Цвет из иных миров

           TheGardnerstooktowatchingatnight—watchinginalldirectionsatrandomforsomething...theycouldnottellwhat.ItwasthenthattheyallownedthatThaddeushadbeenrightaboutthetrees.Mrs.Gardnerwasthenexttoseeitfromthewindowasshewatchedtheswollenboughsofamapleagainstamoonlitsky.Theboughssurelymoved,andtherewasnowind.Itmustbethesap.Strangenesshadcomeintoeverythinggrowingnow.YetitwasnoneofNahum’sfamilyatallwhomadethenextdiscovery.Familiarityhaddulledthem,andwhattheycouldnotseewasglimpsedbyatimidwindmillsalesmanfromBoltonwhodrovebyonenightinignoranceofthecountrylegends.WhathetoldinArkhamwasgivenashortparagraphintheGazette;anditwastherethatallthefarmers,Nahumincluded,sawitfirst.Thenighthadbeendarkandthebuggy-lampsfaint,butaroundafarminthevalleywhicheveryoneknewfromtheaccountmustbeNahum’sthedarknesshadbeenlessthick.Adimthoughdistinctluminosityseemedtoinhereinallthevegetation,grass,leaves,andblossomsalike,whileatonemomentadetachedpieceofthephosphorescenceappearedtostirfurtivelyintheyardnearthebarn.

           Thegrasshadsofarseemeduntouched,andthecowswerefreelypasturedinthelotnearthehouse,buttowardtheendofMaythemilkbegantobebad.ThenNahumhadthecowsdriventotheuplands,afterwhichthetroubleceased.Notlongafterthisthechangeingrassandleavesbecameapparenttotheeye.Alltheverdurewasgoinggrey,andwasdevelopingahighlysingularqualityofbrittleness.