Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
1. My Recall
OfcourseIwasupagainprettysharply,andsnappedupthekodakjustasitwasgoingtoslideofftotheground.Iwillconfess,too,Iwasfeelingpleased.HereatanyratewasaGuanchecupboardofsorts,andastheyhadtakenthetroubletohermeticallysealitwithcement,theoddswerethatithadsomethinginsideworthhiding.Atfirsttherewasnothingtobeseenbutalotofdustandrubble,soIlitabitofcandleandclearedthisaway.Presently,however,IbegantofindthatIwasshellingoutsomethingthatwasnotcement.Itchippedaway,inregularlayers,andwhenItookittothedaylightIfoundthateachlayerwasmadeupoftwoparts.Onesidewasshinystuffthatlookedliketalc,andonthiswassmearedacoatingofdarktoffee-colouredmaterial,thatmighthavebeenwax.Thetoffee-colouredsurfacewasworkedoverwithsomekindofpattern.
NowIdonotprofesstoanyknowledgeonthesematters,andasaconsequencetookwhatCoppingerhadtoldmeaboutGuanchehabitsandacquirementsasmoreorlesstrue.Forinstance,hehadrepeatedlyimpresseduponmethatthisoldpeoplecouldnotwrite,andhavingthisinmymemory,Ididnotguessthatthepatternsscribedthroughthewaxwerelettersinsomeobsoletecharacter,which,iflefttomyself,probablyIshouldhavedone.ButstillatthesametimeIcametotheconclusionthatthestuffwasworthlooting,andsosettoworkquarryingitoutwiththeheelofmybootandapocket-knife.
Thesheetswereallmoreorlessstucktogether,andsoIdidnotgoinforseparatingthemfarther.
