Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
Isatinmychamberawaitingthesummons,whengradually,growingoutofnothing,asoundfelluponmyearwhichincreasedinvolumewithinfinitelysmallgraduations,tillatlastitbecameaclangingdinwhichhurttheearwithitsfierceness;andthen(Iguessedwhatwascoming)thewholemassivefabricofthepyramidtrembledandgroanedandshook,asthoughithadbeenmerelyachild’swoodentoybrushedaboutbyastrongman’ssandal.
ItwastheportentservedoutyearlybythechiefsofthePriests’ClanontheSacredMountain,whentheybadealltheworldtakecountoftheirsins.Itwasthesacredreminderthatfromroaring,ragingfire,andfromtheagonyofmonstrousearth-tremors,manhadbeenborn,andthatbythesesameagencieshewouldeventuallybeswallowedup—heandthesinswithinhisbreast.AndheretheEmpresswasprostitutingitssolemnitiesintoamerecalltogluttony,andsignforribaldlaughterandsensuousdisplay.
Buthowhadsheacquiredtheauthoritytodothisthing?Whowasshethatsheshouldtamperwiththosedimlyunderstoodpowers,theforcesthatdwellwithintheliquidheartofourmotherearth?Hadtherebeentreachery?HadsomememberofthePriests’Clanforgottenhissacredvows,andbabbledtothiswomanmattersconcerningtheholymysteries?OrhadPhorenicediscoveredakeytothesemysterieswithherownagilebrain?
Ifthatlastwasthecase,Icouldcontinuetoserveherwithsilentconscience.Thoughshemightbenoneofmymaking,atleastshewasEmpress,anditwasmydutytogiveherobedience.
