Цвет из иных миров

           Andfromthatstricken,far-awayspothehadseensomethingfeeblyrise,onlytosinkdownagainupontheplacefromwhichthegreatshapelesshorrorhadshotintothesky.Itwasjustacolour—butnotanycolourofourearthorheavens.AndbecauseAmmirecognisedthatcolour,andknewthatthislastfaintremnantmuststilllurkdownthereinthewell,hehasneverbeenquiterightsince.

           Ammiwouldnevergoneartheplaceagain.Itisoverhalfacenturynowsincethehorrorhappened,buthehasneverbeenthere,andwillbegladwhenthenewreservoirblotsitout.Ishallbeglad,too,forIdonotlikethewaythesunlightchangedcolouraroundthemouthofthatabandonedwellIpassed.Ihopethewaterwillalwaysbeverydeep—butevenso,Ishallneverdrinkit.IdonotthinkIshallvisittheArkhamcountryhereafter.ThreeofthemenwhohadbeenwithAmmireturnedthenextmorningtoseetheruinsbydaylight,buttherewerenotanyrealruins.Onlythebricksofthechimney,thestonesofthecellar,somemineralandmetalliclitterhereandthere,andtherimofthatnefandouswell.SaveforAmmi’sdeadhorse,whichtheytowedawayandburied,andthebuggywhichtheyshortlyreturnedtohim,everythingthathadeverbeenlivinghadgone.Fiveeldritchacresofdustygreydesertremained,norhasanythingevergrowntheresince.Tothisdayitsprawlsopentotheskylikeagreatspoteatenbyacidinthewoodsandfields,andthefewwhohaveeverdaredglimpseitinspiteoftheruraltaleshavenamedit“theblastedheath”.

           Theruraltalesarequeer.