Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
18. Storm Of The Sacred Mountain
TheGodshaddriventheirploughthroughit,anditlayflat,andproudAtlantisstoodasdefencelessastheopencountry.ThoughIknewthecauseofthisruin,though,infact,Ihadmyselfinsomemeasureincitedit,Iwasalmostsadattheruthlessnesswithwhichithadbeencarriedout.Theroyalpyramidmightgo,housesandpalacesmightbelevelled,andfortheseIcaredlittleenough;butwhenIsawthosestatelyrampartsalsofilchedaway,therethesoldierinmewoke,andIgrievedatthishumblingofthemightycitythatoncehadbeenmyonlymistress.
Butthiswasonlyapassingregret,ameretouchofthefighting-man’spride.Ihadadifferentlovenow,thathadwrappedherselfroundmefardeeperandmoretightly,andmydutywastowardsherfirstandforemost.Thenightwouldsoonbepast,andthendangerswouldincrease.Nonehadinterferedwithussofar,thoughmanyhadjostledusasIclamberedovertheruins;butthisforbearancecouldnotbereckoneduponforlong.Theearthtremorshadalmostdiedaway,andafterthepanicandthestorm,thencomesthetimeforthespoiling.
Allmenwhowerepoorwouldtrytoseizewhatlaynearesttotheirhands,andthoseofhigherstation,andanysoldierswhocouldbecollectedandstillremainedtruetocommand,wouldruthlesslystopandstripanymantheysawmakingoffwithplunder.
