Half World by Hiromi Goto Read Free Book Online Page B

against the dirty tunnel wall. She looked about desperately for Ms. Wei, but the tunnel was empty except for her and the talking rat.
    The green rat heaved a sigh and began scrubbing its paws over its ears, twisting back to groom through the fur on its hindquarters.
    The red string tail looked vaguely familiar. . . . Melanie patted her chest with her hand, but the amulet was gone.
    â€œYou’re the jade pendant Ms. Wei gave me!” Melanie actually pointed her finger at the green rat.
    The rat turned to face her and smacked one finely formed paw against its forehead. “Aiyaaaaa!” the rat exclaimed. “Have your fears completely overwhelmed your wits?” Its whiskers were completely vertical with indignation.
    â€œThat’s not nice,” Melanie said reproachfully. “And of course I’m scared! Who wouldn’t be?”
    The rat sneezed so vehemently Melanie wondered if it wasn’t some kind of rat curse.
    â€œYou’re as big as a guinea pig,” Melanie murmured wonderingly.
    â€œI beg your pardon,” the rat enunciated. “I’m Jade Rat and I’ll have you know that I’m a rat in the prime of her life. Albeit,” she added, “a life prolonged by stone.”
    â€œHoly crow!” Melanie breathed.
    Jade Rat smacked her forehead once more. “There’s no time to be ogling me like a creature in a circus! Haste, child! Go through the Gate! The tunnel will revert to its usual route at any moment! Aiyaaaaa!” The rat rudely crawled up Melanie’s leg atop her jeans without asking for permission, muttering crossly as she climbed higher. “Why could not the old woman waken me when it is a time of plenty! With crispy noodles and juicy chicken and purple grapes and sweet potatoes? When the Realms are interconnected and the cycles in motion?” The rat sat upon Melanie’s shoulder and slid its red string tail around her neck.
    The tail was not cold and scaly as Melanie had imagined.
    From a great distance they heard a low roar.
    â€œHaste!” Jade Rat repeated. There was an almost inaudible click, and the rat was an amulet once more.
    As Melanie turned toward the fourth door her foot knocked over the Magic 8 Ball. She stared at it for a moment. It was bulky, and she’d be foolish to take it. She couldn’t even eat it. But that raccoon, she thought. It had rolled it down the length of the tunnel for a reason. Sighing, feeling slightly ridiculous, Melanie snatched up the dubious gift and deposited it in her knapsack.
    She faced the fourth door. It was made of heavy wood and rigged on a single metal track, a simple drop latch keeping it locked. In the middle of the door was a big sign. CAUTION. ONCOM-INGTRAFFIC, it read.
    What was on the other side?
    Was the grotesque Mr. Glueskin who had kidnapped her mother waiting for her, a trap laid out to capture her the moment she stepped through?
    What would he do to her?
    Hands shaking, she pried the simple lock upward and grabbed the sticky latch. She pulled, but the door was stuck. She took a deep breath and grabbed with both hands and wrenched sideways. The heavy door groaned, the long unused pulleys shrieking as she forced it open.
    Panting, she stared at the darkness.
    Nothing.
    Silence.
    A vast roar ripped through the open Gateway, yanking Melanie off her feet and sucking her toward the darkness. She clung desperately to the handle as her body was raised horizontally off the ground by the howling, screaming wind. Empty cans zipped past her head, plastic bags, small branches, as tears whipped from her eyes. She squeezed her toes to keep her shoes on her feet. She couldn’t breathe. The very air sucked from her lungs. Her feet and legs fluttering in the open abyss, as useless as a doll’s.
    Her sweaty fingers slipped.
    Desperately she squeezed tighter. But her grip was growing numb.
    She wouldn’t make it. She wouldn’t make it even into Half World.
    Screw that!