Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
5. Zaemon’s Curse
Thesignalwassoundedfromthetwocastlesattheharbour’sentrance,thechainwhichhungbetweenthemwasdropped,andaten-oaredboatshotoutfrombehindthewallsasfastasoarscoulddriveher.Sheracedupalongsideandthequestionswereput:
“ThatshouldbeDason’sgalley?”
“Itwas,”saidTob.
“Oh,IsawDason’sheadonyourbeak,”saidtheport-captain.“YouwereTatho’scaptain?”
“Andamstill.Tatho’sfleetwassentbyDasonandhisfriendstothesea-floor,andsowetookthisstinkinggalleytofinishthevoyagein,seeingthatitwastheonlycraftleftafloat.”
Theport-captainwasrovinghiseyeoverthegroupofuswhostoodontheafter-deck.“Ifearme,captain,thatyou’llhavebutadangerousreception.IdonotseemyLordDeucalion.Ordoeshecomewithsomeothernavy?Gods,captain,ifyouhavelethimgetkilledwhilstunderyourcharge,theEmpresswillhavetheskintornslowlyoffyouliving.”
“WhatwithPhoreniceandTathobothsocuriousforhiswelfare,”saidTob,“myLordDeucalionseemsbutadangerouspassenger.ButIshallsavemyhidethisvoyage.”Hejerkedatmewithhisthumb.“He’stheretoputinawordformehimself.”
Theport-captainstaredforamoment,asifunbelieving,andthen,asthoughsatisfied,madeobeisancelikeafellowwellusedtoceremonial.“Itrustmylord,inhisinfinitestrength,willpardonmysininnotknowinghimbyhisnoblenessbefore.Buttruthtotell,Ihadlookedtoseemylordmoresuitablyapparelled.
