Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 4
Allendidnotkeeptheminshape.Andifnotinshape,howsaveasthe"salts"towhichitappearsthiswizardbandwasengagedinreducingasmanyhumanbodiesorskeletonsastheycould?
Sothatwaswhattheselekythoicontained;themonstrousfruitofunhallowedritesanddeeds,presumablywonorcowedtosuchsubmissionastohelp,whencalledupbysomehellishincantation,inthedefenceoftheirblasphemousmasterorthequestioningofthosewhowerenotsowilling?Willettshudderedatthethoughtofwhathehadbeenpouringinandoutofhishands,andforamomentfeltanimpulsetofleeinpanicfromthatcavernofhideousshelveswiththeirsilentandperhapswatchingsentinels.Thenhethoughtofthe"Materia"—inthemyriadPhaleronjugsontheothersideoftheroom.Saltstoo—andifnotthesaltsof"guards",thenthesaltsofwhat?God!Coulditbepossiblethatherelaythemortalrelicsofhalfthetitanthinkersofalltheages;snatchedbysupremeghoulsfromcryptswheretheworldthoughtthemsafe,andsubjecttothebeckandcallofmadmenwhosoughttodraintheirknowledgeforsomestillwilderendwhoseultimateeffectwouldconcern,aspoorCharleshadhintedinhisfranticnote,"allcivilization,allnaturallaw,perhapseventhefateofthesolarsystemandtheuniverse"?AndMarinusBicknellWilletthadsiftedtheirdustthroughhishands!
Thenhenoticedasmalldooratthefurtherendoftheroom,andcalmedhimselfenoughtoapproachitandexaminethecrudesignchiseledabove.
