Тень над Иннсмутом

           "Thisfellow—Casey,hisnamewas—hadalottosayabouthowtheInnsmouthfolkwatchedhimandseemedkindofonguard.HefoundtheMarshrefineryaqueerplace—it’sinanoldmillonthelowerfallsoftheManuxet.WhathesaidtalliedupwithwhatI’dheard.Booksinbadshape,andnoclearaccountofanykindofdealings.Youknowit’salwaysbeenakindofmysterywheretheMarshesgetthegoldtheyrefine.They’veneverseemedtodomuchbuyinginthatline,butyearsagotheyshippedoutanenormouslotofingots.

           "Usedtobetalkofaqueerforeignkindofjewelrythatthesailorsandrefinerymensometimessoldonthesly,orthatwasseenonceortwiceonsomeoftheMarshwomen-folks.PeopleallowedmaybeoldCaptainObedtradedforitinsomeheathenport,especiallysincehealwaysorderedstacksofglassbeadsandtrinketssuchasseafaringmenusedtogetfornativetrade.Othersthoughtandstillthinkhe’dfoundanoldpiratecacheoutonDevilReef.Buthere’safunnything.TheoldCaptain’sbeendeadthesesixtyyears,andthere’sain’tbeenagood-sizedshipoutoftheplacesincetheCivilWar;butjustthesametheMarshesstillkeeponbuyingafewofthosenativetradethings—mostlyglassandrubbergewgaws,theytellme.MaybetheInnsmouthfolkslike’emtolookatthemselves—Gawdknowsthey’vegottentobeaboutasbadasSouthSeacannibalsandGuineasavages.

           "Thatplagueof‘46musthavetakenoffthebestbloodintheplace.Anyway,they’readoubtfullotnow,andtheMarshesandotherrichfolksareasbadasany.AsItoldyou,thereprobablyain’tmore’n400peopleinthewholetowninspiteofallthestreetstheysaythereare.Iguessthey’rewhattheycall‘whitetrash’downSouth—lawlessandsly,andfullofsecretthings.Theygetalotoffishandlobstersanddoexportingbytruck.Queerhowthefishswarmrightthereandnowhereelse.