Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 4
ThedoorresistedevenmorethanIexpected,butIdidnotgivein.Andallthewhiletheclamourattheouterdoorincreased.
Finallytheconnectingdoorgave,butwithsuchacrashthatIknewthoseoutsidemusthaveheard.Instantlytheoutsideknockingbecameaviolentbattering,whilekeyssoundedominouslyinthehalldoorsoftheroomsonbothsidesofme.Rushingthroughthenewlyopenedconnexion,Isucceededinboltingthenortherlyhalldoorbeforethelockcouldbeturned;butevenasIdidsoIheardthehalldoorofthethirdroom—theonefromwhosewindowIhadhopedtoreachtheroofbelow—beingtriedwithapass-key.
ForaninstantIfeltabsolutedespair,sincemytrappinginachamberwithnowindowegressseemedcomplete.Awaveofalmostabnormalhorrorsweptoverme,andinvestedwithaterriblebutunexplainablesingularitytheflashlight-glimpseddustprintsmadebytheintruderwhohadlatelytriedmydoorfromthisroom.Then,withadazedautomatismwhichpersisteddespitehopelessness,Imadeforthenextconnectingdoorandperformedtheblindmotionofpushingatitinanefforttogetthroughand—grantingthatfasteningsmightbeasprovidentiallyintactasinthissecondroom—boltthehalldoorbeyondbeforethelockcouldbeturnedfromoutside.
Sheerfortunatechancegavememyreprieve—fortheconnectingdoorbeforemewasnotonlyunlockedbutactuallyajar.InasecondIwasthough,andhadmyrightkneeandshoulderagainstahalldoorwhichwasvisiblyopeninginward.
