Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
10. A Wooing
Hisclothingwasill-fittingandunbrushed.Healwayshadbeenaslovenlyfellow.“Thetempledoorisshut,”hesaid,“andIonlyhavethesecretofitsopening.Mylordcomeshere,therefore,bythesecretway,andasoneoftheSeven.Iammylord’sservant.”
“ThenIaskthissmallserviceofyou.Tellme,whatstirsthecity?”
“ThatimpiousPhorenicehasdeclaredherselfGoddess,anddeclaresthatshewilllightthesacrificewithherowndivinefire.Shewilldoit,too.Shedoeseverything.ButIwishtheflamesmayburnherwhenshecallsthemdown.ThisnewEmpressisthebaneofourClan,Deucalion,theselatterdays.Thepeopleneglectus;theybringnoofferings;andnow,sincetheserebelshavebeenhammeringatthewalls,ImighthavegonehungryifIhadnotsomesmallstoreofmyown.Oh,Itellyou,thecultofthetrueGodsiswell-nighoozedquiteoutoftheland.”
“Mybrother,itcomestomymindthatthePriestsofourClanhavebeenlimpintheirservicetoletthesethingscometopass.”
“Isupposewehavedoneourbest.Atleast,wedidasweweretaught.Butifthepeoplewillnotcometohearyourexhortations,andneglecttoadoretheGod,whatholdhaveyouovertheirreligion?ButItellyou,Deucalion,thattheHighGodstryourownfaithhard.Comeintothedwellinghere.Lookthereonmybed.”
Isawtheshapeofaman,untidilyswathedinreddenedbandages.
“Thisisallthatisleftofthepoorpriestthatwasmyimmediatesuperiorinthiscure.ItwashisturnyesterdaytocelebratetheweeklysacrificetoourLordtheSunwiththecircleofHisgreatstones.
