Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
15. Zaemon’s Summons
“Atleast,”saidTob,“we’llcarryyourmemorywithus,andmakeitbigintheTinIslandsforeverlasting.”
“Forgetme,”Isaid,“Iamnothing.Iammerelyanincidentthathascomeinyourway.Butifyouwanttocarrysomememorywithyouthatshallendure,preservethecultofthemostHighGodsasitwastaughttoyouwhenyouwerechildrenhereinAtlantis.Andafterwards,whenyourcolonygrowsinpower,andhascometosufficientmagnificence,youmaysendtotheoldcountryforapriest.”
“Wewantnopriest,exceptoneweshallmakeourselves,andthatwillbeme.AndasfortheoldGods—well,Ihavelaidmyideasbeforethefellowshere,andtheyagreetothis:WearedonewiththoseoldGodsforalways.Theyseemwornout,ifonemayjudgefromTheirpresentlackofusefulnessinAtlantis,and,anyway,therewillbenoroomforThemontheTinIslands.—Letgothosewarpsthereaft,andshoveherheadout.—Weareunderweighnow,mylord,andbeyondrecall,andsoIamfreetotellyouwhatwehavedecideduponforourreligiousexercises.WeshallsetupthememoryofalivingHeroonearth,andworshipthat.Andwheninyearstocomethepictureofhisfacegrowsdim,weshalldoubtlessmakeanimageofhim,asaccurateasourartpermits,andbuildhimatempleforshelter,andbringthereourofferingsandprayers.AndasIsay,mylord,Ishallbepriest,andwhenIamdead,thesonsofmybodyshallbepriestsafterme,andtheeldestakingalso.”
“Letmepleadwithyou,”Isaid.“Thismustnotbe.
