Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
13. The Burying Alive Of Nais
Butthattherewasdutyahead,andtheorderoftheHighCounciltobecarriedintoeffect,thebleaknessoftheprospectwouldhavedauntedme,andIwouldhaveprayedtheGodsthentosparemefurtherlife,andtakemeuntoThemselves.
Ylgacamebackatlast,andIgotupandwentquicklyafterherassheleddownamazeofpassagesandalleyways.“Therehasbeennocaresparedoverherguarding,”shewhispered,aswehaltedoncetomoveastone.“Theofficeroftheguardisanoldloverofmine,andIraisedhishopestotheburningpointagainbyadozenwords.ButwhenIwantedtoseehisprisoner,therehewasasfirmasbrass.Itoldhimshewasmysister,butthatdidnotmovehim.Iofferedhim—oh,Deucalion,itmakesmeblushtothinkofthethingsIdidoffertothatman,buttherewasnostirringhim.Hehaswatchedthetormentorssomanytimes,thatthereisnotemptinghimintotouchoftheirinstruments.”
“Ifyouhavefailed,whybringmeouthere?”
“Oh,Iamnotinveiglingyouintoalover’swalkwithmyself,sir.Youtickleyourselfwhenyouthinkyoursocietyissopleasantasthat.”
“Come,girl,tellmethenwhatitis.Ifmytemperisshort,credititagainstmyweariness.”
“Ihavecarriedoutmylord’scommandsinpart.IknowthecellwhereNaislives,andIhavehadspeechwithher,thoughnotthroughthedoor.Andmoreover,Ihavenotseenherortouchedherhand.”
“Yourriddlesarebeyondme,Ylga,butifthereisachance,letusgetonandhavethisbusinessdone.
