Жах Данвіча
Chapter 8
Herefused;intimatingthatitwasofthemostvitalimportanceforhimtocompletethereadingofthediaryandpromisinganexplanationinduecourseoftime. Thatevening,justastwilightfell,hefinishedhisterribleperusalandsankbackexhausted. Hiswife,bringinghisdinner,foundhiminahalf-comatosestate; buthewasconsciousenoughtowarnheroffwithasharpcrywhenhesawhereyeswandertowardthenoteshehadtaken. Weaklyrising,hegatheredupthescribbledpapersandsealedthemallinagreatenvelope,whichheimmediatelyplacedinhisinsidecoatpocket. Hehadsufficientstrengthtogethome,butwassoclearlyinneedofmedicalaidthatDrHartwellwassummonedatonce. Asthedoctorputhimtobedhecouldonlymutteroverandoveragain, ‘Butwhat,inGod’sname,canwedo?’
DrArmitageslept,butwaspartlydeliriousthenextday. HemadenoexplanationstoHartwell,butinhiscalmermomentsspokeoftheimperativeneedofalongconferencewithRiceandMorgan. Hiswilderwanderingswereverystartlingindeed,includingfranticappealsthatsomethinginaboarded-upfarmhousebedestroyed,andfantasticreferencestosomeplanfortheextirpationoftheentirehumanraceandallanimalandvegetablelifefromtheearthbysometerribleelderraceofbeingsfromanotherdimension. Hewouldshoutthattheworldwasindanger,sincetheElderThingswishedtostripitanddragitawayfromthesolarsystemandcosmosofmatterintosomeotherplaneorphaseofentityfromwhichithadoncefallen,vigintillionsofaeonsago.
