Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
5. Zaemon’s Curse
Wecameinsightofthepeakofthesacredmountain,withitsglareofeternalfireswhichstandbehindthecity,onemorningwiththeday’sbreak,andthewhipsoftheboatswainscrackedmorevehemently,sothatthoseoffensiveslavesshouldgivethegalleyafinalspurt.Thewindwasadverse,andnosailcouldbespread,butunderoarsalonewemadeaprettypace,andthesidesofthesacredmountaingrewlonger,andpresentlythepeaksofthepyramidsinthecity,thetowersofthehigherbuildings,begantoshowthemselvesasthoughtheyfloateduponthegleamingwater.ItwastwentyyearssinceIhadseenAtlantislast,andmyheartglowedwiththethoughtoftreadingagainuponherpaving-stones.
Thesplendidcitygrewoutoftheseaasweapproached,andtoeverythroboftheoars,theshoresleapednearer.IsawthetemplewhereIhadbeenadmittedfirsttomanhood;IsawthepyramidinwhoseheartIhadbeeninitiatedtothesmallmysteries;andthen(asthelesserobjectsbecamediscernible)Imadeoutthehousewhereafatherandamotherhadrearedme,andmyeyesbecamedimasthememoriesrose.
Wedrewupoutsidethewhitewallsoftheharbour,asthelawwas,andtheslavespantedandsobbedinquietudeovertheoar-looms.Forvesselsthusstationedthereis,generally,asufficiencyofwaiting,foraport-captainisapttobesouncertainofhisowndignity,thathemuste’enkeepfolkswaitingtoproveittothem.Buthereforusitmighthavebeenthattheport-captain’sboatwaswaiting.
