Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
17. Nais The Regained
Herheraldsmadeproclamationthatpeaceandagoodsubsistencewouldbegiventothosewhochosetocomeouttoherwillingly;andasanalternativeshewouldkillbytortureandmutilationthoseshecaughtintheplacewhenshetookitbystorm,asshemostassuredlywoulddobeforeshehadfinishedwithit.Andsogreatwastheprestigeofhername,thatquiteone-halfofthesethatremainedonthemountaintookthemselvesawayfromthedefence.
Therewasnoattempttoholdbackthesesorrypriests,norwasthereanypunishingthemastheywent.Zaemon,indeed,wasminded(sohetoldmewithgrimmeaninghimself)togivethemsomemementooftheirapostasytocarryawaywhichwouldnotwearout,buttheothersoftheHighCouncilmadehimstayhisvengefulhand.AndsowhenIcametotheplacethegarrisonnumberednomorethaneighty,countingevenfeebleolddotardswhocouldbarelywalk;andofmennotpasttheirprimeIcouldbarelycommandascore.
Still,seeingthenarrownessofthepassageswhichledtoeachofthegates,upwhichinnoplacecouldmorethantwomenadvancetogether,wewerebynomeansindesperatestraitsforthedefenceasyet;andifmynew-givenkingdomwassofarsmall,consistingasitdidineffectoftheSacredMountainandnootherpartofAtlantis,atanyratethereseemedlittledangerofitsbeingfurthercontracted.
Anotherofthewiseprecautionsofthemenofoldstoodusingoodsteadthen.Intheancienttimes,whengrainfirstwasgrownasfood,itcametobelookeduponastheacmeofwealth.