Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
15. Zaemon’s Summons
I’vefiftystoutladsandeightwomenpackedintheshipsomehow,andtroubleenoughI’vehadtogetthemawayfromthecity.Thatthiefofaport-captainwellnighskinneduscleanbeforehecouldseeitlawfulthatsomanyusefulfightingmenmightgooutofharbour.Timesarenotwhattheywere,Itellyou,andtheseatrade’saboutdone.Allsailormenofanyskillhavetakenawomanortwoandgoneoutincompaniestotrytheirfortunesinotherlands.Why,I’dtroubleenoughtogethalfascoretohelpmeworkthisship.Allmybalancearejustlandsmenrawandsimple,andifIlandhalfofthemaliveattheotherend,weshallbedoingwell.”
“StillwithluckandafewgoodwindsitshouldnottakelongtogetacrosstoEurope.”
Tobslappedhisleg.“NosavageEuropeforme,mylord.Now,seetheadvantageofbeingamariner.IfoundoncesomeislandstothenorthofEurope,separatedfromthemainbyastrait,whichIcalledtheTinIslands,seeingthattinorelittersmanyofthebeaches.Iwasdriventherebystorm,andsaidnowordofthefindwhenIgotback,andhereyouseeitcomesinuseful.There’snooneinallAtlantisbutmeknowsofthoseTinIslandsto-day,andwe’llgoandfighthonestlyforourground,andbuildatownandakingdomonit.”
“WithTobforking?”
“Well,Ihavefigureditoutassuchformanyaday,butIknowwhenImeetmybetter,andI’mcontenttoserveunderDeucalion.