Ужас в музее

           Theutter,insaneconfidenceandsincerityinthatcrazedwhisperweredamnablycontagious. Imagination,withsuchastimulus,couldfindanactivemenaceinthedevilishwaxfigurethatlurkedunseenjustbeyondtheheavyplanking. Eyeingthedoorinunholyfascination,Jonesnoticedthatitboreseveraldistinctcracks,thoughnomarksofviolenttreatmentwerevisibleonthisside. Hewonderedhowlargearoomorclosetlaybehindit,andhowthewaxenfigurewasarranged. Themaniac’sideaofatankandrunwaywasascleverasallhisotherimaginings. 

           Then,inoneterribleinstant,Jonescompletelylostthepowertodrawabreath. TheleatherbelthehadseizedforRogers’furtherstrappingfellfromhislimphands,andaspasmofshiveringconvulsedhimfromheadtofoot. HemighthaveknowntheplacewoulddrivehimmadasithaddrivenRogers—andnowhewasmad. Hewasmad,forhenowharbouredhallucinationsmoreweirdthananywhichhadassailedhimearlierthatnight. Themadmanwasbiddinghimhearthesplashingofamythicalmonsterinatankbeyondthedoor—andnow,Godhelphim,hedidhearit! 

           RogerssawthespasmofhorrorreachJones’sfaceandtransformittoastaringmaskoffear. Hecackled. 

           “Atlast,fool,youbelieve! Atlastyouknow! YouhearItandItcomes! Getmemykeys,fool—wemustdohomageandserveIt!” 

           ButJoneswaspastpayingattentiontoanyhumanwords,madorsane. Phobicparalysisheldhimimmobileandhalf-conscious,withwildimagesracingphantasmagoricallythroughhishelplessimagination. Therewasasplashing.