"Those _things_ out there--what are they? What are you letting into the
world, Harwood?"
"It's an experiment, young man." He crossed his arms over his
dressing-gown. "Would you mind leaving my house, now?"
"Daddy!"
"You keep out of this, Laura." He turned to me. "I've asked you to
leave my house. I don't want you meddling in my experiments any more."
I repressed an urge to aim a kick at his well-stuffed belly. Abel
Harwood was a crackpot, a crazy amateur scientist who had been riding
this other-dimension kick for years. Now, he'd let loose Lord knew
what upon the world--the things were still funnelling through the
gateway--and he was determined to see it continue.
"Harwood, you're playing with something too big for you! You're foolish
and blind, and you--"
"_You're_ a trespasser," he interrupted. "I've ordered you out of my
home twice, already. Will you go now--or do I have to get my gun?"
"I'll go," I said. I broke loose from Laura and, with an uneasy look at
the gateway outside, headed for the door.
"Wait, Dad--you can't make him go outside in _that_!"
"Quiet, Laura."
She started to say something else, but I put my hand on her arm. "Never
mind, Laura."