Цвет из иных миров

           Itmustallbeajudgmentofsomesort;thoughhecouldnotfancywhatfor,sincehehadalwayswalkeduprightlyintheLord’swayssofarasheknew.

           ForovertwoweeksAmmisawnothingofNahum;andthen,worriedaboutwhatmighthavehappened,heovercamehisfearsandpaidtheGardnerplaceavisit.Therewasnosmokefromthegreatchimney,andforamomentthevisitorwasapprehensiveoftheworst.Theaspectofthewholefarmwasshocking—greyishwitheredgrassandleavesontheground,vinesfallinginbrittlewreckagefromarchaicwallsandgables,andgreatbaretreesclawingupatthegreyNovemberskywithastudiedmalevolencewhichAmmicouldnotbutfeelhadcomefromsomesubtlechangeinthetiltofthebranches.ButNahumwasalive,afterall.Hewasweak,andlyingonacouchinthelow-ceiledkitchen,butperfectlyconsciousandabletogivesimpleorderstoZenas.Theroomwasdeadlycold;andasAmmivisiblyshivered,thehostshoutedhuskilytoZenasformorewood.Wood,indeed,wassorelyneeded;sincethecavernousfireplacewasunlitandempty,withacloudofsootblowingaboutinthechillwindthatcamedownthechimney.PresentlyNahumaskedhimiftheextrawoodhadmadehimanymorecomfortable,andthenAmmisawwhathadhappened.Thestoutestcordhadbrokenatlast,andthehaplessfarmer’smindwasproofagainstmoresorrow.

           Questioningtactfully,AmmicouldgetnocleardataatallaboutthemissingZenas.“Inthewell—helivesinthewell—”wasallthatthecloudedfatherwouldsay.