Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
Isaytoyouthat,whilstyouareyetEmpress,youshallseethisroyalpyramidwhichyouhavepollutedwithyourdebaucheriestorntierfromtier,andstonefromstone,andscatteredasfeathersspreadbeforeawind.”
“Youmaywreckthepyramid,”saidPhorenicecontemptuously.“Imyselfhavesomeknowledgeoftheearthforces,asIhaveshownthisnight.Butthoughyoucrumbleeverystoneaboveusnowandgrinditintogritanddust,IshallstillbeEmpress.WhatforcecanyoucrazypriestsbringagainstmethatIcannotthrowbackanddestroy?”
“Wehaveaweaponthatwasforgedinnomortalsmithy,”shrilledtheoldman,“whereofthekeyisnowlodgedintheArkoftheMysteries.Butthatweaponcanbeusedonlyasalastresource.Thenatureofitevenistooawfultobetoldinwords.Ourotherpowerswillbelaunchedagainstyoufirst,andforthispoorcountry’ssakeIpraythattheymaycauseyoutowince.Yetrestassured,Phorenice,thatweshallnotstepasideoncewehaveputahandtothismatter.Weshallcarryitthrough,eventhoughthecostbeauniversalburninganddestruction.Forknowthis,daughteroftheswineherd,itisagreedamongstthemostHighGodsthatyouaretoofullofsintocontinueunchecked.”
“Speakhimfairly,”Ylgaurgedfrombehind.“Hehasapoweratwhichyoucannotevenguess.”
TheEmpressmadetorise,butYlgaclungtoherskirt.“Forthesakeofyourfame,”sheurged,“forthesakeofyourlife,donotdefyhim.”ButPhorenicestruckherfiercelyaside,andfacedtheoldmaninatumultofpassion.
