Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 4
Itwasthenthatthemosthorribleimpressionofallwasborneinuponme—theimpressionwhichdestroyedmylastvestigeofself-controlandsentmerunningfranticallysouthwardpasttheyawningblackdoorwaysandfishilystaringwindowsofthatdesertednightmarestreet.ForatacloserglanceIsawthatthemoonlitwatersbetweenthereefandtheshorewerefarfromempty.Theywerealivewithateeminghordeofshapesswimminginwardtowardthetown;andevenatmyvastdistanceandinmysinglemomentofperceptionIcouldtellthatthebobbingheadsandflailingarmswerealienandaberrantinawayscarcelytobeexpressedorconsciouslyformulated.
MyfranticrunningceasedbeforeIhadcoveredablock,foratmyleftIbegantohearsomethinglikethehueandcryoforganisedpursuit.Therewerefootstepsandgutturalsounds,andarattlingmotorwheezedsouthalongFederalStreet.Inasecondallmyplanswereutterlychanged—forifthesouthwardhighwaywereblockedaheadofme,ImustclearlyfindanotheregressfromInnsmouth.Ipausedanddrewintoagapingdoorway,reflectinghowluckyIwastohaveleftthemoonlitopenspacebeforethesepursuerscamedowntheparallelstreet.
Asecondreflectionwaslesscomforting.Sincethepursuitwasdownanotherstreet,itwasplainthatthepartywasnotfollowingmedirectly.Ithadnotseenme,butwassimplyobeyingageneralplanofcuttingoffmyescape.
