Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
Thestep-sidesoftheroyalpyramidheldmyeye.Phorenicehadexpendedsomeofhernew-foundstoreofgoldinoverlayingtheirformerwhitenesswithsheetsofshiningyellowmetal.Butitwasnotthatchangethatmovedme.Iwasrememberingthat,inthesquarebeforethepyramid,therestoodathroneofgranitecarvedwiththesnakeandtheoutstretchedhand,andinthehollowbeneaththethronewasNais,mylove,asleeptheseeightyearsnowbecauseofthedrugthathadbeengiventoher,butalivestill,andwaitingforme,ifonlyIonmypartcouldmakeawaytotheplacewhereZaemondefiedtheEmpress,andannouncemycoming.
InthatcovertofthewoodsIlayadayandanightragingwithmyselffornotdiscoveringsomeplantogetwithinthedefencesoftheSacredMountain,butinthemorningwhichfollowed,therecameamantowardsmerunning.
“Youneednotthreatenmewithyourweapons,”hecried.“Imeannoharm.ItseemsthatyouareDeucalion;thoughIshouldnothaveknownyoumyselfinthoseragsandskins,andbehindthattangleofhairandbeard.YouwillgivemeyourgoodwordIknow.Believeme,Ihavenotloiteredunduly.”
HewasalowerpriestwhomIknew,andheldinlittleesteem;hisnamewasRo,agreedyfellowandnotoverworthyoftrust.“Fromwhomdoyoucome?”Iasked.
“Zaemonlaidacommandonme.Hecametomyhouse,thoughhowhegotthereIcannottell,seeingthatPhorenice’sarmyblocksallpossiblepassagetoandfromtheMountain.ItoldhimIwishedtobemixedwithnoneofhisschemings.Iamapeacefulman,Deucalion,andhavetakenawifewhorequiresnourishment.
