before beginning this work,
not to be surprised to hear
me calling barbarians by
Grecian names."
—PLATO
Critias
ATLANTIDA
Pierre Benoit
Translated by Mary C. Tongue and Mary Ross
ACE BOOKS, INC. 1120 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10036
To André Suarès
I. A SOUTHERN ASSIGNMENT
II. CAPTAIN DE SAINT-AVIT
III. THE MORHANGE-SAINT-AVIT MISSION
IV. TOWARDS LATITUDE 25
V. THE INSCRIPTION
VI. THE DISASTER OF THE LETTUCE
VII. THE COUNTRY OF FEAR
VIII. AWAKENING AT AHAGGAR
IX. ATLANTIS
X. THE RED MARBLE HALL
XI. ANTINEA
XII. MORHANGE DISAPPEARS
XIII. THE HETMAN OF JITOMIR'S STORY
XIV. HOURS OF WAITING
XV. THE LAMENT OF TANIT-ZERGA
XVI. THE SILVER HAMMER
XVII. THE MAIDENS OF THE ROCKS
XVIII. THE FIRE-FLIES
XIX. THE TANEZRUFT
XX. THE CIRCLE IS COMPLETE
HASSI-INIFEL, NOVEMBER 8, 1903.
If the following pages are ever to see the light of day it will bebecause they have been stolen from me. The delay that I exact beforethey shall be disclosed assures me of that.[1]
As to this disclosure, let no one distrust my aim when I prepare forit, when I insist upon it. You may believe me when I maintain that nopride of authorship binds me to these pages. Already I am too farremoved from all such things. Only it is useless that others shouldenter upon the path from which I shall not return.
Four o'clock in the morning. Soon the sun will kindle the hamada withits pink fire. All about me the bordj is asleep. Through the half-opendoor of his room I hear André de Saint-Avit breathing quietly, veryquietly.
In two days we shall start, he and I. We shall leave the bordj. Weshall penetrate far down there to the South. The official orders camethis morning.
Now, even if I wished to withdraw, it is too late. André and I askedfor this mission. The authorization that I sought, together with him,has at this moment become an order. The hierarchic channels cleared,the pressure brought to bear at the Ministry;—and then to be afraid,to recoil before this adventure!...
To be a