Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 2
Pavementandsidewalkswereincreasinglywell-defined,andthoughmostofthehouseswerequiteold—woodandbrickstructuresoftheearly19thcentury—theywereobviouslykeptfitforhabitation.AsanamateurantiquarianIalmostlostmyolfactorydisgustandmyfeelingofmenaceandrepulsionamidstthisrich,unalteredsurvivalfromthepast.
ButIwasnottoreachmydestinationwithoutoneverystrongimpressionofpoignantlydisagreeablequality.Thebushadcometoasortofopenconcourseorradialpointwithchurchesontwosidesandthebedraggledremainsofacirculargreeninthecentre,andIwaslookingatalargepillaredhallontheright-handjunctionahead.Thestructure’soncewhitepaintwasnowgrayandpeelingandtheblackandgoldsignonthepedimentwassofadedthatIcouldonlywithdifficultymakeoutthewords"EsotericOrderofDagon"."This,thenwastheformerMasonicHallnowgivenovertoadegradedcult.AsIstrainedtodecipherthisinscriptionmynoticewasdistractedbytheraucoustonesofacrackedbellacrossthestreet,andIquicklyturnedtolookoutthewindowonmysideofthecoach.
Thesoundcamefromasquatstonechurchofmanifestlylaterdatethanmostofthehouses,builtinaclumsyGothicfashionandhavingadisproportionatelyhighbasementwithshutteredwindows.ThoughthehandsofitsclockweremissingonthesideIglimpsed,Iknewthatthosehoarsestrokesweretollingthehourofeleven.ThensuddenlyallthoughtsoftimewereblottedoutbyanonrushingimageofsharpintensityandunaccountablehorrorwhichhadseizedmebeforeIknewwhatitreallywas.Thedoorofthechurchbasementwasopen,revealingarectangleofblacknessinside.
