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           Buttheterriblethingaboutthishorrorwasthatitveryslowlyandperceptiblymovedasitcontinuedtocrumble.

           Ammiwouldgivemenoaddedparticularstothisscene,buttheshapeinthecornerdoesnotreappearinhistaleasamovingobject.Therearethingswhichcannotbementioned,andwhatisdoneincommonhumanityissometimescruellyjudgedbythelaw.Igatheredthatnomovingthingwasleftinthatatticroom,andthattoleaveanythingcapableofmotiontherewouldhavebeenadeedsomonstrousastodamnanyaccountablebeingtoeternaltorment.Anyonebutastolidfarmerwouldhavefaintedorgonemad,butAmmiwalkedconsciousthroughthatlowdoorwayandlockedtheaccursedsecretbehindhim.TherewouldbeNahumtodealwithnow;hemustbefedandtended,andremovedtosomeplacewherehecouldbecaredfor.

           Commencinghisdescentofthedarkstairs,Ammiheardathudbelowhim.Heeventhoughtascreamhadbeensuddenlychokedoff,andrecallednervouslytheclammyvapourwhichhadbrushedbyhiminthatfrightfulroomabove.Whatpresencehadhiscryandentrystartedup?Haltedbysomevaguefear,heheardstillfurthersoundsbelow.Indubitablytherewasasortofheavydragging,andamostdetestablystickynoiseasofsomefiendishanduncleanspeciesofsuction.Withanassociativesensegoadedtofeverishheights,hethoughtunaccountablyofwhathehadseenupstairs.GoodGod!Whateldritchdream-worldwasthisintowhichhehadblundered?Hedaredmoveneitherbackwardnorforward,butstoodtheretremblingattheblackcurveoftheboxed-instaircase.