Цвет из иных миров

           Ithadaneviltastethatwasnotexactlyfoetidnorexactlysalty,andAmmiadvisedhisfriendtodiganotherwellonhighergroundtousetillthesoilwasgoodagain.Nahum,however,ignoredthewarning,forhehadbythattimebecomecallousedtostrangeandunpleasantthings.Heandtheboyscontinuedtousethetaintedsupply,drinkingitaslistlesslyandmechanicallyastheyatetheirmeagreandill-cookedmealsanddidtheirthanklessandmonotonouschoresthroughtheaimlessdays.Therewassomethingofstolidresignationaboutthemall,asiftheywalkedhalfinanotherworldbetweenlinesofnamelessguardstoacertainandfamiliardoom.

           ThaddeuswentmadinSeptemberafteravisittothewell.Hehadgonewithapailandhadcomebackempty-handed,shriekingandwavinghisarms,andsometimeslapsingintoaninanetitterorawhisperabout“themovingcoloursdownthere”.Twoinonefamilywasprettybad,butNahumwasverybraveaboutit.Helettheboyrunaboutforaweekuntilhebeganstumblingandhurtinghimself,andthenheshuthiminanatticroomacrossthehallfromhismother’s.Thewaytheyscreamedateachotherfrombehindtheirlockeddoorswasveryterrible,especiallytolittleMerwin,whofanciedtheytalkedinsometerriblelanguagethatwasnotofearth.Merwinwasgettingfrightfullyimaginative,andhisrestlessnesswasworseaftertheshuttingawayofthebrotherwhohadbeenhisgreatestplaymate.

           Almostatthesametimethemortalityamongthelivestockcommenced.Poultryturnedgreyishanddiedveryquickly,theirmeatbeingfounddryandnoisomeuponcutting.