Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
Thegreatflagstoneinitsfallhad,itappeared,crushedfourofthemtodeath,butthesewerelittlenoticedorlamented.Lifewastothemabaubleoftheslenderestprice,andahordeofotherspressedthroughtheopening,lustingforthefight,andreckingnothingoftheirrisksandperils.
Half-chokedbythefoulairofthegalley,andtroddenonbythisgreatprocessionoffeet,itwaslittleenoughIcoulddotohelpmyimmediateselfmuchlessthemoredistantcity.Butwhenthechiefmassoftheattackershadpassedthrough,andtherecameonlyhereandthereoneeagertotakehisshareatstormingthegate,acoupleoffellowspluckedmeupoutofthemudonthefloor,andbegandraggingmedownthroughthestinkingdarknessofthegalleytowardsthepitthatgaveitentrance.
Twentytimeswewerejostledbyothershasteningtotheattack,eitherfromhungerforfight,orfromappetiteforwhattheycouldsteal.Butwecametotheopenatlast,andhalf-suffocatedthoughIwas,Icontrivedtodoobeisance,andsayaloudtheprescribedprayertothemostHighGodsingratitudeforthefresh,sweetairwhichTheyhadprovided.
OurLordtheSunwasonthevergeofrisingforHisday,andallthingswereplainlyshown.Beforemewerethemonstrouswallsofthecapital,withtheheadsofitspyramidsandhigherbuildingsshowingabovethem.Andonthewalls,thesentrieswalkedcalmlytheirappointedpaces,ortookshelteragainstarrowsinthecasematesprovidedforthem.
