Тень над Иннсмутом
Chapter 3
Theoldman’swhispergrewfainter,andIfoundmyselfshudderingattheterribleandsincereportentousnessofhisintonation,eventhoughIknewhistalecouldbenothingbutdrunkenphantasy.
"Wal,Sir,Obedhelarntthatthey’sthingsonthisarthasmostfolksneverheerdabout—an’wouldn’tbelieveeftheydidhear.ItseemstheseKanakyswassacrificin’heapso’theiryoungmenan’maidenstosomekindo’god-thingsthatlivedunderthesea,an’gittin’allkindso’favourinreturn.Theymetthethingsonthelittleisletwiththequeerruins,an’itseemsthemawfulpicterso’frog-fishmonsterswassupposedtobepicterso’thesethings.Mebbetheywasthekindo’crittersasgotallthemermaidstoriesan’sechstarted.
"Theyhadallkindsa’citiesonthesea-bottom,an’thisislandwasheavedupfromthar.Seemtheywassomeofthethingsaliveinthestonebuildin’swhentheislandcomeupsuddentothesurface,That’showtheKanakysgotwindtheywasdaownthar.Madesign-talkassoonastheygotoverbein’skeert,an’piecedupabargainaforelong.
"Themthingslikedhumansacrifices.Hadhad’emagesafore,butlosttracko’theupperworldafteratime.Whattheydonetothevictimsitain’tfermetosay,an’IguessObedwa’n’tnonetoosharpabaoutaskin’.Butitwasallrightwiththeheathens,becausethey’dbenhavin’ahardtimean’wasdesp’rateabaouteverything.