As I was crossing the great square lost in wonder and admiration of the magnificent architecture and the gorgeous scarlet vegetation which carpeted the broad lawns I discovered a red Martian walking briskly toward me from one of the avenues. He paid not the slightest attention to me, but as he came abreast I recognized him, and turning I placed my hand upon his shoulder, calling out.
"Kaor, Kantos Kan!"
Like lightning he wheeled (подобно молнии, он развернулся) and before I could so much as lower my hand (и не успел я даже опустить свою руку;
"Who are you?" he growled (кто ты? — зарычал он), and then as a backward leap carried me fifty feet from his sword (и затем, когда прыжок назад отнес меня на пятьдесят футов от его меча) he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, laughing (он опустил острие вниз и воскликнул, смеясь),
breast [brest], backward ['bxkwqd]
Like lightning he wheeled and before I could so much as lower my hand the point of his long-sword was at my breast.
"Who are you?" he growled, and then as a backward leap carried me fifty feet from his sword he dropped the point to the ground and exclaimed, laughing,
"I do not need a better reply (я не нуждаюсь в лучшем ответе), there is but one man upon all Barsoom (ведь есть только один человек на Барсуме) who can bounce about like a rubber ball (который умеет отскакивать как резиновый мяч;
bounce [bauns], rubber ['rAbq]
"I do not need a better reply, there is but one man upon all Barsoom who can bounce about like a rubber ball. By the mother of the further moon, John Carter, how came you here, and have you become a Darseen that you can change your color at will?"