Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
16. Siege Of The Sacred Mountain
Phoreniceknowsbyherarts—shehasstolennearlyalltheancientknowledgenow—thatstillyoulive,andshekeepsNaisunharmedbeneaththegranitethroneinthehopesthatsometimeshemayuseherasaweaponagainstyou.LittlesheknowsthesternnessofourPriests’creed,mybrother.Why,evenI,thatamthegirl’sfather,wouldsacrificeherblithely,ifherdeathorruinmightdoatittleofgoodtoAtlantis.”
“Yougobeyondmewithyourdevotion.”
Theoldmanleanedforwardatme,withgloweringbrow.“What!”
“Ormyoldblindadherencetotheancientdogmahasbeensappedandweakenedbyevents.Youmustbuymyfullobedience,Zaemon,ifyouwantit.PromisemeNais—andyourartsIknowcansnatchher—andIwillbetrueservanttotheHighCouncilofthePriest,andwilldieinthelastditchifneedbeforthecarryingoutoforder.ButletmeseeNaisgivenovertothefuryofthatwantonwoman,andIshallhavenoinwardsleft,excepttotakemyvengeance,andtoseeAtlantispiledupinruinsasherfuneral-stone.”
Zaemonlookedatmebitterly.“AndyouarethemantheHighCouncilthoughttotrustastheywouldtrustoneofthemselves?Trulyweareinanageofweakmenandfaithlessnow.But,mylord—nay,Imustcallyoubrotherstill:wecannotbetooniceinourchoosingto-day—youarethebestthereis,andwemusthaveyou.
