Corum swallowed with difficulty.
`He was only a Mabden, Prince Corum. Only a Mabden, servant of Arioch.
`He hated Arioch!
`But Arioch found him and entered him. He would have tried to kill us. You did right to destroy him. He would have betrayed you, prince.
Corum stared at her through brooding eyes.
`I should have let him kill me. Why should I live?
`Because you are of the Vedragh. The last of the Vedragh who can avenge our race.
`Let it perish, unavenged (пусть он погибнет, неотомщенный)! Too many crimes have been committed so that that vengeance might be won (слишком много преступлений совершено, чтобы эта месть могла осуществиться;
`It is already spoken with hatred (оно уже произносится с ненавистью). Arioch has seen to that (Ариох позаботился об этом). There is the Lion's Mouth (вот Пасть Льва). Farewell, Prince in the Scarlet Robe (прощай, Принц в Алом Плаще)!
And Queen Oorese spurred her beast into a gallop and went plunging past the great rock, on towards the vast wall of flame beyond (королева пришпорила своего зверя, и он понесся галопом, подпрыгивая, мимо огромной скалы, к громадной стене огня вдали).
Corum knew what she would do (Корум знал, что она сделает).
vengeance [`venG (q) ns] farewell [feq`wel] gallop [`gxlqp]
`Let it perish, unavenged! Too many crimes have been committed so that that vengeance might be won! Too many unfortunates have suffered frightful fates! Will the Vadhagh name be recalled with love — or muttered in hatred?
`It is already spoken with hatred. Arioch has seen to that. There is the Lion's Mouth. Farewell, Prince in the Scarlet Robe!
And Queen Oorese spurred her beast into a gallop and went plunging past the great rock, on towards the vast wall of flame beyond.
Corum knew what she would do.
He looked at the body of Hanafax. The cheerful fellow would smile no more and his soul was now doubtless suffering at the whim of Arioch (веселый товарищ больше не улыбнется, и его душа теперь, несомненно, страдает по прихоти Ариоха).
Again, he was alone (снова он был один).
He gave a shuddering sigh (он издал вздрагивающий вздох = вздохнув, он содрогнулся).
The strange, moaning sound once again began to issue from the Lion's Mouth (странный стон снова начал исходить из Пасти Льва). It seemed to be calling him (казалось, он зовет его). He shrugged (он пожал плечами). What did it matter if he perished (какая разница, погибнет ли он)? It would only mean that no more would die because of him (это будет лишь означать, что никто больше не умрет из-за него).
doubtless [`dautlIs] sigh [saI] die [daI]
He looked at the body of Hanafax. The cheerful fellow would smile no more and his soul was now doubtless suffering at the whim of Arioch.
Again, he was alone.
He gave a shuddering sigh.
The strange, moaning sound once again began to issue from the Lion's Mouth. It seemed to be calling him. He shrugged. What did it matter if he perished? It would only mean that no more would die because of him.
Slowly, he began to ride towards the Lion's Mouth (он медленно поехал к Пасти Льва). As he drew nearer, he gathered speed and then, with a yell, plunged through the gaping jaws and into the howling darkness beyond (приближаясь, он набирал/увеличивал скорость, а потом с пронзительным криком влетел в разверстую пасть и пронзительную темноту /в ней/;
The beast stumbled, lost its footing, fell (зверь /Корума/ споткнулся, оступился, упал). Corum was thrown clear, got up, sought the reins with his groping hands (Корума выбросило /из седла/, он поднялся и /стал/ искать поводья ощупью: «ощупывающими руками»;
For an instant Corum's mind cooled and he made to follow it (на мгновение разум Корума остыл = у него внутри все похолодело, и он попытался догнать его;
entrance [`entrqns] instant [`Instqnt]
Slowly, he began to ride towards the Lion's Mouth. As he drew nearer, he gathered speed and then, with a yell, plunged through the gaping jaws and into the howling darkness beyond!
The beast stumbled, lost its footing, fell. Corum was thrown clear, got up, sought the reins with his groping hands. But the beast had turned and was galloping back towards the daylight that flickered red and yellow at the entrance.
For an instant Corum's mind cooled and he made to follow it. Then he remembered the dead face of Hanafax and he turned and began to trudge into the deeper darkness.
He walked thus for a long while (он шел таким образом долго). It was cool within the Lion's Mouth and he wondered if Queen Oorese had been voicing nothing more than a superstition (внутри Пасти Льва было прохладно, и он размышлял, а не были ли рассказы королевы Оорес лишь суевериями;
Then the rustling sounds began (затем начались = послышались шелест, шуршание).
He thought he glimpsed eyes watching (ему показалось, он увидел мельком глаза, наблюдавшие /за ним/). Accusing eyes (обвиняющий взгляд)? No. Merely malevolent (только злобный). He drew his sword (он вытащил меч). He paused, looking about him (остановился, оглядываясь вокруг). He took another step forward (он сделал еще шаг вперед).
He was in whirling nothingness (он был /теперь/ в кружащейся пустоте;
