Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
12. The Drug Of Our Lady The Moon
Butwhydoyounotputitbeyondmypowertogivetheorder?EitheryoumustthinkyourselvesGodsormenoGoddess,oryouwouldnothavegoneonsofar.Comenow,younasty-smellingpeople,followoutyourtheory,andifyoumakeagoodfightofit,IswearbymyfaceIwillbelenientwiththosewhodonotfall.”
Buttherewasnopressinguptomeetourswords.Theystillringedusin,savageandsullen,beyondtheringoftheirowndead,andwouldneitherrunbacktothehouses,norgiveusthegameoffurtherfight.Therewasacertainstubbornbraveryaboutthemthatonecouldnotbutadmire,andformyselfIdeterminedthatnexttimeitbecamemydutytoraisetroops,Iwouldcatchahandfulofthesemen,andteachthemhandinesswiththeutensilsofwar,andtrainthemtoloyaltyandfaithfulness.Butpresentlyfrombehindtheirranksastoneflew,andthoughitwhizzedbetweentheEmpressandmyself,andstruckdownafisher,itshowedthattheyhadbroughtanewmethodintotheirattack,anditbehovedustotakethoughtandmeetit.
Ilookedroundmeupanddownthebeach.Therewasnosignofarescue.“Phorenice,”Isaidinthecourttongue,whichthesebarbarousfisherswouldknowlittleenoughof,“Itakeitthatawhiffofthesea-breezewouldcomeverypleasantafterallthiswarmplay.Asyoucanshowsuchprettyswordwork,willyoucutmeawaydowntothebeach,andIwilldomypoorbesttokeepthesecreaturesfromsnappingatourheels?”
“Oh!”criedshe.“ThenIamtohaveacourtierforahusbandafterall.
