Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
2. Back To Atlantis
Tathogavehisformalsummonsof“OpenyetotheViceroy,”whichtheritualcommands,andtheslaveswithinsentthemassivestonevalvesofthedoorgapingwide.Tathoentered,Iathisheels;theothershalted,sendingvaledictionsfromthethreshold;andthevalvesofthedoorclangedonthelockbehindus.Wepassedontothechamberbeyond,andthen,whenforthefirsttimewewerealonetogether,andtheforcedetiquetteofcourtswasbehindus,thenewViceroyturnedwithmeeklyfoldedarms,andbowedlowbeforeme.
“Deucalion,”hesaid,“believemethatIhavenotsoughtthisoffice.Itwasthrustuponme.HadInotaccepted,myheadwouldhavepaidforfeit,andanotherman—yourenemy—wouldhavebeensentoutasviceroyinyourplace.TheEmpressdoesnotpermitthatherwillshalleverbequestioned.”
“Myfriend,”Imadeanswer,“mybrotherinallbutblood,thereisnomanlivinginallAtlantisorherterritoriestowhomIhadlieferhandovermygovernment.FortwentyyearsnowhaveIruledthiscountryofYucatan,andMexicobeyond,firstundertheoldKing,andthenasministertothisnewEmpress.Iknowmycolonylikeabook.Iamintimatewithallherwonderfulcities,withtheirpalaces,theirpyramids,andtheirpeople.Ihavehuntedthebeastsandthesavagesintheforests.Ihavebuiltroads,andmadetheriverssothattheywillcarryshipping.Ihavefosteredtheartsandcraftslikeamerchant;Ihavediscoursed,threetimeseachday,thecultoftheGodswithmineownlips.
