Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
16. Siege Of The Sacred Mountain
Allbeneaththetreesiswater,andtheairisfullofwarmsteamandwetness.Foramantoliveinthatconstanthotdampisverymortifyingtothestrength.Butstrengthiswanted,andcunningalsobeyondtheordinary,forthesedangerouslandsaretheabodeofthelizards,whichofallbeastsgrowtothemostenormoussizeandarethemostfearsometodealwith.
Therearecountlessfamiliesandspeciesoftheselizards,andwithsomeofthemamancancontendwithprospectofsuccess.Butthereareotherswhosehugenessnohumanforcecanbattleagainst.OneIsaw,asitcameupoutofalakeaftergainingitsday’sfood,thatmadethewetlandshakeandpulseasittrod.ItcouldhavetakenPhorenice’smammothintoitsbelly,*andevenamammothinfullchargecouldnothaveharmedit.Greathornyplatescovereditsheadandbody,andontheridgeofitsbackandtailandlimbswerespinesthattoregreatsliversfromtheblacktreesasitpassedamongstthem.
*TRANSLATOR’SNOTE:ProfessorReederoftheWyomingStateUniversityhasrecentlyunearthedtheskeletonofaBrontosaurus,130ft.inlength,whichwouldhaveweighed50tonswhenalive.Itwas35ft.inheightatthehips,and25ft.attheshoulder,and40peoplecouldbeseatedwithcomfortwithinitsribs.Itsthighbonewas8ft.long.Thefossilsofawholeseriesofthesecolossallizardshavebeenfound.
Nowandagainthesemonsterswouldgetcaughtinsomevastfissuringoftheground,butnotoften.Theirspeedoffootwasgreat,andtheirsagacitykeen.
