Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
13. The Burying Alive Of Nais
Iaskedyoutohelpmedoaservicetooneofyourownblood-kin.”
Shestaredatmewonderingly.“Idonotunderstand.”
“ItrestslargelywithyouastowhetherNaisdiesto-morrow,orwhethersheisthrownintoasleepfromwhichshemaywakenonsomelaterandmorehappyday.”
“Nais!”shegasped.“Mytwin,Nais?Sheisnothere.Sheisoutinthecampwiththosenastyrebelswhobiteagainstthecitywalls,if,indeed,stillshelives.”
“Nais,yoursisterisnearusintheroyalpyramidthisminute,andunderguard,thoughwhereIdonotknow.”AndwiththatItoldherallthathadpassedsincethegirlwasbroughtupaprisonerinthegalleyofthatfoolish,fawningcaptainoftheport.“TheEmpresshasdecreedthatNaisshallbeburiedaliveunderathroneofgranitewhichIamtobuildforherto-morrow,andburiedshewillassuredlybe.YetIhaveakindnessforNais,whichyoumayguessatifyouchoose,andIammindedtosendherintoasleepsuchasonlywehigherpriestsknowof,fromwhichatsomefuturedayshemaypossiblyawaken.”
“SoitisNais;andnotPhorenice,andnot—notanyother?”
“Yes;itisNais.ImarrytheEmpressbecauseZaemon,whoismouthpiecetotheHighCouncilofthePriests,hasorderedit,forthegoodofAtlantis.Butmyinwardsremainstillcoldtowardsher.”
“AlmostIhatepoorNaisalready.”
“Yourvengeancewouldbeeasy.Donottellmewheresheisgaoled,andIshallnotdaretoask.
