Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
Condemnmyweaknesshowyouwill,butIcameverynearthentolikingtheEmpressofAtlantisinthewayshewished.Andasforthatotherwomanwhoshouldhavefilledmymind,Iwillconfessthatthestressofthemoment,andthefuryoftheengagement,haddrivenbothherandherstraitcompletelyoutbeyondthemarchesofmymemory.Ofsuchfrailstuffarewemade,eventhoseofuswhoesteemourselvesthestrongest.
Nowitisatemptationfewmenborntotheswordcanresist,tothrowthemselvesheartandsoulintoafightforafight’ssake,anditseemsthatwomencanbebittenwiththesamefierceinfection.Theattackslackenedandhalted.Westoodinthemiddleofaringoftwisteddead,andtherestofthefishersandtheirwomenwhohemmedusinshrankbackoutofreachofourweapons.
Itwasthemomentforatruce,andthemomentwhenafewstrongwordswouldhavesentthembackcoweringtotheirhuts,andgivenusfreepassagetogowherewechose.Butno,thisPhorenicemustneedssingahymntoherswordandmine,gloatingoverourfeatsandinvulnerability;andthenshemustneedsaskpaymentforthebearersofherlitterwhomtheyhadkilled,andthenspeakbalefullyoftheburnings,andtheskinnings,andthesawingsasunderwithwhichthisfishers’quarterwouldbetreatedinthenearfuture,tilltheylearnedthevirtuesofdeportmentandgenteelmanners.
“Itmakesyourbackscreep,doesit?”saidPhorenice.“Idonotwonder.Thisseveritymusthaveitsunpleasantside.
