Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
ButIamnoGoddesstoyou,amI,Deucalion?And,bymyface!Ihavenootherexplanationofhowthisplanwasinvented.We’llsupposeImusthavedreamedit.Look!Thesea-watersluicesinthroughthatculvert,andpassesovertheseroughmetalplatessetinthefloor,andthenflowsoutagainyonderinitsnaturalcourse.Youseetheyellowmetalcaughtintheridgesoftheplates?Thatisgold.Andmyfellowsheremeltitwithfireintobars,andtakeittomysmith’sinthecity.Thetidesvaryconstantly,asyoupriestsknowwell,asthequietmoondrawsthem,anditdoesnottakemuchfiguringtoknowhowmuchoftheseapassesthroughtheseculvertsinamonthandhowmuchgoldtoagrainshouldbecaughtintheplates.Myfellowshereatfirstthoughttocheatme,butItowedtwooftheminthewateroncebehindagalleytillthecannibalfishatethem,andsincethentheothershavegivenmecreditfor—forwhatdoyouthink?”
“Moredivinity.”
“Isupposeitisthat.ButIamlettingyouseehowitisdone.Justhavetheheadtoworkoutalittlesum,andseewhataneffectcanbegained.YouwillbeaGodyetyourself,Deucalion,withthesesillyAtlanteans,ifonlyyouwilluseyourwitandcleverness.”
Wasshelaughingatme?Wassheinearnest?Icouldnottell.Sometimesshepointedoutthathersuccessandtriumphsweremerelytherewardofthoughtandbrilliancy,andnextmomentshegavemesomeimpossibleexplanationandleftmetodeducethatshemustbemorethanmortalorthethingcouldneverhavebeenfound.
