His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast (его кисть коснулась кинжала, и через мгновение он держал рукоятку крепко). But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp ping (но, когда он потянул его от столба, изъеденное ржавчиной лезвие сломалось с резким звоном). Rolling his eyes downward, he saw that about two thirds of the blade, from the tapering point back, had broken off and lay flat against the stone (повернув свои глаза вниз, он увидел, что около двух третей клинка от суживающегося острия назад отломались и лежат горизонтально на камне;
touched [tʌtʃt], fast [fɑ: st], effort [ˈefət]
His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast. But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp
A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges (взгляд показал ему, что хотя большая часть лезвия была потеряна для него, обломок все еще имел пару очевидно острых граней). With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together (/с/ мускулами, дрожащими от усилия, чтобы удержать инструмент /на расстоянии/ от камня, он поднес одну из этих граней к кожаному ремню, который связывал две половины кольчуги вместе). Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade (осторожно он начал пилить жесткую сыромятную кожу ржавым лезвием;
lost [lɔst], sharp [ʃɑ: p], edges [ˈeʤɪz]
A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges. With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together. Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade.
Every movement was agony (каждое движение было мукой). The torment of suspense grew unbearable (муки от неизвестности стали невыносимыми). His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb (его кисть, изогнутая в неудобном скрюченном положении, болела и стала онемевшей =
numb [nʌm], sawed [sɔ: d], creature [ˈkri: tʃə]
Every movement was agony. The torment of suspense grew unbearable. His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb. The ancient blade was notched, thin, and brittle; a hasty motion might break it, leaving him helpless. Stroke after stroke he sawed up and down, with exquisite caution. The scent of the creature grew stronger and the sucking sounds of its progress, louder.