Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Itwasaboastthatone-halfthefoundationscouldbedugfrombeneathit,andstillthepyramidwouldstandfour-squareunderheaven,moreenduringthanthehills.

           Flickeringtorchesshowedthatitsgreatstonedoorslayopen,andeverandagainIsawsomefrightenedinmatescurryoutandthenbelosttosightinthegloom.ButwiththeroyalpyramidanditsultimatefateIhadlittleconcern;IdidnotevencarethenwhetherPhorenicewastrapped,orwhethershecameoutsoundandfitforfurthermischief.Icrouchedbythegranitethronewhichstoodinthemiddleofthatsplendidsquare,andhearditsstonesgratetogetherliketheendsofabrokenboneasitrockedtotheearth-waves.

           Inthatnightofdustanddarknessitwashardtoseetheoutlineofone’sownhand,butIthinkthattheGodsinsomerequitalforthelovewhichhadachedsolongwithinme,gavemespecialpowerofsight.AsIwatched,Isawthegreatcarvedrockwhichformedthecapstoneofthethronemoveslightlyandthenmoveagain,andthenagain;atinyjerkforeachearth-pulse,butstilltherewasanappreciableshifting;and,moreover,thestonemovedalwaystooneside.

           TherewasmethodinZaemon’sdesperatework,andthisinmyblindpanicofloveandhaste,Ihadoverlooked.SoIwentupthestepsofthethroneonthesidefromwhichthegreatcapstonewasmoving,andclungthereafirewithexpectation.

           Moreandmoreviolentdidtheearth-swinggrow,thoughthegraduationsofitsincreasecouldnotbeperceived,andthedinoffallinghousesandtheshrieksandcriesofhurtandfrightenedpeoplewentlouderupintothenight.