Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
11. An Affair With The Barbarous Fishers
Eron,too,youlikedonce,buthelostanarminfightingt’otherday,andIwouldnotmarryyoutolessthanawholeman.Ah,bymyface!Ihaveit,thedaintyexquisite,Rota!Heisthehusband!HowwellIrememberthewayheusedtodressinachangeofgarbeachdaytocatchyourproudfancy,girl.Well,youshallhaveRota.Heshallleadyoutowifebeforethishourto-morrow.”
Againtheprisonermoistenedherlips.“IwillnothaveRota,andsparemetheothers.Iknowwhyyoumockme,Phorenice.”
“Thentherearethreeofusherewhoshareoneknowledge.”—Sheturnedhereyesuponme.Gods!whoeversawthelikeofPhorenice’seyes,andwhoeversawthemlitwithsuchfireasburnedwithinthemthen?—“Mylord,youaremarryingmeforpolicy;Iammarryingyouforpolicy,andforanotherreasonwhichhasgrownstrongeroflate,andwhichyoumayguessat.Doyouwishstilltocarryoutthematch?”
IlookedonceatNais,andthenIlookedsteadilybacktoPhorenice.ThecommandgivenbythemouthofZaemonfromtheHighCounciloftheSacredMountainhadtooutweighallelse,andIansweredthatsuchwasmydesire.
“Then,”saidshe,gloweringatmewithhereyes,“youshallbuildmeuptheprettybodyofNaisbeneathathroneofgraniteasaweddinggift.Andyoushalldoittoowithyourownproperhands,myDeucalion,whilstIwatchyourdevotion.”
AndtoNaissheturnedwithacruelsmile.“Youliedtome,mygirl,andyouspoketruthtothesoldiersintheharbourforts.Thereisamanhereinthecityyoucameafter,andheistheonemanyoumaynothave
