Английский язык с Конаном-варваром

He settled himself to wait. No word passed between him and the other man who had been left with him. Somewhere, a mile or so to the northwest, Zogar Sag's village stood girdled with thick woods. Balthus understood his orders; he and his companion were to wait for the return of the raiding-party. If Conan and his men had not returned by the first tinge of dawn, they were to race back up the river to the fort and report that the forest had again taken its immemorial toll of the invading race. The silence was oppressive. No sound came from the black woods, invisible beyond the ebony masses that were the overhanging bushes. Balthus no longer heard the drums. They had been silent for hours. He kept blinking, unconsciously trying to see through the deep gloom. The dank night-smells of the river and the damp forest oppressed him. Somewhere, near by, there was a sound as if a big fish had flopped and splashed the water. Balthus thought it must have leaped so close to the canoe that it had struck the side, for a slight quiver vibrated the craft. The boat's stern began to swing, slightly away from the shore. The man behind him must have let go of the projection he was gripping. Balthus twisted his head to hiss a warning, and could just make out the figure of his companion, a slightly blacker bulk in the blackness.

The man did not reply (мужчина не ответил). Wondering if he had fallen asleep, Balthus reached out and grasped his shoulder (спрашивая себя, /не/ уснул ли он, Балтус потянулся и схватил его плечо; to fall asleep — заснуть). To his amazement, the man crumpled under his touch and slumped down in the canoe (к его изумлению, мужчина рухнул под его прикосновением и осел внизу в каноэ = на дно каноэ). Twisting his body half about, Balthus groped for him, his heart shooting into his throat (повернув его тело на пол-оборота, Балтус ощупал его, у него душа ушла в пятки: «его сердце дернулось в его горло»; to have one's heart in one's mouth/throat — быть очень напуганным; душа в пятки ушла). His fumbling fingers slid over the man's throat (его нащупывающие пальцы скользнули по горлу мужчины) — only the youth's convulsive clenching of his jaws choked back the cry that rose to his lips (только конвульсивное стискивание юноши = юношей /его/ челюстей сдержало крик = только конвульсивно стиснутые челюсти сдержали крик, который поднялся к его губам = готовый сорваться с его губ). His finger encountered a gaping, oozing wound — his companion's throat had been cut from ear to ear (его палец натолкнулся на зияющую, сочащуюся рану — горло его спутника было перерезано от уха до уха; to cut — резать, рубить).

asleep ['sli: p], youth [ju: ], wound [wnd]

The man did not reply. Wondering if he had fallen asleep, Balthus reached out and grasped his shoulder. To his amazement, the man crumpled under his touch and slumped down in the canoe. Twisting his body half about, Balthus groped for him, his heart shooting into his throat. His fumbling fingers slid over the man's throat — only the youth's convulsive clenching of his jaws choked back the cry that rose to his lips. His finger encountered a gaping, oozing wound — his companion's throat had been cut from ear to ear.