Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
16. Siege Of The Sacred Mountain
Butasthemonthsbegantomountintoyears,andthebrutepartofmynaturebecamemoresatisfied,therecameotherlongingswhichitwaslesseasytoprovidefor.Fromtheivoryofariverhorse’stoothIhadendeavouredtocarvemearepresentativeofNaisaslastIhadseenher.But,thoughmyfingersmightbeloving,andmywillgood,myartwasofthedullest,andtheresult—thoughItriedtimeandtimeagain—wasalwaysclumsyandpitiful.Still,inmyeyesitcarriedsomesuggestionoftheoriginal—acurvehere,anoutlinethere,anditmademyoldloveglowanewwithinmeasIsatandateitwithmyeyes.YetitdidlittletosatisfymylongingsforthewomanIhadlost;ratheritwhettedmycravingstobewithheragain,oratleasttohavesomeknowledgeofherfate.
OthermenofthePriests’ClanhavecomeoutandmadeanabodeintheseDangerousLands,andbymortifyingtheflesh,havegainedanintimacywiththeHigherMysterieswhichhascarriedthemfarpastwhatmerehumanlearningandrepetitioncouldteach.Indeed,hereandthereone,whofromsomecauseandanotherhasreturnedtotheabodesofmen,hascarriedwithhimaknowledgethathasbroughthimthereputationamongstthevulgarfortheworkingsofmagicandmiracles,which—sinceallartsmustbeallowedwhichaidsoholyacause—haveaddedverymateriallytotheardourwithwhichthesecommonpeoplepursuethecultoftheGods.ButformyselfIcouldnotfreemymindtothenecessaryclearnessforfollowingtheseabstrusestudies.
