Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса
Шрифт:
The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our mighty craft (флаги Гелиума были протянуты от носа до кормы на каждом из наших могучих кораблей; to string — вешать, протягивать; string — веревка), but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that we were enemies (но зодангианцам не нужно было этого символа, чтобы понять, что мы — враги), for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them (так как наши зеленые марсианские воины открыли по ним огонь) almost as they left the ground (почти /в тот же миг/ как они оторвались от земли). With their uncanny marksmanship (со своей сверхъестественной меткостью; uncanny — жуткий, сверхъестественный; marksmanship — меткая стрельба) they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley (они
The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends (города-близнецы Гелиума, осознав, что мы друзья; to perceive — осознавать, понимать), sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us (выслали сотни судов нам на помощь; to send), and then began the first real air battle I had ever witnessed (и тогда началась первая настоящая воздушная битва, которую мне когда-либо пришлось наблюдать).
uncanny [An'kxnI], marksmanship ['mQ: ksmqnSIp]
The banners of Helium had been strung from stem to stern of each of our mighty craft, but the Zodangans did not need this sign to realize that we were enemies, for our green Martian warriors had opened fire upon them almost as they left the ground. With their uncanny marksmanship they raked the on-coming fleet with volley after volley.
The twin cities of Helium, perceiving that we were friends, sent out hundreds of vessels to aid us, and then began the first real air battle I had ever witnessed.
The vessels carrying our green warriors (корабли, несущие наших зеленых воинов) were kept circling above the contending fleets (все время кружили над сражающимися флотами; to keep — обозначает продолжение действия; to contend — бороться, сражаться) of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks (так как их батареи были бесполезны в руках тарков) who, having no navy, have no skill in naval gunnery (которые, не имея флота, не имели и навыка обращения с корабельной артиллерией; skill — опыт, умение). Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective (однако огонь из их стрелкового оружия был чрезвычайно действенным; small-arm — стрелковое оружие) and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced (и на конечный исход битвы сильно повлияло), if not wholly determined, by their presence (если не полностью определило его, их наличие).
contend [kqn'tend], gunnery ['gAn(q)rI], effective [I'fektIv]
The vessels carrying our green warriors were kept circling above the contending fleets of Helium and Zodanga, since their batteries were useless in the hands of the Tharks who, having no navy, have no skill in naval gunnery. Their small-arm fire, however, was most effective, and the final outcome of the engagement was strongly influenced, if not wholly determined, by their presence.
At first the two forces circled at the same altitude (вначале обе воздушные армии кружили на одной высоте), pouring broadside after broadside into each other (обрушивая друг на друга один бортовой залп за другим; broadside — бортовой залп; to pour — лить, выливать). Presently a great hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp (вскоре большущая дыра была проделана в корпусе одного из громадных боевых кораблей зодангианской стороны; camp — лагерь, сторона); with a lurch she turned completely over (накренившись, он полностью перевернулся; lurch — крен), the little figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below (и крошечные фигурки его экипажа полетели вниз, переворачиваясь
altitude ['xltItju: d], broadside ['brO: dsaId], lurch [lWtS], sickening ['sIkqnIN]
At first the two forces circled at the same altitude, pouring broadside after broadside into each other. Presently a great hole was torn in the hull of one of the immense battle craft from the Zodangan camp; with a lurch she turned completely over, the little figures of her crew plunging, turning and twisting toward the ground a thousand feet below; then with sickening velocity she tore after them, almost completely burying herself in the soft loam of the ancient sea bottom.
A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron (дикий крик ликования раздался от эскадры гелиумцев; exultation — ликование, торжество; to arise — возникать; раздаваться), and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet (и с удвоенной яростью они накинулись на зодангианский флот). By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their adversaries (благодаря удачному маневру два из кораблей Гелиума заняли позицию над своими противниками; pretty — миловидный, милый; хороший), from which they poured upon them (из которой они обрушили на них) from their keel bomb batteries (из своих бомбовых батарей у киля) a perfect torrent of exploding bombs (настоящий град: «ливень» взрывающихся бомб).
exultation ["egzAl'teIS(q)n], redouble [ri:'dAbl], pour [pO:]
A wild cry of exultation arose from the Heliumite squadron, and with redoubled ferocity they fell upon the Zodangan fleet. By a pretty maneuver two of the vessels of Helium gained a position above their adversaries, from which they poured upon them from their keel bomb batteries a perfect torrent of exploding bombs.
Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above the Zodangans (затем, одному за другим, боевым кораблям Гелиума удалось подняться над зодангианцами), and in a short time a number of the beleaguering battleships (и вскоре множество осаждавших /город/ военных кораблей; to beleaguer — осаждать, окружать) were drifting hopeless wrecks (дрейфовали /в виде/ беспомощных обломков) toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium (по направлению к высокой алой башне большего Гелиума). Several others attempted to escape (несколько других попытались спастись бегством), but they were soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers (но вскоре они были окружены тысячами крошечных одноместных самолетиков), and above each hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon their decks (и над каждым из них завис гигантский корабль Гелиума, готовый сбросить абордажные команды на их палубы; boarding — взятие на абордаж).
succeed [sqk'si: d], beleaguer [bI'li: gq], flier ['flaIq]
Then, one by one, the battleships of Helium succeeded in rising above the Zodangans, and in a short time a number of the beleaguering battleships were drifting hopeless wrecks toward the high scarlet tower of greater Helium. Several others attempted to escape, but they were soon surrounded by thousands of tiny individual fliers, and above each hung a monster battleship of Helium ready to drop boarding parties upon their decks.