Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 3
Ifhehadexpectedaflightofstepstosomewidegulfofultimateabomination,Willettwasdestinedtobedisappointed;foramidstthatfetorandcrackedwhininghediscernedonlythebrick-facedtopofacylindricalwellperhapsayardandahalfindiameteranddevoidofanyladderorothermeansofdescent.Asthelightshonedown,thewailingchangedsuddenlytoaseriesofhorribleyelps;inconjunctionwithwhichtherecameagainthatsoundofblind,futilescramblingandslipperythumping.Theexplorertrembled,unwillingeventoimaginewhatnoxiousthingmightbelurkinginthatabyss,butinamomentmusteredupthecouragetopeerovertherough-hewnbrink;lyingatfulllengthandholdingthetorchdownwardatarm’slengthtoseewhatmightliebelow.Forasecondhecoulddistinguishnothingbuttheslimy,moss-grownbrickwallssinkingillimitablyintothathalf-tangiblemiasmaofmurkandfoulnessandanguishedfrenzy;andthenhesawthatsomethingdarkwasleapingclumsilyandfranticallyupanddownatthebottomofthenarrowshaft,whichmusthavebeenfromtwentytotwenty-fivefeetbelowthestonefloorwherehelay.Thetorchshookinhishand,buthelookedagaintoseewhatmanneroflivingcreaturemightbeimmuredthereinthedarknessofthatunnaturalwell;leftstarvingbyyoungWardthroughallthelongmonthsincethedoctorshadtakenhimaway,andclearlyonlyoneofavastnumberprisonedinthekindredwellswhosepiercedstonecoverssothicklystuddedthefloorofthegreatvaultedcavern.
