Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди

           Saveforawispofragabouttheloins,hisbodywasunclothed,andglistenedinthewet.

           Butinhishandheheldthatwhichmarkedhiscaste.Withithepointedhissentences,andattimeshewhirleditaboutbathinghiswet,nakedbodyinahalooflight.Itwasawandwhosetipburnedwithanunconsumingfire,whichglowedandtwinkledandblazedlikesomestarsentdownbytheGodsfromtheirownplaceinthehighheaven.ItwastheSymbolofourLordtheSun,acredentialnoonecouldforge,andoneonwhichnocivilisedmanwouldcastadoubt.

           Indeed,theraggedfranticcrewdidnotquestionforonemomentthathewasamemberoftheClanofPriests,theClanwhichfromtimeoutofnumberinghadgivenrulersfortheland,andevenintheirloudestclamourstheyfreelyacknowledgedhispowers.“Youmaykilluswithyourmagic,ifyouchoose,”theyscreamedathim.Butstubbornlytheyrefusedtocomebacktotheiroldallegiance.“Wehavesufferedtoomanythingstheselateryears,”theycried.“Wearedonewithrulersnowforalways.”

           ButformyselfIsawtheoldmanwithadifferentemotion.HerewasZaemonthatwasfathertoNais,ZaemonthathadseenmeyesterdayseatedonthedivanatPhorenice’selbow,andwhoto-daycoulddenouncemeasDeucalionifsohechose.Theserebelshadexpendedanavyintheirwishtokillmefourdaysearlier,andiftheyknewofmynearness,eventhoughNaisweremyadvocate,hercoldreasoningwouldhavehadlittlechanceofanaudiencenow.