Out of This World (10 page)

“It was incredibly bizarre, that’s for sure,” agreed Zachary.

“Do you think they could really use magic?” said Jenna.

Zachary shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, they didn’t use any while we were there—they just talked about it. They could be putting us on.”

“What about the language transformer?”

“Yeah, I thought the same thing. It does seem magical. But that doesn’t mean it is. If someone visited Earth from a planet that didn’t have technology, and we handed them a small rectangular device that could play movies, music, and let them talk to someone a thousand miles away, it would be easy to convince them it was magic.”

Jenna nodded. A cell phone could do things that seemed magical when you really stopped to think about it.

“The weird part,” continued Zachary, “is that controlling things with your mind
is
possible. One of Dad’s scientist friends works in this area. You wear a headband and you can control a video game—with your
brain
. In a few years, magic and science really might be just about the same thing—just like Hirth and Wyland said.”

“Wyland told us we could figure out what was going on,” said Jenna. “But I don’t see how. At least not with what we know now.”

“I agree. It doesn’t seem likely.” Zachary paused, thinking about their encounter with the two transparent men. “Boy, Hirth and Wyland sure didn’t seem to like each other.”

“Hard to imagine how
anyone
could like Hirth,” she said. “Do you think he sent the portal into our kitchen?”

Zachary frowned. “I thought about that, too. But for what reason? They can’t stand humans—at least Hirth can’t. He couldn’t wait to get us off his planet. So why bring Mom and Dad to Orum just to hurry them off? What’s in it for them?”

Zachary was right, thought Jenna. But even if the transparent men weren’t behind it, they seemed to know who was. The fact that they refused to tell her or Zack was
infuriating
.

 Jenna and her brother discussed their situation for a few minutes more and then rejoined the Krug.

“We’d be grateful if you could give us directions to the portal you told us about,” said Zachary diplomatically to the Krug elder. “We’d very much like to go there as soon as possible.”

The elder smiled graciously. “Of course. It’s the least we can do after what you’ve done for us. Tular?” he called.

“I’d be happy to escort them,” offered Tular, not needing to be asked.

“Thank you again for what you have done,” said the elder. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

Within minutes they were on their way. This was turning out to be not so difficult, after all. It was true that this world was extremely dangerous, but they had been lucky to stumble upon Tular. Without him they wouldn’t have stood a chance on this magnificent but deadly world. But now, in a very short time, they would be moving on to the next world, hopefully a step or two closer to their parents.

They were only seventy yards away from their destination when Tular gasped and bent down to examine the earth. He looked even more panic-stricken than he had been while hanging from the branch.

“What is it, Tular?” asked Jenna in concern.

Tular was shaking as he rose. “I can't believe it,” he said. “A Grull track. A
Grull
is in the area. Worse still, it appears from these tracks that he’s heading in the general direction of our encampment. If my people are surprised he could wipe out the entire camp singlehandedly. I have to go back immediately and warn them.”

“A Grull?” said Jenna.

“Yes. The other intelligent species on our planet and our mortal enemy. They’re the ultimate hunting machines: intelligent, cunning, and powerful. They’re almost impossible to stop and unimaginably cruel. They love to terrorize others. To torture them and watch them suffer. They’re pure evil.”

Zachary gulped loudly. That didn’t sound good. “But if they’re so unstoppable, why aren’t they running the planet?”

“There are very, very few of them anymore. They hate all life, even their own kind. They war with themselves continually and almost never have children. Their own evil and hatred will soon make them extinct. I haven’t seen one in my entire life, but we’re taught how to look out for them from early childhood and this is definitely one of their tracks.”

Tular looked at them apologetically. “I'm so sorry, but I have to leave you. Just pass this tree trunk and make a hard left, and the portal should appear about forty yards in front of you. I'm sorry that I can't wait to see you through it and make sure you’re safe.”

“We understand,” Jenna assured him. “Go back and warn your people.”

“We'll be fine,” added Zachary. “You've taught us enough that we should be able to survive for a few minutes until the portal comes. Thanks for everything.”

“Thank
you
,” said Tular gratefully as he began sprinting back the way they had come. “I will never forget you two.”

Zachary and Jenna smiled and began walking the short distance to where the portal would appear. They passed the tree trunk and turned left, carefully avoiding a grove of Harpoon Tulips, and made it to the spot Tular had specified. And then two things happened at the same time.

The portal suddenly appeared from out of nowhere in front of them.

And they heard a booming growl, so fierce and thunderous, so terrible and hatred-filled, that it could only have come from one creature.

The Grull.

They sprinted back to the edge of the tree trunk forty yards from the portal and peered around it. Less than sixty yards away through the forest, Tular was flat on his back on the ground. And towering over him was the most terrible predator of all. The Grull bristled with raw strength and ferocity. It was ten feet tall and had the effortless strength of a Polar Bear. It was armored from head to toe and had dagger-like spikes protruding from its elbows and forehead. It had two mouths, one on top of the other, each filled with jagged, razor-sharp teeth, and also two sets of arms. One set of its arms ended in large, human-like hands, with lethal retractable claws. The other in sharp pincers, like the claws of a lobster, capable of cutting through bone and cartilage.

The monster stood calmly over a cowering Tular, cruel laughter booming from one of its mouths. “Going somewhere?” it taunted their friend, its voice so deep and loud that the words reverberated throughout the forest. “What's the rush? Stick around and let's have some fun.”

Tular was no match for the Grull. He was clearly doomed, and with him his entire village.

“Scream at the top of your lungs,” said Zachary to his sister. “We have to create a diversion. The Grull likes causing terror, so if we act terrified, it might leave Tular and come after us.”

“If we
act
terrified,” said Jenna. “It’s not gonna take any acting on
my
part,” she added as they left the cover provided by the tree trunk and began screaming as loudly as they could.

The Grull looked behind it and smiled with both mouths. “What in the world are these things?” it said to itself. It looked at Tular and then back at the softbody people. It had tortured plenty of Krug in its lifetime, but these creatures were something totally new. Its decision was obvious.

Moving with surprising quickness for a being so large it raced off after the softbodies, leaving Tular unattended.

“Go!” Zachary shouted to Tular at the top of his lungs just as the Grull took its first step away from him. “Warn your people. We'll be gone before it catches us,” he finished, turning with Jenna and sprinting for the portal.

 Tular sprang to his feet. He took one last look at his fleeing softbody friends before turning and running at full speed back to warn the encampment. These frail softbodies weren't even adults and they didn't have armor or great strength, but there was no questioning their bravery. Remarkable. They had earned an honored place in Krug history.

The humans continued their race to the portal, relieved that Tular was now running to safety. They had done it. The Grull had taken the bait and Tular had escaped. Now all they had to do was put a world between the Grull and themselves. They sprinted faster than they ever had in their lives.

Zachary threw a quick glance behind him as they ran. The Grull was rapidly gaining on them. Its speed was
incredible
. But it would still not catch them in time. Zachary concentrated on his running. The portal was only twenty-five yards ahead.

Twenty yards.

Fifteen.

The portal began to shrink.

No
. Impossible.
It couldn't close now
.

Zachary was ten yards away. He was going to make it. It was shrinking but there would still be just enough of it present for them to dive through.

As he prepared to dive a horrible realization hit him: Jenna was three yards behind him. Because she was smaller and younger she wasn't as fast as he was. He would make it, but she would definitely not.

Zachary made his decision instantly. He could not go through without her. He slowed as the portal shrank into a single point and then disappeared, not to return for five full minutes. Five minutes they didn't have.

Their escape route gone, the faster Grull was on them in an instant, knocking them painfully to the ground with one of its mighty arms.  

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

More Terrifying Than a Grull?

The Grull reached down and lifted both kids effortlessly into the air, one in each hand. It held them up to its face to inspect. They hung high above the ground, facing the monster, like dolls in the giant's awesome grip.

The Grull was holding a large, half eaten animal in one of its two massive claws. It had carried this bloody carcass effortlessly while it had tackled Tular and then chased them. It snarled as it buried the bottom part of its face, with its lower, eating mouth, into the carcass and tore pieces off savagely. “What do I have here?” it barked at Zachary, using its other mouth to speak while it continued eating.

Zachary didn't think this was a real question and was too petrified to speak in any case. Worse still, the putrid stench of the Grull’s breath was making him sick. He forced himself to calm down and concentrate. There would be no escaping this monster.

But even as he thought this an idea began forming in his mind. The Krug elder had said the portal came back every five minutes. If they could just keep the Grull in this exact spot long enough, the portal would reappear underneath them. If the Grull, like the fungus on the world before, was unable to make the trip through with them, they would be free.

“
Answer me!
” thundered the Grull. “Are you two some kind of mutant Krug?”

“No,” said Zachary finally, getting his fear under control. Both he and Jenna were now breathing exclusively through their mouths, trying not to suffocate from the stench that surrounded the towering beast like a toxic cloud. “We aren't from this world. We're softbody people.”

“Never heard of such a thing,” said the Grull with its speaking mouth, while at the same time using its eating mouth to rip another large piece of flesh from its kill. It turned its attention to Jenna. “You're even punier than this one,” it said. “You two are the most pathetic creatures I have ever seen. Slow
and
weak. You're more helpless than a newborn baby Krug.”

“
Exactly
,” agreed Zachary. “We're certainly not worth
your
time. We couldn't give you any sport at all.”

The Grull laughed and spittle and bits of food flew from its mouth. “You're new here or a Krug would have told you that the only sport I enjoy is inflicting terror and suffering on others. I've never tortured a softbody
person
before. I'm looking forward to it.”

The spiked monstrosity paused in thought, continuing to hold the two humans in midair as though it could easily do so forever. Although it was totally alien, there was something about its cruel expression that made it clear to the siblings that it was imagining creative ways to inflict as much pain on them as it could, for as long as it could.

“Wait a minute,” said the Grull suddenly, its eyes widening. “What am I thinking? I’ve never
tasted
a softbody person before either.”

Zachary shrank back, knowing this was no idle threat. The Grull was the ultimate predator, and it was clearly intrigued with the idea of expanding its culinary horizons.

“I wonder how much of you I can eat and still keep you alive,” said the Grull. “I guess there’s only one way to find out,” it finished icily.

The blood drained from Zachary’s face. Of all the ways to die, being eaten alive was one of the most horrific. He shot a panicked look at his sister, and was astonished to find that her eyes were blazing purposefully. “Go for it,” she said defiantly to the Grull. “Take a bite. And then see how long you
live
afterwards.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What do you think? It means we’re the most poisonous species there is.”

Zachary’s eyes widened. Jenna had come up with a great strategy that just might work.

“Do you think I'm stupid!” roared the Grull.

“Well,” said Jenna, “I don’t think you’re as stupid as you are ugly and smelly.”

The Grull blinked rapidly in confusion. “That’s better,” it said finally, proving its own stupidity. “Poison. Hah. You really expect me to fall for that?”

“Tell me this,” said Zachary. “Since we’re so slow and weak and helpless, how have we possibly survived here?”

The Grull looked completely blank.

“Because every creature knows we’re poisonous and leaves us alone.”

The Grull thought about this for a few seconds. “You could be right,” it allowed with a deep frown. “Too bad. I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with torturing you to death.”

Zachary had been keeping mental track of the time. He guessed that the portal was due to reappear directly under them at any moment. If they could stall just a little longer they were home free.