Хребты безумия
III
Infivedaysmore,theArkhamandMiskatonic,withallhandsandequipmentonboard,wereshakingclearofthethickeningfieldiceandworkingupRossSeawiththemockingmountainsofVictoriaLandloomingwestwardagainstatroubledantarcticskyandtwistingthewind’swailsintoawide-rangedmusicalpipingwhichchilledmysoultothequick. Lessthanafortnightlaterweleftthelasthintofpolarlandbehindusandthankedheaventhatwewereclearofahaunted,accursedrealmwherelifeanddeath,spaceandtime,havemadeblackandblasphemousalliances,intheunknownepochssincematterfirstwrithedandswamontheplanet’sscarce-cooledcrust.
Sinceourreturnwehaveallconstantlyworkedtodiscourageantarcticexploration,andhavekeptcertaindoubtsandguessestoourselveswithsplendidunityandfaithfulness. EvenyoungDanforth,withhisnervousbreakdown,hasnotflinchedorbabbledtohisdoctors—indeed,asIhavesaid,thereisonethinghethinkshealonesawwhichhewillnottellevenme,thoughIthinkitwouldhelphispsychologicalstateifhewouldconsenttodoso. Itmightexplainandrelievemuch,thoughperhapsthethingwasnomorethanthedelusiveaftermathofanearliershock. ThatistheimpressionIgatherafterthoserare,irresponsiblemomentswhenhewhispersdisjointedthingstome—thingswhichherepudiatesvehementlyassoonashegetsagriponhimselfagain.
Itwillbehardworkdeterringothersfromthegreatwhitesouth,andsomeofoureffortsmaydirectlyharmourcausebydrawinginquiringnotice. Wemighthaveknownfromthefirstthathumancuriosityisundying,andthattheresultsweannouncedwouldbeenoughtospurothersaheadonthesameage-longpursuitoftheunknown.
