I thought again of trying to break my bonds (я снова подумал о /том, чтобы/ попытаться разорвать свои узы). But when I remembered the pain of their arrows on my face and hands (но когда я вспомнил боль от их стрел на лице и руках), I indicated (я показал /знаками/) that they could do with me what they pleased (что они могут делать со мной /все/, что пожелают). Soon after, I heard a general shout (вскоре после /этого/ я услышал общий возглас),
break [breɪk], indicated [‘ɪndɪkeɪtɪd], told [təʋld]
I thought again of trying to break my bonds. But when I remembered the pain of their arrows on my face and hands, I indicated that they could do with me what they pleased. Soon after, I heard a general shout, "Peplom selan!" I could feel the threads on my left side being loosened. I was then able to turn onto my right side and to relieve myself by passing water — which I did plentifully. The people were amazed and moved away to avoid the torrent. Then I fell fast asleep for about eight hours. I was later told that the doctors had put a sleeping potion in the casks of wine, by order of the Emperor.
These people are excellent builders (эти люди — превосходные строители). Five hundred carpenters and engineers set to work (пятьсот плотников и инженеров принялись за работу) to prepare their biggest vehicle ever (чтобы изготовить самую большую повозку, какую только им приходилось делать: «их самую большую повозку за все время»;
excellent ['eks(ə)lənt], builder ['bɪldə], vehicle ['vi:ɪk(ə)l]
These people are excellent builders. Five hundred carpenters and engineers set to work to prepare their biggest vehicle ever. It was a frame of wood about three inches from the ground, about seven feet long and four feet wide. It moved on twenty-two wheels. The main difficulty was how to lift me onto it.