Тінь над Іннсмутом

           Faroutbeyondthebreakwaterwasthedim,darklineofDevilReef,andasIglimpseditIcouldnothelpthinkingofallthehideouslegendsIhadheardinthelasttwenty-fourhours—legendswhichportrayedthisraggedrockasaveritablegatewaytorealmsofunfathomedhorrorandinconceivableabnormality.

           Then,withoutwarning,Isawtheintermittentflashesoflightonthedistantreef.Theyweredefiniteandunmistakable,andawakedinmymindablindhorrorbeyondallrationalproportion.Mymusclestightenedforpanicflight,heldinonlybyacertainunconsciouscautionandhalf-hypnoticfascination.Andtomakemattersworse,therenowflashedforthfromtheloftycupolaoftheGilmanHouse,whichloomeduptothenortheastbehindme,aseriesofanalogousthoughdifferentlyspacedgleamswhichcouldbenothinglessthananansweringsignal.

           Controllingmymuscles,andrealisingafresh—howplainlyvisibleIwas,Iresumedmybriskerandfeignedlyshamblingpace;thoughkeepingmyeyesonthathellishandominousreefaslongastheopeningofSouthStreetgavemeaseawardview.Whatthewholeproceedingmeant,Icouldnotimagine;unlessitinvolvedsomestrangeriteconnectedwithDevilReef,orunlesssomepartyhadlandedfromashiponthatsinisterrock.Inowbenttotheleftaroundtheruinousgreen;stillgazingtowardtheoceanasitblazedinthespectralsummermoonlight,andwatchingthecrypticalflashingofthosenameless,unexplainablebeacons.