Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 2
Furtivenessandsecretivenessseemeduniversalinthishushedcityofalienageanddeath,andIcouldnotescapethesensationofbeingwatchedfromambushoneveryhandbysly,staringeyesthatnevershut.
Ishiveredasthecrackedstrokeofthreesoundedfromabelfryonmyleft.ToowelldidIrecallthesquatchurchfromwhichthosenotescame.FollowingWashingtonStreettowardtheriver,Inowfacedanewzoneofformerindustryandcommerce;notingtheruinsofafactoryahead,andseeingothers,withthetracesofanoldrailwaystationandcoveredrailwaybridgebeyond,upthegorgeonmyright.
Theuncertainbridgenowbeforemewaspostedwithawarningsign,butItooktheriskandcrossedagaintothesouthbankwheretracesoflifereappeared.Furtive,shamblingcreaturesstaredcrypticallyinmydirection,andmorenormalfaceseyedmecoldlyandcuriously.Innsmouthwasrapidlybecomingintolerable,andIturneddownPaineStreettowardtheSquareinthehopeofgettingsomevehicletotakemetoArkhambeforethestill-distantstarting-timeofthatsinisterbus.
ItwasthenthatIsawthetumbledownfirestationonmyleft,andnoticedtheredfaced,bushy-bearded,wateryeyedoldmaninnondescriptragswhosatonabenchinfrontofittalkingwithapairofunkemptbutnotabnormallookingfiremen.This,ofcourse,mustbeZadokAllen,thehalf-crazed,liquorishnonagenarianwhosetalesofoldInnsmouthanditsshadowweresohideousandincredible.
