Тінь над Іннсмутом

           AsthegoodladyshewedmeoutofthebuildingshemadeitclearthatthepiratetheoryoftheMarshfortunewasapopularoneamongtheintelligentpeopleoftheregion.HerownattitudetowardshadowedInnsmouth—whichsheneverseen—wasoneofdisgustatacommunityslippingfardowntheculturalscale,andsheassuredmethattherumoursofdevil-worshipwerepartlyjustifiedbyapeculiarsecretcultwhichhadgainedforcethereandengulfedalltheorthodoxchurches.

           Itwascalled,shesaid,"TheEsotericOrderofDagon",andwasundoubtedlyadebased,quasi-paganthingimportedfromtheEastacenturybefore,atatimewhentheInnsmouthfisheriesseemedtobegoingbarren.Itspersistenceamongasimplepeoplewasquitenaturalinviewofthesuddenandpermanentreturnofabundantlyfinefishing,anditsooncametobethegreatestinfluenceinthetown,replacingFreemasonryaltogetherandtakingupheadquartersintheoldMasonicHallonNewChurchGreen.

           Allthis,tothepiousMissTilton,formedanexcellentreasonforshunningtheancienttownofdecayanddesolation;buttomeitwasmerelyafreshincentive.Tomyarchitecturalandhistoricalanticipationswasnowaddedanacuteanthropologicalzeal,andIcouldscarcelysleepinmysmallroomatthe"Y"asthenightworeaway.