Тень над Иннсмутом

           Despitethestate’ssafetyregulationstherewasnofireescapeonthissideofthehotel,andIsawthatmywindowscommandedonlyasheerthreestorydroptothecobbledcourtyard.Ontherightandleft,however,someancientbrickbusinessblocksabuttedonthehotel;theirslantroofscominguptoareasonablejumpingdistancefrommyfourth-storylevel.ToreacheitheroftheselinesofbuildingsIwouldhavetobeinaroomtwofrommyown—inonecaseonthenorthandintheothercaseonthesouth—andmymindinstantlysettoworkwhatchancesIhadofmakingthetransfer.

           Icouldnot,Idecided,riskanemergenceintothecorridor;wheremyfootstepswouldsurelybeheard,andwherethedifficultiesofenteringthedesiredroomwouldbeinsuperable.Myprogress,ifitwastobemadeatall,wouldhavetobethroughthelesssolidly-builtconnectingdoorsoftherooms;thelocksandboltsofwhichIwouldhavetoforceviolently,usingmyshoulderasabattering-ramwhenevertheyweresetagainstme.This,Ithought,wouldbepossibleowingtothericketynatureofthehouseanditsfixtures;butIrealisedIcouldnotdoitnoiselessly.Iwouldhavetocountonsheerspeed,andthechanceofgettingtoawindowbeforeanyhostileforcesbecamecoordinatedenoughtoopentherightdoortowardmewithapass-key.MyownouterdoorIreinforcedbypushingthebureauagainstit—littlebylittle,inordertomakeaminimumofsound.

           Iperceivedthatmychanceswereveryslender,andwasfullypreparedforanycalamity.