TooLazyToinvent: переводы

→‘You may not like it, girl,’ said a voice from the shadows to our right, ‘but you’d better make the best of it. It’s the most comfortable you’ll ever be again. This is the Tynwald witch tower – after you leave here, there’s only pain and death to look forward to.’

→I didn’t bother to ask him what he meant and remained silent until the cart finally came to a halt. We seemed to have reached a village. It was surrounded by trees, and hills rose up on either side. We were pulled down from the cart and taken past a large, curious mound of earth. It was shaped like a barrow but had four tiers. I’d never seen anything quite like it. Beyond stood another stone tower – this one much smaller than the first. I wondered if it was for holding prisoners, and was soon proved correct.

→‘That’s Greeba Keep,’ he continued. ‘You might just live to see it again!’

→The other yeomen laughed. ‘But once in there you’ll wish you’d died! It’s the lucky ones who are pulled out dead!’ said one.

→In the distance, lit by the moon, was some sort of fortification. I could see a tower surrounded by castellated walls, with a mountain beyond it.

→‘See that, boy?’ he said, pointing to his right.

→The men didn’t speak at first and seemed content to stare at us. We both lowered our eyes, not wanting to give them any excuse for violence, and kept quiet, but after a little less than an hour, I judged, one of them nudged me with his club.

→After a forced march through the busy streets, during which we were jostled, jeered and spat on, we arrived at last at the outskirts of the town and were pushed aboard a dray-cart pulled by four sturdy shire horses. The driver cracked his whip and we set off along a track; having glanced up at the stars and noted the position of the Plough constellation, I judged it was taking us roughly north-west. Alice and I weren’t alone in the cart. We were guarded by three thick-set men with clubs who looked more than willing to use them. Our hands were still tied and there wasn’t the slightest chance of escape.

→I just had time to glance back at Captain Baines’s anxious face before I was seized too, and moments later my hands were tied behind my back and I was outside the tavern with Alice, being dragged by rough hands up the hill towards the main thoroughfare.

→‘It’s enough! Bring him along!’ snapped Stanton. ‘It’s a long time since we tested a male witch. They’re very rare.’

→‘A sliver of darkness is buried deep within his soul. A very small piece …’

→‘We haven’t got all day. What’s the problem?’

→Now it was my turn, but after studying me with his blind eyes, the creature looked even more puzzled. His mouth opened twice to reveal two rows of sharp yellow teeth, but no words came out.

→‘What about the boy, then?’

→The abhuman looked at Captain Baines next. ‘No darkness here,’ he growled.

→‘Check the other two!’ Stanton commanded. ‘They were talking to a witch. Could be they’re in league together. Maybe one of them’s a warlock …’

→I knew just one thing – wherever they took Alice, I had to go too. If she was separated from the blood jar, the Fiend would take his revenge on her. However, as it turned out, I didn’t need to do anything.

→‘Well, that’s all we need to know! Seize her, lads!’ he cried, and two men stepped forward and dragged Alice off her stool. She didn’t try to struggle – her eyes were wide and filled with fear.

→‘She has darkness inside her!’ cried the abhuman. ‘Dark power!’

→‘Well, come on,’ the commander demanded in an impatient voice. ‘Is the girl a witch or not?’