Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           ”

           “Soitdoesme,”Iheardhermurmurassheleanedherweightonthestonewhichhunginthedoorway,andpusheditajar;“yourchin.”Theraggedmenoutside—therewerewomenwiththemalso—didnotwaittowatchmeveryclosely.Acoarsejestortwoflew(whichIcouldhavefoundgoodhearttohaverepaidwithasword-thrust)andtheysteppedoffintothedarkness,justturningfromtimetotimetomakesurewefollowed.Onallsidesotherswerepressinginthesamedirection—blackshadowsagainstthenight;therainspatnoisilyonthecampfiresaswepassedthem;andfrombehinduscameupothers.Therewerenosleepersinthecampnow;allwerepressingontohearthispreacherwhostoodonthepedestalofthewarengine;andifwehadtriedtoswervefromthestraightcourse,weshouldhavebeenmarkedatonce.

           Soweheldonthroughthedarkness,andpresentlycamewithinearshot.

           Stillitwaslittleenoughofthepreacher’swordswecouldmakeoutatfirst.“Whoareyourchiefs?”camethequestionattheendofafervidharangue,andimmediatelyallfurtherrationaltalkwasdrownedinuproar.“Wehavenochiefs,”thepeopleshouted,“wearedonewithchiefs;weareallequalhere.Takeawayyoursillymagic.Youmaykilluswithmagicifyouchoose,butruleusyoushallnot.Norshalltheotherpriestsrule.NorPhorenice.Noranybody.Wearedonewithrulers.”

           Thepresshadbroughtuscloserandclosertothemanwhostoodonthewarengine.Wesawhimtobeold,withwhitehairthattumbledonhisshoulders,andalongwhitebeard,untrimmedanduncurled.