Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
14. Again The Gods Make Change
“Awomanisone,andmanisone,”sheproclaimed,followingforthefirsttimetheoldformofwords,“butinmarriagetheymerge,sothatwifeandhusbandarenomoreseparate,butoneconjointly.Intokenofthiswewillnowmakethesymbolicjoiningtogether,sothatallmayseeandremember.”Shetookherdagger,andprickingthebrawnonmyforearmtillaheadofbloodappeared,setherredlipstoit,andtookitintoherself.
“Ah,”shesaid,withhereyessparkling,“nowyouarepartofmeindeed,Deucalion,andIfeelyouhavestrengthenedmealready.”Shepulleddowntheneckofherrobe.“Letmemakeyoumyreturn.”
Iprickedtheroundedwhitenessofhershoulder.Gods!whenIrememberedwhowasbeneathusaswesatonthatthrone,Icouldhavedriventhebladethroughtoherheart!AndthenI,too,putdownmylips,andtookthedropofherbloodthatwasyieldedtome.
Mytonguewasdry,mythroatwasparched,andmyfacesuffused,andIthoughtIshouldhavechoked.
ButtheEmpress,whowasordinarilysoacute,wasmisledthen.“Itthrillsyou?”shecried.“Itburnswithinyoulikelivingfire?Ihavejustfeltit.Bymyface!Deucalion,ifIhadknownthepleasureitgivestobemadeawife,IdonotthinkIshouldhavewaitedthislongforyou.Ah,yes;butwithanothermanIshouldhavehadnothrill.Imighthavegonethroughtheceremonywithanother,butitwouldhaveleftmecold.Well,theysaythisfeelingcomestoawomanbutonceinhertime,andIwouldnotchangeitforthegloryofallmyconquestsandthewhirlofallmypower.
