Жах Данвіча

           WethatheerditgotaoutFordsan’wagonsan’roundedupasmanyable-bodiedmen-folksaswecouldgit,atCorey’splace,an’comeuphereterseewhatyewthoughtbestterdew. NotbutwhatIthinkit’stheLord’sjedgmentferouriniquities,thatnomortalkineversetaside.’ 

           Armitagesawthatthetimeforpositiveactionhadcome,andspokedecisivelytothefalteringgroupoffrightenedrustics. 

           ‘Wemustfollowit,boys.’Hemadehisvoiceasreassuringaspossible. ‘Ibelievethere’sachanceofputtingitoutofbusiness. YoumenknowthatthoseWhateleyswerewizards—well,thisthingisathingofwizardry,andmustbeputdownbythesamemeans. I’veseenWilburWhateley’sdiaryandreadsomeofthestrangeoldbooksheusedtoread; andIthinkIknowtherightkindofspelltorecitetomakethethingfadeaway. Ofcourse,onecan’tbesure,butwecanalwaystakeachance. It’sinvisible—Iknewitwouldbe—butthere’spowderinthislong-distancesprayerthatmightmakeitshowupforasecond. Lateronwe’lltryit. It’safrightfulthingtohavealive,butitisn’tasbadaswhatWilburwouldhaveletinifhe’dlivedlonger. You’llneverknowwhattheworldescaped. Nowwe’veonlythisonethingtofight,anditcan’tmultiply.Itcan,though,doalotofharm;sowemustn’thesitatetoridthecommunityofit. 

           ‘Wemustfollowit—andthewaytobeginistogototheplacethathasjustbeenwrecked.