Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
Lymanbelievesthatthisnotecontainspositiveproofofawell-developedcaseofdementiapraecox,butWillettontheotherhandregardsitasthelastperfectlysaneutteranceofthehaplessyouth.Hecallsespecialattentiontothenormalcharacterofthepenmanship;whichthoughshowingtracesofshatterednerves,isneverthelessdistinctlyWard’sown.Thetextinfullisasfollows:
100ProspectSt.Providence,R.I.,February8,1928.
DearDr.Willett:—
IfeelthatatlastthetimehascomeformetomakethedisclosureswhichIhavesolongpromisedyou,andforwhichyouhavepressedmesooften.Thepatienceyouhaveshowninwaiting,andtheconfidenceyouhaveshowninmymindandintegrity,arethingsIshallneverceasetoappreciate.
AndnowthatIamreadytospeak,ImustownwithhumiliationthatnotriumphsuchasIdreamedofcaneverbymine.InsteadoftriumphIhavefoundterror,andmytalkwithyouwillnotbeaboastofvictorybutapleaforhelpandadviceinsavingbothmyselfandtheworldfromahorrorbeyondallhumanconceptionorcalculation.YourecallwhatthoseFennerletterssaidoftheoldraidingpartyatPawtuxet.Thatmustallbedoneagain,andquickly.Uponusdependsmorethancanbeputintowords—allcivilization,allnaturallaw,perhapseventhefateofthesolarsystemandtheuniverse.Ihavebroughttolightamonstrousabnormality,butIdiditforthesakeofknowledge.NowforthesakeofalllifeandNatureyoumusthelpmethrustitbackintothedarkagain.