Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Similarly,too,whenIgotfartheron,andcameamongstgreatertownsalso,Ikeptbeyondchallengeoftheirwalls,havingnomindtoriskdelayfromthewhimofanynewlawwhichmightchancetobesetupbytheirgovernors.Myprogressmightbeslinking,butmypridedidnotupbraidmeveryloudly;indeed,thefeverofhasteburnedwithinmesohotandIhadlittleenoughcarryingspaceforotheremotions.

           ButatlastIfoundmyselfwithinahalf-day’sjourneythecityofAtlantisitself,withtheSacredMountainanditsringoffiresloominghighbesideit,andthecallforcautionbecametreblyaccentuated.Everywhereevidencesshowedthatthecountryhadbeendrainedofitsfightingmen.EverywherewomenprayedthatthebattlesmightendwiththeroutofthePriestsorthekillingofPhorenice,sothatthewretchedlandmighthavepeaceandtimetolickitswounds.

           AnarmywasinvestingtheSacredMountain,anditsoneapproachwasmostnarrowlyguarded.Evenafterhavingjourneyedsofar,itseemedasifIshouldhavetosithopelesslydownwithoutbeingabletocarryouttheorderswhichhadbeenlaiduponmebytheHighCouncil,andearntherewardwhichhadbeenpromised.Forcewouldbeuselesshere.Ishouldhaveonegoodfight—agorgeousfight—onemanagainstanarmy,andmyusefulnesswouldbeended....No;thiswastheoccasionforguile,andIfoundcovertintheoutskirtsofawood,andlaytherecudgellingmybrainforaplan.

           Acrosstheplainbeforemelaythegrimgreatwallsofthecity,withtheheadsofitstemples,anditspalaces,anditspyramidsshowingbeyond.