Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
Ithasbeenmyfatemorethanoncetobechasedbystreamsoffireandstinkingairamongstthemountainsduringoneoftheirsuddenboils,andsoIcansaytheprescribedprayeruponthismatterstraightfrommyheart.”
“CircumstanceshavechangedsinceyouleftAtlantis,”saidPhorenice,“andwhenthanksaregivennow,theyarenotthrownatthoseoldGods.”
Isawhermeaning,andalmoststartedattheimpietyofit.Ifthiswastobethenewruleofthings,Iwouldhavenohandinit.Fatemightdealwithmeasitchose.Toservetrulyareigningmonarch,thatIwaspreparedfor;buttopalterwithsacrilege,andacceptaswineherd’sdaughterasaGod,whoshouldreceiveprayersandobeisances,revoltedmymanhood.SoIinvitedacrisis.
“Phorenice,”Isaid,“Ihavebeenapriestfrommychildhoodup,reveringtheGods,andgrowingintimatewiththeirmysteries.TillIfindformyselfthatthoseoldthingsarefalse,Imuststandbythatallegiance,andifthereisacostforthisfaithfulnessImustpayit.”
Shelookedatmewithaslowsmile.“Youareastrongman,Deucalion,”shesaid.
Ibowed.
“Ihaveheardothersasstubborn,”shesaid,“buttheywereconverted.”Sheshookouttheruddybunchesofherhair,andstoodsothatthelightoftheburningearth-breathmightfallonthelovelinessofherfaceandform.“Ihavefounditaseasytoconvertthestubbornastoburnthem.Indeed,therehasbeenlittletalkofburning.Theyhaveallrushedtoconversion,whetherIwouldorno.Butitseemsthatmypoorlooksandtonguearewantingincharmto-day.
