Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 3
Thickamongthetuftsofrankstiffgrowthlaybatteredcanistersandclotsandcoilsofsolidexcrement.Afaintmarshlightstrugglingupwardsfromalltheordurethroughthebristlinggrey-greenweeds.Anevilsmell,faintandfoulasthelight,curledupwardssluggishlyoutofthecanistersandfromthestalecrusteddung.
Creatureswereinthefield:one,three,six:creaturesweremovinginthefield,hitherandthither.Goatishcreatureswithhumanfaces,hornybrowed,lightlybeardedandgreyasindia-rubber.Themaliceofevilglitteredintheirhardeyes,astheymovedhitherandthither,trailingtheirlongtailsbehindthem.Arictusofcruelmalignitylitupgreylytheiroldbonyfaces.Onewasclaspingabouthisribsatornflannelwaistcoat,anothercomplainedmonotonouslyashisbeardstuckinthetuftedweeds.Softlanguageissuedfromtheirspittlelesslipsastheyswishedinslowcirclesroundandroundthefield,windinghitherandthitherthroughtheweeds,draggingtheirlongtailsamidtherattlingcanisters.Theymovedinslowcircles,circlingcloserandclosertoenclose,toenclose,softlanguageissuingfromtheirlips,theirlongswishingtailsbesmearedwithstaleshite,thrustingupwardstheirterrificfaces
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Heflungtheblanketsfromhimmadlytofreehisfaceandneck.Thatwashishell.Godhadallowedhimtoseethehellreservedforhissins:stinking,bestial,malignant,ahelloflecherousgoatishfiends.