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CHAPTER TWELVE (глава двенадцатая) The Margrave's Bargain (сделка маркграфа)

The ship reached the causeway and stopped (корабль достиг дамбы и остановился). It reeked of ozone and of decay (он вонял озоном и гниением; decay — гниение, разрушение; упадок).

`If it be an illusion (если это иллюзия), Corum murmured grimly (мрачно пробормотал Корум), `it is a good one (то она хорошая = очень правдоподобная).

Beldan made no reply (Белдан не ответил).

In the distance they heard the barbarians blundering off through the forest (они услышали, как вдалеке варвары ломятся сквозь лес; to blunder — двигаться ощупью; спотыкаться, наталкиваться). They heard the sound of the chariots turning as Glandyth pursued his allies (услышали звук разворачивавшихся колесниц, когда Гландит догонял своих союзников). Though all the corpses were armed, they did not move (хотя все трупы были вооружены, они не двигались), simply turned their heads, as one, towards the main gate of the castle (просто повернули головы, как один/все вместе, к главным воротам замка).

ozone [ˈəuzəun] decay [dɪˈkeɪ] pursued [pəˈsju:d] allies [ˈælaɪz]

The ship reached the causeway and stopped. It reeked of ozone and of decay.

`If it be an illusion, Corum murmured grimly, `it is a good one.

Beldan made no reply.

In the distance they heard the barbarians blundering off through the forest. They heard the sound of the chariots turning as Glandyth pursued his allies. Though all the corpses were armed, they did not move, simply turned their heads, as one, towards the main gate of the castle.

Corum was transfixed in astonished terror (Корум остолбенел от удивления и ужаса; to transfix — пронзить, проткнуть; приковать к месту /об ужасе, удивлении и т. д. /). The events he was witnessing were like something from the superstitious mind of a Mabden (события, которые он наблюдал, были, словно что-то = напоминали видение суеверного разума мабдена). They could have no existence in actuality (они не могли существовать в действительности). Such images were those created by ignorant fear and morbid imagination (подобные образы были теми /образами/, порожденными невежественным страхом и болезненным воображением). They were something from the crudest and most barbaric of the tapestries he had looked at in the castle (они были чем-то = напоминали образы из самых грубых и примитивных гобеленов, на которые он смотрел в замке).

`What will they do now, Beldan (что они будут делать теперь, Белдан)?

`I have no understanding of the occult, prince (я не имею понимания = не разбираюсь в оккультизме; the occult — оккультные науки; occult — тайный, сокровенный). The Lady Rhalina is the only one of us who has made some study of such things (леди Ралина — единственная из нас, кто изучал подобные вещи). It was she who made this summoning (это она сотворила это заклятие). I only know that there is said to be a bargain involved (я знаю только, что говорится = речь идет о заключенной сделке; to involve — вовлекать, включать в себя; касаться, предусматривать) …

transfixed [trænsˈfɪkst] actuality [, ækʧuˈælɪtɪ] occult [ˈɔkʌlt] bargain [ˈbɑ:ɡɪn]

Corum was transfixed in astonished terror. The events he was witnessing were like something from the superstitious mind of a Mabden. They could have no existence in actuality. Such images were those created by ignorant fear and morbid imagination. They were something from the crudest and most barbaric of the tapestries he had looked at in the castle.

`What will they do now, Beldan?

`I have no understanding of the occult, prince. The Lady Rhalina is the only one of us who has made some study of such things. It was she who made this summoning. I only know that there is said to be a bargain involved…

`A bargain?

Beldan gasped (Белдан крикнул, задыхаясь). `The Margravine (маркграфиня)!

Corum saw that Rhalina, still walking in a trance (Корум увидел, что Ралина, по-прежнему шагая в трансе), had left the gates and was moving, calf-deep, along the causeway towards the ship (вышла из ворот и пошла, /погружаясь в воду/ по икры, по дамбе к кораблю). The head of the dead Margrave turned slightly and the green fire in his eye-sockets seemed to burn more deeply (голова мертвого маркграфа повернулась немного и зеленый огонь в его глазницах, казалось, запылал ярче; deep — глубокий; насыщенный, темный, густой /о цвете, красках и т. д. /).

`NO!

Corum raced from the battlements, leapt down the stairway (Корум бросился /вниз/ со стены, спрыгнул с лестницы; to leap; stairway — лестница, пролет лестницы) and stumbled through the main hall over the corpses of the fallen (и /побежал/, спотыкаясь о трупы павших, через главный зал).

`NO! Rhalina! NO!

calf [kɑ:f] corpse [kɔ:ps]

`A bargain?

Beldan gasped. `The Margravine!

Corum saw that Rhalina, still walking in a trance, had left the gates and was moving, calf-deep, along the causeway towards the ship. The head of the dead Margrave turned slightly and the green fire in his eye-sockets seemed to burn more deeply.

`NO!

Corum raced from the battlements, leapt down the stairway and stumbled through the main hall over the corpses of the fallen.

`NO! Rhalina! NO!

He reached the causeway and began to wade after her (он достиг дамбы и пошел вброд за ней; to wade — переходить вброд; пробираться /по грязи, снегу и т. д. /), the stench from the ship of the dead choking him (зловоние от корабля мертвых душило его).

`Rhalina!

It was a dream worse than any he had had since Glandyth's destruction of Castle Erorn (это был сон хуже, чем любой другой, виденный им после разрушения Гландитом замка Эрорн; to have a dream — видеть сон).

`Rhalina!

She had almost reached the ship when Corum caught up with her and seized her by the arm with his good hand (она почти дошла до корабля, когда Корум догнал ее и схватил за руку своей здоровой рукой).

She, seeming oblivious of him, continued to try to reach the ship (она, словно не видя его, продолжала пытаться дойти до корабля; obvious — забывающий, непомнящий; не обращающий внимания).

`Rhalina! What bargain did you make to save us (что за сделку ты заключила, чтобы спасти нас)? Why did this ship of the dead come here (зачем этот корабль мертвых приплыл сюда)?

destruction [dɪsˈtrʌkʃ (ə) n] seized [si:zd] oblivious [əˈblɪvɪəs]

He reached the causeway and began to wade after her, the stench from the ship of the dead choking him.

`Rhalina!

It was a dream worse than any he had had since Glandyth's destruction of Castle Erorn.

`Rhalina!

She had almost reached the ship when Corum caught up with her and seized her by the arm with his good hand.

She, seeming oblivious of him, continued to try to reach the ship.

`Rhalina! What bargain did you make to save us? Why did this ship of the dead come here?

Her voice was cold, toneless (ее голос был холодным и монотонным).

`I will join my husband now (теперь я воссоединюсь с моим супругом; to join — присоединять/ся/, примыкать).

`No, Rhalina. Such a bargain cannot be honoured (такая сделка не может быть выполнена; to honour — почитать; выполнять /обязательства/, соблюдать /условия/). It is obscene (это отвратительно; obscene — непристойный, грязный; оскорбительный). It is evil (это зло). It — it… He tried to express his knowledge that such things as this could not exist (он пытался выразить знание = хотел сказать, что подобные вещи, вроде этой, не могут существовать), that they were all under some peculiar hallucination (что они все под /действием/ какой-то странной галлюцинации). `Come back with me, Rhalina (вернись со мной, Ралина). Let the ship return to the depths (пусть корабль вернется в глубины = на дно).

`I must go with it (я должна отправиться с ним). Those were the terms of our bargain (таковы были условия нашей сделки).

He clung to her, trying to drag her back, and then another voice spoke (он прильнул к ней, пытаясь оттащить = увести ее обратно /к замку/, затем другой голос раздался; to cling to — прилегать, касаться). It was a voice that seemed without substance and yet which echoed in his skull and made him pause (это был голос, который, казалось, без материи = звучал из иного мира, и все же который отдавался эхом в его черепе и заставил его остановиться).

honoured [ˈɔnəd] obscene [əbˈsi:n] hallucination [hə, lu:sɪˈneɪʃ (ə) n]

Her voice was cold, toneless.

`I will join my husband now.

`No, Rhalina. Such a bargain cannot be honoured. It is obscene. It is evil. It — it… He tried to express his knowledge that such things as this could not exist, that they were all under some peculiar hallucination. `Come back with me, Rhalina. Let the ship return to the depths.

`I must go with it. Those were the terms of our bargain.

He clung to her, trying to drag her back, and then another voice spoke. It was a voice that seemed without substance and yet which echoed in his skull and made him pause.

`She sails with us, Prince of the Vadhagh (она плывет с нами, принц вадагов). This must be (так должно быть).

Corum looked up (посмотрел вверх). The dead Margrave had raised his hand in a commanding gesture (мертвый маркграф поднял руку во властном жесте). The eyes of fire burned deeply into Corum's single eye (глаза огня пылали = проникли глубоко в единственный глаз Корума).

Corum tried to alter his perspective, to see into the other dimensions around him (Корум попробовал изменить перспективу = зрение, заглянуть в другие измерения /вокруг него/). At last he succeeded (наконец, у него получилось).

But it made no difference (но это не сделало разницы = ничего не изменило). The ship was in each of the five dimensions (корабль находился в каждом из пяти измерений). He could not escape it (Корум не мог уйти от него).

`I will not let her sail with you (я не позволю ей уплыть с вами), Corum replied (ответил Корум). `Your bargain was unjust (ваша сделка была несправедливой). Why should she die (почему она должна умереть)?

`She does not die (она не умрет). She will awaken soon (она вскоре проснется).

`What? Beneath the waves (под волнами = на дне моря)?

gesture [ˈʤesʧə] dimension [d (a) ɪˈmenʃ (ə) n] beneath [bɪˈni:Ɵ]

`She sails with us, Prince of the Vadhagh. This must be.

Corum looked up. The dead Margrave had raised his hand in a commanding gesture. The eyes of fire burned deeply into Corum's single eye.

Corum tried to alter his perspective, to see into the other dimensions around him. At last he succeeded.

But it made no difference. The ship was in each of the five dimensions. He could not escape it.

`I will not let her sail with you, Corum replied. `Your bargain was unjust. Why should she die?

`She does not die. She will awaken soon.

`What? Beneath the waves?

`She has given this ship life (она дала этому кораблю жизнь). Without it, we shall sink again (без этого мы снова потонем). With her on board, we live (с ней на борту — мы живем).

`Live? You do not live (вы не живете).

`It is better than death (это лучше, чем смерть).

`Then death must be something more awful than I imagined (тогда смерть, должно быть, нечто более ужасное, чем я представлял).

`For us it is, Prince of the Vadhagh (для нас — да, принц вадагов). We are the slaves of Shool-an-Jyvan, for we died in the waters he rules (мы рабы Шул-ан-Дживана, ибо погибли в водах, /которыми/ он правит). Now, let us be rejoined, my wife and myself (теперь позволь нам воссоединиться, моей жене и мне).

`No. Corum took a firmer grip on Rhalina's arm (Корум крепче сжал руку Ралины). `Who is this Shool-an-Jyvan (кто этот Шул-ан-Дживан)?

`She has given this ship life. Without it, we shall sink again. With her on board, we live.

`Live? You do not live.

`It is better than death.

`Then death must be something more awful than I imagined.

`For us it is, Prince of the Vadhagh. We are the slaves of Shool-an-Jyvan, for we died in the waters he rules. Now, let us be rejoined, my wife and myself.

`No. Corum took a firmer grip on Rhalina's arm. `Who is this Shool-an-Jyvan?

`He is our master (он наш господин). He is of Svi-an-Fanla-Brool (он с /острова/ Сви-ан-Фанла-Брул).

`The Home of the Gorged God (жилище прожорливого бога)!

The place where Corum had meant to go before Rhalina's love had kept him at Moidel's Castle (место, куда Корум намеревался отправиться до того, как любовь Ралины удержала его в замке Мойдел).

`Now. Let my wife come aboard (позволь моей жене подняться на борт).

`What can you do to make me (что ты можешь сделать, чтобы заставить меня)? You are dead (ты мертв)! You have only the power to frighten away barbarians (у тебя есть только сила = хватило сил лишь отпугнуть варваров; to frighten away — спугнуть).

`We saved your life (мы спасли тебе жизнь). Now give us the means to live (теперь дай нам средство, чтобы жить). She must come with us (она должна отправиться с нами).

power [ˈpauə] frighten [fraɪtn] means [mi:nz]

`He is our master. He is of Svi-an-Fanla-Brool.

`The Home of the Gorged God!

The place where Corum had meant to go before Rhalina's love had kept him at Moidel's Castle.

`Now. Let my wife come aboard.

`What can you do to make me? You are dead! You have only the power to frighten away barbarians.

`We saved your life. Now give us the means to live. She must come with us.

`The dead are selfish (мертвые себялюбивы/эгоистичны).

The corpse nodded and the green fire dimmed a little (труп кивнул, и зеленый огонь потускнел немного).

`Aye (да). The dead are selfish.

Now Corum saw that the rest of the crew were beginning to move (тут Корум увидел, что остальные /члены/ экипажа начинают двигаться). He heard the slithering of their feet on the slime-grown deck (он слышал, как скользят их ноги по покрытой склизким илом палубе; slime — липкий ил, тина; слизь; to grow — расти, вырастать; становиться, делаться). He saw their rotting flesh, their glowing eye-sockets (он видел их гниющую плоть, их горящие глазницы). He began to move backwards, dragging Rhalina with him (он начал отступать, таща Ралину за собой). But Rhalina would not go willingly and he was completely exhausted (но Ралина не шла охотно = сопротивлялась, а он был совсем изнурен). Panting, he paused, speaking urgently to her (тяжело дыша, он остановился, настойчиво обращаясь к ней; urgent — срочный, необходимый; настойчивый).

`Rhalina. I know you never loved him, even in life (я знаю, ты никогда не любила его, даже живого: «в жизни»). You love me (ты любишь меня). I love you (я люблю тебя). Surely that is stronger than any bargain (несомненно, это сильнее, чем любая сделка)!

exhausted [ɪɡˈzɔ:stɪd] urgently [ˈə: ʤ (ə) ntlɪ]

`The dead are selfish.

The corpse nodded and the green fire dimmed a little.

`Aye. The dead are selfish.

Now Corum saw that the rest of the crew were beginning to move. He heard the slithering of their feet on the slime-grown deck. He saw their rotting flesh, their glowing eye-sockets. He began to move backwards, dragging Rhalina with him. But Rhalina would not go willingly and he was completely exhausted. Panting, he paused, speaking urgently to her.

`Rhalina. I know you never loved him, even in life. You love me. I love you. Surely that is stronger than any bargain!

`I must join my husband.

The dead crew had descended to the causeway and were moving towards them (мертвая команда спустилась на дамбу и приближалась к нему). Corum had left his sword behind (Корум забыл /где-то/ свой меч). He had no weapons (у него не было оружия).

`Stand back (назад; to stand back — отступать, держаться сзади)! he cried. `The dead have no right to take the living (у мертвых нет права забирать /с собой/ живых)!

On came the corpses (трупы приближались).

Corum cried up to the figure of Margrave, still on the poop (Корум крикнул вверх финуре маркграфа, по-прежнему /стоявшему/ на корме).

`Stop them (останови их)! Take me instead of her (возьми меня вместо нее)! Make a bargain with me (заключи сделку со мной)!

weapon [ˈwepən] figure [ˈfɪɡə] instead [ɪnˈsted]

`I must join my husband.

The dead crew had descended to the causeway and were moving towards them. Corum had left his sword behind. He had no weapons.

`Stand back! he cried. `The dead have no right to take the living!

On came the corpses.

Corum cried up to the figure of Margrave, still on the poop.

`Stop them! Take me instead of her! Make a bargain with me!

`I cannot (не могу).

`Then let me sail with her (тогда позволь мне плыть вместе с ней). What is the harm in that (какой вред в этом = что тут плохого)? You will have two living beings to warm your dead souls (у вас будет два живых существа, чтобы отогреть ваши мертвые души)!

The Margrave appeared to consider this (похоже, маркграф обдумывал это).

`Why should you do it (зачем тебе делать это)? The living have no liking for the dead (живые не любят мертвых; liking for — симпатия, расположение к).

`I love Rhalina (я люблю Ралину). It is love, do you understand (это любовь, понимаешь)?

`I cannot.

`Then let me sail with her. What is the harm in that? You will have two living beings to warm your dead souls!

The Margrave appeared to consider this.

`Why should you do it? The living have no liking for the dead.

`I love Rhalina. It is love, do you understand?

`Love (любовь)? The dead know nothing of love (мертвые ничего не знают о любви).

`Yet you want your wife with you (все-таки ты хочешь, чтобы твоя жена была с тобой).

`She proposed the bargain (она предложила /заключить/ сделку). Shool-an-Jyvan heard her and sent us (Шул-ан-Дживан услышал ее и послал нас).

The shuffling corpses had completely surrounded them now (шаркавшие ногами трупы полностью окружили их теперь). Corum gagged at their stench (Корум зажал рот от их смрада).

`Then I will come with you (тогда я пойду с вами).

The dead Margrave inclined his head (мертвый маркграф склонил голову /в знак согласия/).

proposed [prəˈpəuzd] surrounded [səˈraundɪd] inclined [ɪnˈklaɪnd]

`Love? The dead know nothing of love.

`Yet you want your wife with you.

`She proposed the bargain. Shool-an-Jyvan heard her and sent us.

The shuffling corpses had completely surrounded them now. Corum gagged at their stench.

`Then I will come with you.

The dead Margrave inclined his head.

Escorted by the shuffling corpses, Corum allowed himself and Rhalina to be led aboard the ship (в сопровождении шаркающих ногами трупов, Корум позволил провести себя и Ралину на борт корабля). It was covered in scum from the bottom of the sea (он был покрыт тиной со дна моря; scum — пена; отбросы, отходы; слой водорослей, тина). Weed draped it, giving off the strange green fire (водоросли обвивали его, испуская странное зеленое свечение; to drape — украшать тканями, занавесками). What Corum had thought were dull jewels were coloured barnacles which encrusted everything (/то/, что Корум принял за тусклые самоцветы, оказалось цветными раковинами морских уточек, которые покрывали /коркой/ все). Slime lay on all surfaces (липкий ил лежал на всех поверхностях). While the Margrave watched from his poop, Corum and Rhalina were taken to a cabin and made to enter (пока маркграф наблюдал со своей кормы, Корума и Ралину отвели к каюте и заставили войти/ввели в нее). It was almost pitch-black and it stank of decay (она была почти черной как смоль = там было совсем темно, и воняло гнилью; to stink).

He heard the rotting timbers creak and the ship began to move (он услышал, как гнилые доски скрипнули, и корабль поплыл).

It sailed rapidly, without wind or any other understandable means of propulsion (он плыл быстро, без ветра и любых других понятных средств движения; propulsion — движение вперед, движущая сила; двигатель).

It sailed for Svi-an-Fanla-Brool, the island of the legends, the Home of the Gorged God (он шел на Сви-ан-Фанла-Брул, остров из легенд, жилище прожорливого бога).

jewel [ˈʤu:əl] barnacles [ˈbɑ:nəklz] encrusted [ɪnˈkrʌstɪd] propulsion [prəˈpʌlʃ (ə) n]

Escorted by the shuffling corpses, Corum allowed himself and Rhalina to be led aboard the ship. It was covered in scum from the bottom of the sea. Weed draped it, giving off the strange green fire. What Corum had thought were dull jewels were coloured barnacles which encrusted everything. Slime lay on all surfaces. While the Margrave watched from his poop, Corum and Rhalina were taken to a cabin and made to enter. It was almost pitch-black and it stank of decay.

He heard the rotting timbers creak and the ship began to move.

It sailed rapidly, without wind or any other understandable means of propulsion.

It sailed for Svi-an-Fanla-Brool, the island of the legends, the Home of the Gorged God.