Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 4
DuringmysecondpauseIbegantodetectafreshdistributionofvaguesounds;anduponlookingcautiouslyoutfromcoverbeheldamotorcardartingacrosstheopenspace,boundoutwardalongEliotStreet,whichthereintersectsbothBabsonandLafayette.
AsIwatched—chokedbyasuddenriseinthefishyodourafterashortabatement—Isawabandofuncouth,crouchingshapeslopingandshamblinginthesamedirection;andknewthatthismustbethepartyguardingtheIpswichroad,sincethathighwayformsanextensionofEliotStreet.TwoofthefiguresIglimpsedwereinvoluminousrobes,andoneworeapeakeddiademwhichglistenedwhitelyinthemoonlight.Thegaitofthisfigurewassooddthatitsentachillthroughme—foritseemedtomethecreaturewasalmosthopping.
WhenthelastofthebandwasoutofsightIresumedmyprogress;dartingaroundthecornerintoLafayetteStreet,andcrossingEliotveryhurriedlyleststragglersofthepartybestilladvancingalongthatthoroughfare.IdidhearsomecroakingandclatteringsoundsfarofftowardTownSquare,butaccomplishedthepassagewithoutdisaster.Mygreatestdreadwasinre-crossingbroadandmoonlitSouthStreet—withitsseawardview—andIhadtonervemyselffortheordeal.Someonemighteasilybelooking,andpossibleEliotStreetstragglerscouldnotfailtoglimpsemefromeitheroftwopoints.AtthelastmomentIdecidedIhadbetterslackenmytrotandmakethecrossingasbeforeintheshamblinggaitofanaverageInnsmouthnative.
