Through a Hole in the Universe

Lee had been asking himself that same question for some time now. "Well, it looked like fun at the time," he answered. "We were going to be explorers, and Mike was going to make a map, and it was all going to be our secret, you know . . ." He trailed off, thinking, But the fun and games are over now. The whole thing has turned into some kind of nightmare. Maybe we should have left the Hole to the scientists and soldiers after all.

It had all begun innocently enough: One summer day, while putting the finishing touches on a backyard tree house, Lee Christopher and his best friend, Mike Kent, were startled to discover that a strange black "hole" had mysteriously sprung into existence among the tree branches. Enlisting the aid of an unsuspecting new neighbor (just in case the thing proved dangerous), they set out to do a bit of scientific investigation. Eventually they determined that the weird blackness was a portal into another world a "hole in the universe," Lee dubbed it. It was an exciting discovery, and it was all theirs to explore and enjoy at least as long as they could keep its existence secret.

Here was an opportunity for a fantastic summer adventure, the three of them decided. They would sneak off through the Hole and go camping and exploring in the strange, exotic world on the other side. They needed to act quickly, however; their parents were bound to find out about the Hole eventually, and once the secret was out, the kids would lose all control of their discovery. If they wanted to do any investigating on their own, they needed to set out right away.

But the trio of young explorers would quickly come to regret this rash decision. Within a day of entering the world on other side of the Hole in the Universe, they found themselves facing a hostile reception from local inhabitants, some of whom hurled insults and accusations at them: accusations that the children could not begin to understand. Somehow they had been caught up in a conflict between ancient and powerful adversaries, entities whose powers were beyond earthly comprehension.

Soon they were on the run, fleeing for their lives, with bizarre creatures from out of a nightmare in pursuit. The kids realized now that their little adventure had been a bad idea from the start but it was far too late to be having second thoughts; the situation was already spinning rapidly out of control.

And it was about to turn calamitous.