Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
18. Storm Of The Sacred Mountain
TherecametomymindthethreatthatoldZaemonhadthunderedforthinthatpainted,perfumedbanqueting-hall:“Youshallsee,”hehadcriedtotheEmpress,“thisroyalpyramidwhichyouhavepollutedwithyourdebaucheriestorntierfromtier,andstonefromstone,andscatteredasfeathersspreadbeforeawind!”
Stillheaviergrewthesurgingoftheearth,andthepavementofthegreatsquaregapedandupheaved,andthepeoplewhothrongeditscreamedstillmoreshrillyastheirfeetwerecrushedbythegrindingblocks.Andnowtoothegreatpyramiditselfwascommencingtosplit,andgape,andtopple.Theroofsofitssplendidchambersgaveway,andtheponderousmasonryaboveshuttereddownandfilledthem.Inpart,too,onecouldseethedestructionnow,andnotguessatitmerelyfromthefearfulhearingsofthedarkness.Thundershadbeguntoroarthroughtheblacknightabove,andaddtheirbellowingstothisdevil’sorchestrationofuproar,andvividlightningsplasheslittheflyingdust-clouds.
Itwasperhapsnaturalthatsheshouldbethere,butitcameasashockwhenaflareofthelightningshowedmePhorenicesafeoutinthesquare,andindeedstandingnotfarfrommyself.
Shehadtakenherplaceinthemiddleofagreatflagstone,andstoodthereswayinghersupplebodytotheshocks.Herfacewascalm,anditslovelinesswasuntouchedbytheyears.Fromtimetotimeshebrushedawaythedustasitsettledontheshortredhairwhichcurledaboutherneck.Therewasnotraceoffearwrittenuponherface.Therewassomeweariness,somecontempt,andIthinkatingeofamusement.
