Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
Thosethatstoodinthesunlightinstinctivelyslippedintotheshadow,andmanydodgedintothehousesandcoweredindarkcornersoutofsight.Butthemeninthetwohide-coveredfisher-boatsthatwerepaddlingup,calledthembackwithboisterouscries.
Isignedtothelitter-bearerstomoveonquicklyalongtheirroad.Therewasneedofdisciplinehere,andIwasmindedtodealitoutmyselfwithafirmhand.IjudgedthatIcouldpreventthemfollowingtheEmpress,butifshestillremainedasaglitteringbaitforthemtorob,andIhadtoprotectheralso,itmightbethatmyworkwouldnotbedonesoeffectively.
ButitseemsIwaspresumptuousingivinganorderwhichdealtwiththepersonofPhorenice.Shebadethebearersstandwheretheywere,andsteppedout,anddrewherweaponsfrombeneaththecushions.Shecametowardsmestrappingaswordontoherhip,andcarryingawell-dintedtargetofgoldonherleftforearm.“Anunfairtrick,”criesshe,laughing.“Ifyouwillkeepafighttoyourselfnow,Deucalion,wherewillyourgreedinesscarryyouwhenIamyourshrinking,wistfullittlewife?Arethesefoolstrulygoingtostandupagainstus?”
Iwasnotcovetingafight,butitseemedasiftherewouldbenoavoidanceofitnow.TherobeandtheglitteringgaudsofwhichPhorenicehadrecentlydespoiledthemerchant,drewtheeyesofthesepeoplewithkeenattraction.Thefishersintheboatspaddledintothesurfwhichedgedthebeach,andleapedoversideandleftthefrailbasket-workstructurestobespewedupsoundorsmashed,aschanceordered.
