Жах Данвіча
Chapter 6
Whathadcomehadindeedcompleteditsentrance; forthebarkingandthescreaming,nowfastfadingintoamixedlowgrowlingandmoaning,proceededunmistakablyfromwithin. SomeinstinctwarnedArmitagethatwhatwastakingplacewasnotathingforunfortifiedeyestosee,sohebrushedbackthecrowdwithauthorityasheunlockedthevestibuledoor. AmongtheothershesawProfessorWarrenRiceandDrFrancisMorgan,mentowhomhehadtoldsomeofhisconjecturesandmisgivings;andthesetwohemotionedtoaccompanyhiminside.Theinwardsounds,exceptforawatchful,droningwhinefromthedog,hadbythistimequitesubsided; butArmitagenowperceivedwithasuddenstartthataloudchorusofwhippoorwillsamongtheshrubberyhadcommencedadamnablyrhythmicalpiping,asifinunisonwiththelastbreathsofadyingman.
ThebuildingwasfullofafrightfulstenchwhichDrArmitageknewtoowell,andthethreemenrushedacrossthehalltothesmallgenealogicalreading-roomwhencethelowwhiningcame. Forasecondnobodydaredtoturnonthelight,thenArmitagesummoneduphiscourageandsnappedtheswitch. Oneofthethree—itisnotcertainwhich—shriekedaloudatwhatsprawledbeforethemamongdisorderedtablesandoverturnedchairs. ProfessorRicedeclaresthathewhollylostconsciousnessforaninstant,thoughhedidnotstumbleorfall.
Thethingthatlayhalf-bentonitssideinafoetidpoolofgreenish-yellowichorandtarrystickinesswasalmostninefeettall,andthedoghadtornoffalltheclothingandsomeoftheskin.
