Imagine walking up a street and having
the sky literally burst open over your head;
imagine invaders pouring down and you have—
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
April 1957
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The vortex bubbled up out of nowhere, hung shimmering in the air infront of me, glistened and gleamed brightly. There was a whirlpool oftwisting currents in the air, and I wavered dizzily for a second or twowhile the Invaders poured through the newly-created gulf.
Then someone had me by the hand, someone was pulling me away. Leadingme inside the house, behind a screen, safe from danger.
I didn't understand what had happened. I was numb with shock,half-blinded by the brightness. I felt Laura near me, and that was allI cared to think about.
After a couple of minutes, I opened my eyes. "What was that?" I askedweakly. "What happened?"
Two minutes before, I had been approaching the Harwood house, impatientto see Laura, untroubled by the world around me. And suddenly—
"It was Daddy's experiment," Laura half-sobbed. "It—it worked!"
"The old crackpot," I said. "The dimensional gulf—at last? I wouldn'tbelieve it, if I hadn't nearly fallen into it!"
She nodded. "I saw you staggering around out there. I got out frontjust in time to—to—"
I held her tight against me, while she unloaded some of her anxiety.She sobbed for a minute or two, not trying to say anything. I lookeduneasily out the window. Yes, it was still going on.
Right in front of Abel Harwood's house, the vortex was open—and comingup through it were what we later knew as the Invaders. Globes oflight, radiant and intangible, floating up out of nowhere and ringingthemselves in the air like so many loathsome jellyfish.
"Why doesn't he close it?" I asked. "Those things are still comingthrough! Laura, where's your father?"
"I'm right here," said a cold, business-like voice from behind me. Iturned and saw Abel Harwood's husky frame in the door. "What do youwant of me?" Harwood asked.
"Do you see what's going on out there?"
He nodded. "So?"
"Those things out there—what are they? What are you letting into theworld, Harwood?"
"It's an experiment, young man." He crossed his arms over hisdressing-gown. "Would you mind leaving my house, now?"
"Daddy!"
"You keep out of this, Laura." He turned to me. "I've asked you toleave 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. AbelHarwood was a crackpot, a crazy amateur scientist who had been ridingthis other-dimension kick for years. Now, he'd let loose Lord knewwhat upon the world—the things were still funnelling through thegateway—and he was determined to see it continue.
"Harwood, you're playing with something too big for you! You're foolishand blind, and you—"
"You're a trespasser," he interrupted. "I've ordered you out of myhome 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 atthe 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. "Nevermind, Laura."
I opened the front door and stepped outside.
It was hellish out there. The things had formed a circle around thevortex in the air and hung there, humming and crackling. The air w