Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Buteverandagain,somearroworsomesling-stone,orsomefire-tube’sdartwouldfinditswayupfrombelowandthroughthedefences,andtherewewouldbewithamanthelesstocarryonthefight.ItwaswellenoughforPhorenicetobelavishwithhertroops;indeed,ifshewishedforsuccess,therewerenotwowaysforit;andwhenthoseshehadleviedwerekilled,shecouldreadilypressothersintotheservice,seeingthatshehadthewholebroadfaceofthecountryunderherrule.Butwithusitwasdifferent.Amandownonoursidewasamanwhosearmwouldbitterlybemissed,andonewhichcouldinnopossiblewaybereplaced.

           Imadecalculationofthechances,andsawclearlythat,ifwecontinuedthefightonthepresentplan,theywouldstormthegatesoneafteranotherastheycametothem,andthatbythetimetheuppermostgatewasreached,therewouldbenoPriestalivetodefendit.Andso,notdisdainingtofashionmyselfonPhorenice’snewerplan,whichheldthatageneralshouldattimesinpreferenceplotcoldlyfromaplaceofsomesafety,andnotleadthethickofthefighting,Ileftthosewhostoodtothegatewithsomeroughsoldier’swordsofcheer,andwithdrewagainupthenarrowstairofthepass.

           ThisoneapproachtotheSacredMountainwas,asIhavesaidbefore,vastlymoredifficultanddangerousintheoldendayswhenitstoodasamerebarecleftastheHighGodsmadeit.Butachasmhadbeenbridgedhere,ashelfcutthroughthesolidrockthere,andinmanyplacestheroadwaywasbuiltuponpiersfromdistantcragsbelowsoastomakealluniformandeasy.