Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
“Nowhere,”thoughtI,“thismadbeastwillcometosuddenstop,andaslikeasnotwillswerveroundsharplyandchargebackagaintowardstheheartofthecity.”AndIbracedmyselftowithstandtheshock,andtookfreshgripuponthewomanwholayagainstmybreast.Butwithlouderscreamsandwildertrumpetingsthemammothheldstraighton,andpresentlycametotheharbour’sedge,andsentthespraysparklinginsheetsamongstthesunshineasitwentwithitsclumsygaitintothewater.
Butatthispointthepacewasveryquicklyslackened.Thegreatsewers,whichsciencedevisedforthehealthofthecityintheoldKing’stime,vomittheirdrainingsintothispartoftheharbour,andthesolidmatterwhichtheycarryisquicklydepositedasanimpalpablesludge.Intothisthehugebeastbegantosinkdeeperanddeeperbeforeitcouldhaltinitsrush,andwhenwithfrightenedbellowingsithadcometoastop,itwasboggedirretrievably.Madlyitstruggled,wildlyitscreamedandtrumpeted.Theharbour-waterandtheslimewerechurnedintoonestinkingcompost,andthegoldencastleinwhichweclunglurchedsowildlythatweweretornfromitandshotfarawayintothewater.
Stillthere,ofcourse,weweresafe,andIwaspleasedenoughtoberidofthebumpings.
Phorenicelaughedassheswam.“Youhandleyourselflikeasoreman,Deucalion.Ioweyousomethingforlendingmethecushionofyourbody.Bymyface!There’smoreofthegallantaboutyouwhenitcomestothetestthanonewouldguesstohearyoutalk.Howdidyouliketheride,sir?Iwarrantitcametoyouasanewexperience.
