Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
2. Back To Atlantis
”
ThenewViceroysighedwhimsically.“Ialmostforgethowtospeakinplainwordsnow,”hesaid.“Wehavegrownsopolishedintheselatterdays,thatmerebaldtruthwouldbehissedasindelicate.Butforthememoryofthoseearlyyears,whenweexpendedasmuchlawandthoughtovertheownershipofahay-byreasweshouldnowoverthefateofarebelliouscity,Iwilltryandspeakplaintoyouevennow,Deucalion.Tellme,oldfriend,whatisit?”
“WhatofthisnewEmpress?”
Hefrowned.“Imighthaveguessedyoursubject,”hesaid.
“Thenspeakuponit.Tellmeofallthechangesthathavebeenmade.WhathasthisPhorenicedonetomakeherthroneunstableinAtlantis?”
Tathofrownedstill.“IfIdidnotknowyoutobeashonestasourLordtheSun,yourquestionswouldcarrymischiefwiththem.Phorenicehasashortwaywiththosewhoaredaringenoughtodiscussherpoliciesforotherpurposethanpolitelytopraisethem.”
“Youcanleavemeignorantifyouwish,”Isaidwithatouchofchill.ThisTathoseemedtobedifferentfromtheTathoIhadknownathome,Tathomyworkmate,TathowhohadreadwithmeintheCollegeofPriests,whohadrunwithmeinmanyafuriouscharge,whohadlabouredwithmesoheavilythatthepeoplesunderusmightprosper.Buthewasquickenoughtoseemychangeoftone.
“Youforcemebacktomyoldself,”hesaidwithahalfsmile,“thoughitishardenoughtoforgetthecautiononehaslearnedduringthelasttwentyyears,evenwhenspeakingwithyou.
