"H. Warner Munn - The Ship from Atlantis" - читать интересную книгу автора (Munn H Warner)

brain, like a tiny tocsin pealing out danger:

"Look behind you!" it warned, and he turned. Coming, and swiftly, was
the maker of the path upon which he had intruded.

Thirty feet above the water towered a head, green with weed, leeches
and parasitic encrustations. Eyes larger than his own head glared down
upon him as paddle-like flippers thunderously smote the water and a
white wave creamed the long neck high with foam. The beast would be
almost instantly upon him and although Gwalchmai had no name for this
menacing creature, he knew that here swam Death! /
 He stood up in his rocking boat and tugged out his shortsword as the
jaws above him opened wider than those upon the figurehead of his own
ship. He caught a glimpse of a pointed tongue, sharp fangs driving down
and a blast of stench-laden air choked him. His ears were stunned by
hissing louder than a scream.

Gwalchmai smote once, with all his strength, and felt the sharp steel
bite through gristle. Then, over-balanced by the blow, he fell into the prow
and the hideous bony head came down like a thunder stone upon the
stern.

Up, up, high into the air he shot, clinging grimly to the sword hilt.
Twisting there, unconsciously directed into a perfect dive, he fell again,
piercing cleanly through the deep weed which lay hard against the golden
ship.

Deep down, in clear water, still retaining his sword, he swam beneath
the ship, noticing even then that the bird similarity continued under the
surface. Feather carvings covered the metal and passing one huge
dangling leg and then the other, he saw that each broad foot was webbed
with a metallic membrane which quivered and waved as he stirred the
water.

Driven by his own strong legs, he came to the surface, the matted weed
offering little resistance to the keen edge he opposed to it. Now he found
himself close to the other wing, which was undamaged though also
hanging down and partially extended. By the rough corrugations and body
carvings he climbed to the broad back. A quick glance showed him that
the monster had submerged. An immense commotion beneath the surface
rocked the golden bird and brought up bubbles of gas from the decaying
weed. A wide scaly tail slapped the open water in the channel and the boat
bobbed like a chip against it.

Instantly the hideous head reappeared beneath the boat, seized upon it,
shook it, crunched it into splinters and spat out the remains.

Gwalchmai lay flat upon the sun-heated metal, covered with dry salt
dust. He could see that one side of the great creature's head was oozing
tears of slime. Upon that side, the horror was blind. His one wild stroke