Тень над Иннсмутом

           Actually,itwascausedbytheunwisecuttingofwoodlandsneartheshore,whichrobbedthesoilofthebestprotectionandopenedthewayforwavesofwind-blownsand.

           AtlastwelostsightofPlumIslandandsawthevastexpanseoftheopenAtlanticonourleft.Ournarrowcoursebegantoclimbsteeply,andIfeltasingularsenseofdisquietinlookingatthelonelycrestaheadwheretheruttedroad-waymetthesky.Itwasasifthebuswereabouttokeeponinitsascent,leavingthesaneearthaltogetherandmergingwiththeunknownarcanaofupperairandcrypticalsky.Thesmelloftheseatookonominousimplications,andthesilentdriver’sbent,rigidbackandnarrowheadbecamemoreandmorehateful.AsIlookedathimIsawthatthebackofhisheadwasalmostashairlessashisface,havingonlyafewstragglingyellowstrandsuponagreyscabroussurface.

           Thenwereachedthecrestandbeheldtheoutspreadvalleybeyond,wheretheManuxetjoinstheseajustnorthofthelonglineofcliffsthatculminateinKingsportHeadandveerofftowardCapeAnn.OnthefarmistyhorizonIcouldjustmakeoutthedizzyprofileoftheHead,toppedbythequeerancienthouseofwhichsomanylegendsaretold;butforthemomentallmyattentionwascapturedbythenearerpanoramajustbelowme.Ihad,Irealized,comefacetofacewithrumour-shadowedInnsmouth.

           Itwasatownofwideextentanddenseconstruction,yetonewithaportentousdearthofvisiblelife.Fromthetangleofchimney-potsscarcelyawispofsmokecame,andthethreetallsteeplesloomedstarkandunpaintedagainsttheseawardhorizon.Oneofthemwascrumblingdownatthetop,andinthatandanothertherewereonlyblackgapingholeswhereclock-dialsshouldhavebeen.