Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
Thensettingtheirleanarmstothewindlasses,theydrewbackthegreattreewhichformedthespringtillitstetheringplacereachedtheground,andinthecradleatitsheadtheyplacedoneoftheprisoners,boundhelplessly,sothathecouldnotthrowhimselfovertheside.
Thentherude,savage,skin-cladmobstoodback,andonewhohadappointedhimselfengineerknockedbackthecatchthatheldthegreatspringinplace.
Withawhirandatwangtheelasticwoodflungupwards,andtheboundmanwasshotawayfromitstipwiththespeedofalightningflash.Hesangthroughtheair,spinningoverandoverwithinconceivablerapidity,andthegreatcrowdofrebelsheldtheirbreathinsilenceastheywatched.Hepassedhighabovethecitywall,atinymannikininthedistancenow,andthenthetrajectoryofhisflightbegantolower.Thespikeofanew-builtpyramidlayinthepathofhisterrificflight,andhestruckitwithathudwhosesoundfloatedouttousafterwards,andthenhetoppleddownoutofoursight,leavingaredstainonthewhitenessofthestoneashefell.
Witharoarthecrowdacknowledgedthesuccessoftheirdevice,andbellowedoutinsultstoPhorenice,andinsultstotheGods:apoorfranticcrowdtheyshowedthemselves.Andthenwithraveningshouts,theyfellupontheothercaptivewarder,bindinghimalsointoacompacthelplessmissile,andmeanwhilegettingtheengineingearagainforanothershot.
ButformypartIsawnothingofthisdisgustingscene.
