Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
Andfromthehouses,andfromthefilthylanesbetweenthem,pouredouthordesofothers,womenmixedwiththemen,gatheringroundusthreateningly.
“Haveacare,”shoutedoneontheoutskirtsofthecrowd.“Shecalleddownfireforthesacrificeonceto-day,andshecanburnupothershereifshechooses.”
“Somuchthemoreforthosethatareleft,”retortedanother.“Shecannotburnall.”
“Nay,Iwillnotburnany,”saidPhorenice,“butyoushalllookuponmysword-playtillyouaretired.”
Iheardhersaythatwithsomemaliciousamusement,knowing(asoneoftheSeven)howshehadcalleddownthefiresoftheskytoburnthatcloven-hoofedhorseofferedinsacrifice,andknowingtoo,fullwell,thatshecouldbringdownnofirehere.Buttheygaveuslittleenoughtimeforwordycourtesies.TheirEmpressneverwentfarunattended,and,foraughtthewretchesknew,anescortmightbeclosebehind.Sowhatpilferingtheydid,itbehovedthemtogetdonequickly.
Theyclosedin,jostlingoneanothertobefirst,andthereekoftheirfilthybodiesmadeuscough.AgrimyhandlaunchedouttoseizesomeofthejewelswhichflashedonPhorenice’sbreast,andIloppeditoffattheelbow,sothatitfellatherfeet,andasecondlaterwewereengaged.
“Yourbacktomine,comrade,”criedshe,withalaugh,andthendrewandlaidaboutherwithfinedexterity.Bah!butitwasmereslaughter,thatfirstbout.
Thecrowdhustledinwardswithsuchgreedinesstoseizewhattheycould,thatnonehadspacetodrawbackelbowforathrust,andwetwokeptacircleroundusbysheerwhirlingofsteel.
