Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
”
“AndIcomeofthose,”shecried,witharisingvoice,“whobiteagainstthiscity,becausetheyhavefoundtheirfatetoointolerablewiththelandasitisorderednow.WeheardofyourcomingfromYucatan.ItwaswewhosentthefleettotakeyouattheentrancetotheGulf.”
“Yourfleetgaveusaprettyfight.”
“Oh,Iknow,Iknow.Wehadourwatchersonthehighlandwhobroughtusthetidings.Wehadanomenevenbeforethat.Wherewelaywithourarmybeforethewallshere,wesawgreatbirdscarryingofftheslaintothemountains.Butwherethefleetfailed,IsawachancewhereI,awoman,might—”
“Whereyoumightsucceed?”Isatmedownonapileofthecaptain’sstuffs.ItseemedasifhereatlastthatIshouldfindasolutionformanythings.“Youcarryaname?”Iasked.
“TheycallmeNais.”
“Ah,”Isaid,andsignedtohertotaketheclothesthatIhadsoughtout.Shewascuriouslylike,sobothmyeyesandhearingsaid,toYlga,thefan-girlofPhorenice,butasshehadtoldmeofnoparentageIaskedfornonethen.Stillhertalkaloneletmeknowthatshewasbredofnoneofthecommonpeople,andImadeupmymindtowardsdefiniteunderstanding.“Nais,”Isaid,“youwishtokillme.AtthesametimeIhavenodoubtyouwishtoliveonyourself,ifonlytogetcreditfromyourpeopleforwhatyouhavedone.SohereIwillmakeacontractwithyou.ProvetomethatmydeathisforAtlantis’good,andIswearbyourLordtheSuntogooutwithyoubeyondthewalls,whereyoucanstabmeandthengetyougone.Orthe—”
“Iwillnotbeyourslave
