Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
15. Zaemon’s Summons
“Aye,”hegrunted,“youareveryweak,mylord,andmightydefenceless.Weknowallaboutthat.Butwhat’selse?Youmusttellallyourmeaningplain.I’macommonmariner,andunderstandlittleofyourfancytalk.”
“Why,this.ThatitisnotmywishtoleavethecontinentofAtlantis.IfyouwillputmedownonanypartofthissidethatfacesEurope,IwillcommendyoustronglytotheGods.IwouldIcouldgiveyoumoney,or(betterstill)articlesthatwouldbeusefultoyouinyourcolonising;butasitis,youseemedestitute.”
“Astothat,youowemenothing,havingdonevastlymorethanyourshareeachtimewehaveputinshoreforthehunting.Butitwillnotdo,thisplanofyours.IwillshamedlyconfessthatthesoundofthatkingshipinmyTinIslandssoundssweettome.Butno,mylord,itwillnotdo.Youarenomarineryet,andunderstandlittleofgeography,butImusttellyouthatthepartofAtlantisthere”—hejerkedhisthumbtowardsthelineoftrees,andthemountainswhichlaybeyondthefringeofsurf—“iscalledtheDangerousLands,andamanmustneedsbeasalamanderandbelearnedinmagic(soIamtold)beforehecanlivethere.”
Ilaughed.“WeofthePriests’Clanhavesomeeducation,Tob,thoughitmaynotbeonthesamelinesasyourown.Infact,ImaysayIwastaughtinthecollegesconcerningtheboundariesandthecontentsofourcontinentwithanicetythatwouldsurpriseyou.Andonceashore,myfatewillstillbeunderthecontrolofthemostHighGods.
