Хребти божевілля
XI
Theyhadfoundtheirdeadcitybroodingunderitscurse,andhadreaditscarvenlatterdaysaswehaddone. Theyhadtriedtoreachtheirlivingfellowsinfableddepthsofblacknesstheyhadneverseen—andwhathadtheyfound? AllthisflashedinunisonthroughthethoughtsofDanforthandmeaswelookedfromthoseheadless,slime-coatedshapestotheloathsomepalimpsestsculpturesandthediabolicaldotgroupsoffreshslimeonthewallbesidethem —lookedandunderstoodwhatmusthavetriumphedandsurviveddownthereintheCyclopeanwatercityofthatnighted,penguin-fringedabyss,whenceevennowasinistercurlingmisthadbeguntobelchpallidlyasifinanswertoDanforth’shystericalscream.
Theshockofrecognizingthatmonstrousslimeandheadlessnesshadfrozenusintomute,motionlessstatues,anditisonlythroughlaterconversationsthatwehavelearnedofthecompleteidentityofourthoughtsatthatmoment. Itseemedaeonsthatwestoodthere,butactuallyitcouldnothavebeenmorethantenorfifteenseconds. Thathateful,pallidmistcurledforwardasifveritablydrivenbysomeremoteradvancingbulk—andthencameasoundwhichupsetmuchofwhatwehadjustdecided,andinsodoingbrokethespellandenabledustorunlikemadpastsquawking,confusedpenguinsoverourformertrailbacktothecity, alongice-sunkenmegalithiccorridorstothegreatopencircle,andupthatarchaicspiralrampinafrenzied,automaticplungeforthesaneouterairandlightofday.
Thenewsound,asIhaveintimated,upsetmuchthatwehaddecided;becauseitwaswhatpoorLake’sdissectionhadledustoattributetothosewehadjudgeddead. Itwas,Danforthlatertoldme,preciselywhathehadcaughtininfinitelymuffledformwhenatthatspotbeyondthealleycornerabovetheglaciallevel;anditcertainlyhadashockingresemblancetothewindpipingswehadbothheardaroundtheloftymountaincaves.
