Тень над Иннсмутом

           SuddenlyIfoundmyselfwonderingwhatthevoicesofthosedenizenswouldbelike.Ihadheardnospeechsofarinthisquarter,andwasunaccountablyanxiousnottodoso.

           PausingonlylongenoughtolookattwofinebutruinousoldchurchesatMainandChurchStreets,Ihastenedoutofthatvilewaterfrontslum.MynextlogicalgoalwasNewChurchGreen,butsomehoworotherIcouldnotbeartorepassthechurchinwhosebasementIhadglimpsedtheinexplicablyfrighteningformofthatstrangelydiademmedpriestorpastor.Besides,thegroceryyouthhadtoldmethatchurches,aswellastheOrderofDagonHall,werenotadvisableneighbourhoodsforstrangers.

           AccordinglyIkeptnorthalongMaintoMartin,thenturninginland,crossingFederalStreetsafelynorthoftheGreen,andenteringthedecayedpatricianneighbourhoodofnorthernBroad,Washington,Lafayette,andAdamsStreets.Thoughthesestatelyoldavenueswereill-surfacedandunkempt,theirelm-shadeddignityhadnotentirelydeparted.Mansionaftermansionclaimedmygaze,mostofthemdecrepitandboardedupamidstneglectedgrounds,butoneortwoineachstreetshewingsignsofoccupancy.InWashingtonStreettherewasarowoffourorfiveinexcellentrepairandwithfinely-tendedlawnsandgardens.Themostsumptuousofthese—withwideterracedparterresextendingbackthewholewaytoLafayetteStreet—ItooktobethehomeofOldManMarsh,theafflictedrefineryowner.

           Inallthesestreetsnolivingthingwasvisible,andIwonderedatthecompleteabsenceofcatsanddogsfromInnsmouth.Anotherthingwhichpuzzledanddisturbedme,eveninsomeofthebest-preservedmansions,wasthetightlyshutteredconditionofmanythird-storyandatticwindows.