Хребти божевілля

           ThespecimensfoundbypoorLakedidnotenterintotheseguesses,fortheirgeologicsettingprovedthemtohavelivedatwhatmusthavebeenaveryearlydateinthelandcity’shistory. Theywere,accordingtotheirlocation,certainlynotlessthanthirtymillionyearsold,andwereflectedthatintheirdaythesea-caverncity,andindeedthecavernitself,hadhadnoexistence. Theywouldhaverememberedanolderscene,withlushTertiaryvegetationeverywhere,ayoungerlandcityofflourishingartsaroundthem,andagreatriversweepingnorthwardalongthebaseofthemightymountainstowardafar-awaytropicocean. 

           Andyetwecouldnothelpthinkingaboutthesespecimens—especiallyabouttheeightperfectonesthatweremissingfromLake’shideouslyravagedcamp. Therewassomethingabnormalaboutthatwholebusiness—thestrangethingswehadtriedsohardtolaytosomebody’smadness—thosefrightfulgraves—theamountandnatureofthemissingmaterial—Gedney —theunearthlytoughnessofthosearchaicmonstrosities,andthequeervitalfreaksthesculpturesnowshowedtheracetohave—DanforthandIhadseenagooddealinthelastfewhours,andwerepreparedtobelieveandkeepsilentaboutmanyappallingandincrediblesecretsofprimalnature.