He strained, inching his hand along the stone. The mail of his arm scraped slowly over the surface; sweat trickled into his eyes. Bit by bit, his straining arm moved toward the handle of the dagger. The taunting tune of Feng’s flute sang maddeningly in his ears, while the ungodly stench of the slime-thing filled his nostrils.

His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast (его кисть коснулась кинжала, и через мгновение он держал рукоятку крепко). But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp ping (но, когда он потянул его от столба, изъеденное ржавчиной лезвие сломалось с резким звоном). Rolling his eyes downward, he saw that about two thirds of the blade, from the tapering point back, had broken off and lay flat against the stone (повернув свои глаза вниз, он увидел, что около двух третей клинка от суживающегося острия назад отломались и лежат горизонтально на камне; to break off — отломаться). The remaining third still projected from the hilt (оставшаяся треть все еще выступала из рукояти). Since there was now less iron in the dagger for the shaft to attract, Conan was able, by a muscle-bulging effort, to tear the stump of the weapon away from the shaft (поскольку теперь было меньше железа в кинжале для колонны притягивать = чтобы его могла притянуть колонна, Конан смог вздувающим мускулы усилием = усилием, от которого вздулись мускулы, оторвать обломок оружия от столба).

touched [tʌtʃt], fast [fɑ: st], effort [ˈefət]

His hand touched the dagger, and in an instant he held the hilt fast. But, as he strained it away from the shaft, the rust-eaten blade broke with a sharp ping. Rolling his eyes downward, he saw that about two thirds of the blade, from the tapering point back, had broken off and lay flat against the stone. The remaining third still projected from the hilt. Since there was now less iron in the dagger for the shaft to attract, Conan was able, by a muscle-bulging effort, to tear the stump of the weapon away from the shaft.

A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges (взгляд показал ему, что хотя большая часть лезвия была потеряна для него, обломок все еще имел пару очевидно острых граней). With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together (/с/ мускулами, дрожащими от усилия, чтобы удержать инструмент /на расстоянии/ от камня, он поднес одну из этих граней к кожаному ремню, который связывал две половины кольчуги вместе). Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade (осторожно он начал пилить жесткую сыромятную кожу ржавым лезвием; to begin — начинать(ся)).

lost [lɔst], sharp [ʃɑ: p], edges [ˈeʤɪz]

A glance showed him that, although most of the blade was lost to him, the stump still had a couple of apparently sharp edges. With his muscles quivering from the effort of holding the implement away from the stone, he brought one of these edges up against the leathern thong that bound the two halves of the mail shirt together. Carefully, he began to saw the tough rawhide with the rusty blade.

Every movement was agony (каждое движение было мукой). The torment of suspense grew unbearable (муки от неизвестности стали невыносимыми). His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb (его кисть, изогнутая в неудобном скрюченном положении, болела и стала онемевшей = онемела). The ancient blade was notched, thin, and brittle; a hasty motion might break it, leaving him helpless (старинный клинок был зазубренный, тонкий и хрупкий, поспешное движение могло сломать его, оставляя = оставив его (Конана) беспомощным). Stroke after stroke he sawed up and down, with exquisite caution (взмах за взмахом, он пилил вверх и вниз с большой осторожностью). The scent of the creature grew stronger and the sucking sounds of its progress, louder (запах существа становился сильнее, а чмокающие звуки его передвижения — громче).

numb [nʌm], sawed [sɔ: d], creature [ˈkri: tʃə]

Every movement was agony. The torment of suspense grew unbearable. His hand, bent into an uncomfortable, twisted position, ached and grew numb. The ancient blade was notched, thin, and brittle; a hasty motion might break it, leaving him helpless. Stroke after stroke he sawed up and down, with exquisite caution. The scent of the creature grew stronger and the sucking sounds of its progress, louder.

Then Conan felt the thong snap (потом Конан почувствовал треск ремня). The next instant, he hurled his full strength against the magnetic force that imprisoned him (/в/ следующее мгновение он швырнул его полную силу = всю свою силу против магнитной силы, которая пленила его). The thong unraveled through the loopholes in the mail shirt, until one whole side of the shirt was open (ремень распутался через отверстия в кольчуге, пока одна целая сторона кольчуги = одна сторона кольчуги целиком /не/ раскрылась). His shoulder and half an arm came out through the opening (его плечо и половина руки вышли через отверстие).

next [nekst], against [əˈɡenst], shoulder [ʃəuldə]

Then Conan felt the thong snap. The next instant, he hurled his full strength against the magnetic force that imprisoned him. The thong unraveled through the loopholes in the mail shirt, until one whole side of the shirt was open. His shoulder and half an arm came out through the opening.

Then he felt a light blow on the head (потом он почувствовал легкий удар по голове). The stench became overpowering, and his unseen assailant from above pushed this way and that against his helmet (вонь стала непреодолимой, а его невидимый противник сверху толкался тут и там о его шлем). Conan knew that a jellylike tendril had reached his helmet and was groping over its surface, seeking flesh (Конан знал, что желеобразный усик достиг шлема и ощупывал его поверхность, ища = в поисках мяса). Any instant, the corrosive stuff would seep down over his face (/в/ любое мгновение едкое вещество просочится вниз на его лицо)…

blow [bləu], became [bɪˈkeɪm], stuff [stʌf]

Then he felt a light blow on the head. The stench became overpowering, and his unseen assailant from above pushed this way and that against his helmet. Conan knew that a jellylike tendril had reached his helmet and was groping over its surface, seeking flesh. Any instant, the corrosive stuff would seep down over his face…

Frantically, he pulled his arm out of the sleeve of the unlaced side of the mail shirt (неистово он потянул свою руку из рукава расшнурованной стороны кольчуги). With his free hand, he unbuckled his sword belt and the chin strap of his helmet (свободной рукой он расстегнул ремень меча и ремешок на подбородке его шлема). Then he tore himself loose altogether from the deadly constriction of the mail, leaving his tulwar and his armor flattened against the stone (затем он оторвался /свободный/ полностью от смертельного захвата кольчуги, оставляя свой тульвар и /свои/ доспехи разглаженными на камне; to tear — рвать).

tore [tɔ: ], loose [lu: s], armor [ˈɑ: mə]

Frantically, he pulled his arm out of the sleeve of the unlaced side of the mail shirt. With his free hand, he unbuckled his sword belt and the chin strap of his helmet. Then he tore himself loose altogether from the deadly constriction of the mail, leaving his tulwar and his armor flattened against the stone.