Тінь над Іннсмутом

           AtlastIsawtheancientarcadedstation—orwhatwasleftofit—andmadedirectlyforthetracksthatstartedfromitsfartherend.

           Therailswererustybutmainlyintact,andnotmorethanhalfthetieshadrottedaway.Walkingorrunningonsuchasurfacewasverydifficult;butIdidmybest,andonthewholemadeveryfairtime.Forsomedistancethelinekeptonalongthegorge’sbrink,butatlengthIreachedthelongcoveredbridgewhereitcrossedthechasmatadizzyingheight.Theconditionofthisbridgewoulddeterminemynextstep.Ifhumanlypossible,Iwoulduseit;ifnot,Iwouldhavetoriskmorestreetwanderingandtakethenearestintacthighwaybridge.

           Thevast,barnlikelengthoftheoldbridgegleamedspectrallyinthemoonlight,andIsawthatthetiesweresafeforatleastafewfeetwithin.Entering,Ibegantousemyflashlight,andwasalmostknockeddownbythecloudofbatsthatflappedpastme.Abouthalf-wayacrosstherewasaperilousgapinthetieswhichIfearedforamomentwouldhaltme;butintheendIriskedadesperatejumpwhichfortunatelysucceeded.

           IwasgladtoseethemoonlightagainwhenIemergedfromthatmacabretunnel.TheoldtrackscrossedRiverStreetatgrade,andatonceveeredoffintoaregionincreasinglyruralandwithlessandlessofInnsmouth’sabhorrentfishyodour.Herethedensegrowthofweedsandbriershinderedmeandcruellytoreatmyclothes,butIwasnonethelessgladthattheyweretheretogivemeconcealmentincaseofperil.