Хребти божевілля
IX
Thetorch,flashingoverthegrotesquelycarvedwallsoftheblockedcorridorinwhichwestood,showedseveraldoorwaysinvariousstatesofobstruction;andfromoneofthemthegasolineodor—quitesubmergingthatotherhintofodor—camewithespecialdistinctness. Aswelookedmoresteadily,wesawthatbeyondadoubttherehadbeenaslightandrecentclearingawayofdebrisfromthatparticularopening. Whateverthelurkinghorrormightbe,webelievedthedirectavenuetowarditwasnowplainlymanifest. Idonotthinkanyonewillwonderthatwewaitedanappreciabletimebeforemakinganyfurthermotion.
Andyet,whenwedidventureinsidethatblackarch,ourfirstimpressionwasoneofanticlimax. Foramidstthelitteredexpanseofthatsculpturedcrypt—aperfectcubewithsidesofabouttwentyfeet—thereremainednorecentobjectofinstantlydiscerniblesize;sothatwelookedinstinctively,thoughinvain,forafartherdoorway. Inanothermoment,however,Danforth’ssharpvisionhaddescriedaplacewherethefloordebrishadbeendisturbed;andweturnedonbothtorchesfullstrength. Thoughwhatwesawinthatlightwasactuallysimpleandtrifling,Iamnonethelessreluctanttotellofitbecauseofwhatitimplied. Itwasaroughlevelingofthedebris,uponwhichseveralsmallobjectslaycarelesslyscattered,andatonecornerofwhichaconsiderableamountofgasolinemusthavebeenspilledlatelyenoughtoleaveastrongodorevenatthisextremesuperplateaualtitude. Inotherwords,itcouldnotbeotherthanasortofcamp—acampmadebyquestingbeingswho,likeus,hadbeenturnedbackbytheunexpectedlychokedwaytotheabyss.
