Жах у музеї
Chapter 2
Silencewasimpossible,andthesuspenseofutterblacknesswasbeginningtobethemostintolerableofallconditions. Againhecriedouthysterically—“Halt!Whogoesthere?”—asheswitchedontherevealingbeamsofhistorch. Then,paralysedbywhathesaw,hedroppedtheflashlightandscreamed—notoncebutmanytimes.
Shufflingtowardhiminthedarknesswasthegigantic,blasphemousformofablackthingnotwhollyapeandnotwhollyinsect. Itshidehunglooselyuponitsframe,anditsrugose,dead-eyedrudimentofaheadswayeddrunkenlyfromsidetoside. Itsforepawswereextended,withtalonsspreadwide,anditswholebodywastautwithmurderousmalignitydespiteitsutterlackoffacialexpression. Afterthescreamsandthefinalcomingofdarknessitleaped,andinamomenthadJonespinnedtothefloor. Therewasnostruggle,forthewatcherhadfainted.
Jones’sfaintingspellcouldnothavelastedmorethanamoment,forthenamelessthingwasapishlydragginghimthroughthedarknesswhenhebeganrecoveringconsciousness. Whatstartedhimfullyawakewerethesoundswhichthethingwasmaking—orrather,thevoicewithwhichitwasmakingthem. Thatvoicewashuman,anditwasfamiliar. Onlyonelivingbeingcouldbebehindthehoarse,feverishaccentswhichwerechantingtoanunknownhorror.“
Iä!Iä!”itwashowling. “Iamcoming,ORhan-Tegoth,comingwiththenourishment. Youhavewaitedlongandfedill,butnowyoushallhavewhatwaspromised.
