The frost giant’s daughter 17 страница

 

nightmare ['naItmFq], glisten [glIsn], primordial [praI'mO:djql]

 

A shuddering gasp swept over the village and men crowded hastily back, jamming one another between the huts. Balthus felt the short hair stir on his scalp. The creature that stood in the gate was like the embodiment of nightmare legend. Its color was of a curious pale quality which made it seem ghostly and unreal in the dim light. But there was nothing unreal about the low-hung savage head, and the great curved fangs that glistened in the firelight. On noiseless padded feet it approached like a phantom out of the past. It was a survival of an older, grimmer age, the ogre of many an ancient legend — a saber-tooth tiger. No Hyborian hunter had looked upon one of those primordial brutes for centuries. Immemorial myths lent the creatures a supernatural quality, induced by their ghostly color and their fiendish ferocity.

 

The beast that glided toward the men on the stakes was longer and heavier than a common, striped tiger, almost as bulky as a bear (тварь, которая скользила к мужчинам на столбах, была длиннее и тяжелее, чем обычный полосатый тигр, почти такой же крупной, как медведь). Its shoulders and forelegs were so massive and mightily muscled as to give it a curiously top-heavy look (ее плечи и передние лапы были такие массивные и с такой могучей мускулатурой: «могуче мускулистые», что придавали ей странно неустойчивый вид), though its hindquarters were more powerful than that of a lion (хотя ее задняя часть была более мощной, чем у льва). Its jaws were massive, but its head was brutishly shaped (ее челюсти были массивные, но ее голова была грубой формы). Its brain capacity was small (ее объем мозга был невелик). It had room for no instincts except those of destruction (он не имел места для инстинктов, кроме таковых разрушения = в нем было место лишь для инстинктов разрушения). It was a freak of carnivorous development, evolution run amuck in a horror of fangs and talons (это была аномалия /в/ развитии плотоядных, эволюционное безумие в ужасе из клыков и когтей; to run amuck — обезуметь; быть вне себя, неистовствовать; в ярости набрасываться на всякого встречного).

 

bear [bFq], hindquarters ['haIndkwO:tqz], capacity [kq'pxsItI]

 

The beast that glided toward the men on the stakes was longer and heavier than a common, striped tiger, almost as bulky as a bear. Its shoulders and forelegs were so massive and mightily muscled as to give it a curiously top-heavy look, though its hindquarters were more powerful than that of a lion. Its jaws were massive, but its head was brutishly shaped. Its brain capacity was small. It had room for no instincts except those of destruction. It was a freak of carnivorous development, evolution run amuck in a horror of fangs and talons.

 

This was the monstrosity Zogar Sag had summoned out of the forest (это было чудовище, /которое/ Зогар Саг вызвал из леса). Balthus no longer doubted the actuality of the shaman's magic (Балтус больше не сомневался в яви магии шамана = что она настоящая, действенная). Only the black arts could establish a domination over that tiny-brained, mighty-thewed monster (только черная магия могла установить власть над этим монстром с крошечным мозгом и могучей мускулатурой; thews — мускулы). Like a whisper at the back of his consciousness rose the vague memory of the name of an ancient god of darkness and primordial fear (подобно шепоту позади = на задворках его сознания, поднялись смутные воспоминания об имени древнего бога тьмы и первобытного ужаса), to whom once both men and beasts bowed (которому некогда поклонялись как люди, так и звери) and whose children — men whispered — still lurked in dark corners of the world (и чьи дети = дети которого — шептали люди — все еще таились в темных уголках мира). New horror tinged the glare he fixed on Zogar Sag (новый ужас изменил взгляд, /который/ он сосредоточил на Зогаре Саге; to tinge — слегка окрашивать(ся), придавать оттенок; получать оттенок).

 

actuality [qkCV'xlItI], bowed [baud], whom [hu:m]

 

This was the monstrosity Zogar Sag had summoned out of the forest. Balthus no longer doubted the actuality of the shaman's magic. Only the black arts could establish a domination over that tiny-brained, mighty-thewed monster. Like a whisper at the back of his consciousness rose the vague memory of the name of an ancient god of darkness and primordial fear, to whom once both men and beasts bowed and whose children — men whispered — still lurked in dark corners of the world. New horror tinged the glare he fixed on Zogar Sag.

 

The monster moved past the heap of bodies and the pile of gory heads without appearing to notice them (чудовище двинулось мимо груды тел и кучи голов, казалось не замечая их: «без казательства замечать их»). He was no scavenger (он был не падальщик). He hunted only the living, in a life dedicated solely to slaughter (он охотился только на живых, в жизни, посвященной исключительно убийству). An awful hunger burned greenly in the wide, unwinking eyes (страшный голод горел зеленым в широко раскрытых, немигающих глазах); the hunger not alone of belly-emptiness, but the lust of death-dealing (голод не только пустоты желудка, но /и/ жажды убийства). His gaping jaws slavered (его разверстые челюсти испускали слюну = из его разверстых челюстей стекала слюна; to slaver — пускать слюни). The shaman stepped back, his hand waved toward the woodsman (шаман шагнул назад, его рука махнула в сторону лесовика).

 

gory ['gO:rI], scavenger ['skxvInGq], slaughter ['slO:tq]

 

The monster moved past the heap of bodies and the pile of gory heads without appearing to notice them. He was no scavenger. He hunted only the living, in a life dedicated solely to slaughter. An awful hunger burned greenly in the wide, unwinking eyes; the hunger not alone of belly-emptiness, but the lust of death‑dealing. His gaping jaws slavered. The shaman stepped back, his hand waved toward the woodsman.

 

The great cat sank into a crouch (огромная кошка припала к земле; to crouch — припадать к земле; согнуться, сжаться; crouch — припадание к земле, нагибание, сгибание), and Balthus numbly remembered tales of its appalling ferocity (и Балтус, оцепенев, вспомнил рассказы о ее ужасной свирепости): of how it would spring upon an elephant and drive its sword-like fangs so deeply into the titan's skull (о /том/, как она набрасывалась на слона и вонзала свои саблевидные клыки так глубоко в череп титана) that they could never be withdrawn (/так,/ что их нельзя было вытащить: «они могли никогда быть вытащены»; to withdraw — извлекать, вытаскивать), but would keep it nailed to its victim, to die by starvation (но они держали ее прикованной к ее жертве, так что она умирала от голода: «умереть голодом»; would + V — обозначает привычное / обычное действие в прошлом). The shaman cried out shrilly, and with an ear-shattering roar the monster sprang (шаман пронзительно завопил, и с оглушительным рычанием монстр прыгнул; to shatter — разбить вдребезги; раздробить).

 

appalling [q'pO:lIN], elephant ['elIfqnt], starvation [stQ:'veISn]

 

The great cat sank into a crouch, and Balthus numbly remembered tales of its appalling ferocity: of how it would spring upon an elephant and drive its sword-like fangs so deeply into the titan's skull that they could never be withdrawn, but would keep it nailed to its victim, to die by starvation. The shaman cried out shrilly, and with an ear-shattering roar the monster sprang.

 

Balthus had never dreamed of such a spring (Балтус никогда /не/ видел /даже во сне/ такого прыжка; to dream of — мечтать, грезить, видеть во сне), such a hurtling of incarnated destruction embodied in that giant bulk of iron thews and ripping talons (такого броска олицетворенного разрушения, воплощенного в этом гигантском теле из железных мускулов и разрывающих когтей). Full on the woodsman's breast it struck (он ударил прямо на = в грудь лесного жителя), and the stake splintered and snapped at the base (и столб треснул и отломился у основания), crashing to the earth under the impact (рухнув на землю под ударом; to strike — ударить, атаковать, заколоть). Then the saber-tooth was gliding toward the gate (затем саблезубый заскользил к воротам), half dragging, half carrying a hideous crimson hulk that only faintly resembled a man (наполовину волоча, наполовину неся отвратительные кровавые останки /того/, что лишь едва напоминало человека). Balthus glared almost paralyzed, his brain refusing to credit what his eyes had seen (Балтус смотрел почти парализованный, его мозг отказывался верить /тому/, что видели его глаза).

 

tooth [tu:T], saber ['seIbq], credit ['kredIt]

 

Balthus had never dreamed of such a spring, such a hurtling of incarnated destruction embodied in that giant bulk of iron thews and ripping talons. Full on the woodsman's breast it struck, and the stake splintered and snapped at the base, crashing to the earth under the impact. Then the saber-tooth was gliding toward the gate, half dragging, half carrying a hideous crimson hulk that only faintly resembled a man. Balthus glared almost paralyzed, his brain refusing to credit what his eyes had seen.

 

In that leap the great beast had not only broken off the stake (в том прыжке огромный зверь не только сломал столб), it had ripped the mangled body of its victim from the post to which it was bound (он оторвал искалеченное тело его жертвы от столба, к которому оно было привязано; to break off — сломать, отломать). The huge talons in that instant of contact had disemboweled and partially dismembered the man (огромные когти в то мгновение контакта выпотрошили и частично расчленили человека; bowel — кишка; bowels — внутренности; member — член), and the giant fangs had torn away the whole top of his head (а гигантские клыки оторвали всю макушку его головы), shearing through the skull as easily as through flesh (пройдя через череп /так же/ легко, как через мясо; to shear — резать, рассекать). Stout rawhide thongs had given way like paper (крепкие сыромятные ремни подались, как бумага); where the thongs had held, flesh and bones had not (/там/ где выдержали ремни, не /выдержала/ плоть и кости). Balthus retched suddenly (Балтус неожиданно вырвал = его вырвало). He had hunted bears and panthers (он охотился на медведей и пантер), but he had never dreamed the beast lived which could make such a red ruin of a human frame in the flicker of an instant (но он никогда /не/ мечтал = не подозревал, /что/ живет зверь, который мог = может сделать такие кровавые ошметки из человеческого тела в мгновение ока).

 

partially ['pQ:SqlI], disembowel [dIsIm'bauql], ruin ['ru:In]

 

In that leap the great beast had not only broken off the stake, it had ripped the mangled body of its victim from the post to which it was bound. The huge talons in that instant of contact had disemboweled and partially dismembered the man, and the giant fangs had torn away the whole top of his head, shearing through the skull as easily as through flesh. Stout rawhide thongs had given way like paper; where the thongs had held, flesh and bones had not. Balthus retched suddenly. He had hunted bears and panthers, but he had never dreamed the beast lived which could make such a red ruin of a human frame in the flicker of an instant.

 

The saber-tooth vanished through the gate (саблезубый исчез через ворота), and a few moments later a deep roar sounded through the forest, receding in the distance (и несколько секунд спустя низкое рычание пронеслось через лес, затихая вдали; to recede — отступать, пятиться, удаляться). But the Picts still shrank back against the huts (но пикты отпрянули к хижинам), and the shaman still stood facing the gate that was like a black opening to let in the night (а шаман все еще стоял лицом к воротам, которые были как черное отверстие, впускающее ночь: «чтобы впускать ночь»).

 

The saber-tooth vanished through the gate, and a few moments later a deep roar sounded through the forest, receding in the distance. But the Picts still shrank back against the huts, and the shaman still stood facing the gate that was like a black opening to let in the night.

 

Cold sweat burst suddenly out on Balthus' skin (холодный пот выступил вдруг на коже Балтуса). What new horror would come through that gate to make carrion-meat of his body (какой новый ужас придет через эти ворота, /чтобы/ сделать падаль из его тела; carrion — тело, труп; падаль; meat — мясо)? Sick panic assailed him and he strained futilely at his thongs (тошнотворная паника охватила его, и он тщетно натянул ремни). The night pressed in very black and horrible outside the firelight (ночь сжалась, очень черная и ужасная за пределами света костров). The fires themselves glowed lurid as the fires of Hell (костры сами пылали мертвенно-бледным /светом/, как костры ада). He felt the eyes of the Picts upon him он ощутил глаза пиктов на себе) — hundreds of hungry, cruel eyes that reflected the lust of souls utterly without humanity as he knew it (сотни голодных, жестоких глаз, которые отражали жажду душ совершенно без человечности / человеческих качеств, как он знал это). They no longer seemed men (они больше не казались людьми); they were devils of this black jungle (они были демонами этих черных джунглей), as inhuman as the creatures to which the fiend in the nodding plumes screamed through the darkness (такие же бесчеловечные, как создания, к которым взывал сквозь тьму демон в качающихся перьях).

 

humanity [hju:'mxnItI], creature ['kri:Cq], fiend [fi:nd]

 

Cold sweat burst suddenly out on Balthus' skin. What new horror would come through that gate to make carrion-meat of his body? Sick panic assailed him and he strained futilely at his thongs. The night pressed in very black and horrible outside the firelight. The fires themselves glowed lurid as the fires of Hell. He felt the eyes of the Picts upon him — hundreds of hungry, cruel eyes that reflected the lust of souls utterly without humanity as he knew it. They no longer seemed men; they were devils of this black jungle, as inhuman as the creatures to which the fiend in the nodding plumes screamed through the darkness.

 

Zogar sent another call shuddering through the night, and it was utterly unlike the first cry (Зогар отправил еще один зов, вибрирующий в ночи, и этот был совсем непохож на первый крик). There was a hideous sibilance in it — Balthus turned cold at the implication (/там/ было мерзкое шипение в нем — Балтус застыл при осознании /того, что его ожидает/; implication — то, что подразумевается; подтекст; смысл). If a serpent could hiss that loud, it would make just such a sound (если бы змея могла шипеть так громко, она бы делала = издавала как раз такой звук).

 

implication [ImplI'keISn], such [sAC], asound [q'saund]

 

Zogar sent another call shuddering through the night, and it was utterly unlike the first cry. There was a hideous sibilance in it — Balthus turned cold at the implication. If a serpent could hiss that loud, it would make just such asound.

 

This time there was no answer — only a period of breathless silence in which the pound of Balthus' heart strangled him (в этот раз не было ответа — лишь период бездыханной тишины, в которой стук сердца Балтуса подавлял его = оглушал его); and then there sounded a swishing outside the gate (а затем там раздался свист / шелест за воротами), a dry rustling that sent chills down Balthus' spine (сухое шелестение, которое вызвало: «послало» мурашки по позвоночнику Балтуса). Again the firelit gate held a hideous occupant (снова освещенные кострами ворота держали отвратительного обитателя = снова в освещенных кострами воротах был отвратительный гость).

 

period [pI'ri:qd], breathless ['breTlIs], occupant ['Okjupqnt]

 

This time there was no answer — only a period of breathless silence in which the pound of Balthus' heart strangled him; and then there sounded a swishing outside the gate, a dry rustling that sent chills down Balthus' spine. Again the firelit gate held a hideous occupant.

 

Again Balthus recognized the monster from ancient legends (снова Балтус узнал монстра из древних легенд). He saw and knew the ancient and evil serpent it (он видел и знал древнюю и зловещую змею) which swayed there (которая раскачивалась там), its wedge-shaped head, huge as that of a horse (ее клиновидную голову, огромную, как таковая = голова лошади), as high as a tall man's head (столь же высокую, как голова высокого мужчины), and its palely gleaming barrel rippling out behind (и ее бледно мерцающую тушу, струящуюся за ней). A forked tongue darted in and out, and the firelight glittered on bared fangs (раздвоенный язык /резко/ высовывался и исчезал внутри: «бросался внутрь и наружу», а свет костров сверкал на обнаженных клыках).

 

recognize ['rekqgnaIz], evil ['i:vl], huge [hju:G]

 

Again Balthus recognized the monster from ancient legends. He saw and knew the ancient and evil serpent which swayed there, its wedge-shaped head, huge as that of a horse, as high as a tall man's head, and its palely gleaming barrel rippling out behind it. A forked tongue darted in and out, and the firelight glittered on bared fangs.

 

Balthus became incapable of emotion (Балтус стал неспособным на эмоции; to become — становиться). The horror of his fate paralyzed him (ужас от = перед его участью парализовал его). That was the reptile that the ancients called Ghost Snake (это была рептилия, которую древние называли Призрачным Змеем), the pale, abominable terror that of old glided into huts by night to devour whole families (бледный, гадкий ужас, который в прежние времена проскальзывал в хижины по ночам, /чтобы/ сожрать целые семьи). Like the python it crushed its victim (подобно питону, он сдавливал свою жертву), but unlike other constrictors its fangs bore venom that carried madness and death (но, в отличие от других констрикторов, его клыки имели яд, который приносил безумие и смерть; to bear — нести, иметь при себе). It too had long been considered extinct (он тоже давно считался вымершим). But Valannus had spoken truly (но Валаннус говорил правду). No white man knew what shapes haunted the great forests beyond Black River (ни один белый человек /не/ знал, какие формы обитали в огромных лесах за Черной рекой).

 

incapable [In'keIpqbl], abominable [q'bOmInqbl], devour [dI'vauq]

 

Balthus became incapable of emotion. The horror of his fate paralyzed him. That was the reptile that the ancients called Ghost Snake, the pale, abominable terror that of old glided into huts by night to devour whole families. Like the python it crushed its victim, but unlike other constrictors its fangs bore venom that carried madness and death. It too had long been considered extinct. But Valannus had spoken truly. No white man knew what shapes haunted the great forests beyond Black River.

 

It came on silently, rippling over the ground (он приближался безмолвно, струясь по земле), its hideous head on the same level (его отвратительная голова на одном и том же уровне), its neck curving back slightly for the stroke (его шея изогнута слегка назад для удара). Balthus gazed with a glazed, hypnotized stare into that loathsome gullet down which he would soon be engulfed (Балтус уставился безжизненным, загипнотизированным взглядом в эту мерзкую глотку, вниз = в которую он скоро будет заглочен = его скоро заглотнут), and he was aware of no sensation except a vague nausea (и он /не/ испытывал никаких ощущений, кроме смутной тошноты).

 

slightly ['slaItlI], loathsome ['lquDsqm], nausea ['nO:sjq]

 

It came on silently, rippling over the ground, its hideous head on the same level, its neck curving back slightly for the stroke. Balthus gazed with a glazed, hypnotized stare into that loathsome gullet down which he would soon be engulfed, and he was aware of no sensation except a vague nausea.

 

And then something that glinted in the firelight streaked from the shadows of the huts (и тогда что-то блеснуло в огне костров, метнувшееся из теней хижин), and the great reptile whipped about and went into instant convulsions (и огромная рептилия хлестнула /хвостом/ и забилась в мгновенных конвульсиях = мгновенно забилась в конвульсиях; to go into convulsions — забиться в конвульсиях). As in a dream Balthus saw a short throwing-spear transfixing the mighty neck (как во сне Балтус увидел короткое метательное копье, пронзившее могучую шею), just below the gaping jaws (чуть ниже разверстой пасти); the shaft protruded from one side, the steel head from the other (древко торчало с одной стороны, стальное острие с другой; to protrude — выдаваться, торчать).

 

streak [stri:k], jaws [GO:z], protrude [prq'tru:d]

 

And then something that glinted in the firelight streaked from the shadows of the huts, and the great reptile whipped about and went into instant convulsions. As in a dream Balthus saw a short throwing-spear transfixing the mighty neck, just below the gaping jaws; the shaft protruded from one side, the steel head from the other.

 

Knotting and looping hideously, the maddened reptile rolled into the circle of men who stove back from him (извиваясь омерзительными узлами и петлями, обезумевшая рептилия закатилась в круг людей, которые отпрянули от нее; to stave — отпрянуть, отскочить). The spear had not severed its spine, but merely transfixed its great neck muscles (копье не перебило ее позвоночник, но лишь пронзило его огромные шейные мускулы). Its furiously lashing tail mowed down a dozen men (ее яростно хлещущий хвост скосил дюжину человек) and its jaws snapped convulsively, splashing others with venom that burned like liquid fire (а ее челюсти конвульсивно лязгали, забрызгивая других ядом, который жег, как жидкий огонь). Howling, cursing, screaming (воющие, проклинающие, вопящие), frantic, they scattered before it, knocking each other down in their flight (обезумевшие они разбегались перед ней, сбивая друг друга наземь в /своем/ бегстве), trampling the fallen, bursting through the huts (топча павших, прорываясь через хижины). The giant snake rolled into a fire, scattering sparks and brands (гигантский змей закатился в костер, разбрасывая искры и головни), and the pain lashed it to more frenzied efforts (а боль подхлестнула его к более бешеным усилиям; frenzy — безумие, бешенство; неистовство). A hut wall buckled under the ram-like impact of its flailing tail, disgorging howling people (стена хижины отступила под таранным ударом его молотящего хвоста, извергнув воющих людей; ram — баран; таран, стенобитное орудие).

 

knot [nOt], venom ['venqm], scatter ['skxtq]

 

Knotting and looping hideously, the maddened reptile rolled into the circle of men who stove back from him. The spear had not severed its spine, but merely transfixed its great neck muscles. Its furiously lashing tail mowed down a dozen men and its jaws snapped convulsively, splashing others with venom that burned like liquid fire. Howling, cursing, screaming, frantic, they scattered before it, knocking each other down in their flight, trampling the fallen, bursting through the huts. The giant snake rolled into a fire, scattering sparks and brands, and the pain lashed it to more frenzied efforts. A hut wall buckled under the ram-like impact of its flailing tail, disgorging howling people.

 

Men stampeded through the fires, knocking the logs right and left (люди бросились бежать через костры, ударяя = раскидывая бревна направо и налево). The flames sprang up, then sank (языки пламени взметались, потом опадали; to spring up — взметнуться, вскочить; to sink — опускаться, падать). A reddish dim glow was all that lighted that nightmare scene (красноватый тусклый жар /это/ было все, что освещало эту кошмарную сцену) where the giant reptile whipped and rolled (где гигантская рептилия билась и каталась), and men clawed and shrieked in frantic flight (а люди царапались и визжали в безумном бегстве).

Balthus felt something jerk at his wrists (Балтус почувствовал, /как/ что-то дернулось о его запястья), and then, miraculously, he was free, and a strong hand dragged him behind the post (и потом чудом он оказался свободным, а сильная рука затащила его за столб). Dazedly he saw Conan, felt the forest man's iron grip on his arm (оцепенев, он увидел Конана, ощутил железную хватку лесного человека на своей руке).

 

shriek [Sri:k], where [wFq], claw [klO:]

 

Men stampeded through the fires, knocking the logs right and left. The flames sprang up, then sank. A reddish dim glow was all that lighted that nightmare scene where the giant reptile whipped and rolled, and men clawed and shrieked in frantic flight.

Balthus felt something jerk at his wrists, and then, miraculously, he was free, and a strong hand dragged him behind the post. Dazedly he saw Conan, felt the forest man's iron grip on his arm.

 

There was blood on the Cimmerian's mail, dried blood on the sword in his right hand (на кольчуге киммерийца была кровь, высохшая кровь на мече в его правой руке); he loomed dim and gigantic in the shadowy light (он вырисовывался неясно и казался гигантским: «вырисовывался неясным и гигантским» в призрачном свете; to loom — вырисовываться, казаться, маячить).

"Come on (давай = вперед)! Before they get over their panic (пока они не оправились от паники; to get over — оправиться, преодолеть)!"

 

blood [blAd], right [raIt], gigantic [GaI'gxntIk]

 

There was blood on the Cimmerian's mail, dried blood on the sword in his right hand; he loomed dim and gigantic in the shadowy light.

"Come on! Before they get over their panic!"

 

Balthus felt the haft of an ax shoved into his hand (Балтус ощутил рукоятку топора, сунутую в его руку). Zogar Sag had disappeared (Зогар Саг исчез). Conan dragged Balthus after him until the youth's numb brain awoke, and his legs began to move of their own accord (Конан волок Балтуса за собой, пока /не/ пробудился оцепеневший мозг юноши, а его ноги /не/ начали двигаться по /их/ собственному согласию = добровольно). Then Conan released him and ran into the building where the skulls hung (затем Конан отпустил его и вбежал в здание, где висели черепа). Balthus followed him (Балтус последовал за ним). He got a glimpse of a grim stone altar, faintly lighted by the glow outside (он взглянул на мрачный каменный алтарь, слабо освещенный заревом снаружи); five human heads grinned on that altar (пять человеческих голов скалились на том алтаре), and there was a grisly familiarity about the features of the freshest; it was the head of the merchant Tiberias (и было неприятное ощущение знакомства с чертами самой свежей, это была голова купца Тибериаса). Behind the altar was an idol, dim, indistinct, bestial, yet vaguely man-like in outline (за алтарем был идол, смутный, расплывчатый, звериный, тем не менее неясно человекоподобный по контуру = с нечеткими человекоподобными контурами). Then fresh horror choked Balthus as the shape heaved up suddenly with a rattle of chains, lifting long misshapen arms in the gloom (потом свежий ужас сдавил горло Балтусу, когда форма вдруг поднялась с дребезжанием цепей, поднимая длинные уродливые руки во мраке = протягивая во мрак руки).

 

shove [SAv], accord [q'kO:d], idol ['aIdl]

 

Balthus felt the haft of an ax shoved into his hand. Zogar Sag had disappeared. Conan dragged Balthus after him until the youth's numb brain awoke, and his legs began to move of their own accord. Then Conan released him and ran into the building where the skulls hung. Balthus followed him. He got a glimpse of a grim stone altar, faintly lighted by the glow outside; five human heads grinned on that altar, and there was a grisly familiarity about the features of the freshest; it was the head of the merchant Tiberias. Behind the altar was an idol, dim, indistinct, bestial, yet vaguely man-like in outline. Then fresh horror choked Balthus as the shape heaved up suddenly with a rattle of chains, lifting long misshapen arms in the gloom.

 

Conan's sword flailed down, crunching through flesh and bone (меч Конана обрушился вниз, перегрызая плоть и кость), and then the Cimmerian was dragging Balthus around the altar (а потом киммериец тащил Балтуса вокруг алтаря = за алтарь), past a huddled shaggy bulk on the floor, to a door at the back of the long hut (мимо сваленной лохматой туши на полу, к двери в задней части длинной хижины). Through this they burst, out into the enclosure again (через это они пронеслись наружу снова вовнутрь ограды). But a few yards beyond them loomed the stockade (но в нескольких ярдах за ними маячил частокол).