Тінь над Іннсмутом
Chapter 4
Studyingthegroceryyouth’smapandseekingarouteIhadnottraversedbefore,IchoseMarshStreetinsteadofStateformyapproachtoTownSquare.NearthecornerofFallStreetIbegantoseescatteredgroupsoffurtivewhisperers,andwhenIfinallyreachedtheSquareIsawthatalmostalltheloitererswerecongregatedaroundthedooroftheGilmanHouse.Itseemedasifmanybulging,watery,unwinkingeyeslookedoddlyatmeasIclaimedmyvaliseinthelobby,andIhopedthatnoneoftheseunpleasantcreatureswouldbemyfellow-passengersonthecoach.
Thebus,ratherearly,rattledinwiththreepassengerssomewhatbeforeeight,andanevil-lookingfellowonthesidewalkmutteredafewindistinguishablewordstothedriver.Sargentthrewoutamail-bagandarollofnewspapers,andenteredthehotel;whilethepassengers—thesamemenwhomIhadseenarrivinginNewburyportthatmorning—shambledtothesidewalkandexchangedsomefaintgutturalwordswithaloaferinalanguageIcouldhaveswornwasnotEnglish.IboardedtheemptycoachandtooktheseatIhadtakenbefore,butwashardlysettledbeforeSargentre-appearedandbeganmumblinginathroatyvoiceofpeculiarrepulsiveness.
Iwas,itappeared,inverybadluck.Therehadbeensomethingwrongwiththeengine,despitetheexcellenttimemadefromNewburyport,andthebuscouldnotcompletethejourneytoArkham.No,itcouldnotpossiblyberepairedthatnight,norwasthereanyotherwayofgettingtransportationoutofInnsmoutheithertoArkhamorelsewhere.
