Тень над Иннсмутом

           Plainly,mostofmyopponentswereabouttoconcentrateagainstthefeebleconnectingdoorwhichtheyknewmustopendirectlyonme.Outside,themoonplayedontheridgepoleoftheblockbelow,andIsawthatthejumpwouldbedesperatelyhazardousbecauseofthesteepsurfaceonwhichImustland.

           Surveyingtheconditions,Ichosethemoresoutherlyofthetwowindowsasmyavenueofescape;planningtolandontheinnerslopeoftheroofandmakeforthenearestsky-light.OnceinsideoneofthedecrepitbrickstructuresIwouldhavetoreckonwithpursuit;butIhopedtodescendanddodgeinandoutofyawningdoorwaysalongtheshadowedcourtyard,eventuallygettingtoWashingtonStreetandslippingoutoftowntowardthesouth.

           Theclatteratthenortherlyconnectingdoorwasnowterrific,andIsawthattheweakpanellingwasbeginningtosplinter.Obviously,thebesiegershadbroughtsomeponderousobjectintoplayasabattering-ram.Thebedstead,however,stillheldfirm;sothatIhadatleastafaintchanceofmakinggoodmyescape.AsIopenedthewindowInoticedthatitwasflankedbyheavyvelourdraperiessuspendedfromapolebybrassrings,andalsothattherewasalargeprojectingcatchfortheshuttersontheexterior.Seeingapossiblemeansofavoidingthedangerousjump,Iyankedatthehangingsandbroughtthemdown,poleandall;thenquicklyhookingtwooftheringsintheshuttercatchandflingingthedraperyoutside.Theheavyfoldsreachedfullytotheabuttingroof,andIsawthattheringsandcatchwouldbelikelytobearmyweight.