Цвет из иных миров

           oneo’themprofessorssaidso...hewasright...lookout,Ammi,it’lldosuthin’more...sucksthelifeout....”

           Butthatwasall.Thatwhichspokecouldspeaknomorebecauseithadcompletelycavedin.Ammilaidaredcheckedtableclothoverwhatwasleftandreeledoutthebackdoorintothefields.Heclimbedtheslopetotheten-acrepastureandstumbledhomebythenorthroadandthewoods.Hecouldnotpassthatwellfromwhichhishorsehadrunaway.Hehadlookedatitthroughthewindow,andhadseenthatnostonewasmissingfromtherim.Thenthelurchingbuggyhadnotdislodgedanythingafterall—thesplashhadbeensomethingelse—somethingwhichwentintothewellafterithaddonewithpoorNahum....

           WhenAmmireachedhishousethehorseandbuggyhadarrivedbeforehimandthrownhiswifeintofitsofanxiety.Reassuringherwithoutexplanations,hesetoutatonceforArkhamandnotifiedtheauthoritiesthattheGardnerfamilywasnomore.Heindulgedinnodetails,butmerelytoldofthedeathsofNahumandNabby,thatofThaddeusbeingalreadyknown,andmentionedthatthecauseseemedtobethesamestrangeailmentwhichhadkilledthelivestock.HealsostatedthatMerwinandZenashaddisappeared.Therewasconsiderablequestioningatthepolicestation,andintheendAmmiwascompelledtotakethreeofficerstotheGardnerfarm,togetherwiththecoroner,themedicalexaminer,andtheveterinarywhohadtreatedthediseasedanimals.