Тень над Иннсмутом

           Helookedcuriouslyatmeforasecondashereturnedfortycentschangewithoutspeaking.Itookaseatfarbehindhim,butonthesamesideofthebus,sinceIwishedtowatchtheshoreduringthejourney.

           Atlengththedecrepitvehiclestaredwithajerk,andrattlednoisilypasttheoldbrickbuildingsofStateStreetamidstacloudofvapourfromtheexhaust.Glancingatthepeopleonthesidewalks,IthoughtIdetectedinthemacuriouswishtoavoidlookingatthebus—oratleastawishtoavoidseemingtolookatit.ThenweturnedtotheleftintoHighStreet,wherethegoingwassmoother;flyingbystatelyoldmansionsoftheearlyrepublicandstilloldercolonialfarmhouses,passingtheLowerGreenandParkerRiver,andfinallyemergingintoalong,monotonousstretchofopenshorecountry.

           Thedaywaswarmandsunny,butthelandscapeofsandandsedge-grass,andstuntedshrubberybecamemoreanddesolateasweproceeded.OutthewindowIcouldseethebluewaterandthesandylineofPlumIsland,andwepresentlydrewverynearthebeachasournarrowroadveeredofffromthemainhighwaytoRowleyandIpswich.Therewerenovisiblehouses,andIcouldtellbythestateoftheroadthattrafficwasverylighthereabouts.Theweather-worntelephonepolescarriedonlytwowires.Nowandthenwecrossedcrudewoodenbridgesovertidalcreeksthatwoundfarinlandandpromotedthegeneralisolationoftheregion.

           OnceinawhileInoticeddeadstumpsandcrumblingfoundation-wallsabovethedriftingsand,andrecalledtheoldtraditionquotedinoneofthehistoriesIhadread,thatthiswasonceafertileandthickly-settledcountryside.Thechange,itwassaid,camesimultaneouslywiththeInnsmouthepidemicofl846,andwasthoughtbysimplefolktohaveadarkconnectionwithhiddenforcesofevil.