Светлый фон
destination — назначение; цель to slink — красться to sell — продавать to take leave of — прощаться с to grope one’s way — пробираться на ощупь; intent — полный решимости; погруженный, поглощенный мысли to have to do with — иметь дело с чем-л., касаться чего-л., иметь отношение к чему-л. partway — на полпути to stand up — встать; подняться bulk — груда; тело хищного to hear — слышать

 

flight [flaɪt], acquirement [əˈkwaɪəmənt], vague [veɪɡ]

 

Conan reached his destination without being seen, just as one he wished fervently to meet was leaving it. As the Cimmerian slunk into the courtyard below, the girl who had sold him to the police was taking leave of her new lover in a chamber one flight up. This young thug, her door closed behind him, groped his way down a creaking flight of stairs, intent on his own meditations, which, like those of most of the denizens of the Maze, had to do with the unlawful acquirement of property. Part-way down the stairs, he halted suddenly, his hair standing up. A vague bulk crouched in the darkness before him, a pair of eyes blazed like the eyes of a hunting beast. A beastlike snarl was the last thing he heard in life, as the monster lurched against him and a keen blade ripped through his belly. He gave one gasping cry and slumped down limply on the stairway.

 

The barbarian loomed above him for an instant, ghoul-like (варвар на мгновение навис над ним, как упырь; to loom — маячить; нависать), his eyes burning in the gloom (а его глаза горели во мраке). He knew the sound was heard (он знал, что звук услышан), but the people in the Maze were careful to attend to their own business (но люди в Лабиринте были осторожны, чтобы заниматься = и занимались своими собственными делами = и не лезли в чужие дела; to attend to one's own business — заботиться о собственных делах). A death cry on darkened stairs was nothing unusual (смертельный крик на темной лестнице не был чем-то необычным). Later, some one would venture to investigate (позднее кто-нибудь отважится расследовать = выяснить причину; to investigate — расследовать; собирать сведения), but only after a reasonable lapse of time (но лишь спустя разумный промежуток времени).

to loom — маячить; нависать и занимались