Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
Nowregard,myrebel,Ihavenowishtobeundulyharduponyou,thoughonceyouweremyfan-girl,andsoyourrunningawaytotheseill-kemptmalcontents,whobeattheirheadsagainstmycitywalls,isallthemorenaughty.Butyoumustmeetmehalfway.Youmustgiveanexcuseforleniency.Pointmeoutthemanyouwouldwed,andheshallbeyourhusbandto-morrow.”
“Thereisnoman.”
“Thennamemeoneatrandom.Why,myprettyNais,nottenmonthsagotherewereascorewhowouldhaveleapedatthechanceofhavingyouforawife.Dropyourcoyness,girl,andnamemeoneofthose.IwarrantyouthatIwillbeyourambassadressandwillputthemattertohimwithsuchdelicacythathewillnotmakeyoublushbyrefusal.”
Theprisonermoistenedherlips.“Iamamaiden,andIhaveamaiden’smodesty.Iwilldieasyouchoose,butIwillnotdothisindecency.”
“Well,Iamamaidentoo,andthoughbecauseIamEmpressalso,questionsofStatehavetostandbeforequestionsofmyprivatemodesty,Icanhaveasympathyforyours—althoughintruthitdidnotobtrudeundulywhenyouweremyfan-girl,Nais.No,cometothinkofit,youlikedatenderglanceandaprettyphraseaswellasanywhenyouwerefan-girl.Youhavegrownwildandshy,amongstthesesavagerebels,butIwillnotpunishyouforthat.
“Letmecallyourfavouritestomemorynow.TherewasTarca,ofcourse,butTarcahadadifferencewiththatill-dressedfatherofyours,andwearsaleprosyonhalfhisfaceinsteadofthatbeardheusedtotrimsofinely.AndthenthereisTatho,butTathoisawayoverseas.
