Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
AmItodoallthewooing?Istherenothrillofloveunderallyourice?”
“Intruth,Idonotknowwhatlovemaybe.Ihavehadlittleenoughspeechwithwomenallthesebusyyears.”
“Wewereapair,then,whenyoulanded,thoughIhaveheardsighsandprotestationsfromeverymanthatcarriesabeardinallAtlantis.Someofthemtickledmyfancyfortheday,butnoneofthemhavemovedmedeeper.No,Ialsohavenotlearnedwhatthislovemaybefrommyownpersonalfeelings.But,sir,Ithinkthatyouwillteachmesoon,ifyougoonwithyourcoldness.”
“FromwhatIhaveseen,loveisforthepoor,andtheweak,andforthoseofflightyemotions.”
“ThenIwouldthatanotherwomanwereEmpress,andthatIweresomeill-dressedcreatureofthegutterthatastrongmancouldpickupbyforce,andcarryawaytohishomeforsheerpassion.Ah!HowIcouldrevelinit!HowIcouldrespondifhecaughtmywhim!”Shelaughed.“ButIshouldleadhimasadlifeofitifmylikingwerenotsostrongashis.”
“Weareaswearemade,andwecannotchangeourinwardswhichmoveus.”
Shelookedatmewithasullenglance.“IfIdonotchangeyours,myDeucalion,therewillbemoretroublebrewedforthispoorAtlantisthatyousetsuchstoreupon.Therewillbeilldoingsinthiscominghouseholdofoursifmylovegrowsforyou,andyoursremainsstillunborn.”
Ibelieveshewouldhavehadmefondleherthereinthegoldencastleonthemammoth’sshabbyback,beforethecitystreetspackedwithcuriouspeople.Shehadlittleenoughappetiteforprivacyatanytime.
