Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
Andsointimetheyreachedthecoasttowns,andTathoandthefewthatsurvivedtookship,andsailedhome.TheyevenateTatho’swifeforhim.Theymustbecuriousperseveringthings,theselittlehairymen.TheGodssendtheydonotgetacrosstheseastoAtlantis,ortheywouldbeworseplaguetothepoorcountrythanPhorenice.”
NowIhadheardoftheselittlehairycreaturesbefore,andthoughindeedIhadneverseenthem,Ihadgatheredthattheywerealittlelessthanhumanandalittlemorethanbestial;alinksotospeakbetweenthetwoorders;andspeciallyheldincheckbytheGodsincertainforestsolitudes.AlsoIhadlearnedthatonoccasion,whenpunishmentwasneedful,theycouldbesetlooseasadevastatingarmyuponmen,devouringallbeforethem.ButIsaidnothingofthistothenymph,shebeingbutavulgarwoman,andindeedhalfsilly,asisalwaysthecasewiththeseself-styledsorceresseswhogulltheignorant,commonfolk.ButwithinmyselfIwasbitterlygrievedatthefateofthatfinecolonyofYucatan,inwhichIhadexpendedsuchaninfinityofpainstodomyshareofthebuilding.
Butitdidnotsuitmypurposetohavemynameandqualityblazonedabroadtillthetimewasfull,andsoIsaidnothingtothenymphaboutYucatan,butletthetalkcontinueuponothermatters.“WhataboutEgypt?”Iasked.
“Initsaccustomeddarkness,sotheysay.