`I am afraid it is so (боюсь, что так). Hanafax sighed (вздохнул). `What about your own powers (как насчет твоего собственного могущества)? Can you not (не можешь ли ты), he shuddered (он содрогнулся), `summon some kind of aid from whatever netherworld it is your horrid allies came (призвать = попросить о какой-нибудь помощи из царства мертвых, откуда твои ужасные союзники/помощники приходили)?
spectacular [spek`txkjulq] allies [`xlaIz]
Corum nodded wearily. He looked up. Red clouds boiled above, like a dome of fire. It seemed that all the world burned.
`Have you no spells for bringing on rain, Sir Hanafax?
`I regret not. We priests scorn such primitive tricks.
`Useful tricks. Sorcerers seem to enjoy only the spectacular.
`I am afraid it is so. Hanafax sighed. `What about your own powers? Can you not, he shuddered, `summon some kind of aid from whatever netherworld it is your horrid allies came?
`I fear those allies are only useful in battle (боюсь, эти помощники полезны только в битве). I have no true conception of what they are or why they come (у меня нет точного понимания = я плохо представляю, кто они и почему приходят). I have come to believe that the sorcerer who fitted me with this hand and eye had no clearer idea himself (я стал думать, что колдун, который снабдил меня этой рукой и глазом, сам толком не знал). His work was something of an experiment, it seems (кажется, /этот/ его поступок был вроде опыта).
`You have noticed, I take it, that the sun does not appear to set in the Flamelands (ты заметил, полагаю, что солнце, похоже, /никогда/ не заходит в Огненных землях). We can expect no night to come to relieve us (мы не можем ждать, что = вряд ли наступит ночь и облегчит наши /страдания/;
Corum was about to reply when he saw something move a rise of black obsidian a short distance away (Корум собирался ответить, когда увидел, как что-то двинулось на холме из черного обсидиана недалеко).
`Hush, Sir Hanafax (тихо, сэр Ганафакс) …
conception [kqn`sepS (q) n] experiment [Ik`sperImqnt]
`I fear those allies are only useful in battle. I have no true conception of what they are or why they come. I have come to believe that the sorcerer who fitted me with this hand and eye had no clearer idea himself. His work was something of an experiment, it seems.
`You have noticed, I take it, that the sun does not appear to set in the Flamelands. We can expect no night to come to relieve us.
Corum was about to reply when he saw something move a rise of black obsidian a short distance away.
`Hush, Sir Hanafax…
Hanafax peered through the smoky heat (Ганафакс всмотрелся в дымную жару = даль).
`What is it (что это)?
And then they revealed themselves (и тут показались они).
There were about a score of them, mounted on beasts whose bodies were covered in thick, scaly skin resembling plate armour (около двадцати их = воинов, сидевших на животных, чьи тела были покрыты толстой, чешуйчатой кожей, напоминавшей пластинчатые доспехи). They had four short legs and cloven feet (у них были четыре короткие лапы и раздвоенные копыта;
snout [snaut] barbed [bRbd] lance [lRns] weapon [`wepqn]
Hanafax peered through the smoky heat.
`What is it?
And then they revealed themselves.
There were about a score of them, mounted on beasts whose bodies were covered in thick, scaly skin resembling plate armour. They had four short legs and cloven feet, a crest of horns jutted on heads and snouts and small, red eyes gleamed at them. The riders were covered from head to foot in red garments of some shining material which hid even their faces and hands. They had long, barbed lances for weapons.
Silently, they surrounded Corum and Hanafax (они молча окружили Корума и Ганафакса).
For a few moments there was silence, and then one of the riders spoke (несколько мгновений = некоторое время стояла тишина, потом один из наездников заговорил).
`What do you in our Flamelands, strangers (что делаете вы в наших Огненных землях, чужестранцы)?
`We are not here from choice (мы здесь не по своему выбору), replied Corum (ответил Корум). `An accident brought us to your country (случайность привела нас в вашу страну;
`You are not peaceful. You bear swords (у вас мечи).
`We did not know there were any inhabitants to these lands (мы не знали, что в этих землях кто-то живет;
accident [`xksId (q) nt] country [`kAntrI]
Silently, they surrounded Corum and Hanafax.
For a few moments there was silence, and then one of the riders spoke.
`What do you in our Flamelands, strangers?
`We are not here from choice, replied Corum. `An accident brought us to your country. We are peaceful.
`You are not peaceful. You bear swords.
`We did not know there were any inhabitants to these lands, Hanafax said. `We seek help. We wish to leave.
`None may leave the Flamelands save to suffer a mighty doom (никто не может покинуть Огненные земли, кроме как пройдя страшное испытание;
`Can we not (а не можем ли мы) …?
The riders began to close in (наездники начали окружать их;
`Well, Prince Corum, it seems we are to die (что ж, принц Корум, похоже, мы умрем).
