Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
ButIrememberedthecommandthathadbeenlaiduponme,andforcedasmile.“Imayhavebeenfastidious,”Isaid,“butIdonotregretwaitingthislong.”
“NorI.ButIhaveplayedmylifeasamaid,timeenough.Iamawoman,ripe,andfull-blooded,andthedayhascomewhenIshouldbemorethanwhatIhavebeen.”
Iletmyhandclenchonhers.“Takemetohusbandthen,andIwillbeagoodmantoyou.But,asIambiddenspeaktoPhorenicethewomannow,andnottotheEmpress,IofferfairwarningthatIwillbenopuppet.”
Shelookedatmesidelong.“IhavebeenmastersolongthatIthinkitwillcomeasenjoymenttobemasteredsometimes.No,Deucalion,Ipromisethat—youshallbenopuppet.Indeed,itwouldtakealustylungtodothepipingifyouweretodanceagainstyourwill.”
“Then,asmanandwifewewilllivetogetherintheroyalpyramid,andwewillrulethiscountrywithallthewitthatithaspleasedtheHighGodstobestowonus.Thesemiserabledifferencesshallbesweptaside;therebelsshallgobacktotheirhomes,andhunt,andfightthebeastsintheprovinces,andthePriests’Clanshallbepacified.Phorenice,youandIwillthrowourselvesbrainandsoulintothegovernment,andwewillmakeAtlantisriseasanationthatshalloncemoresurpassalltheworldforpeaceandprosperity.”
Petulantlyshedrewherhandawayfrommine.“Oh,yourconditions,andyourAtlantis!Youcarryacrudenessinthesecolonialmannersofyours,Deucalion,thatpallsononeafterthefirstbluntflavourhaswornaway.
