Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 4
Mypressuretooktheopeneroffguard,forthethingshutasIpushed,sothatIcouldslipthewell-conditionedboltasIhaddonewiththeotherdoor.AsIgainedthisrespiteIheardthebatteringatthetwootherdoorsabate,whileaconfusedclattercamefromtheconnectingdoorIhadshieldedwiththebedstead.Evidentlythebulkofmyassailantshadenteredthesoutherlyroomandweremassinginalateralattack.Butatthesamemomentapass-keysoundedinthenextdoortothenorth,andIknewthatanearerperilwasathand.
Thenorthwardconnectingdoorwaswideopen,buttherewasnotimetothinkaboutcheckingthealreadyturninglockinthehall.AllIcoulddowastoshutandbolttheopenconnectingdoor,aswellasitsmateontheoppositeside—pushingabedsteadagainsttheoneandabureauagainsttheother,andmovingawashstandinfrontofthehalldoor.Imust,Isaw,trusttosuchmakeshiftbarrierstoshieldmetillIcouldgetoutthewindowandontheroofofthePaineStreetblock.Buteveninthisacutemomentmychiefhorrorwassomethingapartfromtheimmediateweaknessofmydefenses.Iwasshudderingbecausenotoneofmypursuers,despitesomehideouspanting,grunting,andsubduedbarkingsatoddintervals,wasutteringanunmuffledorintelligiblevocalsound.
AsImovedthefurnitureandrushedtowardthewindowsIheardafrightfulscurryingalongthecorridortowardtheroomnorthofme,andperceivedthatthesouthwardbatteringhadceased.
