Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 1
Theyhadfoundunholywaystokeeptheirbrainsalive,eitherinthesamebodyordifferentbodies;andhadevidentlyachievedawayoftappingtheconsciousnessofthedeadwhomtheygatheredtogether.Therehad,itseems,beensometruthinchimericaloldBorelluswhenhewroteofpreparingfromeventhemostantiqueremainscertain"EssentialSaltes"fromwhichtheshadeofalong-deadlivingthingmightberaisedup.Therewasaformulaforevokingsuchashade,andanotherforputtingitdown;andithadnowbeensoperfectedthatitcouldbetaughtsuccessfully.Onemustbecarefulaboutevocations,forthemarkersofoldgravesarenotalwaysaccurate.
WillettandMr.Wardshiveredastheypassedfromconclusiontoconclusion.Things—presencesorvoicesofsomesort—couldbedrawndownfromunknownplacesaswellasfromthegrave,andinthisprocessalsoonemustbecareful.JosephCurwenhadindubitablyevokedmanyforbiddenthings,andasforCharles—whatmightonethinkofhim?Whatforces"outsidethespheres"hadreachedhimfromJosephCurwen’sdayandturnedhismindonforgottenthings?Hehadbeenledtofindcertaindirections,andhehadusedthem.HehadtalkedwiththemanofhorrorinPragueandstayedlongwiththecreatureinthemountainsofTransylvania.AndhemusthavefoundthegraveofJosephCurwenatlast.Thatnewspaperitemandwhathismotherhadheardinthenightweretoosignificanttooverlook.Thenhehadsummonedsomething,anditmusthavecome.
