Цвет из иных миров

           Whenthecoolinghadgrownveryconsiderable,thetestingwascarriedoninglass;anditwasinaglassbeakerthattheyleftallthechipsmadeoftheoriginalfragmentduringthework.Thenextmorningbothchipsandbeakerweregonewithouttrace,andonlyacharredspotmarkedtheplaceonthewoodenshelfwheretheyhadbeen.

           AllthistheprofessorstoldAmmiastheypausedathisdoor,andoncemorehewentwiththemtoseethestonymessengerfromthestars,thoughthistimehiswifedidnotaccompanyhim.Ithadnowmostcertainlyshrunk,andeventhesoberprofessorscouldnotdoubtthetruthofwhattheysaw.Allaroundthedwindlingbrownlumpnearthewellwasavacantspace,exceptwheretheearthhadcavedin;andwhereasithadbeenagoodsevenfeetacrossthedaybefore,itwasnowscarcelyfive.Itwasstillhot,andthesagesstudieditssurfacecuriouslyastheydetachedanotherandlargerpiecewithhammerandchisel.Theygougeddeeplythistime,andastheypriedawaythesmallermasstheysawthatthecoreofthethingwasnotquitehomogeneous.

           Theyhaduncoveredwhatseemedtobethesideofalargecolouredglobuleimbeddedinthesubstance.Thecolour,whichresembledsomeofthebandsinthemeteor’sstrangespectrum,wasalmostimpossibletodescribe;anditwasonlybyanalogythattheycalleditcolouratall.Itstexturewasglossy,andupontappingitappearedtopromisebothbrittlenessandhollowness.Oneoftheprofessorsgaveitasmartblowwithahammer,anditburstwithanervouslittlepop.Nothingwasemitted,andalltraceofthethingvanishedwiththepuncturing.