Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
Therewasastiratthefartherdoorwayofthebanqueting-hall,andaclash,astwooftheguardsjoinedtheirspearsacrosstheentrance.Butthemantheytriedtostop—orperhapsitwastopin—passedthemunharmed,andwalkedupoverthepavementbetweenthelights,andthegroupsoffeasters.Alllookedroundathim;afewthrewhimribaldwords;butnoneventuredtostophisprogress.Afew,womenchiefly,Icouldsee,shudderedashepassedthemby,asthoughawintrychillhadcomeoverthem;andintheendhewalkedupandstoodinfrontofPhorenice’sdivan,andgazedfixedlyonher,butwithoutmakingobeisance.
Hewasafrailoldman,withwhitehairtumblingonhisshoulders,andraggedwhitebeard.Themudofwayfaringhunginclotsonhisfeetandlegs.Hiswizenedbodywasbaresaveforasingleclothwoundabouthisshouldersandhisloins,andhecarriedinhishandawandwiththesymbolofourLordtheSunglowingatitstip.Thatwandwenttoshowhiscaste,butinnootherwaycouldIrecognizehim.
ItookhimforoneofthoseasceticsofthePriests’Clan,whohadforswornthesteadynurturedlifeoftheSacredMountain,andwholivedoutinthedangerouslandsamongsttheburninghills,wherethereisdailyperilfromfallingrocks,fromfirestreams,fromevilvapours,fromsuddenfissuringoftheground,andfromothermovementsofthoseunstableterritories,andfromthegreaterlizardsandothermonstrousbeastswhichhauntthem.
