The Stygians sprawled around their fire, passing a bottle of wine from hand to hand and talking in their guttural tongue. Although Conan knew only a few words of Stygian, from the intonations and gestures he could follow the course of the argument. The leader — a clean-shaven giant, as tall as the Cimmerian — swore that he would not venture into the downpour on such a night. They would await the dawn in this crumbling ruin. At least, the roof seemed to be still sound in places, and a man could lie here out of the drip.
When several more bottles had been emptied, the Stygians, now warm and dry, composed themselves for sleep (когда еще несколько бутылок было опустошено =
sustain [s'sten], harsh [h: ], groan [run]
When several more bottles had been emptied, the Stygians, now warm and dry, composed themselves for sleep. The fire burned low, for the brushwood with which they fed it could not long sustain a strong blaze. The leader pointed to one of his men and spoke a harsh sentence. The man protested, but after some argument he heaved himself up with a groan and pulled on his coat of mail. He, Conan realized, had been chosen to stand the first watch.
Presently, with sword in hand and shield on arm, the sentry was standing in the shadows at the margin of the light of the dying fire (сейчас с мечом в руке и щитом на руке часовой стоял в тени у края =
sentry ['sentr], peer [p], front [frnt]
Presently, with sword in hand and shield on arm, the sentry was standing in the shadows at the margin of the light of the dying fire. From time to time he walked slowly up and down the length of the hall, pausing to peer into the winding corridors or out through the front doors, where the storm was in retreat.
While the sentry stood in the main doorway with his back to his comrades, a grim shape formed among the snoring band of slavers (пока караульный стоял в главном дверном проеме /своей/ спиной к его товарищам, зловещая форма образовалась среди храпящей банды работорговцев / охотников за рабами). It grew slowly out of wavering clouds of insubstantial shadows (он выросла медленно из колеблющихся клубов иллюзорных теней). The compound creature that gradually took shape was made up of the vital force of thousands of dead beings (составное создание, которое постепенно приняло форму, было составлено =
grew [ru: ], weight [wet], mouth [mau]