Зов Ктулху / The Call of Cthulhu. Уровень 2

Great low square blocks with exactly vertical sides, and rectangular lines of low, vertical ramparts, like the old Asian castles. Impressive from distance. Carroll thought they were formed of smaller separate pieces, but that is probably an illusion.

Parts, especially upper parts, seem lighter than any visible strata on slopes. If you fly near you can see many cave-mouths, some unusually regular in outline, square or semicircular. You must come and investigate. I saw rampart squarely on top of one peak. Height seems about thirty thousand to thirty-five thousand feet.

I am up twenty-one thousand, five hundred myself, in devilish, gnawing cold. Wind whistles and pipes, but no danger to fly.”

We replied that we will join Lake as soon as he sends a plane. It was obvious now that the character of the expedition changed. So it was possible that there is no need in eastward flight, after all, this season.

Lake called me later. He decided to let the camp stay where damaged plane landed. The ice sheet was very thin, with dark ground visible here and there.

Lake spoke of the majesty of the whole scene, and the queer state of his sensations. The height of the five tallest peaks was from thirty thousand to thirty-four thousand feet. The camp lay a little more than five miles from the higher foothills. Lake was clearly afraid of windstorms from the mountains. I traced a note of subconscious alarm in his words. He asked us to hurry to come to this strange region. He was going to rest now, after a continuous day’s work.

In the morning we came to an agreement. One of Lake’s planes will come to my base for Pabodie, the five men, and myself, as well as for all the fuel it could carry. Pabodie and I were preparing to close our base for a short or long period. Some of our conical tents were already reinforced by blocks of hard snow. Now we decided to complete the job and to make a permanent base. I sent a message that Pabodie and I will be ready for the northwestward journey after one day’s work and one night’s rest.

But we stopped after 4 P.M. because Lake began to send the most extraordinary and excited messages. He resolved to do some local boring as part of the expedition’s general program. In three hours young Gedney – the acting foreman[115 - young Gedney – the acting foreman – юный Гедни, руководивший работами] – rushed into the camp with the shocking news.

They struck a cave.