In back of the display was a large poster with a still larger picture, and the teaser—(DO YOU DARE READ THIS BOOK?)
Anger flamed in Fred's mind. The anger died as abruptly as it had come. It was replaced by a homesickness, a longing. Unconsciously his footsteps carried him into the store.
A man had the book in his hands.
"You aren't going to buy that, George," the woman beside him was saying.
"And why not?" the man asked, laughing. "I've never turned down a dare in my life!" He looked at the girl waiting on him. "Do you think I'll vanish, Miss?"
The clerk smiled. "I wouldn't know. I have strict orders not to read the book."
A solemn-faced man appeared out of nowhere and thrust a copy of the book at the clerk. "I want this, please," he said.
"I'll be with you in a moment, sir," the clerk said.
Others were waiting also.
Fred stumbled from the store, bumping into someone in the doorway as he went through, and too confused and frightened to stop and apologize. There was no way of stopping it. Maybe the police would become alarmed at the disappearances.