Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
20. On The Bosom Of The Deep
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Iwashalfnumbwiththeshockofwhatwasbefalling.“IdonotknowthatIcaretobeasurvivor.”
“Youarenotaskedforyourwishes,”saidtheoldman.“YouaregivenanorderfromtheHighGods,whoknowyoutobeTheirfaithfulservant.”
Habitrodestronguponme.Imadesalutationintherequiredform,andsaidthatIheardandwouldobey.
“ThenitremainstoraiseyoutothesublimedegreeoftheThree,andifyourlearningissosmallthatyouwillnotunderstandthekeystomanyofthePowers,andthehighestoftheMysteries,whentheyarehandedtoyou,thatfaultcannotberemediednow.”
Certainlythetimeremainingwasshortenough.Thefightstillrageddownatthegateinthepass,thoughitwasawonderhowthehandfulofPriestshadheldtheirgroundsolong.Buttheoceanrolledinuponthelandinanever-increasingflood,andthemountainssmokedandbelchedforthmorevolleysofrockastheweightincreasedontheirlowerparts,andpresentlythosethatbesiegedtheMountaincouldnotfailtoseethefatethatthreatenedthem.Thentherewouldbenowithholdingtheirrush.Intheirmadfuryandpanictheywouldsweepallobstructionresistlesslybeforethem,andthosewhostoodintheirpathmightlooktothemselves.
ButtherewasnohurryingZaemonandhisfellowsage.Theywerewithouttemplefortheceremony,withoutsacrificeorincensetodecorateit.Theyhadbuttheskyforarooftomaketheirechoes,andtheGodsthemselvesforwitnesses.
