Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
”
“Thereitseemsyoulie,myLordTatho,”Ishouteddowntohim.
Hestarted,andlookedupatme.
“Soyouarethereinrealtruth,then?Well,oldcomrade,Iamsorry.Butitistoolatetomakeacompositionnow.YouareonthesideofthesemangyPriests,andtheEmpresshasmadeanedictthattheyaretoberootedout,andIamhermostobedientservant.”
“Youusedtobeskilfuloffence,”Isaid,andindeedtherewaslittleenoughtochoosebetweenus.“Ifitpleaseyoutostopthispitifulkilling,makeyourselfthechampionofyourside,andIwillstandformine,andwewillfightoutthisquarrelinsomefairplace,andbindourpartiestoabidebytheresult.”
“Itwouldbeagrandfightbetweenustwo,oldfriend,anditgoeshardwithmetobalkyouofit.ButIcannotpleasureyou.IamgeneralhereunderPhorenice,andshehasgivenmethestrongestordersnottoperilmyself.Andbesides,thoughyouareagreatman,Deucalion,youarenotchief.YouarenotevenoneoftheThree.”
“IamKing.”
Tatholaughed.“Fewbutyourselfwouldsayso,mylord.”
“Fewtruly,butwhatthereare,theyarepowerful.Iwasgiventhenameforthefirsttimeyesterday,andasafirstblowinthecampaigntherewassomemischiefdoneinthecity.Iwastheremyself,andsawhowyoutookit.”
“YouwereinAtlantis!”
“IwentforNais.Sheisonthemountainnow,andto-morrowwillbemyQueen.Tatho,asapriesttoapriest,letmesolemnlybringtoyourmemorytheinfinitepoweryoubiteagainstonthisSacredMountain.
