Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Theretheywere—goingtocertaindeath,abouttoquittheblessedlightofdayforever,andyetabletocontemplatetheirdoomwithoutatremor. EvenatthatmomentIcouldnothelpcontrastingtheirstateofmindwithmyown,whichwasfarfromcomfortable,andbreathingasighofenvyandadmiration. NeverbeforehadIseensuchanabsolutedevotiontotheideaofduty,andsuchacompleteindifferencetoitsbitterfruits.
"Beholdyourking!"endedoldInfadoos,pointingtoIgnosi; "gofightandfallforhim,asisthedutyofbravemen, andcursedandshamefulforeverbethenameofhimwhoshrinksfromdeathforhisking,orwhoturnshisbacktothefoe. Beholdyourking,chiefs,captains,andsoldiers! NowdoyourhomagetothesacredSnake,andthenfollowon,thatIncubuandImayshowyouaroadtotheheartofTwala’shost."
Therewasamoment’spause,thensuddenlyamurmurarosefromtheserriedphalanxesbeforeus,asoundlikethedistantwhisperofthesea,causedbythegentletappingofthehandlesofsixthousandspearsagainsttheirholders’shields. Slowlyitswelled,tillitsgrowingvolumedeepenedandwidenedintoaroarofrollingnoise,thatechoedlikethunderagainstthemountains,andfilledtheairwithheavywavesofsound. Thenitdecreased,andbyfaintdegreesdiedawayintonothing, andsuddenlyoutcrashedtheroyalsalute.
Ignosi,Ithoughttomyself,mightwellbeaproudmanthatday,fornoRomanemperoreverhadsuchasalutationfromgladiators"abouttodie."
