Жах Данвіча

           Thepallidgroupintheroad,stillreelingattheindisputablyEnglishsyllablesthathadpouredthicklyandthunderouslydownfromthefranticvacancybesidethatshockingaltar-stone,werenevertohearsuchsyllablesagain. Instead,theyjumpedviolentlyattheterrificreportwhichseemedtorendthehills; thedeafening,cataclysmicpealwhosesource,beitinnerearthorsky,nohearerwaseverabletoplace. Asinglelightningboltshotfromthepurplezenithtothealtar-stone,andagreattidalwaveofviewlessforceandindescribablestenchsweptdownfromthehilltoallthecountryside. Trees,grass,andunder-brushwerewhippedintoafury; andthefrightenedcrowdatthemountain’sbase,weakenedbythelethalfoetorthatseemedabouttoasphyxiatethem,werealmosthurledofftheirfeet. Dogshowledfromthedistance,greengrassandfoliagewiltedtoacurious,sicklyyellow-grey,andoverfieldandforestwerescatteredthebodiesofdeadwhippoorwills. 

           Thestenchleftquickly,butthevegetationnevercamerightagain. TothisdaythereissomethingqueerandunholyaboutthegrowthsonandaroundthatfearsomehillCurtisWhateleywasonlyjustregainingconsciousnesswhentheArkhammencameslowlydownthemountaininthebeamsofasunlightoncemorebrilliantanduntainted. Theyweregraveandquiet,andseemedshakenbymemoriesandreflectionsevenmoreterriblethanthosewhichhadreducedthegroupofnativestoastateofcowedquivering. Inreplytoajumbleofquestionstheyonlyshooktheirheadsandreaffirmedonevitalfact.