"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."