Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
2. Back To Atlantis
Butdeathwouldnotcome.Itwasafinemelee,Deucalion,thatlastone.”
“Andsoshetookyou?”
“Istoodwiththreeothersbacktoback,witharingofdeadroundus,andaringoftheenemyhemmingusin.Wetauntedthemtocomeon.Butathand-to-handcourtesieswehadshownwecouldholdourown,andsotheywerecallingforfire-tubeswithwhichtheycouldstrikeusdowninsafetyfromadistance.ThenupcamePhorenice.‘Whatisthisto-do?’saysshe.‘WeseektokillLordTatho,wholedagainstyou,’saythey.‘SothatisTatho?’saysshe.‘Afinefigureofamanindeed,andaprettyfighterseemingly,aftertheoldmanner.Doubtlessheisonewhowouldacquirethenewermethod.SeenowTatho,’saysshe,‘itismycustomtoofferthoseIvanquisheitherthesword(which,believeme,wasneverneareryourneckthannow)orserviceundermybanner.Willyoumakeachoice?’
“‘Woman,’Isaid,‘fairestthateverIsaw,finestgeneraltheworldhaseverborne,youtemptmesorelybyyourqualities,butthereisatraditioninourClan,thatweshouldbetruetothesaltweeat.IamtheKing’smanstill,andsoIcantakenoservicefromyou.’
“‘TheKingisdead,’saysshe.‘Arunnerhasjustbroughtthetidings,meaningthemtohavefallenintoyourhands.AndIamtheEmpress.’
“‘WhomadeyouEmpress?’Iasked.
“‘Thesamemostcapablehandthathasgivenmethisbattle,’saysshe.‘Itisacapablehand,asyouhaveseen:itcanbeakindhandalso,asyoumaylearnifyouchoose.WiththeKingdead,Tathoisamasterlessmannow
