Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
18. Storm Of The Sacred Mountain
Thickergrewthedustthatfilledtheair,tillonecoughedandstrangledinthebreathing,andmoreblackdidthenightbecomeasthedustroseandblottedtherarestarsfromsight.Iclungtoanangleofthegranitethrone,crouchingontheuppermoststepbutonebelowthecapstone,andcouldscarcelykeepmyplaceagainsttheviolenceoftheearthtremors.
Butstillthehugecapstonethatwascarvedwiththesnakeandtheoutstretchedhandheldmylovefastlockedinherlivingtomb,andIcouldhavebitthecoldgraniteattheimpotencewhichbarredmefromher.Thepeoplewhokeptthrongingintothesquareweremadwithterror,buttheirverynumbersmademycasemoredesperateeverymoment.“Phorenice,Goddess,aidusnow!”somecried,andwhentheprayerdidnotbringtheminstantrelief,theyfelltoyammeringouttheoldconfessionsofthefaithwhichtheyhadlearnedinchildhood,turninginthishouroftheirdreadfulneedtothoseoldGods,which,throughsomanydishonourableyears,theyhadspurnedanddeserted.Itwasacuriouscriticismonthebalanceoftheirrealreligion,ifonehadcaredtomakeit.
Loudergrewthecrashoffallingmasonry;andfromtheroyalpyramiditself,thoughindeedIcouldnotevenseeitsoutlinethroughthedarkness,therecamesoundsofgrindingstonesandcrackingbarsofmetalwhichtoldthatevenitssuperbmajesticstrengthhadabreakingstrain.
