɑ:ˈdɔnɪklɪ] drowsy [ˈdrauzɪ] agony [ˈæɡənɪ]

Corum drew deeply of the musty air. He made up his mind.

`Very well, I will accept your gifts.

`I am honoured, Shool said sardonically. He pointed a finger at Corum and Corum reeled backwards, fell among a pile of bones and tried to rise. But he felt drowsy.

`Continue your slumbers, Master Corum, Shool said.

He was back in the room in which he had originally met Shool. There was a fierce pain in the socket of his blind eye. There was a terrible agony in the stump of his left hand. He felt drained of energy. He tried to look about him, but his vision would not clear.

He heard a scream (он услышал /пронзительный/ крик). It was Rhalina.

`Rhalina! Where are you (где ты)?

`I–I am here — Corum (я здесь, Корум). What has been done to you (что с тобой сделали)? Your face — your hand…

With his right hand he reached up to touch his blind socket (правой рукой он потянулся вверх потрогать слепую = пустую глазницу). Something warm shifted beneath his fingers (что-то теплое шевельнулось под его пальцами). It was an eye (это был глаз)! But it was an eye of an unfamiliar texture and size (но это был глаз необычного строения и размера; texture — строение, текстура). He knew then that it was Rhynn's eye (тут он понял, что это глаз Ринна). His vision began to clear then (затем его зрение начало проясняться).

He saw Rhalina's horrified face (он увидел испуганное лицо Ралины; to horrify — ужасать; шокировать). She was sitting up in bed, her back stiff with horror (она сидела на постели, /держа/ спину жестко = застыв от ужаса).

beneath [bɪˈni:Ɵ] texture [ˈteksʧə] vision [ˈvɪʒ (ə) n]

He heard a scream. It was Rhalina.

`Rhalina! Where are you?

`I–I am here — Corum. What has been done to you? Your face — your hand…

With his right hand he reached up to touch his blind socket. Something warm shifted beneath his fingers. It was an eye! But it was an eye of an unfamiliar texture and size. He knew then that it was Rhynn's eye. His vision began to clear then.

He saw Rhalina's horrified face. She was sitting up in bed, her back stiff with horror.

He looked down at his left hand (он посмотрел /вниз/ на свою левую руку). It was of similar proportions to the old (она была подобна по пропорциям старой), but it was six-fingered and the skin was like that of a jewelled snake (но на ней было шесть пальцев, а кожа походила на /кожу/ украшенной драгоценностями змеи).

He staggered as he strove to accept what had happened to him (он содрогнулся, когда попытался принять/признать /то/, что произошло с ним; to stagger — шататься; потрясать, поражать; to strive — стараться, бороться). `They are Shool's gifts (это дары Шула), he murmured inanely (пробормотал он глупо).

`They are the Eye of Rhynn and the Hand of Kwll (это глаз Ринна и рука Кулла). They were Gods — the Lost Gods, Shool said (они были богами — исчезнувшими богами, /как/ сказал Шул). Now I am whole again, Rhalina (теперь я снова целый, Ралина).

similar [ˈsɪmɪlə] accept [əkˈsept] inanely [ɪˈneɪnlɪ]

He looked down at his left hand. It was of similar proportions to the old, but it was six-fingered and the skin was like that of a jewelled snake.

He staggered as he strove to accept what had happened to him. `They are Shool's gifts, he murmured inanely.

`They are the Eye of Rhynn and the Hand of Kwll. They were Gods — the Lost Gods, Shool said. Now I am whole again, Rhalina.

`Whole? You are something more and something less than whole, Corum (какой же ты целый, Корум). Why did you accept such terrible gifts (зачем ты принял столь ужасные дары)? They are evil (они — зло). They will destroy you (они погубят тебя)!

`I accepted them so that I might accomplish the task that Shool has set me, and thus gain the freedom of us both (я принял их, чтобы выполнить задание, которое Шул назначил мне, и таким образом обрести свободу для нас обоих). I accepted them so that I might seek out Glandyth and, if possible, strangle him with this alien hand (чтобы разыскать Гландита и, если возможно, задушить его этой чужой рукой). I accepted them because if I did not accept them, I would perish (потому, что если бы я не принял их, я бы погиб).

`Perhaps (возможно), she said softly (сказала она тихо), `it would be better for us to perish (нам было бы лучше погибнуть).

`Whole? You are something more and something less than whole, Corum. Why did you accept such terrible gifts? They are evil. They will destroy you!

`I accepted them so that I might accomplish the task that Shool has set me, and thus gain the freedom of us both. I accepted them so that I might seek out Glandyth and, if possible, strangle him with this alien hand. I accepted them because if I did not accept them, I would perish.

`Perhaps, she said softly, `it would be better for us to perish.