Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
15. Zaemon’s Summons
Becauseyoudespisefineclothes,andbecauseyouhaveseenmeonlydeckedoutasfan-girl,youthinkIamuseless.Bah,Deucalion!Neverletpeoplepratetomeaboutyourperfection.Youknowlessaboutawomanthanaboynewfromschool.”
“IhavelearnedallIcaretoknowaboutonewoman,andbecauseofthememoryofher,Icouldnotpresumetoaskhersistertocomewithmenow.”
“Aye,”shesaidbitterly,“kickmypride.IknewwellenoughitwasonlysecondplacetoNaisIcouldgetallthetimeIwaswantingtocome.Yetnoonebutaboorwouldhaveremindedmeofit.Gods!andtothinkthathalfthemeninAtlantishavecourtedme,andnowIamarrivedatthis!”
“Imustgoalone.Itwouldhavemademehappiertotakeyouresteemwithme.Butasitis,IsupposeIshallcarryonlyyourhate.”
“Thatisthemosthumiliatingthingofall;Icannotbringmyselftohateyou.Ioughtto,Iknow,afterthebrutalwayyouhavescornedme.ButIdonot,andthereisthetruth.Iseemtogrowthefonderofyou,andifIthoughttherewasawayofkeepingyoualive,andunmutilated,hereinAtlantis,IdonotthinkIshouldpointoutthatTobistiredofwaiting,andwillprobablybeoffwithoutyou.”Sheflungherarmssuddenlyaboutmyneck,andkissedmehotlyonthemouth.“There,thatisforgood-bye,dear.YouseeIamreckless.IcarenotwhatIdonow,knowingthatyoucannotdespisememorethanyouhavedoneallalongformyforwardness.”
Sheranbackfrommeintotheedgeofthetrees.
“Butthisisfoolishness,”Isaid.
