Английский язык с М. Муркоком

complacency [km'ples ns] behave [b'hev] prepare [pr'pe]

Corum looked at the ground. So it was complacency that had brought down the Vadhagh race.

He lifted his head again and stared back at Glandyth.

`I hope, however, said Corum, `that I will be able to show you that the last of the Vadhagh can behave in a different way.

Glandyth shrugged and turned to address his men.

`He hardly knows what he will show us soon, will he, lads?

The Mabden laughed.

`Prepare the board! Earl Glandyth ordered. `I think we shall begin.

Corum saw them bring up a wide plank of wood (Корум увидел, что они принесли широкую деревянную доску; to bring up — приводить, приносить /наверх/; поднимать). It was thick and pitted and stained (она была толстой, вся в выбоинах и в пятнах; pit — ям/к/а, впадина, углубление; оспина; pitted — изрытый, в ямах, с выбоинами; изрытый оспой; stained — испачканный, в пятнах; окрашенный). Near its four corners were fixed lengths of chain (около четырех ее углов = к четырем углам крепились /куски/ цепи; length — длина, расстояние; продолжительность; кусок, отрезок). Corum began to guess at the board's function (Корум начал догадываться о назначении щита = понял, что это пыточный стан).

Two Mabden grasped his arms and pushed him towards the board (двое мабденов схватили его /за/ руки и подтолкнули к щиту; to push — толкать, пихать; подгонять; давить). Another brought a chisel and an iron hammer (еще один принес долото и железный молот; to bring; chisel — долото, стамеска, зубило). Corum was pushed with his back against the board (Корума прислонили спиной к щиту), which now rested on the trunk of a tree (который теперь опирался о ствол дерева; to rest on — покоиться, опираться). Using the chisel, a Mabden struck the chains from him (используя долото, мабден снял с него цепи; to strike from — вычеркнуть, удалить), then his arms and legs were seized and he was spread-eagled on the board (затем его схватили /за/ руки и ноги и растянули на щите; to spread-eagle — распластывать, распинать /от spread-eagle — орел с распростертыми крыльями /изображение на государственном гербе США/) while new rivets were driven into the links of chain securing him there (пока новые заклепки вбивались в звенья цепи, что удерживала его там; to drive into — вбивать, вколачивать; to secure — охранять, оберегать; закреплять, стягивать). Corum could smell stale blood (Корум мог чуять = чувствовал /запах/ спекшейся крови; stale — несвежий, черствый; затхлый). He could see where the board was scored with the marks of knives, swords and axes (он видел, где щит был истыкан ножами, мечами и топорами; to score — делать зарубки; оставлять глубокие следы; mark — метка, знак, след), where arrows had been shot into it (где стрелы попадали в него; to shoot — стрелять; бросать, кидать). He was on a butcher's block (он был на колоде мясника; butcher — мясник; палач, убийца; block — колода, чурбан; плаха).

guess [es] chisel ['zl] seized [si:zd] rivet ['rvt] knives [navz] butcher's ['buz]

Corum saw them bring up a wide plank of wood. It was thick and pitted and stained. Near its four corners 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.