Ужас Данвича
Chapter 8
AtothertimeshewouldcallforthedreadedNecronomiconandtheDaemonolatreiaofRemigius,inwhichheseemedhopefuloffindingsomeformulatochecktheperilheconjuredup.
‘Stopthem,stopthem!’hewouldshout. ‘ThoseWhateleysmeanttoletthemin,andtheworstofallisleft! TellRiceandMorganwemustdosomething—it’sablindbusiness,butIknowhowtomakethepowder... Ithasn’tbeenfedsincethesecondofAugust,whenWilburcameheretohisdeath,andatthatrate...’
ButArmitagehadasoundphysiquedespitehisseventy-threeyears,andsleptoffhisdisorderthatnightwithoutdevelopinganyrealfever. HewokelateFriday,clearofhead,thoughsoberwithagnawingfearandtremendoussenseofresponsibility. SaturdayafternoonhefeltabletogoovertothelibraryandsummonRiceandMorganforaconference,andtherestofthatdayandeveningthethreementorturedtheirbrainsinthewildestspeculationandthemostdesperatedebate. Strangeandterriblebooksweredrawnvoluminouslyfromthestackshelvesandfromsecureplacesofstorage; anddiagramsandformulaewerecopiedwithfeverishhasteandinbewilderingabundance. Ofscepticismtherewasnone. AllthreehadseenthebodyofWilburWhateleyasitlayonthefloorinaroomofthatverybuilding,andafterthatnotoneofthemcouldfeelevenslightlyinclinedtotreatthediaryasamadman’sraving.
OpinionsweredividedastonotifyingtheMassachusettsStatePolice,andthenegativefinallywon.
