Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
14. Again The Gods Make Change
Itdidnottakeatrainedeyelongtodecideonthis,andPhorenice,withalaugh,laybackonthecushionsofthelitter,andreturnedherweaponstothearmour-bearerwhocamepantinguptoreceivethem.“Wegrownervouswithourmarriedlife,myDeucalion,”shesaid.“Wearefearfullestthisnew-foundhappinessbetakenfromustoosuddenly.”
ButIwasnottoberobbedofmybreathing-spaceinthiswise.“Letmecraveaweddinggiftofyou,”Isaid.
“Itisyoursbeforeyounameit.”
“Thengivemetroops,andsetmewideacitygateamileawayfromhere.”
“Youcangatherfivehundredasyougofromheretothegate,takingtwohundredofthosethatarehere.Ifyouwantmore,theymustbefetchedfromotherbarracksalongthewalls.Butwhereisyourplan?”
“Why,mypoorstrategyteachesmethis:thesefoolishrebelshavesetalltheirhopesonthismine,andalltheirexcitementonitspresentsuccess.IftheyarekeptoccupiedherebyaPhorenice,whowillgivethemsomedaintyfightingwithoutcheckingthemunduly,theywillpressontotheattackandforgetallelse,andneversomuchasdreamofasortie.Andmeanwhile,aDeucalionwithhistroopwillmarchoutofthecitywellawayfromhere,withouttuckofdrumorblareoftrumpet,andfallmostunpleasantlyupontheirrear.Afterwhich,aPhorenicewillburnthehousehereatthemine’shead,whichisofwood,andstrawthatched,todiscouragefurtheregress,andeithergotothewallstowatchthefightfromthere,orsallyoutalsoandspurontheroutasherfancydictates.
