Цвет из иных миров

           Themenwerefranklynonplussedbytheentirecase,andcouldfindnoconvincingcommonelementtolinkthestrangevegetableconditions,theunknowndiseaseoflivestockandhumans,andtheunaccountabledeathsofMerwinandZenasinthetaintedwell.Theyhadheardthecommoncountrytalk,itistrue;butcouldnotbelievethatanythingcontrarytonaturallawhadoccurred.Nodoubtthemeteorhadpoisonedthesoil,buttheillnessofpersonsandanimalswhohadeatennothinggrowninthatsoilwasanothermatter.Wasitthewellwater?Verypossibly.Itmightbeagoodideatoanalyseit.Butwhatpeculiarmadnesscouldhavemadebothboysjumpintothewell?Theirdeedsweresosimilar—andthefragmentsshewedthattheyhadbothsufferedfromthegreybrittledeath.Whywaseverythingsogreyandbrittle?

           Itwasthecoroner,seatednearawindowoverlookingtheyard,whofirstnoticedtheglowaboutthewell.Nighthadfullysetin,andalltheabhorrentgroundsseemedfaintlyluminouswithmorethanthefitfulmoonbeams;butthisnewglowwassomethingdefiniteanddistinct,andappearedtoshootupfromtheblackpitlikeasoftenedrayfromasearchlight,givingdullreflectionsinthelittlegroundpoolswherethewaterhadbeenemptied.Ithadaveryqueercolour,andasallthemenclusteredroundthewindowAmmigaveaviolentstart.Forthisstrangebeamofghastlymiasmawastohimofnounfamiliarhue.Hehadseenthatcolourbefore,andfearedtothinkwhatitmightmean.