Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
16. Siege Of The Sacred Mountain
Butasmanisborntomakehimselfadaptabletohissurroundings,soasthemonthsdraggedondidIlearnthelimitationofthisnewlifeofmine,andgathersomeknowledgeofitsresources.Asexample:Ifoundagreatblacktree,withahollowcore,andaholeintoitsmiddleneartheroots.HereIharboured,tillonenightsomemonstrouslizard,whosesheerweightmadethetreerocklikeasapling,endeavouredtosuckmeforthasabirdpicksawormfromahollowlog.IescapedbythewilloftheGods—Icouldasmuchhavedoneharmtoamountainasinjurethathornytonguewithmyweapons—butIgavemyselfwarningthatthischancemustnothappenagain.
SoIcutmyselfaladderoffootholesontheinsideofthetrunktillIhadreachedapointtenman-heightsfromtheground,andtherecutothernotches,andwithtreebranchesmadeaflooronwhichImightrest.Later,forluxury,Icarvedmearrow-slitwindowsinthewallsofmychamber,andevencarriedupsandforahearth,sothatImightcookmyvictualupthereinsteadoflightingafireinallthedangersoftheopenbelow.
Bydegrees,too,Ibegantofindhowthelarge-scaledfishoftheriversandthelesserturtlesmightbemorereadilycaptured,andsomyribsthreatenedlesstostartthroughtheirpropercoveringofskinasthedayswenton.ButthelackofsaladsandgruelsIcouldneverovercome.AllthegreenmeatwastaintedsopowerfullywiththetasteoftarsthatnevercouldIforcemypalatetoacceptit.Andofcourse,too,thereremainedtheperilofthegreaterlizardsandtheotherdangersnativetotheplace.
