Portal Through the Pond (Empty World Series Book 1) by David K. Anderson

Author:David K. Anderson [Anderson, David K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magical Scrivener Press
Published: 2013-02-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Jack stood, grinning, and signed furiously at the creature. Danny had a hard time understanding since it was signing only in the crudest sense. When Clacker responded with his own crude basic signing by using his pincher hands, Danny seemed almost completely mesmerized by the exchange.

Christy had no chance to understand and looked at Danny for guidance. When she saw him frowning and obviously struggling with the gestures, she just gave up trying and simply watched, waiting. Rob, for his part, also showed a fascination with the creature, and he stood staring at the whole scene with as much interest as Christy or Danny.

Finally Jack stopped signing and laughed out loud. He turned toward his three companions and said, “He told me I’d make good food for his nest young. I told him I’d turn him into chocolate-covered ants and stuff him into a box of Valentine chocolates.”

Christy was about to comment when her grandfather continued: “I’m never quite sure if he’s serious or not. Although, since I’m still here and he says the same thing every time we meet, I assume it’s just a greeting.”

Jack turned back toward their unusual host and signed some more. Christy noticed that his gestures were broad in scope, much less specific than actual signing. Jack bent down at the knees several times and twisted at the hips at various junctures in the ongoing communication. He clapped his hands together in various positions and used his individual fingers less than he would if he were using real sign language. He used his whole body much more also, turning his upper torso as he gestured, as well as the constant bending and twisting of his legs. He did a lot of mimicking of pinching gestures using his thumbs opposing his four fingers, which never separated into individual digits like would be typical of actual signing.

Christy was fascinated watching Jack, and when Clacker responded to a series of gestures with a string of his own animated movements, she understood the probable origins of her grandfather’s twisting and bending, as well as his pincher-like hand movements. Watching the whole process made her laugh and think more of family games of charades than two people communicating through American Sign Language.

While Christy initially understood almost none of it, only watching with a curiousness borne of witnessing the strange process and somewhat frightening creature conversing silently with her grandfather, Danny seemed intent on more. He stared and occasionally mimicked a gesture or body movement, smiling as understanding came to him at various points.

Several times, her grandfather gestured, pointing in what seemed to Christy to be a reference to where they had just come from. When Jack pointed to her, his attitude as well as gestures seemed to deflate, and he frowned and looked sad. Christy figured that he was telling Clacker their story.

After a good ten minutes of gesturing between the two, Jack nodded and broke off the process, walking toward the three companions. He guided them over toward the lean-to structure, and the four of them huddled in it out of the worst of the wind.

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