were fixed lengths of chain. Corum began to guess at the board's function.
Two Mabden grasped his arms and pushed him towards the board. Another brought a chisel and an iron hammer. Corum was pushed with his back against the board, which now rested on the trunk of a tree. Using the chisel, a Mabden struck the chains from him, then his arms and legs were seized and he was spread-eagled on the board while new rivets were driven into the links of chain securing him there. Corum could smell stale blood. He could see where the board was scored with the marks of knives, swords and axes, where arrows had been shot into it. He was on a butcher's block.
The Mabden bloodlust was rising (жажда крови мабденов разгоралась;
Earl Glandyth had been supervising the pinning of Corum to the board (граф Гландит руководил приковыванием Корума к щиту;
Corum watched as the blade came towards his chest (Корум видел, как клинок приблизился к его груди). Then there was a ripping sound as the knife tore the samite shirt away from his body (потом раздался звук распарываемой ткани, когда нож распорол парчовую рубаху на его теле и /Гландит сорвал ее/;
bloodlust [`blAd`lAst] dilated [daI`leItId] tongue [tAN] anticipatory [xn`tIsI, peIt (q) rI]
The Mabden bloodlust was rising. Their eyes gleamed in the firelight, their breath steamed and their nostrils dilated. Red tongues licked thick lips and small, anticipatory, smiles were on several faces.
Earl Glandyth had been supervising the pinning of Corum to the board. Now he came up and stood in front of the Vadhagh and he drew a slim, sharp blade from his belt.
Corum watched as the blade came towards his chest. Then there was a ripping sound as the knife tore the samite shirt away from his body.
Slowly, his grin spreading, Glandyth-a-Krae worked at the rest of Corum's clothing (медленно, его усмешка /становилась все/ шире = улыбаясь все шире, Гландит-а-Краэ занимался остальной частью одежды Корума = срывал остальную одежду;
Glandyth stepped back (Гландит отступил;
`Now (итак), he said, panting (сказал он, тяжело дыша), 'you are doubtless wondering what we intend to do with you (ты, конечно, хочешь знать, что мы собираемся с тобой делать;
`I have seen others of my people whom you have slain (я видел других из моего народа = других вадагов, которых вы убили;
Glandyth raised the little finger of his right hand (Гландит поднял мизинец: «маленький палец» правой руки) while he tucked his dagger away with his left (пока убирал /в ножны/ кинжал своей левой;
clothing [`klquDIN] completely [kqm`plJtlI] naked [`neIkId] doubtless [`dautlIs]
Slowly, his grin spreading, Glandyth-a-Krae worked at the rest of Corum's clothing, the knife only occasionally drawing a thin line of blood from his body, until at last Corum was completely naked.
Glandyth stepped back.
`Now, he said, panting, 'you are doubtless wondering what we intend to do with you.
`I have seen others of my people whom you have slain, Corum said. `I think I know what you intend to do.
Glandyth raised the little finger of his right hand while he tucked his dagger away with his left.
`Ah, you see (ах, /думаешь/, ты представляешь себе /что тебя ждет/). You do not know (ты не знаешь). Those other Vadhagh died swiftly — or relatively so (те другие вадаги умерли быстро — относительно /быстро/) — because we had so many to find and to kill (потому что мы должны были /еще/ так много /вадагов/ отыскать и убить). But you are the last (но ты — последний). We can take our time with you (мы можем поразвлечься с тобой). We think, in fact, that we will give you a chance to live (думаем мы дадим тебе шанс жить;
Glandyth burst into laughter (Гландит разразился смехом;
relatively [`relqtIvlI] survive [sq`vaIv] genitals [`GenItlz] appreciate [q`prJSIeIt]
`Ah, you see. You do not know. Those other Vadhagh died swiftly — or relatively so — because we had so many to find and to kill. But you are the last. We can take our time with you. We think, in fact, that we will give you a chance to live. If you can survive with your eyes gone, your tongue put out, your hands and feet removed and your genitals taken away, then we will let you so survive. Corum stared at him in horror.
Glandyth burst into laughter. `I see you appreciate our joke!
He signalled to his men (он подал сигнал своим людям).
`Bring the tools (несите инструменты)! Let's begin (начнем).
A great brazier was brought forward (большая жаровня была принесена вперед = к щиту поднесли жаровню). It was full of red-hot charcoal (она была полна раскаленных докрасна углей) and from it poked irons of various sorts (и из нее торчали железки = инструменты различных видов;