Зов Ктулху
The Horror in Clay
Ithinkthattheprofessor,too, intendedtokeepsilentregardingthepartheknew, andthathewouldhavedestroyedhisnotes hadnotsuddendeathseizedhim.
Myknowledgeofthethingbeganinthewinterof1926-27 withthedeathofmygrand-uncleGeorgeGammellAngell, ProfessorEmeritusofSemiticLanguagesinBrownUniversity,Providence,RhodeIsland. ProfessorAngellwaswidelyknownasanauthorityonancientinscriptions, andhadfrequentlybeenresortedtobytheheadsofprominentmuseums; sothathispassingattheageofninety-twomayberecalledbymany. Locally,interestwasintensifiedbytheobscurityofthecauseofdeath.TheprofessorhadbeenstrickenwhilstreturningfromtheNewportboat; fallingsuddenly,aswitnessessaid,afterhavingbeenjostledbyanautical-lookingNegro whohadcomefromoneofthequeerdarkcourts ontheprecipitoushillsidewhichformedashortcutfromthewaterfronttothedeceased’shomeinWilliamsStreet. Physicianswereunabletofindanyvisibledisorder, butconcludedafterperplexeddebatethatsomeobscurelesionoftheheart,inducedbythebriskascentofsosteepahillbysoelderlyaman, wasresponsiblefortheend. AtthetimeIsawnoreasontodissentfromthisdictum, butlatterlyIaminclinedtowonder —andmorethanwonder.
Asmygrand-uncle’sheirandexecutor,forhediedachildlesswidower, Iwasexpectedtogooverhispaperswithsomethoroughness; andforthatpurposemovedhisentiresetoffilesandboxestomyquartersinBoston. MuchofthematerialwhichIcorrelatedwillbelaterpublishedbytheAmericanArchaeologicalSociety, buttherewasonebox whichIfoundexceedinglypuzzling, andwhichIfeltmuchaversefromshewingtoothereyes.
