Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
20. On The Bosom Of The Deep
Themountainsalonekepttheirheadsabovetheflood,andspewedoutrocks,andsteam,andboilingstone,orburstwhenthewatersreachedthemandcreatedgreatwhirlpoolsofsurgingsea,andtwistedtrees,andbubblingmud.
Inthespaceofafewbreathseverylivingcreaturethatdweltinthelowergroundshadbeensmotheredbythewaters,saveforafewwhohuddledinapairofgalleysthatweredrivenoarlessinland,overwhathadoncebeenblackforestandhuntinglandforthebeasts.AndevenasIwatched,thesealsowereswallowedupbythehorridturmoilofsea,andnothingbuttheseabeasts,andthoseofthegreaterlizardswhichcanliveinsuchoutrageouswaters,couldhavesurvivedeventhatstateofthedestruction.Indeed,nonebutthosemenwhohadnowfoundstanding-groundontheupperslopesoftheSacredMountainsurvived,anditwasplainthattheirspanwasshort,forthegreatmassofthecontinentsankdeeperandmoredeepeveryminutebeforeourachingeyes,beneaththeboilinginrushoftheseas.
Butthoughthegreatmassofthesoldieryweredazedandmaddenedattheprospectoftheoverwhelmingwhichthreatenedthem,thereweresomewithastrengthofmindtoovalianttogiveanyoutwardshowofdiscomposure.Presentlyacompactlittlebodyofpeoplecamefromoutthehousesandthetemples,andheadeddirectlyacrosstheopengroundtowardstheArk.OntheoutsidemarchedPhorenice’spersonalguardswiththeirweaponsnewblooded.Theyhadbeenforcedtofightawaythroughtheirownfellowsoldiers.
