Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
Itseemedthattheyknewtheirentertainers.
Againthewindlassclanked,andthetetheringchainsdrewthegreatbeastsclearofthedoorway;andagainavalveofthefartherdoorswungajar,andanotherprisonerwasthruststrugglingintothecircus.AsicknessseizedmewhenIsawthatthiswasawoman,butstill,inviewoftheobjectIhadinhand,Imadenointerruption.
ItwasnotthatIhadneverseenwomensenttodeathbefore.Ageneral,whohasdonehisfighting,mustinhisdayhavekilledwomenequallywithmen;yes,andseenthemearntheirdeath-blowbylustybattling.Yetthereseemedsomethingsowantoninthiscruelhelplesssacrificeofawomanprisoner,thatIhadastrugglewithmyselftoavoidinterference.Stillitiseverthecasethattheindividualmustbesacrificedtoapolicy,andsoasIsay,Iwatchedon,outwardlycoldandimpassive.
Iwatchedtoo(Iconfessitfreely)withaquickeningheart.Herewasnosullensubmissivevictimlikethelast.Shemayhavebeenmorecowardly(assomewomenare),shemayhavebeenbraver(asmanywomenhaveshownthemselves);but,atanyrate,itwasclearthatshewasgoingtomakeastruggleforherlife,andtodoviciousdamage,itmightbe,beforesheyieldeditup.Thewatchersbehindthearrow-slitsrecognizedthis.Theirwagers,andthehumoftheirappreciation,sweptloudlyroundtheringofthecircus.
Theystrippedtheirprisoners,beforetheythrustthemouttothisdeath,ofalltheclothestheymightcarry,forclotheshaveavalue;andsothewomanstoodtherebare-limbedinthemoonlight.
