Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
15. Zaemon’s Summons
ButIthink,sir,ourPhorenicejudgesyourcaseveryaccurately.Itwaspermittedmetoheartheoutburstingofthislady’srage.‘ShallIhewoffhishead?’saidshe.‘Pah!ShallIgivehimovertomytormentors,andstandbywhilsttheydotheirworst?Hewouldnotwrinklehisbrowattheirfiercestefforts.No;hemusthaveaheavierpunishmentthananyofthese,andonealsowhichwillendure.Ishalllopoffhisrighthandandhisleftfoot,sothathemaybeafightingmannolonger,andthenIshalldrivehimforthcrippledintothedangerouslands,wherehemaylearnFear.Thebeastsshallhunthim,thefiresofthegroundshallspoilhisrest.Heshallknowhunger,andheshallbreathebadair.AndallthewhileheshallrememberthatIhaveNaisnearme,livingandlockedinhercoffinofstone,toplaywithasIchoose,andtogiveovertowhatinsultsmaycometomyfancy.’Thatiswhatshesaid,Deucalion.NowIaskyouagainwillyougobacktomeethervengeance?”
“No,”Isaid,“itisnopartofmyplantobemutilatedandlefttolive.”
“So,beingawomanofsomesense,Ijudged.And,moreover,havingsomesmallkindnessstillleftforyou,Ihavetakenituponmyselftomakeaplanforyourfurthermovementwhichmayfallinwithyourwhim.DoesthenameofTobcomebacktoyourmemory?”
“OnewhowasCaptainofTatho’snavy?”
“ThatsameTob.Agruff,rudefellow,andsmellingvileoftar,butseemingtohaveasturdyhonestyofhisown.Tobsailsawaythisnightforpartsunknown,presumablytofoundakingdomwithTobforking.
