Unceremoniously (без церемоний), Corum's dripping body was hauled up and draped in front of the rider (мокрое тело Корума было поднято и посажено перед наездником; dripping — мокрый, влажный; капающий; to drape — драпировать, собирать в складки; опираться, прислоняться) who called something in a shrill voice (который крикнул что-то пронзительным голосом) and made the bat climb high above the waves (и заставил летучую мышь взмыть высоко над волнами; to climb — взбираться, подниматься; набирать высоту) and turn back in the direction of the island castle (и повернуться в направлении замка на острове).

automatically [, :tmaetk l] unconcerned ['nkn's: nd] tethering ['tedr] unceremoniously [, nsr'munsl] island ['alnd]

Corum automatically stretched out his nearest arm and realised that it was the one without a hand. The Mabden was unconcerned. He grabbed the limb near the elbow and hauled Corum up so that Corum could use his single hand to grasp a tethering strap which secured a high saddle on the back of the great bat.

Unceremoniously, Corum's dripping body was hauled up and draped in front of the rider who called something in a shrill voice and made the bat climb high above the waves and turn back in the direction of the island castle.

The beast was evidently hard to control (зверем, видимо, было трудно управлять), for the rider constantly corrected course (так как всадник постоянно выправлял курс) and continued to speak to it in the high-pitched language to which it responded (и продолжал говорить с ним пронзительным голосом, на который оно откликалось; high-pitched — высокий, пронзительный; language — язык, речь; to respond — отвечать, откликаться). But at length they had reached the island and were hovering over the castle (но наконец, они достигли острова и /теперь/ кружили над замком).

Corum could hardly believe that this was Mabden architecture (Корум с трудом мог поверить, что это была архитектура мабденов). There were turrets and parapets of delicate workmanship (башенки и парапеты тонкой работы/мастерства), roof-walks and balconies covered in ivy and flowers (прогулочные площадки на крышах и балконы, увитые плющом и цветами; walk — шаг, ходьба; место для прогулки, аллея), all fashioned from a fine, white stone that shone in the sunshine (все было выполнено из прекрасного белого камня, который сверкал на солнце; to fashion — придавать форму; создавать; to shine — светить/ся/, сиять). The bat landed clumsily (летучая мышь приземлилась неуклюже) and the rider got off quickly, pulling Corum with him (и наездник слез быстро /с нее/, таща Корума за собой; to get off — сходить, слезать). Almost instantly, the bat was up again (почти тотчас летучая мышь поднялась = взлетела вверх снова), wheeling in the sky and then diving towards a destination on the other side of the island (описывая круги в небе, и затем понеслась куда-то на другую сторону острова; to wheel — поворачивать/ся/; двигаться кругами; to dive — нырять, бросаться вниз; пикировать; destination — пункт назначения; цель).

language ['laew] parapet ['paerpt] balcony ['baelkn] clumsily ['klmzl]

The beast was evidently hard to control, for the rider constantly corrected course and continued to speak to it in the high-pitched language to which it responded. But at length they had reached the island and were hovering over the castle.

Corum could hardly believe that this was Mabden architecture. There were turrets and parapets of delicate workmanship, roof-walks and balconies covered in ivy and flowers, all fashioned from a fine, white stone that shone in the sunshine. The bat landed clumsily and the rider got off quickly, pulling Corum with him. Almost instantly, the bat was up again, wheeling in the sky and then diving towards a destination on the other side of the island.

`They sleep in caves (они спят в пещерах), the rider explained (объяснил наездник). `We use them as little as possible (мы используем их так мало = редко, как /только/ возможно). They're hard things to control, as you saw (ими трудно управлять, как ты видел).

Corum said nothing (Корум ничего не сказал).

For all that the Mabden had saved his life and seemed both cheerful and courteous (несмотря на то, что этот мабден спас его жизнь и казался/выглядел веселым и обходительным; courteous — вежливый, учтивый), Corum had learned, as an animal learns, that the Mabden were his enemies (Корум научился = запомнил, как животное запоминает, что мабдены — его враги). He glowered at the Mabden (он сердито посмотрел на мабденского /юношу/; to glower — сердито, пристально смотреть).

`What have you saved me for, Mabden (для чего ты спас меня, мабден)?

cheerful ['ful] courteous ['k: ts] glowered ['laud]

`They sleep in caves, the rider explained. `We use them as little as possible. They're hard things to control, as you saw.

Corum said nothing.

For all that the Mabden had saved his life and seemed both cheerful and courteous, Corum had learned, as an animal learns, that the Mabden were his enemies. He glowered at the Mabden.

`What have you saved me for, Mabden?

The man looked surprised (человек выглядел удивленным). He dusted down his tunic of scarlet velvet (он стряхнул пыль с туники из алого бархата; to dust — смахивать, выбивать пыль; tunic — блузка или жилет /обычно с поясом/; туника) and adjusted his sword-belt on his hips (и поправил портупею на боку; to adjust — приводить в порядок, регулировать; sword-belt: sword — меч, шпага; belt — пояс, ремень; hip — бедро). `You were drowning (ты тонул), he said. `Why did you run away from our men when they came to greet you (почему ты убежал от наших людей, когда они шли, чтобы поприветствовать тебя)?