Тень над Иннсмутом

           Thevasthuddleofsagginggambrelroofsandpeakedgablesconveyedwithoffensiveclearnesstheideaofwormydecay,andasweapproachedalongthenowdescendingroadIcouldseethatmanyroofshadwhollycavedin.ThereweresomelargesquareGeorgianhouses,too,withhippedroofs,cupolas,andrailed"widow’swalks."Theseweremostlywellbackfromthewater,andoneortwoseemedtobeinmoderatelysoundcondition.StretchinginlandfromamongthemIsawtherusted,grass-grownlineoftheabandonedrailway,withleaningtelegraph-polesnowdevoidofwires,andthehalf-obscuredlinesoftheoldcarriageroadstoRowleyandIpswich.

           Thedecaywasworstclosetothewaterfront,thoughinitsverymidstIcouldspythewhitebelfryofafairlywellpreservedbrickstructurewhichlookedlikeasmallfactory.Theharbour,longcloggedwithsand,wasenclosedbyanancientstonebreakwater;onwhichIcouldbegintodiscerntheminuteformsofafewseatedfishermen,andatwhoseendwerewhatlookedlikethefoundationsofabygonelighthouse.AsandytonguehadformedinsidethisbarrieranduponitIsawafewdecrepitcabins,mooreddories,andscatteredlobster-pots.Theonlydeepwaterseemedtobewheretheriverpouredoutpastthebelfriedstructureandturnedsouthwardtojointheoceanatthebreakwater’send.

           Hereandtheretheruinsofwharvesjuttedoutfromtheshoretoendinindeterminaterottenness,thosefarthestsouthseemingthemostdecayed.Andfaroutatsea,despiteahightide,Iglimpsedalong,blacklinescarcelyrisingabovethewateryetcarryingasuggestionofoddlatentmalignancy.This,Iknew,mustbeDevilReef.AsIlooked,asubtle,curioussenseofbeckoningseemedsuperaddedtothegrimrepulsion;andoddlyenough,Ifoundthisovertonemoredisturbingthantheprimaryimpression.