Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
“IwouldnottakesevenEgyptsandtenYucatans.Mylord,youthinkmorepoorlyofmethaniskind,whenyouaskmetobecomeatraitor.InyourplacewouldyouthrowyourNaisaway,ifthedoingitwouldsaveyoufromadanger?”
“Thatisdifferent.”
“Innodegree.Youhaveakindnessforher.IhaveallthatandmoreforPhorenice,whois,besides,mywifeandthemotherofmychildren.IfIhavequalms—andIfreelyconfessIknowyouaredesperatemenupthere,andhavedreadfulpowersatyourcommand—myshiveringsareforthemandnotformyself.ButIthink,mylord,thisparleyisleadingtonothing,andthoughthesecommonsoldiersherewillunderstandlittleenoughofourtalk,theymaybepickingupawordhereandthere,andIdonotwishthemtogoontotheirdeath(asyouwillseethemdoshortly)andcarryevilreportsaboutmetowhateverGodstheychancetocomebefore.”
Hesalutedmewithhisswordanddrewback,andoncemorethemissilesbegantofly,andthedoomedwretches,whohadbeenhaltingbesidethesteeprockwallsofthepassbeganoncemoretopresshopelesslyforward.Theyhadscaling-ladderscertainly,buttheyhadnochanceofgettingtheseplanted.Theycoulddonaughtbutfillthenarrowwaywiththeirbodies,andtothatendtheyhadbeensent,andtothatendtheyhumblydied.OurPriestswithcrowandleverwrenchedfromtheirlodging-placesthegreatrockswhichhadbeenmadeready,andsentthemcrashingdown,sothatoncemorescreamsfilledthepass,andthehorridbutcherywasrenewed.