Тень над Иннсмутом

           ThatwasthefirstIeverheardofshadowedInnsmouth.Anyreferencetoatownnotshownoncommonmapsorlistedinrecentguidebookswouldhaveinterestedme,andtheagent’soddmannerofallusionrousedsomethinglikerealcuriosity.Atownabletoinspiresuchdislikeinititsneighbors,Ithought,mustbeatleastratherunusual,andworthyofatourist’sattention.IfitcamebeforeArkhamIwouldstopoffthereandsoIaskedtheagenttotellmesomethingaboutit.Hewasverydeliberate,andspokewithanairoffeelingslightlysuperiortowhathesaid.

           "Innsmouth?Well,it’saqueerkindofatowndownatthemouthoftheManuxet.Usedtobealmostacity—quiteaportbeforetheWarof1812—butallgonetopiecesinthelasthundredyearsorso.Norailroadnow—B.andM.neverwentthrough,andthebranchlinefromRowleywasgivenupyearsago.

           "Moreemptyhousesthantherearepeople,Iguess,andnobusinesstospeakofexceptfishingandlobstering.EverybodytradesmostlyeitherhereorinArkhamorIpswich.Oncetheyhadquiteafewmills,butnothing’sleftnowexceptonegoldrefineryrunningontheleanestkindofparttime.

           "Thatrefinery,though,usedtobeabigthing,andoldmanMarsh,whoownsit,mustbericher’nCroesus.Queeroldduck,though,andsticksmightycloseinhishome.He’ssupposedtohavedevelopedsomeskindiseaseordeformitylateinlifethatmakeshimkeepoutofsight.GrandsonofCaptainObedMarsh,whofoundedthebusiness.Hismotherseemsto’vebeensomekindofforeigner—theysayaSouthSeaislander—soeverybodyraisedCainwhenhemarriedanIpswichgirlfiftyyearsago.TheyalwaysdothataboutInnsmouthpeople,andfolkshereandhereaboutsalwaystrytocoverupanyInnsmouthbloodtheyhavein’em.