Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Andpresentlyitbecamestationary,andstandingupwecouldseethroughtheslitsinthewallsthepeopleofthecamprousingupfromtheiruneasyrest,andclusteringtogetherroundonewhostoodandtalkedtothemfromthepedestalofawarengine.

           Whathewasdeclaiminguponwecouldnothear,andourcuriosityonthematterwasnotkeen.Giventhatallwhodidnotsleepwenttowearythemselveswiththisfellow,asNaiswhispered,itwouldbesimpleformetomakeanexitintheoppositedirection.

           Butherewewerereckoningwithouttheinevitablebusybody.Adozenpairsoffeetsplashingthroughthewetcameuptothesideofthelittletemple,andcriedloudlythatNaisshouldjointheaudience.Shehadeloquenceoftongue,itappeared,andtheyfearedlestthisspeakerwhohadtakenhisstandonthewarengineshouldmakeschismsamongsttheirranksunlesssomeskilledpersonstoodupalsotorefutehisarguments.

           Here,then,itseemedtomethatImustbeelbowedintomyskirmishbythemostunexpectedofchances,butNaiswasfirmlymindedthatthereshouldbenofight,ifcourageonherpartcouldturnit.“Comeoutwithme,”shewhispered,“andkeepdistantfromthelightofthefires.”

           “Buthowexplainmybeinghere?”

           “Thereisnoreasontoexplainanything,”shesaidbitterly.“Theywilltakeyouformylover.Thereisnothingremarkableinthat:itisthemodehere.Butoh,whydidnottheGodsmakeyouwearabeard,andcurlit,evenasothermen?Thenyoucouldhavebeengoneandsafethesetwohours.”

           “Asmoothchinpleasesmebetter.