to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
compensation; indemnification; reparation; consideration
long military service; having experienced many battles
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
reliable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
stronghold; inner citadel; base; headquarters
remainder; remnant; (not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively
absence; being away from home; house-sitting; house-sitter; being left unattended to (of one's studies, etc.); neglecting
crime syndicate; criminal syndicate
to tie up in a bundle (e.g. straw, hair, bills, letters); to bundle; to govern; to manage; to fold (one's arms); to put together (one's hands)
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
door (Western-style, car, etc.)
suspicious-looking; fishy
loitering; hanging around; wandering around
sure; certain; reliable; trustworthy; If I'm not mistaken; If I remember correctly
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen
clever; shrewd; crafty; cunning; pretentious; impertinent
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
old; former; the old; old things; old times; bygone days
management; (executive) staff; leaders; leadership; top brass; upper echelons
every place; various places
planning; scheming; maneuvering; manoeuvring
staff officer; military staff; adviser; counselor; counsellor
exile; banishment; eviction; elimination (e.g. of poverty); removal
trespassing; intrusion; to barge into; to burst into; to trespass
sky; the skies; high-altitude sky; upper air
as expected; sure enough; after all (is said and done); in the end; too; also
promptly; immediately; quickly; indifferently
slaughter (of animals for meat); butchery
should; must; -able; probably; likely
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
movement; move; motion; trend; development; change
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
secret manoeuvres (maneuvers); operating behind the scenes
eyesore; unpleasant sight; obstructing a view
to (happen to) see; to notice; to catch sight of
peremptorily; willy-nilly; forcibly
to smash up; to defeat crushingly
hands behind one's back; hands tied behind one's back; behind (e.g. someone); rear; appearance from behind
to summon; to call (e.g. phone); to convene; to invoke (e.g. subroutine); to call; to open (e.g. a file)
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; thank you
instability; insecurity; crankiness