Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
6. The Biters Of The City Walls
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“PhoreniceisEmpress,”Isaidstolidly,“andIamherservant.To-morrow,ifshegivesmeleave,Iwillclearawaythisrabblewhichclamoursoutsidethewalls.Imustbegintoprovemyuses.”
“Iamtoldyouareaprettyfighter,”saidshe.“Well,Iholdsomesmallskillinarmsmyself,andhaveaconceitthatIamsomethingofajudge.To-morrowwewilltakeatasteofbattletogether.Butto-dayImustcarrythroughthehonourablereceptionIhaveplannedforyou,Deucalion.Thefeastwillbesetreadysoon,andyouwillwishtomakereadyforthefeast.Therearechambershereselectedforyouruse,andstoredwithwhatisneedful.Ylgawillshowyoutheirplaces.”
Wewaited,thefan-girlandI,tillPhorenicehadpassedoutoftheglowofthelight-jet,andhadleftthehallofwaitingthroughadoorwayamongsttheshadowsofitsfartherangle,andthen(thegirltakingalampandleading)wealsothreadedourwaythroughthenarrowmazesofthepyramid.
Everywheretheairwasfullofperfumes,andeverywherethepassagesturnedandtwistedanddoubledthroughthesolidstoneofthepyramid,sothatstrangersmighthavespenthours—yes,ordays—insearchbeforetheycametothechambertheydesired.Therewasafinecunningnessaboutthoseforgottenbuilderswhosetupthisroyalpyramid.Theyhadnomindthatkingsshouldfallbythehandofvulgarassassinswhomightcomeinsuddenlyfromoutside.Anditissaidalsothatthekingofthetime,tomakedoublysure,killedallthathadbuiltthepyramid,orseeneventhelayofitsinnerstones.
