Тінь над Іннсмутом
Chapter 8
Williamsonrecordsandtraditionsweresuppliedinabundancebymygrandfather;thoughforOrnematerialIhadtodependonmyuncleWalter,whoputatmydisposalthecontentsofallhisfiles,includingnotes,letters,cuttings,heirlooms,photographs,andminiatures.
ItwasingoingoverthelettersandpicturesontheOrnesidethatIbegantoacquireakindofterrorofmyownancestry.AsIhavesaid,mygrandmotherandUncleDouglashadalwaysdisturbedme.Now,yearsaftertheirpassing,Igazedattheirpicturedfaceswithameasurablyheightenedfeelingofrepulsionandalienation.Icouldnotatfirstunderstandthechange,butgraduallyahorriblesortofcomparisonbegantoobtrudeitselfonmyunconsciousminddespitethesteadyrefusalofmyconsciousnesstoadmiteventheleastsuspicionofit.Itwasclearthatthetypicalexpressionofthesefacesnowsuggestedsomethingithadnotsuggestedbefore—somethingwhichwouldbringstarkpaniciftooopenlythoughtof.
ButtheworstshockcamewhenmyuncleshewedmetheOrnejewelleryinadowntownsafedepositvault.Someoftheitemsweredelicateandinspiringenough,buttherewasoneboxofstrangeoldpiecesdescendedfrommymysteriousgreat-grandmotherwhichmyunclewasalmostreluctanttoproduce.Theywere,hesaid,ofverygrotesqueandalmostrepulsivedesign,andhadnevertohisknowledgebeenpubliclyworn;thoughmygrandmotherusedtoenjoylookingatthem.
