Out of This World by Douglas E. Richards Read Free Book Online

reason why we wouldn't take the shortcut that you haven't told us about?”
    “Shortcut? Who said anything about cutting? I was speaking about portals.” Hirth shook his head. “This is why your kind can’t be trusted. You always try to change the subject.”
    Both kids realized why they were having trouble communicating at the same time. The people of this world apparently only used the precise dictionary definition of each word. Their interpretation of language, just like their bodies, left nothing to the imagination. If they told this man he had lost his mind , the man would look for it, thinking it was really lost. They would have to be careful to phrase everything as literally as possible here or they would quickly get into trouble.
    “I think I’m beginning to catch on,” whispered Zachary in his sister’s ear, grinning.
    Despite the seriousness of the situation, Jenna couldn’t help but laugh at her brother’s joke.
    Zachary turned back toward Hirth. “Let me try this again,” he said carefully. “Is there any reason why we wouldn’t want to take the portal that will get us to our parents the fastest?”
    “Congratulations,” said Hirth. “You’ve actually managed to ask a question that shows you have more intelligence than a tree. The answer is yes. That route is much more dangerous than the one your parents took.”
    It figures, thought Zachary. Just great . He scratched his head. “What do you think, Jenna?”
    “I think we need to take the shortcut,” she answered, pleased that he had asked for her opinion.
    “Me too,” said Zachary. “Can you tell us the nature of the added danger?” he asked.
    “No,” replied Hirth sharply. He looked at his watch. “And you had better decide quickly. You barely have enough time to make it to one of the portals before your Anchor Fungus begins its second stage of growth and you two become very ugly . . . fixtures . . . here on our world.”
    The shorter transparent man, Wyland, had been silent for some time, but he suddenly burst angrily to life. “Anchor fungus!” he shouted. “Hirth, you are not authorized for this.”
    Hirth shrugged. “Too late now,” he said simply.
    Wyland’s eyes were burning with anger, but he said nothing more.
    “Anchor Fungus?” said Zachary. “I'm afraid I’m not following you.”
    “Of course you’re not following me, because I refuse to lead you. If you were listening, you’ll remember that I said I would direct you to a portal, not that I would lead you there.”
    This guy must be a ton of fun at parties, thought Zachary. “What is Anchor Fungus?” he asked, trying to stay as literal as possible.
    “Pull up your pant legs and see for yourselves.”
    The siblings did so, and the color drained from their faces. They each had fuzzy green patches around their ankles, growing even as they watched. It was truly revolting.
    “ That is Anchor Fungus,” explained Hirth, as if it should have been obvious.
    Both kids began clutching at their ankles, trying to rub, scratch, or pull the sickening growth from themselves. But it was useless. They couldn’t remove even a tiny part of it.
    “Nothing you can do will deter it,” said Hirth. “Believe me, anything you could possibly try has been tried before. It’s harmless to us, but I infected you with it exactly five minutes ago, when Wyland here was being far more friendly to you than you deserve.” He glared crossly at his companion once again.
    “The infection begins on the ankles,” continued Hirth. “But it will spread. In exactly—” he glanced at his watch, “and I do mean exactly—forty-nine minutes, the fungus will complete the first phase of its growth. At that time it will send tendrils down into the ground, growing from your ankles at the rate of several inches every few seconds. The tendrils can penetrate anything, so it will not help you to be standing on concrete. If you have not stepped through one of the portals, forty-nine minutes from now,