Chapter 9

           FridaymorningArmitage,Rice,andMorgansetoutbymotorforDunwich,arrivingatthevillageaboutoneintheafternoon. Thedaywaspleasant,buteveninthebrightestsunlightakindofquietdreadandportentseemedtohoveraboutthestrangelydomedhillsandthedeep,shadowyravinesofthestrickenregion. Nowandthenonsomemountaintopagauntcircleofstonescouldbeglimpsedagainstthesky. FromtheairofhushedfrightatOsborn’sstoretheyknewsomethinghideoushadhappened,andsoonlearnedoftheannihilationoftheElmerFryehouseandfamily. ThroughoutthatafternoontheyrodearoundDunwich,questioningthenativesconcerningallthathadoccurred,andseeingforthemselveswithrisingpangsofhorrorthedrearFryeruinswiththeirlingeringtracesofthetarrystickiness,theblasphemoustracksintheFryeyard,thewoundedSethBishopcattle,andtheenormousswathsofdisturbedvegetationinvariousplaces. ThetrailupanddownSentinelHillseemedtoArmitageofalmostcataclysmicsignificance,andhelookedlongatthesinisteraltar-likestoneonthesummit. 

           Atlengththevisitors,apprisedofapartyofStatePolicewhichhadcomefromAylesburythatmorninginresponsetothefirsttelephonereportsoftheFryetragedy,decidedtoseekouttheofficersandcomparenotesasfaraspracticable. This,however,theyfoundmoreeasilyplannedthanperformed;sincenosignofthepartycouldbefoundinanydirection. Therehadbeenfiveoftheminacar,butnowthecarstoodemptyneartheruinsintheFryeyard.