`May we come with you (можно нам пойти с тобой)? the Mabden asked.
Corum nodded.
`But hurry (но торопитесь).
They crept back down the ramp (они прокрались обратно по пандусу).
Half-way down, one of the Mabden screamed, flailed at the air (на полпути назад один из мабденов вскрикнул, /принялся/ бить по воздуху;
carelessness [`keqlIsnIs] edge [eG]
`Aye, Corum agreed. `It was only Arioch's carelessness that allowed me to reach this place. Now, I return. I must find a way from the palace before he realises what has happened.
`May we come with you? the Mabden asked.
Corum nodded.
`But hurry.
They crept back down the ramp.
Half-way down, one of the Mabden screamed, flailed at the air, staggered to the edge of the ramp and went drifting down into the sparkling emptiness.
Their pace increased until they reached the tiny crack at the bottom of the huge door and crawled through it, one by one (их шаг ускорился = они пошли быстрее, пока не дошли до маленькой трещины внизу огромной двери и не проползли через нее один за другим).
Down the ramp of light they went (они пошли вниз по пандусу из света). Through the gallery of coruscating marble (через галерею из сверкающего мрамора). Down the stairway into the darkened hall (вниз по лестнице в затемненный зал).
Corum sought the silver door through which he had entered the palace (Корум искал серебряную дверь, через которую вошел во дворец). He made one complete circuit of the hall (он сделал один полный круг = обошел кругом весь зал) and his feet were aching before he realised that the door had vanished (его ноги /начали/ болеть, прежде чем он понял, что дверь исчезла).
The hall was suddenly alive with light again and the vast, fat figure Corum had originally seen was laughing on the floor (зал внезапно осветился, и громадная жирная фигура Ариоха, которую Корум увидел первоначально, засмеялась на полу), lying amidst filth, with the Mabden parasites peering from out of the hair beneath his arms, from his navel, from his ears (лежа среди отбросов, а мабдены-паразиты выглядывали из волос под его руками = из-под рук, с пупка, из ушей).
aching [`eIkIN] originally [q`rIGIn (q) lI] navel [`neIv (q) l]
Their pace increased until they reached the tiny crack at the bottom of the huge door and crawled through it, one by one.
Down the ramp of light they went. Through the gallery of coruscating marble. Down the stairway into the darkened hall.
Corum sought the silver door through which he had entered the palace. He made one complete circuit of the hall and his feet were aching before he realised that the door had vanished.
The hall was suddenly alive with light again and the vast, fat figure Corum had originally seen was laughing on the floor, lying amidst filth, with the Mabden parasites peering from out of the hair beneath his arms, from his navel, from his ears.
`Ha, ha! You see, Corum, I am kind (видишь, Корум, я добрый)! I have let you have almost everything you desired of me (я позволил тебе получить почти все, что ты пожелал /получить/ от меня). You even have my heart (у тебя даже мое сердце)! But I cannot let you take it away from me, Corum (но я не могу позволить тебе забрать его у меня, Корум). Without my heart, I could not rule here (без сердца я не могу править здесь). I think I will restore it into this flesh of mine (думаю, я верну его обратно в эту мою плоть).
Corum's shoulders slumped (плечи Корума опустились;
`He has tricked us (он обманул нас), he said to his terrified Mabden companions (сказал он своим напуганным мабденским товарищам).
But one Mabden said.
`He has used you, Sir Vadhagh (он использовал тебя, сэр вадаг). He could never have taken his heart himself (он никогда бы сам не достал свое сердце). Did you not know that (разве ты этого не знал)?
`Ha, ha! You see, Corum, I am kind! I have let you have almost everything you desired of me. You even have my heart! But I cannot let you take it away from me, Corum. Without my heart, I could not rule here. I think I will restore it into this flesh of mine.
Corum's shoulders slumped.
`He has tricked us, he said to his terrified Mabden companions.
But one Mabden said.
`He has used you, Sir Vadhagh. He could never have taken his heart himself. Did you not know that?
Arioch laughed and his belly shook and Mabden fell to the floor (Ариох расхохотался, и его брюхо затряслось, а мабдены попадали на пол).
`True (верно)! True! You have done me a service, Prince Corum (ты оказал мне услугу, принц Корум). The heart of each Sword Ruler is kept in a place that is banned to him (сердце каждого Повелителя Мечей хранится в месте, недоступном для него;
`Then I have helped you (значит, я помог тебе), Corum said bitterly (горько сказал Корум), `when I wished to hinder you (когда захотел помешать тебе;
usurp [jH`zq: p] ancient [`eINS (q) nt] hinder [`haIndq]
Arioch laughed and his belly shook and Mabden fell to the floor.
`True! True! You have done me a service, Prince Corum. The heart of each Sword Ruler is kept in a place that is banned to him, so that the others may know that he dwells only in his own domain and may travel to no other, thus he cannot usurp some rival ruler's power. But you, Corum, with your ancient blood, with your peculiar characteristics, were able to do that which I am unable to do. Now I have my heart and I may extend my domain wherever I choose. Or not, of course, if I choose not to.
`Then I have helped you, Corum said bitterly, `when I wished to hinder you…
