Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
7. The Biters Of The Walls (Further Account)
Thefourgatesthemselvesweresetoneattheinner,oneattheoutersideofeachofthesewalls,andahiddenmachinerysoconnectedthem,thatofeachsetonecouldnotopentilltheotherwasclosed;andasforforcingthemwithoutwarengines,onemightasfoolishlytrytopushdowntheroyalpyramidwiththebarehand.
Myescortmadeoutcrywiththehornwhichhungfromthewallinvitingsuchasummons,andawardercametoanarrow-slit,anddidinspectionofourpersonsandbusiness.Hissurveywasaccordingtotheancientformofwords,whichislong,andthiswasmadestillmoretediousbythenoisefromwithin,whicheverandagaindrownedallspeechbetweenusentirely.
Butatlasttheformalitieshadbeendulycompliedwith,andheshotbackthemassivebarsandboltsofstone,andthrewajaronemonstrousstonevalveofthedoor.Intothechamberwithin—achambermadefromthethicknessofthewallbetweenthetwodoors—Iandmyfellowscrowded,andthenthewarderwithhismachinespulledtothevalvewhichhadbeenopened,andcametomeagainthroughthepressofmyescort,bowinglowtotheground.
“Ihavenovailtogiveyou,”Isaidabruptly.“Getonwithyourduty.Openmethatotherdoor.”
“Withrespect,mylord,itwouldbebetterthatIshouldfirstannouncemylord’spresence.Thereisabaitinggoingforwardinthecircus,andthetigersareasyetmeresavages,andnorespectersofpersons.”
“Thewhat?”
“Thetigers,ifmylordwillpermitthemthename.
