Белый корабль

           Iyearnedmightilytoenterthisfascinatingyetrepellentcity,andbesoughtthebeardedmantolandmeatthestonepierbythehugecarvengateAkariel;buthegentlydeniedmywish,saying, "IntoThalarion,theCityofaThousandWonders,manyhavepassedbutnonereturned. Thereinwalkonlydaemonsandmadthingsthatarenolongermen,andthestreetsarewhitewiththeunburiedbonesofthosewhohavelookedupontheeidolonLathi,thatreignsoverthecity." SotheWhiteShipsailedonpastthewallsofThalarion,andfollowedformanydaysasouthward-flyingbird,whoseglossyplumagematchedtheskyoutofwhichithadappeared. 

           Thencamewetoapleasantcoastgaywithblossomsofeveryhue,whereasfarinlandaswecouldseebaskedlovelygrovesandradiantarborsbeneathameridiansun. Frombowersbeyondourviewcameburstsofsongandsnatchesoflyricharmony,interspersedwithfaintlaughtersodeliciousthatIurgedtherowersonwardinmyeagernesstoreachthescene. Andthebeardedmanspokenoword,butwatchedmeasweapproachedthelily-linedshore. SuddenlyawindblowingfromovertheflowerymeadowsandleafywoodsbroughtascentatwhichItrembled. Thewindgrewstronger,andtheairwasfilledwiththelethal,charnelodorofplague-strickentownsanduncoveredcemeteries. Andaswesailedmadlyawayfromthatdamnablecoastthebeardedmanspokeatlast,saying, "ThisisXura,theLandofPleasuresUnattained." 

           SooncemoretheWhiteShipfollowedthebirdofheaven,overwarmblessedseasfannedbycaressing,aromaticbreezes.