Цвет из иных миров

           Thenthereflashedacrossthevisitor’smindasuddenthoughtofthemadwife,andhechangedhislineofinquiry.“Nabby?Why,heresheis!”wasthesurprisedresponseofpoorNahum,andAmmisoonsawthathemustsearchforhimself.Leavingtheharmlessbabbleronthecouch,hetookthekeysfromtheirnailbesidethedoorandclimbedthecreakingstairstotheattic.Itwasverycloseandnoisomeupthere,andnosoundcouldbeheardfromanydirection.Ofthefourdoorsinsight,onlyonewaslocked,andonthishetriedvariouskeysontheringhehadtaken.Thethirdkeyprovedtherightone,andaftersomefumblingAmmithrewopenthelowwhitedoor.

           Itwasquitedarkinside,forthewindowwassmallandhalf-obscuredbythecrudewoodenbars;andAmmicouldseenothingatallonthewide-plankedfloor.Thestenchwasbeyondenduring,andbeforeproceedingfurtherhehadtoretreattoanotherroomandreturnwithhislungsfilledwithbreathableair.Whenhedidenterhesawsomethingdarkinthecorner,anduponseeingitmoreclearlyhescreamedoutright.Whilehescreamedhethoughtamomentarycloudeclipsedthewindow,andasecondlaterhefelthimselfbrushedasifbysomehatefulcurrentofvapour.Strangecoloursdancedbeforehiseyes;andhadnotapresenthorrornumbedhimhewouldhavethoughtoftheglobuleinthemeteorthatthegeologist’shammerhadshattered,andofthemorbidvegetationthathadsproutedinthespring.Asitwashethoughtonlyoftheblasphemousmonstrositywhichconfrontedhim,andwhichalltooclearlyhadsharedthenamelessfateofyoungThaddeusandthelivestock.