Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
13. The Burying Alive Of Nais
Therearefeverstobegainedbycarryingwetclothesaftersunset,andthoughfrompersonalexperienceIhavelearnedthatthesemaybewardedoffwithdrugs,InoticedwithsomegrimamusementthattheEmpresshadsufficientlylittleoftheGoddessabouthertofearverymuchtheailmentswhichareduetofrailhumanity.
Thegalleyrowedswiftlyacrossthecalmwatersoftheharbour,andmadefasttotheringsofgoldontheroyalquay,andwhilstwewerewaitingforlitterstobebrought,IwatchedalanternlitintheboatwhichstoodguardoverPhorenice’smammoth.Thehugeredbeaststoodshoulder-deepintheharbourwater,withtrunkup-turned.Itwastamednow,andthelightoftheboat’slanternfellonthelittleripplessentoutbyitstremblings.ButIdidnotchoosetointercedeoraskmercyforit.Ifthemammothsankdeeperintheharbourmud,andwasswallowed,Icouldhavebornethelosswithequanimity.
Totellthetruth,thatrideonthegreatbeast’sbackhadimpressedmeunfavourably.Infact,itputintomeasenseofhelplessnessthatwaswellnighintolerable.Perhapscircumstanceshavemademeundulyself-reliant:onthatothersmustjudge.ButIwillowntohavingapreferenceforwalkingonmyownproperfeet,astheGodsinfashioningourshapesmostcertainlyintended.OnmyownfeetIamabletoguardmyownheadandneck,andhavedoneonfourcontinents,throughoutalongandactivelife,andonmanyathousandoccasions.Butonthebackofthatdetestablemammoth,pah!Igrewasnervousasachildoradastard.
However,Ihadlittleenoughleisureforpersonalmegrimsjustthen.
