Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
10. A Wooing
Itmaybethatheexpectedamiracle—hehasnotspokesince,poorsoul,inexplanation—butallhemetwereblowsfromleatherywings,andrakingsfromtalonswhichwentneartodisembowellinghim.Thebirdbrushedhimawayaseasilyaswecouldsweepasideafly,andtherehelaybleedingonthepavementbesidethealtar,whilstthesacrificewastornandeateninthepresenceofallthepeople.Andthen,whenthebirdwasglutted,itflewawayagaintothemountains.”
“Andthepeoplegavenohelp?”
“Theycriedoutthatthethingwasaportent,thatourLordtheSunwasaGodnolongerifHehadnotpowerorthoughttoguardHisownsacrifice;andsomecriedthattherewasnoGodremainingnow,andotherswouldhaveitthattherewasanewGodcometoweighonthecountry,whichhadchosentotaketheformofacommonman-eatingbird.ButafewbegantoshoutthatPhorenicestoodforalltheGodsnowinAtlantis,andthatcrywastakenuptillthestonesofthegreatcirclerangwithit.Somemayhavemadeproclamationsbecausetheywereconvinced;manybecausethecrywasnew,andpleasedthem;butIamsuretherewerenotafewwhojoinedinbecauseitwasdangeroustoleavesuchanoutburstunwelcomed.TheEmpresscanbehardenoughtothosewhoneglecttogiveheradulation.”
“TheEmpressisEmpress,”Isaidformally,“andhernamecarriesrespect.Itisnotforustoquestionherdoings.”
“Iamapriest,”saidRo,“andIspeakasIhavebeentaught,anddefendtheFaithasIhavebeencommanded.WhetherthereisaFaithanylonger,Iambeginningtodoubt.
