Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 4
Thehordewasveryclosenow—airfoulwiththeirhoarsesnarlings,andthegroundalmostshakingwiththeiralien-rhythmedfootfalls.Mybreathnearlyceasedtocome,andIputeveryounceofwill-powerintothetaskofholdingmyeyelidsdown.
Iamnotevenyetwillingtosaywhetherwhatfollowedwasahideousactualityoronlyanightmarehallucination.Thelateractionofthegovernment,aftermyfranticappeals,wouldtendtoconfirmitasamonstroustruth;butcouldnotanhallucinationhavebeenrepeatedunderthequasi-hypnoticspellofthatancient,haunted,andshadowedtown?Suchplaceshavestrangeproperties,andthelegacyofinsanelegendmightwellhaveactedonmorethanonehumanimaginationamidstthosedead,stench-cursedstreetsandhuddlesofrottingroofsandcrumblingsteeples.IsitnotpossiblethatthegermofanactualcontagiousmadnesslurksinthedepthsofthatshadowoverInnsmouth?WhocanbesureofrealityafterhearingthingslikethetaleofoldZadokAllen?ThegovernmentmenneverfoundpoorZadok,andhavenoconjecturestomakeastowhatbecameofhim.Wheredoesmadnessleaveoffandrealitybegin?Isitpossiblethatevenmylatestfearissheerdelusion?
ButImusttrytotellwhatIthoughtIsawthatnightunderthemockingyellowmoon—sawsurgingandhoppingdowntheRowleyroadinplainsightinfrontofmeasIcrouchedamongthewildbramblesofthatdesolaterailwaycut.Ofcoursemyresolutiontokeepmyeyesshuthadfailed.
