Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
”Sheclosedhereyesthen,lyingbackamongstthecushionswhereIhadplacedher,anddroppedoffintohealthysleep,withthesmilesstillplayinguponherlips.Iputthecoverletoverher,andkissedherlightly,holdingbackmybeardlestitshouldsweephercheek.AndthenIwentoutofthechamber.
Thatbeardhadgrownvastlydisagreeabletometheselasthours,andthenIwentintoaroominthehouse,andfoundinstruments,andshaveditdowntothebarechin.AchangeofrobealsoIfoundthereandtookitinsteadofmysqualidrags.Ifamanisintruthaking,heowesthesethingstothedignityofhisoffice.
But,ifthedinofthefightingwasanyguide,minewasanarrowingkingdom.Everyhouritseemedtogrowfiercerandmorenear,anditwasclearthatsomeofthegatesinthepassageupthecleftinthecliff,impregnablethoughallmenhadthoughtthem,hadyieldedtothevehemenceofPhorenice’sattack.And,indeed,itwasscarcelytobemarvelledat.Withallhergeniusspurredontofurybytheblowthathadbeenstruckatherbywreckingsofairapartofthecity,theEmpresswouldbenolightadversaryevenforastrongplacetoresist,andtheSacredMountainwasnolongerstrong.
Defencesofstone,cunninglyplannedandmightilybuilt,itstillpossessed,butthesewillnotfightalone.Theyneedmentolinethem,and,moreover,abundanceofmen.
