"We suspected as much," answered the leader of the men, as they strode forward — tall, rangy men, stern-faced, with bows in their hands (мы так и подозревали, — ответил предводитель людей, когда они пошли вперед — высокие, поджарые мужчины, с суровыми лицами, с луками в /их/ руках). "One of our party wounded an antelope and tracked it nearly to Black River (один из нашего отряда ранил антилопу и шел по следу за ней почти до Черной реки). He heard them yelling down the river and ran back to our camp (он услышал их вопли ниже по реке и прибежал назад в наш лагерь). We left the salt and the wagons, turned the oxen loose, and came as swiftly as we could (мы оставили соль и телеги, освободили волов и пришли =
forward ['f: wd], nearly ['nl], oxen [ksn]
"We suspected as much," answered the leader of the men, as they strode forward — tall, rangy men, stern-faced, with bows in their hands. "One of our party wounded an antelope and tracked it nearly to Black River. He heard them yelling down the river and ran back to our camp. We left the salt and the wagons, turned the oxen loose, and came as swiftly as we could. If the Picts are besieging the fort, war-parties will be ranging up the road toward our cabins."
"Your families are safe," grunted Conan (ваши семьи в безопасности, — пробурчал Конан). "My companion went ahead to take them to Velitrium (мой товарищ пошел вперед, чтобы отвести их в Велитриум). If we go back to the main road we may run into the whole horde (если мы пойдем назад по главной дороге, мы можем наткнуться на целую орду). We'll strike southeast, through the timber (мы пойдем на юго-восток, через лес). Go ahead (идите вперед). I'll scout behind (я разведаю сзади / прикрою)."
"Your families are safe," grunted Conan. "My companion went ahead to take them to Velitrium. If we go back to the main road we may run into the whole horde. We'll strike southeast, through the timber. Go ahead. I'll scout behind."
A few moments later the whole band was hurrying southeastward (несколько секунд спустя весь отряд спешил на юго-восток). Conan followed more slowly, keeping just within ear-shot (Конан шел за ними медленнее, держась как раз в пределах слышимости). He cursed the noise they were making (он проклинал шум, /который/ они создавали); that many Picts or Cimmerians would have moved through the woods with no more noise than the wind makes as it blows through the black branches (столько пиктов или киммерийцев прошли бы через лес с шумом не больше, чем от ветра: «чем ветер делает», когда он дует между черных ветвей). He had just crossed a small glade when he wheeled, answering the conviction of his primitive instincts that he was being followed (он только что пересек небольшую поляну, когда он повернулся, отвечая на =
wind [wnd], blow [blu], conviction [kn'vkn]
A few moments later the whole band was hurrying southeastward. Conan followed more slowly, keeping just within ear-shot. He cursed the noise they were making; that many Picts or Cimmerians would have moved through the woods with no more noise than the wind makes as it blows through the black branches. He had just crossed a small glade when he wheeled, answering the conviction of his primitive instincts that he was being followed. Standing motionless among the bushes he heard the sounds of the retreating settlers fade away. Then a voice called faintly back along the way he had come: "Conan! Conan! Wait for me, Conan!"
"Balthus!" he swore bewilderedly (Балтус! — он озадаченно ругнулся). Cautiously he called: "Here I am (осторожно /он/ позвал: я здесь)!"
"Wait for me, Conan!" the voice came more distinctly (подожди меня, Конан! — голос донесся более отчетливо).
Conan moved out of the shadows, scowling (Конан вышел из теней, хмурясь). "What the devil are you doing here (какого черта ты делаешь здесь)? — Crom (о, Кром)!"