Випадок Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 4
Itwasonlyasymbol,butitfilledhimwithvaguespiritualdread;foramorbid,dreamingfriendofhishadoncedrawnitonpaperandtoldhimafewofthethingsitmeansinthedarkabyssofsleep.ItwasthesignofKoth,thatdreamersseefixedabovethearchwayofacertainblacktowerstandingaloneintwilight—andWillettdidnotlikewhathisfriendRandolphCarterhadsaidofitspowers.Butamomentlaterheforgotthesignasherecognizedanewacridodorinthestench-filledair.Thiswasachemicalratherthananimalsmell,andcameclearlyfromtheroombeyondthedoor.Anditwas,unmistakably,thesameodorwhichhadsaturatedCharlesWard’sclothingonthedaythedoctorshadtakenhimaway.Soitwasherethattheyouthhadbeeninterruptedbythefinalsummons?HewaswiserthatoldJosephCurwen,forhehadnotresisted.Willett,boldlydeterminedtopenetrateeverywonderandnightmarethisnetherrealmmightcontain,seizedthesmalllampandcrossedthethreshold.Awaveofnamelessfrightrolledouttomeethim,butheyieldedtonowhimanddeferredtonointuition.Therewasnothingaliveheretoharmhim,andhewouldnotbestayedinhispiercingoftheeldritchcloudwhichengulfedhispatient.
Theroombeyondthedoorwasofmediumsize,andhadnofurnituresaveatable,asinglechair,andtwogroupsofcuriousmachineswithclampsandwheels,whichWillettrecognizedafteramomentasmedievalinstrumentsoftorture.
