Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Woulditproveahoaxafterall,Iwondered,orwasoldDaSilvestraright? Weretherevasthoardsofwealthhiddeninthatdarkplace,hoardswhichwouldmakeustherichestmeninthewholeworld? Weshouldknowinaminuteortwo.
"Enter,whitemenfromtheStars,"saidGagool,advancingintothedoorway; "butfirsthearyourservant,Gagooltheold. ThebrightstonesthatyewillseeweredugoutofthepitoverwhichtheSilentOnesareset,andstoredhere,Iknownotbywhom,forthatwasdonelongeragothanevenIremember. Butoncehasthisplacebeenenteredsincethetimethatthosewhohidthestonesdepartedinhaste,leavingthembehind. Thereportofthetreasurewentdownindeedamongthepeoplewholivedinthecountryfromagetoage,butnoneknewwherethechamberwas,northesecretofthedoor. Butithappenedthatawhitemanreachedthiscountryfromoverthemountains—perchancehetoocame‘fromtheStars’—andwaswellreceivedbythekingofthatday. Heitiswhositsyonder,"andshepointedtothefifthkingatthetableoftheDead. "Anditcametopassthatheandawomanofthecountrywhowaswithhimjourneyedtothisplace, andthatbychancethewomanlearntthesecretofthedoor—athousandyearsmightyesearch,butyeshouldneverfindthatsecret. Thenthewhitemanenteredwiththewoman,andfoundthestones,andfilledwithstonestheskinofasmallgoat,whichthewomanhadwithhertoholdfood. Andashewasgoingfromthechamberhetookuponemorestone,alargeone,andhelditinhishand."
Hereshepaused.
