Тень над Иннсмутом

           "Nobodycaneverkeeptrackofthesepeople,andstateschoolofficialsandcensusmenhaveadevilofatime.Youcanbetthatpryingstrangersain’twelcomearoundInnsmouth.I’veheardpersonallyofmore’nonebusinessorgovernmentmanthat’sdisappearedthere,andthere’sloosetalkofonewhowentcrazyandisoutatDanversnow.Theymusthavefixedupsomeawfulscareforthatfellow.

           "That’swhyIwouldn’tgoatnightifIwasyou.I’veneverbeenthereandhavenowishtogo,butIguessadaytimetripcouldn’thurtyou—eventhoughthepeoplehereaboutswilladviseyounottomakeit.Ifyou’rejustsightseeing,andlookingforold-timestuff,Innsmouthoughttobequiteaplaceforyou."

           AndsoIspentpartofthateveningattheNewburyportPublicLibrarylookingupdataaboutInnsmouth.WhenIhadtriedtoquestionthenativesintheshops,thelunchroom,thegarages,andthefirestation,Ihadfoundthemevenhardertogetstartedthantheticketagenthadpredicted;andrealizedthatIcouldnotsparethetimetoovercometheirfirstinstinctivereticence.Theyhadakindofobscuresuspiciousness,asifthereweresomethingamisswithanyonetoomuchinterestedinInnsmouth.AttheY.M.C.A.,whereIwasstopping,theclerkmerelydiscouragedmygoingtosuchadismal,decadentplace;andthepeopleatthelibraryshewedmuchthesameattitude.Clearly,intheeyesoftheeducated,Innsmouthwasmerelyanexaggeratedcaseofcivicdegeneration.

           TheEssexCountyhistoriesonthelibraryshelveshadverylittletosay,exceptthatthetownwasfoundedin1643,notedforshipbuildingbeforetheRevolution,aseatofgreatmarineprosperityintheearly19thcentury,andlateraminorfactorycenterusingtheManuxetaspower.Theepidemicandriotsof1846wereverysparselytreated,asiftheyformedadiscredittothecounty.