Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
9. Phorenice, Goddess
YousetupAtlantisforamistress,andservedherwell;butthen,youhavehadnoPhorenicetotemptyouintochangeandfickleness.”
“YoucansendmewhereIshallseehernomore,ifyouthinkmefrail.”
“Yes,andloseyourusefulness.No,brother,youarethelasthopewhichthispoorlandhasremaining.AllotherhumanmeansthathavebeentriedagainstPhorenicehavefailed.Youhavereturnedfromoverseasforthefinalduel.Youarethestrongestmanwehave,andyouareourfinalchampion.Ifyoufail,thenonlythoseterriblePowerswhicharelockedwithintheArkoftheMysteriesremainstous,andthoughitisnotlawfultospeakeveninthishiddentongueoftheirscope,youatleasthavefullassuranceoftheirpotency.”
Ishruggedmyshoulders.“Itseemsthatyouwouldsavetimeandpainsifyouthrewmetothesewolvesofrebels,andletthemendmehereandnow.”
Theoldmanfrownedonmeangrily.“Iambiddingyoudoyourduty.Whatreasonhaveyouforwishingtoevadeit?”
“Ihaveinmymemorythewordsyouspokeinthepyramid,whenyoucameinamongstthebanqueters.‘PHORENICE,’wasyourcry,‘WHILSTYOUAREYETEMPRESS,YOUSHALLSEETHISROYALPYRAMID,WHICHYOUHAVEPOLLUTEDWITHYOURDEBAUCHERIES,TORNTIERFROMTIER,ANDSTONEFROMSTONE,ANDSCATTEREDASFEATHERSBEFOREAWIND.’Itseemsthatyouforeseemydefeat.”
Theoldmanshuddered.“Icannottellwhatshemayforceustodo.Ispokethenonlywhatitwasrevealedtomemusthappen.Perhapswhenmattershavereachedthatpass,shewillrepentandsubmit.
