Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
18. Storm Of The Sacred Mountain
Itwasaboastthatone-halfthefoundationscouldbedugfrombeneathit,andstillthepyramidwouldstandfour-squareunderheaven,moreenduringthanthehills.
Flickeringtorchesshowedthatitsgreatstonedoorslayopen,andeverandagainIsawsomefrightenedinmatescurryoutandthenbelosttosightinthegloom.ButwiththeroyalpyramidanditsultimatefateIhadlittleconcern;IdidnotevencarethenwhetherPhorenicewastrapped,orwhethershecameoutsoundandfitforfurthermischief.Icrouchedbythegranitethronewhichstoodinthemiddleofthatsplendidsquare,andhearditsstonesgratetogetherliketheendsofabrokenboneasitrockedtotheearth-waves.
Inthatnightofdustanddarknessitwashardtoseetheoutlineofone’sownhand,butIthinkthattheGodsinsomerequitalforthelovewhichhadachedsolongwithinme,gavemespecialpowerofsight.AsIwatched,Isawthegreatcarvedrockwhichformedthecapstoneofthethronemoveslightlyandthenmoveagain,andthenagain;atinyjerkforeachearth-pulse,butstilltherewasanappreciableshifting;and,moreover,thestonemovedalwaystooneside.
TherewasmethodinZaemon’sdesperatework,andthisinmyblindpanicofloveandhaste,Ihadoverlooked.SoIwentupthestepsofthethroneonthesidefromwhichthegreatcapstonewasmoving,andclungthereafirewithexpectation.
Moreandmoreviolentdidtheearth-swinggrow,thoughthegraduationsofitsincreasecouldnotbeperceived,andthedinoffallinghousesandtheshrieksandcriesofhurtandfrightenedpeoplewentlouderupintothenight.
