Stranded by Douglas E. Richards

Author:Douglas E. Richards
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780982618400
Publisher: Paragon Press
Published: 2012-02-26T23:00:00+00:00

“Imagine you’re a Flatlander. This is the shield surrounding the portal to Earth. You’re the stick-figure. If you could just lift your foot a billionth of an inch in the up direction you could cross over the barrier. But you can’t. I think that’s where the crystal comes in. It gives us just enough of a push into the fourth dimension to let us cross the barrier. But if we could just move a billionth of an inch in that direction ourselves, we wouldn’t need the crystal.”

Ryan didn’t answer so Regan forged ahead.

“Before, we were just like everyone else. But things have changed. The Teacher lifted us off the page. We know what 3D objects look like when viewed from the fourth dimension. We know how our bodies feel when we’re moving in that impossible direction. So all you have to do is find a tiny fourth-dimensional seam in the shield and go through. You can do it, Ryan. I’m sure of it.”

“That’s great, Regan,” replied her brother sarcastically, finally responding. “Can you come up with a theory of how I can flap my arms and fly out of here? That’s just as likely. Or maybe I can click my heels together and say, ‘there’s no place like home.’ “

“Come on, Ryan. Why are we now suddenly able to see inside solid objects when we go through a barrier? Because our minds have been changed again. We’ve been shown the fourth dimension. So now we can recognize it when we’re there. So press against the shield and find a way to move a billionth of an inch into the fourth dimension. And then go through it as easily as a Flatlander walking over a line.”

“That’s impossible!” barked Ryan. “Dad said no human has ever been able to move into the fourth dimension. What part of that didn’t you understand!”

“No human has ever been telepathic either. And yet we’re using telepathy right now. Give it a shot,” she broadcast as forcefully as she could. “You have nothing to lose.”

“All right already! I’ll give it a try. Just to shut you up! Just promise you’ll leave when it doesn’t work.”

“I promise.”

Ryan rose and walked closer to the surrounding gray beasts, still inside the roaring semicircle of fire. He picked up his last three stones and flung them as hard as he could at the nearest three carnivores. “I hate this planet and I hate you!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. Then he stopped using words and just screamed at them as threateningly as he could until his throat hurt. None of the animals were the least bit intimidated.

Finally, he decided he was ready to make his ridiculous attempt. He pressed against the wall of force so he was touching it with as much of his body as possible.

If Regan was right, the barrier touched the fourth dimension. There was a crack he could pass through. Or step over. If only he could find an impossible direction in which to move.

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