Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
14. Again The Gods Make Change
True,theycouldnotmovesuchmassiveblocksofstoneasthosewhichtheearlyGodsplantedforthesacredcircleofourLordtheSun,buttheyhadgotramsandtrucksandcraneswhichcouldhandleamazingbulks.
Thethronewastobeerectedintheopensquarebeforetheroyalpyramid.Seventiersofstonewerethereforagroundwork,eachaknee-heightdeep,andeachcutinthefrontwiththreesteps.IntheuppermostlayerwasacavitymadetoholdthebodyofNais,andabovethiswaspoisedthevastblockwhichformedtheseatofthethroneitself.
Throughoutthenight,tothelightoftorches,relayafterrelayofthestonecutters,andthemasons,andthesweatinglabourershadtoiledoverbringingupthestoneanddressingitintofitshape,andlayingitindueposition;andtheengineershadbuiltmachinesforlifting,andthearchitectshadprovedthateachstonelayinitsjustandperfectplace.Whipscracked,andmenfaintedwiththelabour,butsosoonasonewasincapableanotherpressedforwardintohisplace.NodelaywasbrookedwhenPhorenicehadsaidherwish.
Andfinally,asthesquarebegantofillwithpeoplecometogapeatthepageantofto-day,thechippingsandthescaffoldingwereclearedaway,andwithitthebodiesofsomehalf-scoreofworkmenwhohaddiedfromaccidentsortheirexertionsduringthebuilding,andtherestoodthethrone,splendidinitscarvings,andallreadyforcompletion.
