Английский язык с Р. Э. Говардом

"They had the same idea you had," Nabonidus was muttering at his ear. "Only their reasons were patriotic rather than selfish. Easy to gain access to my house, now that the dog is dead. Oh, what a chance to rid myself of their menace once and for all! If I were sitting where Thak sits — a leap to the wall — a tug on that rope-"

Petreus had placed one foot lightly over the threshold of the chamber (Петреус легонько поставил одну ногу через порог = переступил одной ногой порог комнаты); his fellows were at his heels (его товарищи были = шли за ним по пятам; at smb.'s heels — по пятам, следом за кем-л.), their daggers glinting dully (с тускло сверкающими кинжалами). Suddenly Thak rose and wheeled toward him (вдруг Так встал и резко повернулся к нему; to rise — подниматься; вставать). The unexpected horror of his appearance (неожиданный ужас от его внешности), where they had thought to behold the hated but familiar countenance of Nabonidus (там, где = вместо которой они ожидали узреть ненавистное, но знакомое лицо Набонидуса; to think — думать; ожидать), wrought havoc with their nerves (произвел опустошение в их мужестве = посеял панику среди них;to work havoc — производить опустошение; nerve — нерв; сила духа, мужество), as the same spectacle had wrought upon Murilo (так же, как то же самое зрелище подействовало на Мурило; to work on — воздействовать на, влиять на). With a shriek Petreus recoiled (с воплем Петреус отпрянул), carrying his companions backward with him (увлекая с собой назад своих спутников; to carry — нести; увлекать за собой). They stumbled and floundered over each other (они толкались и спотыкались друг о друга; to stumble — спотыкаться; натыкаться;to flounder — барахтаться; спотыкаться); and in that instant Thak (и в этот момент Так), covering the distance in one prodigious, grotesque leap (преодолев расстояние одним очень большим, нелепым прыжком; to cover — покрывать; преодолевать), caught and jerked powerfully at a thick velvet rope which hung near the doorway (схватился и сильно дернул за толстый бархатный канат, который висел возле дверного проема; to catch — схватить; хвататься; to hang — висеть).

countenance [ˈkauntɪnəns], shriek [ʃri:k], prodigious [prəˈdɪʤəs]

Petreus had placed one foot lightly over the threshold of the chamber; his fellows were at his heels, their daggers glinting dully. Suddenly Thak rose and wheeled toward him. The unexpected horror of his appearance, where they had thought to behold the hated but familiar countenance of Nabonidus, wrought havoc with their nerves, as the same spectacle had wrought upon Murilo. With a shriek Petreus recoiled, carrying his companions backward with him. They stumbled and floundered over each other; and in that instant Thak, covering the distance in one prodigious, grotesque leap, caught and jerked powerfully at a thick velvet rope which hung near the doorway.

Instantly the curtains whipped back on either hand (тотчас по обе стороны юркнули назад шторы; to whip — сечь; юркнуть), leaving the door clear (оставляя свободным = освобождая дверной проем; clear — ясный; свободный), and down across it something flashed with a peculiar silvery blur (и по нему необычным серебристым пятном что-то мелькнуло; to flash — набегать и разбиваться; быстро промелькнуть).

"He remembered (он вспомнил)!" Nabonidus was exulting (ликовал Набонидус). "The beast is half a man (этот зверь — уже почти человек; half — наполовину; почти, уже почти)! He had seen the doom performed (он видел, как исполняется приговор; doom — рок; судебное решение, приговор), and he remembered (и он запомнил)! Watch, now (смотрите, теперь)! Watch! Watch! (смотрите, смотрите)"

curtain [kə:tn], peculiar [pɪˈkju:lɪə], exult [ɪɡˈzʌlt]

Instantly the curtains whipped back on either hand, leaving the door clear, and down across it something flashed with a peculiar silvery blur.

"He remembered!" Nabonidus was exulting. "The beast is half a man! He had seen the doom performed, and he remembered! Watch, now! Watch! Watch!"