Chapter 3

           Itmusthavebeensomeimpoftheperverse—orsomesardonicpullfromdark,hiddensources—whichmademechangemyplansasIdid.Ihadlongbeforeresolvedtolimitmyobservationstoarchitecturealone,andIwaseventhenhurryingtowardtheSquareinanefforttogetquicktransportationoutofthisfesteringcityofdeathanddecay;butthesightofoldZadokAllensetupnewcurrentsinmymindandmademeslackenmypaceuncertainly.

           Ihadbeenassuredthattheoldmancoulddonothingbuthintatwild,disjointed,andincrediblelegends,andIhadbeenwarnedthatthenativesmadeitunsafetobeseentalkingwithhim;yetthethoughtofthisagedwitnesstothetown’sdecay,withmemoriesgoingbacktotheearlydaysofshipsandfactories,wasalurethatnoamountofreasoncouldmakemeresist.Afterall,thestrangestandmaddestofmythsareoftenmerelysymbolsorallegoriesbasedupontruth—andoldZadokmusthaveseeneverythingwhichwentonaroundInnsmouthforthelastninetyyears.Curiosityflaredupbeyondsenseandcaution,andinmyyouthfulegotismIfanciedImightbeabletosiftanucleusofrealhistoryfromtheconfused,extravagantoutpouringIwouldprobablyextractwiththeaidofrawwhiskey.

           IknewthatIcouldnotaccosthimthenandthere,forthefiremenwouldsurelynoticeandobject.Instead,Ireflected,Iwouldpreparebygettingsomebootlegliquorataplacewherethegroceryboyhadtoldmeitwasplentiful.