Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
”
“I’dlieferhavewalked.”
“Pish,man!You’llneverbeacourtier.Youshouldhaveswornthatwithmeinyourarmsyoucouldhavewishedthebumpinghadgoneonforever.Ho,theboatthere!Holdyourarrows.Deucalion,hailmethosefoolsinthatboat.Tellthemthat,iftheyhurtsomuchasahairofmymammoth,I’llkillthemallbytorture.He’llexhausthimselfdirectly,andwhenhisflurry’sdonewe’llleavehimwhereheistoconsiderhisevilwaysforadayorso,andthenhaulhimoutwithwindlasses,andtamehimafresh.Pho!IcouldnotfeelmyselftobePhorenice,ifIhadnofine,red,shaggymammothtotakemeoutformyrides.”
Theboatwasaten-slavegalleywhichwaschurningupfromthefarthersideoftheharbourashardaswell-pliedwhipscouldmakeoarsdriveher,butatthesoundofmyshoutsthesoldiersonherforedeckstoppedtheirarrowshots,andthesteersmanswervedheroffonanewcoursetopickusup.Tillthenwehadbeenswimmingleisurelyacrossanangleoftheharbour,soastoavoidlandingwherethesewersoutpoured;butwestoppednow,treadingthewater,andwerehelpedoverthesidebymostrespectfulhands.
Thegalleybelongedtothecaptainoftheport,amincingfigureofamariner,whosehighestappetiteinlifewastolickthefeetofthegreat,andhebegantofawnandprostratehimselfatonce,andtowishthathiseyeshadbeenblindedbeforehesawtheEmpressinsuchdeadlyperil.
“Theperilmaypass,”saidshe.“It’snothingmortalthatwilleverkillme.
