Edgar Burroughs - Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса

In the distance we saw the bright-white light of an approaching airship, but we attached no special significance to so common a sight. Like a bolt of lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed bespoke the unusual.

Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer for the jeddak, it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy patrol boat which must convoy it to the palace docks.

Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message called me to the council chamber, which I found filling with the members of that body.

On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors (на /тронном/ возвышении находился Тардос Морс), pacing back and forth with tense-drawn face (который расхаживал взад и вперед с искаженным от напряжения лицом; tense — напряженный; drawn face — искаженноелицо; to draw — тянуть, натягивать ). When all were in their seats he turned toward us (когда все заняли свои места, он повернулся к нам).

"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of Barsoom (сегодня утром некоторые правительства Барсума получили известие: «известие достигло…») that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless report for two days (что хранитель атмосферной фабрики не отправлял донесений по беспроволочному телеграфу в течение двух дней), nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals (и на почти беспрерывные вызовы из нескольких столиц) elicited a sign of response (не было получено никакого ответа: «ни признака ответа»; to elicit — извлекать, добиваться; to elicit a response — добиватьсяответа ).

"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in hand (послы других наций просили нас взяться за это дело; to take in hand — браться ) and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant (и спешно /отправить/ помощника хранителя на фабрику; to hasten — спешить, торопиться ). All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for him (весь день тысяча крейсеров разыскивали его) until just now one of them returns bearing his dead body (и лишь теперь один из них вернулся с его мертвым телом: «неся его тело»), which was found in the pits beneath his house (которое было найдено в подвалах под его домом) horribly mutilated by some assassin (страшно изуродованным каким-то убийцей).

wireless ['waIqlIs], ceaseless ['si:slIs], elicit [I'lIsIt], ambassador [xm'bxsqdq]

On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors, pacing back and forth with tense-drawn face. When all were in their seats he turned toward us.

"This morning," he said, "word reached the several governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere plant had made no wireless report for two days, nor had almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals elicited a sign of response.

"The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take the matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the plant. All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead body, which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly mutilated by some assassin.

"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom (мне нет нужды говорить вам, какое значение это имеет для Барсума). It would take months to penetrate those mighty walls (потребуются месяцы на то, чтобы проникнуть через эти мощные стены), in fact the work has already commenced (на самом деле, эта работа уже началась), and there would be little to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it should (и не приходилось бы особенно опасаться, если бы двигатель насосного завода работал так, как он должен; to run— работать, действовать ) and as they all have for hundreds of years now (так, как они все работали уже столетиями); but the worst, we fear, has happened (но случилось, мы боимся, худшее). The instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom (приборы показывают быстро снижающееся атмосферное давление на всем Барсуме; instrument — прибор, аппарат ) — the engine has stopped (двигатель остановился)."

"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live (господа, — завершил он, нам осталось жить в лучшем случае три дня; at best — влучшемслучае )."

There was absolute silence for several minutes (несколько минут стояло абсолютное молчание), and then a young noble arose (а затем поднялся молодой аристократ), and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed Tardos Mors (и с обнаженным мечом, поднятым высоко над головой, обратился к Тардосу Морсу).

commence [kq'mens], instrument ['Instrumqnt], decrease [dJ'kri:s]

"I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom. It would take months to penetrate those mighty walls, in fact the work has already commenced, and there would be little to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it should and as they all have for hundreds of years now; but the worst, we fear, has happened. The instruments show a rapidly decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoom — the engine has stopped."

"My gentlemen," he concluded, "we have at best three days to live."

There was absolute silence for several minutes, and then a young noble arose, and with his drawn sword held high above his head addressed Tardos Mors.

"The men of Helium have prided themselves (мужчины Гелиума гордились тем) that they have ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live (что они всегда показывали Барсуму, как следует жить народу красных людей), now is our opportunity to show them how they should die (теперь у нас есть возможность показать им, как ему следует умереть). Let us go about our duties (давайте заниматься нашими обязанностями) as though a thousand useful years still lay before us (так, как будто нам все еще предстоит тысяча плодотворных лет: «словно перед нами все еще лежат…»)."

The chamber rang with applause (зал разразился аплодисментами) and as there was nothing better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our example (и так как ничего лучшего не оставалось, чем унять страхи народа своим примером; to allay— успокаивать, подавлять /страх, волнение, боль/ ) we went our ways with smiles upon our faces (мы разошлись /каждый/ своей дорогой с улыбками на лицах) and sorrow gnawing at our hearts (и тревогой, терзающей наши души; to gnaw — грызть; терзать ).

When I returned to my palace (когда я вернулся к себе во дворец) I found that the rumor already had reached Dejah Thoris (я узнал, что слух уже достиг ушей Дежи Торис; rumor — слух, молва ), so I told her all that I had heard (и поэтому я рассказал ей все, что я услышал).

"We have been very happy (мы были очень счастливы), John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together (и я благодарна любой судьбе, которая постигнет нас, за то, что она позволит нам умереть вместе)."

example [Ig'zQ:mpl], gnaw [nO:], rumor ['ru:mq]

"The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live, now is our opportunity to show them how they should die. Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years still lay before us."

The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and sorrow gnawing at our hearts.

When I returned to my palace I found that the rumor already had reached Dejah Thoris, so I told her all that I had heard.

"We have been very happy, John Carter," she said, "and I thank whatever fate overtakes us that it permits us to die together."

The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air (следующие два дня не внесли заметных изменений в подачу воздуха), but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult (но на утро третьего дня стало трудно дышать: «дыхание стало затрудненным») at the higher altitudes of the rooftops (на большей высоте на крышах). The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people (улицы и площади Гелиума были заполнены людьми). All business had ceased (все дела прекратились). For the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom (по большей части люди храбро смотрели в лицо неизбежной судьбе; unalterable — неизменный, непреложный; to alter — изменять; менять ). Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief (однако, то тут, то там, мужчины и женщины давали волю тихой печали; to give way — предаваться, даватьволю ).

Toward the middle of the day many of the weaker commenced to succumb (к середине дня многие из более слабых начали не выдерживать; to succumb— поддаваться, уступать ) and within an hour the people of Barsoom were sinking by thousands into the unconsciousness (и в течение часа люди Барсума начали тысячами впадать в бессознательное состояние) which precedes death by asphyxiation (которое предшествует смерти от удушья).

rooftop ['ru:ftOp], unalterable [An'O:ltrqbl], succumb [sq'kAm], asphyxiate [xs'fIkSIeIt], unconsciousness [An'kOnSqsnIs]

The next two days brought no noticeable change in the supply of air, but on the morning of the third day breathing became difficult at the higher altitudes of the rooftops. The avenues and plazas of Helium were filled with people. All business had ceased. For the most part the people looked bravely into the face of their unalterable doom. Here and there, however, men and women gave way to quiet grief.