Цвет из иных миров

           ThedeathhadcometopoorThaddeusinhisatticroom,andithadcomeinawaywhichcouldnotbetold.Nahumhaddugagraveintherailedfamilyplotbehindthefarm,andhadputthereinwhathefound.Therecouldhavebeennothingfromoutside,forthesmallbarredwindowandlockeddoorwereintact;butitwasmuchasithadbeeninthebarn.Ammiandhiswifeconsoledthestrickenmanasbesttheycould,butshudderedastheydidso.StarkterrorseemedtoclingroundtheGardnersandalltheytouched,andtheverypresenceofoneinthehousewasabreathfromregionsunnamedandunnamable.AmmiaccompaniedNahumhomewiththegreatestreluctance,anddidwhathemighttocalmthehystericalsobbingoflittleMerwin.Zenasneedednocalming.Hehadcomeoflatetodonothingbutstareintospaceandobeywhathisfathertoldhim;andAmmithoughtthathisfatewasverymerciful.NowandthenMerwin’sscreamswereansweredfaintlyfromtheattic,andinresponsetoaninquiringlookNahumsaidthathiswifewasgettingveryfeeble.Whennightapproached,Ammimanagedtogetaway;fornotevenfriendshipcouldmakehimstayinthatspotwhenthefaintglowofthevegetationbeganandthetreesmayormaynothaveswayedwithoutwind.ItwasreallyluckyforAmmithathewasnotmoreimaginative.Evenasthingswere,hismindwasbenteversoslightly;buthadhebeenabletoconnectandreflectuponalltheportentsaroundhimhemustinevitablyhaveturnedatotalmaniac.Inthetwilighthehastenedhome,thescreamsofthemadwomanandthenervouschildringinghorriblyinhisears.