Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
10. A Wooing
”
“Onemustlive,”hegrumbled,ashepressedhislevers,andthemassivestoneinthedoorwayswungajar.
“Ifyouhadbeenamorecapableman,Imighthaveseenthenecessity,”saidI,andpassedintotheopenandlefthim.IcouldneverbringmyselftolikeRo.
Amotleycrowdfilledthestreetwhichranpastthefrontofthisobscuretemple,andallwerehurryingoneway.WithwhatIhadbeentold,itdidnottakemucharttoguessthatthegreatstonecircleofourLordtheSunwastheirmark,anditgrievedmetothinkofhowmanyvenerablecenturiesthatgreatfanehaduprearedbeforetheweatherandtheearthtremors,withoutsuchprofanationasitwouldwitnessto-day.Andalsothethoughtoccurredtome,“WasourGreatLordabovedrawingthiswomanontoherdestruction?WouldHetakesomevastandfinalactofvengeancewhensheconsummatedherfinalsacrilege?”
Butthecrowdpressedon,thrilledandexcited,andthinkinglittle(asisacrowd’swont)onthedeepermatterswhichlaybeneaththebarespectacle.Fromonequarterofthecitywallsthedinofanattackfromthebesiegersmadeitselfclearlyheardfromoverthehouse,andthetemplesandthepalacesintervening,butnooneheededit.Theyhadgrowncallous,thesetownsfolk,tothebatteringoframs,andtheflightoffire-darts,andtheotheremotionsofabombardment.Theirnerves,theirhunger,theirdesperation,werestrungtosuchapitchthatlittleshortofanactualstormcouldstirthemintonewexcitementoverthesiege.
Allwereweaponed.
