Тень над Иннсмутом

           Withouttheleastshadowofadoubt,thelockofmydoorwasbeingtried—cautiously,furtively,tentatively—withakey.

           Mysensationsuponrecognisingthissignofactualperilwereperhapslessratherthanmoretumultuousbecauseofmypreviousvaguefears.Ihadbeen,albeitwithoutdefinitereason,instinctivelyonmyguard—andthatwastomyadvantageinthenewandrealcrisis,whateveritmightturnouttobe.Neverthelessthechangeinthemenacefromvaguepremonitiontoimmediaterealitywasaprofoundshock,andfelluponmewiththeforceofagenuineblow.Itneveronceoccurredtomethatthefumblingmightbeameremistake.MalignpurposewasallIcouldthinkof,andIkeptdeathlyquiet,awaitingthewould-beintruder’snextmove.

           Afteratimethecautiousrattlingceased,andIheardtheroomtothenorthenteredwithapass-key.Thenthelockoftheconnectingdoortomyroomwassoftlytried.Theboltheld,ofcourse,andIheardthefloorcreakastheprowlerlefttheroom.Afteramomenttherecameanothersoftrattling,andIknewthattheroomtothesouthofmewasbeingentered.Againafurtivetryingofaboltedconnectingdoor,andagainarecedingcreaking.Thistimethecreakingwentalongthehallanddownthestairs,soIknewthattheprowlerhadrealisedtheboltedconditionofmydoorsandwasgivinguphisattemptforagreaterorlessertime,asthefuturewouldshew.