Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
Indeed,theytoldmethatamonthbeforemyreturn,asfineacargoofslaveshadbeenbroughtintoharbourasevercameoutofEurope,andtherewasnothingforitbuttosetthemashoreacrosstheestuary,andleavethemfreetostarveorliveinthewildgroundthereastheychose.TherewasnomaninallAtlantiswhowouldholdsomuchasonemoreslaveasagift.
ButthoughIwasgrievedatthisfallingaway,allschemesforremedywouldbeforafterwards.Itwouldonlymakeillworsetospeakofitaswerodetogetherinthelitter.IwasgrowingtoknowPhorenice’smoodsenoughforthat.Still,Ithinkthatshetoohadstudiedmine,anddidherbesttointerestmebetweenherburstsoftrifling.Wewentouttowherethewesternmostharbourwalljoinstheland,andtherethepantingbearerssetusdown.Sheledmeintoalittlehouseofstonewhichstoodbyitself,builtoutonapromontorywherethereisaconstantrunoftide,andwhenwehadbeengivenadmittance,aftermuchunbarring,sheshowedmehernewgoldcollectors.
InthedryknowledgetaughtinthecollegesandgrovesoftheSacredMountainithadbeenacommonfacttousthatthemetalgoldwaspresentinadissolvedstateinallseawater,butofplansfordraggingitforthintoyellowhardness,nonehadeverbeendiscussed.Butherethisfield-rearedupstartofanEmpresshadstumbleduponthetrickasthoughithadbeenwritteninabook.
ShepattedmyarmlaughinglyasIstaredcuriouslyroundtheplace.“ItellallothersinAtlantisthatonlytheGodshavethissecret,”saidshe,“andthatTheygaveittomeasoneofthemselves.
