Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
Soyouacceptedthealternative?”
“HadI,withawifedependingonme,anyotherchoice?Iaskedhispleasure.Itwastofindyouwhenyoucameinherefromsomedistantpartoftheland,anddelivertoyouhismessage.
“‘Thentellmewhereisthemeetingplace,’saidI,‘andwhen.’
“‘Thereisnoneappointed,noristhedayfixed,’saidhe.‘Youmustwatchandsearchalwaysforhim.Butwhenhecomes,youwillbeguidedtohisplace.’Well,Deucalion,IthinkIwasguided,buthow,Idonotknow.ButnowIhavefoundyou,andifthere’ssuchathingasgratitude,IaskyoutoputinyourwordwithZaemonthatthisdeadnessbetakenawayfrommyhand.It’sanawfulthingforamantobeforcedtogothroughlifelikethis,fornorealfaultofhisown.AndZaemoncouldcureitfromwherehesat,ifhewassominded.”
“YouseemstilltohaveaveryfullfaithinsomeoftheoldGods’priests,”Isaid.“Butsofar,Idonotseethatyourerrandisdone.Ihavehadnomessageyet.”
“Why,themessageissosimplethatIdonotseewhyhecouldnothavegotsomeoneelsetocarryit.Youaretomakeagreatblaze.Youmayfirethegrassesoftheplaininfrontofthiswoodifyouchoose.Andonthenightwhichfollows,youaretogoroundtothatflankoftheSacredMountainawayfromthecitywheretherocksrundownsheer,andtheretheywillloweraropeandhaulyouuptotheirhandsabove.”
“Itseemseasy,andIthankyouforyourpains.IwillaskZaemonthatyourhandmayberestoredtoyou.”
“Youshallhavemyprayersifitis.
