Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
19. Destruction Of Atlantis
YourteachinghaswarnedyouoftheweaponsthatarestoredintheArkoftheMysteries.Ifyoupersistinthisattack,atthebestyoucanmerelylose;attheworstyoucanbringaboutawreckoverwhicheventheHighGodswillshudderasTheyorderit.”
“Youcannotscareusbacknowbywords,”saidTathodoggedly.“Andasformagic,itwillbemetbymagic.PhorenicehasfoundbyherownclevernessasmanypowersaswereeverstoredupintheArkoftheMysteries.”
“Yetshelookedonhelplesslyenoughlastnight,whenherroyalpyramidwastrundledintoarubbishheap.Zaemonhadprophesiedthatthisshouldbeso,andforawitness,whyImyselfstoodclosertoherthanwetwostandnow,andsawher.”
“Iwillownyoutookherbysurprisesomewhatthere.Idonotunderstandthesemattersmyself;IwasnevermorethanoneoftheSevenintheolddays;andnow,quiterightly,Phorenicekeepstheknowledgeofhermagictoherself:butitseemstimeisneededwhenonemagicistobemetbyanother.”
“Well,”Isaid,“Iknowlittleaboutthebusinesseither.Ileavethesemattersnowtothosewhoarehigherabovemeinthepriesthood.Indeed,havingalikingforNais,itseemsIamdebarredfromeverbeinggivenunderstandingaboutthehighestofthehigherMysteries.SoIcontentmyselfwithbeingasoldier,andwhentheappointeddaycomes,IshallfallandkissmymothertheEarthforthelasttime.You,soIamtold,haveambitionforlongerlife.”
Henodded.“PhorenicehasfoundtheGreatSecret,andIamtobethefirstthatwillshareitwithher.
