[Oh well, heaven forbid that whatever weirdness was happening to their town wasn't described poetically enough. On the other hand it helped to lighten the mood a bit, the comment just feeling so... typical.]

Did you try poking it with a stick? [It's what he would have done!

He laughs, though it's not exactly a cheerful sound, and shakes his head in amazement.]

A big, black, rubbery dome. It's all a bit hard to take in, to be honest. Sounds more like something you'd find in fiction. Or like the build up of a really bad sex joke.