Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
15. Zaemon’s Summons
Thisbreezeandtheebbaretakingtheoldshipfinelyalongherways.Seethosefirebasketsontheharbourforts?We’reabreastofthemnow.We’llhavedroppedthemandthecityoutofsightbydaylight,andthefloodwillnotbegintorunuptillthen.ButIfearunlessthewindhardensdownwiththedawnwe’llhavetobringuptoananchorwhenthefloodmakes.Tidesrunveryhardinthesenarrowseas.Aye,andtherearesomeshrewdishtide-ripsroundmyTinIslands,asyoushallseewhenwereachthem.”
Thereweremanyfearfulglancesbackwardswhendaycameandshowedthewaters,andtheburningmountainsthathemmedtheminbeyondtheshores.AllseemedtoexpectsomenavyofPhorenicetocomesurginguptotakethembacktoservitudeandstarvationinthesqualidwardsofthecity;andIconfessingenuouslythatIwaswiththeminalltruthwhentheysworetheywouldfighttheshiptillshesankbeneaththem,beforetheywouldobeyanotherofthecommandsofPhorenice.However,theirbraveheroicsweredisplayedtonosmallpurpose.Forthefullflowofthetidewehunginourplace,barelymovingpasttheland,butyetnotseeingeitheroarorsail;andthen,whenthetideturned,awaywewentoncemorewithspeed,mightilycomforted.
Tob’swomanmustneedsbringdrinkondeck,andbidallpourlibationstoherasafuturequeen.ButTobcuffedherbackintotheafter-castle,slammingtothehatchbehindherheels,andbiddingthecrewsendtheliquordowntheirdustythroats.“Wearedonewiththatfoolery,”saidhe.