Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом 11 страница

I was soon apprised of the subject of their conversation (вскоре я был посвящен в предмет их разговора; to apprise — извещать, информировать, объявлять, оповещать; to apprise smb. of smth. — информировать кого-л. о чем-л.), as, calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him (так как, подозвав Солу, Тарс Таркас сделал ей знак послать меня к нему). I had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions (к тому времени я овладел сложностями передвижения в марсианских условиях; to master — справляться; преодолевать; intricacy — запутанность, сложность), and quickly responding to his command (и, быстро отреагировав на его команду; to respond — отвечать, реагировать) I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors stood (я подошел к той стороне инкубатора, где стояли воины).

explain [Ik'spleIn], intricacy ['IntrIkqsI], respond [rIs'pOnd]

On reaching it the chariots were parked with military precision on the four sides of the enclosure, and half a score of warriors, headed by the enormous chieftain, and including Tars Tarkas and several other lesser chiefs, dismounted and advanced toward it. I could see Tars Tarkas explaining something to the principal chieftain, whose name, by the way, was, as nearly as I can translate it into English, Lorquas Ptomel, Jed; jed being his title.

I was soon apprised of the subject of their conversation, as, calling to Sola, Tars Tarkas signed for her to send me to him. I had by this time mastered the intricacies of walking under Martian conditions, and quickly responding to his command I advanced to the side of the incubator where the warriors stood.

As I reached their side (когда я подошел к ним; by the side — рядом, около) a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs had hatched (то с одного взгляда увидел, что все, за исключением очень небольшого числа яиц, уже вылупились), the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little devils (инкубатор практически кишел отвратительными маленькими дьяволятами; alive /with/ — живой; изобилующий, полный активности, жизни). They ranged in height from three to four feet (рост их варьировался от трех до четырех футов), and were moving restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food (и они беспокойно двигались внутри загородки, как будто в поисках еды).

hideous ['hIdIqs], devil [devl], restlessly ['restlIslI]

As I reached their side a glance showed me that all but a very few eggs had hatched, the incubator being fairly alive with the hideous little devils. They ranged in height from three to four feet, and were moving restlessly about the enclosure as though searching for food.

As I came to a halt before him (когда я остановился перед ним), Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator and said (Тарс Таркас показал рукой поверх инкубатора и сказал), "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of yesterday (я понял, что он хочет, чтобы я повторил мое вчерашнее представление) for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel (в назидание Лорквасу Птомелю; edification — назидание, поучение), and, as I must confess that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction (и, так как я должен признаться, что моя ловкость приносила мне не маленькое = большое удовлетворение), I responded quickly, leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator (я быстро отреагировал и перепрыгнул полностью через повозки, размещенные на дальней стороне инкубатора). As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me (когда я вернулся, Лорквас Птомель что-то пробурчал мне), and turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the incubator (и, повернувшись к своим воинам, отдал несколько слов команды относительно инкубатора). They paid no further attention to me (они больше не обращали на меня внимания) and I was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations (и таким образом мне было позволено оставаться поблизости и наблюдать за их действиями; operation — действия, работа), which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator (которые состояли в том, что они пробивали отверстие в стене инкубатора) large enough to permit of the exit of the young Martians (достаточно большое, чтобы обеспечить выход для юных марсиан).

performance [pq'fLmqns], chariot ['tSxrIqt], enough [I'nAf]

As I came to a halt before him, Tars Tarkas pointed over the incubator and said, "Sak." I saw that he wanted me to repeat my performance of yesterday for the edification of Lorquas Ptomel, and, as I must confess that my prowess gave me no little satisfaction, I responded quickly, leaping entirely over the parked chariots on the far side of the incubator. As I returned, Lorquas Ptomel grunted something at me, and turning to his warriors gave a few words of command relative to the incubator. They paid no further attention to me and I was thus permitted to remain close and watch their operations, which consisted in breaking an opening in the wall of the incubator large enough to permit of the exit of the young Martians.

On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians (с другой стороны этого отверстия женщины и молодые марсиане), both male and female (как мужчины, так и женщины), formed two solid walls leading out through the chariots (образовали две сплошные стены, которые вели через /ряд/ повозок) and quite away into the plain beyond (и довольно далеко на равнину позади них). Between these walls the little Martians scampered (между этими стенами неслись маленькие марсиане; to scamper — быстро бегать, носиться), wild as deer (как дикие олени: «дикие = необузданные/неистовые, как олени»); being permitted to run the full length of the aisle (им позволяли пробежать по всей длине прохода), where they were captured one at a time by the women and older children (где их хватали по одному женщины и старшие дети); the last in the line capturing the first little one to reach the end of the gauntlet (при этом последний в ряду хватал первого малыша, который добегал до конца строя; gauntlet — прогон сквозь строй), her opposite in the line capturing the second (стоящий в ряду напротив хватал второго), and so on until all the little fellows had left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female (и так далее, пока все маленькие марсиане не покинули загородку и были взяты каким-нибудь молодым человеком или женщиной; to appropriate — присваивать). As the women caught the young (когда женщины хватали малыша) they fell out of line and returned to their respective chariots (они выходили из строя и возвращались к соответствующим повозкам; to fall out — выпадать; выходить из строя), while those who fell into the hands of the young men (в то время как тех, кто попадал в руки молодых людей) were later turned over to some of the women (позднее передавали какой-нибудь из женщин).

beyond [bI'jOnd], capture ['kxptSq], appropriate [q'prouprIeIt]

On either side of this opening the women and the younger Martians, both male and female, formed two solid walls leading out through the chariots and quite away into the plain beyond. Between these walls the little Martians scampered, wild as deer; being permitted to run the full length of the aisle, where they were captured one at a time by the women and older children; the last in the line capturing the first little one to reach the end of the gauntlet, her opposite in the line capturing the second, and so on until all the little fellows had left the enclosure and been appropriated by some youth or female. As the women caught the young they fell out of line and returned to their respective chariots, while those who fell into the hands of the young men were later turned over to some of the women.

I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name (я видел, что церемония, если она могла быть удостоена этого имени; to dignify — воздавать почести; удостаивать имени), was over (была окончена), and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous little creature held tightly in her arms (и, разыскивая Солу, я нашел ее в нашей повозке с отвратительным маленьким существом, которого она крепко сжимала в объятиях).

The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching them to talk (дело воспитания молодых зеленых марсиан состоит единственно в том, что их учат говорить), and to use the weapons of warfare (и использовать боевое оружие; warfare — война, боевые действия) with which they are loaded down from the very first year of their lives (которым их увешивают с самого первого года жизни; to load — нагружать; обременять). Coming from eggs in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation (выходя из яиц, в которых они пролежали пять лет, — период инкубации), they step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size (они вступают в мир полностью развившимися, за исключением размера). Entirely unknown to their mothers (совершенно неизвестные своим матерям), who, in turn, would have difficulty in pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy (которые, в свою очередь, затруднились бы указать отцов хотя бы с некоторой степенью точности; accuracy — точность, правильность), they are the common children of the community (они являются общими детьми общины), and their education devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator (и их образование ложится на женщин, которым удается схватить их, когда они покидают инкубатор; to devolve — передавать; переходить /о функциях/; to chance — случиться, случайно произойти).

solely ['soullI], entirely [In'taIqlI], devolve [dI'vOlv]

I saw that the ceremony, if it could be dignified by such a name, was over, and seeking out Sola I found her in our chariot with a hideous little creature held tightly in her arms.

The work of rearing young, green Martians consists solely in teaching them to talk, and to use the weapons of warfare with which they are loaded down from the very first year of their lives. Coming from eggs in which they have lain for five years, the period of incubation, they step forth into the world perfectly developed except in size. Entirely unknown to their mothers, who, in turn, would have difficulty in pointing out the fathers with any degree of accuracy, they are the common children of the community, and their education devolves upon the females who chance to capture them as they leave the incubator.

Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator (их приемные матери могли даже не иметь /собственного/ яйца в инкубаторе), as was the case with Sola (как это было в случае с Солой), who had not commenced to lay (которая еще не начала откладывать яиц), until less than a year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring (когда менее года назад она стала матерью отпрыска другой женщины; offspring — отпрыск, потомок). But this counts for little among the green Martians (но это не имеет большого значения для зеленых марсиан; to count for — иметь значение; to count for little — не иметь большого значения), as parental and filial love is as unknown to them (так как родительская и сыновняя любовь так же неизвестна им; filial love — любовь детей к родителям) as it is common among us(как обычнасреди нас). I believe this horrible system which has been carried on for ages (я полагаю, что эта ужасная система, которая соблюдалась веками; to carry on — продолжать) is the direct cause of the loss of all the finer feelings (является прямой причиной утраты всех утонченных эмоций) and higher humanitarian instincts among these poor creatures (и высоких гуманных чувств у этих бедных созданий). From birth they know no father or mother love (с рождения они не знают ни отцовской, ни материнской любви), they know not the meaning of the word home (они не знают значения слова «дом»); they are taught that they are only suffered to live (и их учат, что им просто позволяют жить; to suffer — страдать; позволять, допускать) until they can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that they are fit to live (до тех пор, пока они не смогут доказать физической силой и жестокостью, что они достойны жить; to demostrate — показывать; доказывать; physique — физические данные; fit — пригодный, подходящий). Should they prove deformed or defective in any way (если же они окажутся уродливыми или неполноценными в каком-либо отношении; to deform — уродовать; deformed — изуродованный) they are promptly shot (то их немедленно пристреливают; to shoot — стрелять); nor do they see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from earliest infancy (и никогда они не видят ни единой пролитой слезинки хотя бы из-за одного из множества жестоких испытаний, через которые они проходят, начиная с самого раннего детства).

humanitarian [hju:"mxnI'terIqn], taught [tO:t], promptly ['prOmptlI], infancy ['InfqnsI]

Their foster mothers may not even have had an egg in the incubator, as was the case with Sola, who had not commenced to lay, until less than a year before she became the mother of another woman's offspring. But this counts for little among the green Martians, as parental and filial love is as unknown to them as it is common among us. I believe this horrible system which has been carried on for ages is the direct cause of the loss of all the finer feelings and higher humanitarian instincts among these poor creatures. From birth they know no father or mother love, they know not the meaning of the word home; they are taught that they are only suffered to live until they can demonstrate by their physique and ferocity that they are fit to live. Should they prove deformed or defective in any way they are promptly shot; nor do they see a tear shed for a single one of the many cruel hardships they pass through from earliest infancy.

I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or intentionally cruel to the young (я не имею в виду, что взрослые марсиане излишне или намеренно жестоки по отношению к молодым; unnecessary — ненужный, излишний), but theirs is a hard and pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet (но их /жизнь/ — это тяжелая и безжалостная борьба за выживание на умирающей планете), the natural resources of which have dwindled to a point (природные ресурсы которой истощились до такой степени; to dwindle — сокращаться, истощаться) where the support of each additional life (что поддержание каждой дополнительной жизни) means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown (означает дополнительное бремя для общины, в которую он попал; tax — налог; бремя, испытание; to throw — направлять, посылать).

By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each species (путем тщательного отбора они выращивают только самых крепких представителей каждого вида), and with almost supernatural foresight (и почти со сверхъестественным предвидением) they regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death (они регулируют уровень рождаемости так, чтобы только лишь компенсировать потерю от смертности; to offset — возмещать, компенсировать; to merely offset the loss — возмещать потерю).

unnecessarily [An'nesI'serIlI], dwindle [dwIndl], specimen ['spesImqn], foresight ['fO:saIt]

I do not mean that the adult Martians are unnecessarily or intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless struggle for existence upon a dying planet, the natural resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support of each additional life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown.

By careful selection they rear only the hardiest specimens of each species, and with almost supernatural foresight they regulate the birth rate to merely offset the loss by death.

Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year (каждая взрослая женщина на Марсе производит около тринадцати яиц каждый год), and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests (и тех, которые соответствуют размеру, весу и особым тестам на гравитацию; to meet — удовлетворять, соответствовать) are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault (прячут в тайниках некого подземного хранилища; recess — углубление; тайник, укромный уголок; vault — подвал, пещера; хранилище); where the temperature is too low for incubation (где температура слишком низкая для инкубации). Every year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty chieftains (каждый год эти яйца тщательно обследуются советом из двадцати вождей), and all but about one hundred of the most perfect (и все, за исключением примерно сотни самых совершенных) are destroyed out of each yearly supply (уничтожаются из каждого ежегодного поступления). At the end of five years (в конце пятилетнего срока) about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen from the thousands brought forth (около пяти сотен почти совершенных яиц отбирается из тысяч произведенных; to bring forth — порождать, производить). These are then placed in the almost air-tight incubators (их затем помещают в практически воздухонепроницаемые инкубаторы; tight — плотный, непроницаемый) to be hatched by the sun's rays after a period of another five years (и там под действием солнечных лучей они выводятся за период последующих пяти лет). The hatching which we had witnessed today (вылупливание, которое мы наблюдали сегодня) was a fairly representative event of its kind (было совершенно типичным событием этого рода; representative — показательный, типичный), all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two days (все, за исключением одного процента яиц, вылупились за два дня). If the remaining eggs ever hatched (/даже/ если оставшиеся яйца все же вылупились; ever — всегда, вечно; когда-либо, в какой-либо ситуации, в каком-либо случае) we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians (мы ничего не узнали о судьбе маленьких марсиан). They were not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged incubation (они были нежеланными, ибо их потомство могло унаследовать и передать тенденцию к более длительной инкубации; prolonged — длительный, продленный), and thus upset the system which has maintained for ages (и таким образом нарушить систему, которая сохранялась веками; to upset — расстраивать, нарушать) and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time (и которая позволяет взрослым марсианам определить правильное время; to figure — представлять себе; считать) for return to the incubators, almost to an hour (для возвращения к инкубаторам /с точностью/ почти до часа).

subterranean ["sAbtq'reInIqn], representative ["reprI'zentqtIv], inherit [In'herIt], proper ['prOpq]

Each adult Martian female brings forth about thirteen eggs each year, and those which meet the size, weight, and specific gravity tests are hidden in the recesses of some subterranean vault where the temperature is too low for incubation. Every year these eggs are carefully examined by a council of twenty chieftains, and all but about one hundred of the most perfect are destroyed out of each yearly supply. At the end of five years about five hundred almost perfect eggs have been chosen from the thousands brought forth. These are then placed in the almost air-tight incubators to be hatched by the sun's rays after a period of another five years. The hatching which we had witnessed today was a fairly representative event of its kind, all but about one per cent of the eggs hatching in two days. If the remaining eggs ever hatched we knew nothing of the fate of the little Martians. They were not wanted, as their offspring might inherit and transmit the tendency to prolonged incubation, and thus upset the system which has maintained for ages and which permits the adult Martians to figure the proper time for return to the incubators, almost to an hour.

The incubators are built in remote fastnesses (инкубаторы строятся в отдаленных крепостях; fastness — крепость, твердыня), where there is little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes (там, где существует малая вероятность или нет /вероятности/ их обнаружения другими племенами). The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another five years (результат такой катастрофы означал бы, что у общины не будет детей в течение следующих пяти лет). I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an alien incubator (позже мне придется стать свидетелем результатов такого обнаружения чужого инкубатора).

The community of which the green Martians, with whom my lot was cast, formed a part (община, часть которой составляли зеленые марсиане, с которыми меня свела судьба; lot — жребий, судьба; to cast — бросать, кидать; to cast lot with — разделить судьбу; lot — жребий) was composed of some thirty thousand souls (состояла примерно из тридцати тысяч душ). They roamed an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land (они скитались по огромному пространству засушливых или полузасушливых земель; tract — участок, пространство; arid — сухой, безводный) between forty and eighty degrees south latitude (между сороковым и восьмидесятым градусами южной широты), and bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts (которые граничили с востока и запада с двумя большими участками плодородной земли; to bound — ограничивать, служить границей). Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district (их штаб-квартира располагалась в юго-западной части этого района; corner — угол; часть, район), near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals (возле пересечения двух так называемых Марсианских каналов).

likelihood ['laIklIhud], latitude ['lxtItju:d], headquarter ['hed"kwO:tq]

The incubators are built in remote fastnesses, where there is little or no likelihood of their being discovered by other tribes. The result of such a catastrophe would mean no children in the community for another five years. I was later to witness the results of the discovery of an alien incubator.

The community of which the green Martians, with whom my lot was cast, formed a part was composed of some thirty thousand souls. They roamed an enormous tract of arid and semi-arid land between forty and eighty degrees south latitude, and bounded on the east and west by two large fertile tracts. Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals.

As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory (так как инкубатор находился далеко к северу от их собственной территории) in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area (в предположительно необитаемом и редко посещаемом районе), we had before us a tremendous journey (то нам предстояло /совершить/ невероятное путешествие; tremendous — страшный; громадный, потрясающий), concerning which I, of course, knew nothing (относительно которого я, естественно, ничего не знал).

After our return to the dead city (после нашего возвращения в мертвый город) I passed several days in comparative idleness (я провел несколько дней в относительном безделье; idle — праздный). On the day following our return (на следующий день после нашего возвращения) all the warriors had ridden forth early in the morning (все воины ускакали куда-то рано утром; forth — вперед, дальше; to ride) and had not returned until just before darkness fell (и вернулись только перед наступлением темноты). As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean vaults (как я позднее узнал, они были в подземных хранилищах) in which the eggs were kept (в которых хранились яйца) and had transported them to the incubator (и перевозили их в инкубатор), which they had then walled up for another five years (который они затем обнесли стеной на последующие пять лет), and which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that period (и который, по всей вероятности, /они/ не будут посещать вновь в течение этого периода).

unfrequented ["AnfrI'kwentId], tremendous [trI'mendqs], idleness ['aIdlnIs], probability ["prObq'bIlItI]

As the incubator had been placed far north of their own territory in a supposedly uninhabited and unfrequented area, we had before us a tremendous journey, concerning which I, of course, knew nothing.

After our return to the dead city I passed several days in comparative idleness. On the day following our return all the warriors had ridden forth early in the morning and had not returned until just before darkness fell. As I later learned, they had been to the subterranean vaults in which the eggs were kept and had transported them to the incubator, which they had then walled up for another five years, and which, in all probability, would not be visited again during that period.

The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator (хранилища, которые скрывали яйца до той поры, пока они не будут готовы для инкубатора) were located many miles south of the incubator (находились на много миль южнее инкубатора), and would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains (и каждый год их посещал совет из двадцати вождей). Why they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators nearer home (почему они не устроили так, чтобы строить хранилища и инкубаторы ближе к дому; to arrange — уладить, урегулировать) has always been a mystery to me (всегда было загадкой для меня), and, like many other Martian mysteries (и, как множество других марсианских загадок), unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs (/оказались/ нерешенными и неразрешимыми с помощью земной логики и обычаев; reasoning — рассуждение, логический ход мысли).

yearly ['jWlI], council [kaunsl], unsolvable ["An'sOlvqbl]

The vaults which hid the eggs until they were ready for the incubator were located many miles south of the incubator, and would be visited yearly by the council of twenty chieftains. Why they did not arrange to build their vaults and incubators nearer home has always been a mystery to me, and, like many other Martian mysteries, unsolved and unsolvable by earthly reasoning and customs.

Sola's duties were now doubled (обязанности Солы теперь удвоились), as she was compelled to care for the young Martian as well as for me (так как она была вынуждена заботиться о юном марсианине, а также обо мне: «равно как обо мне»; to compel — заставлять, принуждать), but neither one of us required much attention (но ни один из нас не требовал большого внимания), and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian education (и так как мы оба были примерно одинаково продвинуты в марсианском образовании), Sola took it upon herself to train us together (то Сола взялась обучать нас вместе).

Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall (выигрыш Солы представлял собой мужскую особь высотой около четырех футов), very strong and physically perfect (очень сильную и физически совершенную); also, he learned quickly (кроме того, он быстро учился), and we had considerable amusement, at least I did (и мы получали довольно много удовольствия, по крайней мере, я; amusement — развлечение; удовольствие), over the keen rivalry we displayed (из-за острого соперничества, которое мы демонстрировали; rivalry — соперничество, конкуренция; rival — соперник). The Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple (марсианский язык, как я уже говорил, чрезвычайно прост; extreme — крайний), and in a week I could make all my wants known (и через неделю я мог сделать все свои желания понятными; wants — потребность, желание) and understand nearly everything that was said to me (и понимать почти все, что говорили мне). Likewise, under Sola's tutelage (точно так же под попечительством Солы; tutelage — попечительство; обучение), I developed my telepathic powers (я развил свои телепатические силы) so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went on around me (так, что вскоре я мог ощущать практически все, что происходило вокруг меня).

require [rI'kwaIq], equally ['i:kwqlI], considerable [kqn'sIdrqbl], rivalry ['raIvlrI], tutelage ['tju:tIlIdZ]

Sola's duties were now doubled, as she was compelled to care for the young Martian as well as for me, but neither one of us required much attention, and as we were both about equally advanced in Martian education, Sola took it upon herself to train us together.

Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable amusement, at least I did, over the keen rivalry we displayed. The Martian language, as I have said, is extremely simple, and in a week I could make all my wants known and understand nearly everything that was said to me. Likewise, under Sola's tutelage, I developed my telepathic powers so that I shortly could sense practically everything that went on around me.

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