Цвет из иных миров

           HeandhiswifehadgonewiththethreeprofessorsfromMiskatonicUniversitywhohastenedoutthenextmorningtoseetheweirdvisitorfromunknownstellarspace,andhadwonderedwhyNahumhadcalleditsolargethedaybefore.Ithadshrunk,Nahumsaidashepointedoutthebigbrownishmoundabovetherippedearthandcharredgrassnearthearchaicwell-sweepinhisfrontyard;butthewisemenansweredthatstonesdonotshrink.Itsheatlingeredpersistently,andNahumdeclaredithadglowedfaintlyinthenight.Theprofessorstrieditwithageologist’shammerandfounditwasoddlysoft.Itwas,intruth,sosoftastobealmostplastic;andtheygougedratherthanchippedaspecimentotakebacktothecollegefortesting.TheytookitinanoldpailborrowedfromNahum’skitchen,foreventhesmallpiecerefusedtogrowcool.OnthetripbacktheystoppedatAmmi’storest,andseemedthoughtfulwhenMrs.Pierceremarkedthatthefragmentwasgrowingsmallerandburningthebottomofthepail.Truly,itwasnotlarge,butperhapstheyhadtakenlessthantheythought.

           Thedayafterthat—allthiswasinJuneof’82—theprofessorshadtroopedoutagaininagreatexcitement.AstheypassedAmmi’stheytoldhimwhatqueerthingsthespecimenhaddone,andhowithadfadedwhollyawaywhentheyputitinaglassbeaker.Thebeakerhadgone,too,andthewisementalkedofthestrangestone’saffinityforsilicon.