Поклик Ктулху

           AndwhatofthisstormofApril2nd—thedateonwhichalldreamsofthedankcityceased,andWilcoxemergedunharmedfromthebondageofstrangefever? Whatofallthis—andofthosehintsofoldCastroaboutthesunken,star-bornOldOnesandtheircomingreign; theirfaithfulcultandtheirmasteryofdreams? WasItotteringonthebrinkofcosmichorrorsbeyondman’spowertobear? Ifso,theymustbehorrorsofthemindalone,forinsomewaythesecondofAprilhadputastoptowhatevermonstrousmenacehadbegunitssiegeofmankind’ssoul. 

           Thatevening,afteradayofhurriedcablingandarranging,IbademyhostadieuandtookatrainforSanFrancisco. InlessthanamonthIwasinDunedin;where,however,Ifoundthatlittlewasknownofthestrangecult-memberswhohadlingeredintheoldsea-taverns. Waterfrontscumwasfartoocommonforspecialmention; thoughtherewasvaguetalkaboutoneinlandtripthesemongrelshadmade,duringwhichfaintdrummingandredflamewerenotedonthedistanthills. InAucklandIlearnedthatJohansenhadreturnedwithyellowhairturnedwhiteafteraperfunctoryandinconclusivequestioningatSydney,andhadthereaftersoldhiscottageinWestStreetandsailedwithhiswifetohisoldhomeinOslo. Ofhisstirringexperiencehewouldtellhisfriendsnomorethanhehadtoldtheadmiraltyofficials,andalltheycoulddowastogivemehisOsloaddress. 

           AfterthatIwenttoSydneyandtalkedprofitlesslywithseamenandmembersofthevice-admiraltycourt. IsawtheAlert,nowsoldandincommercialuse,atCircularQuayinSydneyCove,butgainednothingfromitsnon-committalbulk. Thecrouchingimagewithitscuttlefishhead,dragonbody,scalywings,andhieroglyphedpedestal,waspreservedintheMuseumatHydePark;