The Shadow over Innsmouth / Морок над Инсмутом

He wanted them gold things, an’ was willin’ to pay heavy, an’ I guess the others was satisfied fer a while…

“Come in ’forty-six the taown done some lookin’ an’ thinkin’ fer itself. Too many folks missin’-too much wild preachin’ at meetin’ of a Sunday – too much talk abaout that reef. I guess I done a bit by tellin’ Selectman Mowry what I see from the cupalo. They was a party one night as follered Obed’s craowd aout to the reef, an’ I heerd shots betwixt the dories. Nex’ day Obed an’ thutty-two others was in gaol, with everbody a-wonderin’ jest what was afoot an’ jest what charge agin’ ’em cud be got to holt.

Zadok was shewing signs of fright and exhaustion, and I let him keep silence for a while, though glancing apprehensively at my watch. The tide had turned and was coming in now, and the sound of the waves seemed to arouse him.

“That awful night… I seed ’em… I was up in the cupalo… hordes of ’em… swarms of ’em… all over the reef an’ swimmin’ up the harbour into the Manuxet… God, what happened in the streets of Innsmouth that night… they rattled our door, but pa wouldn’t open… then he clumb aout the kitchen winder with his musket to find Selectman Mowry an’ see what he cud do… Maounds o’ the dead an’ the dyin’… shots an’ screams… shaoutin’ in Ol’ Squar an’ Taown Squar an’ New Church Green… gaol throwed open… proclamation… treason… called it the plague when folks come in an’ faound haff our people missin’… nobody left but them as ud jine in with Obed an’ them things or else keep quiet… never heerd o’ my pa no more…”

The old man was panting, and perspiring profusely.

“Everything cleaned up in the mornin’-but they was traces.… Obed he kinder takes charge an’ says things is goin’ to be changed… others’ll worship with us at meetin’-time, an’ sarten haouses hez got to entertain guests… they wanted to mix like they done with the Kanakys, an’ he fer one didn’t feel baound to stop ’em. Far gone, was Obed… jest like a crazy man on the subjeck.