Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
9. Phorenice, Goddess
Butinthemeanwhile,beforeweusethemoredesperateweaponsoftheGods,itisfittingthatweshouldexpendallhumanpowerremainingtous.Andsoyoumustgo,mybrother,andplayyourparttotheutmost.”
“Itisanorder.SoIobey.”
“YoushallbeatPhorenice’ssideagainbythenextdawn.ShehassentforyoufromYucatanasahusband,andasonewho(soshethinks,poorhumanconqueror)hastheweightofarmnecessarytoprolonghertyrannies.YouareaPriest,brother,andyouareamanofconvincingtongue.Itwillbeyourparttomakeherstubbornmindseetheinvinciblepowerthatcanbeloosedagainsther,topointouttohertheutterhopelessnessofprevailingagainstit.”
“Ifitisordered,Iwilldothesethings.Butthereislittleenoughchanceofsuccess.IhaveseenPhorenice,andcangaugeherwill.Therewillbenoturningheronceshehasmadeadecision.Othershavetried;youhavetriedyourself;allhavefailed.”
“Wordsthatwerewastedonamaidenmaygohometoawife.Youhavebeenbroughtheretobeherhusband.Well,takeyourplace.”
Theordercametomewithapang.Ihadgivenlittleenoughheedtowomenthroughallofabusylife,thoughwhenIlanded,thetakingofPhorenicetowifewouldnothavebeenveryrepugnanttomeifpolicyhaddemandedit.Butthemattersofthelasttwodayshadputthingsinadifferentshape.Ihadseentwootherwomenwhohadstrangelyattractedme,andoneofthesehadstirredwithinmeatumultsuchasIhadneverfeltbeforeamongstmyeconomies.
