'These things thou speakest of be shadows (эти вещи, о которых ты говорил, призраки),' Koogah took up the strain (Куга подхватил тон речи
Nam-Bok was perplexed (Нам-Бок растерялся;
'If thou art Nam-Bok (если ты Нам-Бок),' Opee-Kwan was saying (говорил Опи-Кван), 'thou art a fearful and most wonderful liar (ты ужасный и очень удивительный лжец;
'These things thou speakest of be shadows,' Koogah took up the strain. 'From the shadow-world thou hast brought them, and to the shadow-world thou must return them. Thy bidarka be ready, and the tribespeople wait. They may not sleep until thou art gone.'
Nam-Bok was perplexed, but hearkened to the voice of the head man.
'If thou art Nam-Bok,' Opee-Kwan was saying, '`thou art a fearful and most wonderful liar; if thou art the shadow of Nam-Bok, then thou speakest of shadows, concerning which it is not good that living men have knowledge. This great village thou hast spoken of we deem the village of shadows. Therein flutter the souls of the dead; for the dead be many and the living few. The dead do not come back. Never have the dead come back — save thou with thy wonder-tales. It is not meet that the dead come back, and should we permit it, great trouble may be our portion.'
Nam-Bok knew his people well and was aware (Нам-Бок хорошо знал свой народ и понимал) that the voice of the council was supreme (что голос совета высший = обладал высшей властью). So he allowed himself to be led down to the water's edge (поэтому он позволил провести себя к границе воды =
Nam-Bok knew his people well and was aware that the voice of the council was supreme. So he allowed himself to be led down to the water's edge, where he was put aboard his bidarka and a paddle thrust into his hand. A stray wild-fowl honked somewhere to seaward, and the surf broke limply and hollowly on the sand. A dim twilight brooded over land and water, and in the north the sun smouldered, vague and troubled, and draped about with blood-red mists. The gulls were flying low. The off-shore wind blew keen and chill, and the black-massed clouds behind it gave promise of bitter weather.
'Out of the sea thou camest (из моря ты пришел),' Opee-Kwan chanted oracularly (заговорил пророчески нараспев Опи-Кван), 'and back into the sea thou goest (и обратно в море ты уходишь). Thus is balance achieved and all things brought to law (таким образом достигнуто равновесие, и все приведено в соответствие закону).'
Bask-Wah-Wan limped to the froth-mark and cried (Баск-Уа-Уан медленно двинулась к границе пены и крикнула;
But Koogah, shoving Nam-Bok clear of the beach (но Куга, отталкивая Нам-Бока от берега), tore the shawl from her shoulders and flung it into the bidarka (сорвал шаль с ее плеч и швырнул ее в байдарку).
'It is cold in the long nights (долгими ночами холодно),' she wailed (запричитала она); 'and the frost is prone to nip old bones (а мороз норовит ущипнуть старые кости;
'Out of the sea thou camest,' Opee-Kwan chanted oracularly, 'and back into the sea thou goest. Thus is balance achieved and all things brought to law.'
Bask-Wah-Wan limped to the froth-mark and cried, 'I bless thee, Nam-Bok, for that thou remembered me.'
But Koogah, shoving Nam-Bok clear of the beach, tore the shawl from her shoulders and flung it into the bidarka.
'It is cold in the long nights,' she wailed; 'and the frost is prone to nip old bones.'
'The thing is a shadow (эта вещь — тень),' the bone-scratcher answered (ответил косторез), ''and shadows cannot keep thee warm (а тени не могут согреть тебя: «сохранить тебя теплой»).'
Nam-Bok stood up that his voice might carry (Нам-Бок встал, чтобы его голос мог донестись;
'The thing is a shadow,' the bone-scratcher answered, ''and shadows cannot keep thee warm.'
