Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
“IfhewillnotleavetheoldGodsyet,”shepleaded,“surelyyouwillpardonhim?Heisastrongman,anddoesnotbecomeaconverteasily.Youmaychangehimlater.Butthink,Phorenice,heisDeucalion;andifyouslayhimhereforthisonething,thereisnoothermanwithinallthemarchesofAtlantiswhowouldsoworthilyserve—”
TheEmpresstookthewordsfromher.“Youslut,”shecriedout.“Ihaveyounearmetoappointmywardrobe,andcarrymyfan,anddoyoudaretoputameddlingfingeronmypolicies?Backwithyou,outsidethiscircle,orI’llhaveyouwhipped.Ay,andI’lldomore.I’llserveyouasZaemonservedmycaptain,Tarca.ShallIpointafingeratyou,andsmiteyourprettyskinwithasuddenleprosy?”
Thegirlbowedhershoulders,andwentawaycowed,andPhoreniceturnedtome.“Mylord,”shesaid,“Iamlikeayoungbirdinthenestthathassuddenlyfounditswings.WingshavesomanyusesthatIamcurioustotrythemall.”
“MayeachnewflighttheytakebeforthegoodofAtlantis.”
“Oh,”shesaid,withaneye-flash,“Iknowwhatyouhavemostatheart.Butwewillgobacktothepyramid,andtalkthisoutatmoreleisure.Iprayyounow,mylord,conductmebacktomyridingbeast.”
ItappearedthenthatIwastobecondonedfornotofferingherworship,andsoputtingpublicquestiononherdeification.
