Жах Данвіча

           Thenatives,allofwhomhadtalkedwiththepolicemen,seemedatfirstasperplexedasArmitageandhiscompanions. ThenoldSamHutchinsthoughtofsomethingandturnedpale,nudgingFredFarrandpointingtothedank,deephollowthatyawnedcloseby. 

           ‘Gawd,’hegasped,‘Itelled’emnottergodaownintotheglen,an’Ineverthoughtnobody’ddewitwiththemtracksan’thatsmellan’thewhippoorwillsa-screechin’daowntharinthedarko’noonday...’ 

           Acoldshudderranthroughnativesandvisitorsalike,andeveryearseemedstrainedinakindofinstinctive,unconsciouslistening. Armitage,nowthathehadactuallycomeuponthehorroranditsmonstrouswork,trembledwiththeresponsibilityhefelttobehis. Nightwouldsoonfall,anditwasthenthatthemountainousblasphemylumbereduponitseldritchcourse. Negotiumperambuiansintenebris... Theoldlibrarianrehearsedtheformulaehehadmemorized,andclutchedthepapercontainingthealternativeonehehadnotmemorized. Hesawthathiselectricflashlightwasinworkingorder.Rice,besidehim,tookfromavaliseametalsprayerofthesortusedincombatinginsects; whilstMorganuncasedthebig-gamerifleonwhichherelieddespitehiscolleague’swarningsthatnomaterialweaponwouldbeofhelp. 

           Armitage,havingreadthehideousdiary,knewpainfullywellwhatkindofamanifestationtoexpect; buthedidnotaddtothefrightoftheDunwichpeoplebygivinganyhintsorclues.