Chapter 6

chapter six BOOM It's what I imagine it'd be like to stand about nineteen feet from a NASA launch, when those big booster rockets ignite—only cold. There's no fire or heat—just an icy air, exploding outward from the horrible structure. A tremendous cracking sound rips through New York City as a million panes of glass all shatter in unison. The

rush of icy wind slams into the bridge, rocking it like a hammock in a thunderstorm. For an instant, every abandoned car goes up on its side. Rover's claws clamp down, puncturing concrete as his teeth snap out to grab me. But my friends and I are already airborne. The blasts rips us off our feet, and Globlet is hurled from Rover's saddlebag, causing her to, at last, wake up... WHAT'S HAPPENING? Why is it so cold? Here's my blanket. Neon reaches for June, but the wind sends him careening toward an overturned limousine. Ribbons of

Ultra-Slime stream off Drooler. The Rifters—who were surrounding us an instant earlier—are flung fully off the bridge. And we'd be going with them if it weren't for— "ICE CREAM!" June cries. SMASH The air is knocked out of my chest as I crash into the truck. I flop to the ground, heaving.

I hear Dirk cry, "Look!" I try to look—but I can't. I can't see anything. For a horrible moment I think that the chill has frozen my eyelids shut. But then I realize my sweatshirt is plastered against my face. The wind is whipping it around, whipping everything. "The Tower is transforming..." Quint gasps. "Guess Thrull finished," Dirk says. I'm missing everything! I think as I wrestle with my shirt. I finally get a grip on it, yank it down, and— The monstrous structure is changing. It reminds me of an insect reaching the next stage in its metamorphosis. It rises and swells, like it's doing some horrific version of a morning stretch and yawn. Vines slither and snap as the architecture rearranges itself. Rover gets one paw around my ankle, and I keep a hand on his head as I stand. The bridge sways more slowly now, as the wind settles. In awe, Ry.k watches the Tower complete its transformation. "Here comes the good part..." Ry.k says.

VA-SHOOM I jump back, shielding my eyes as the jagged beam of light streaks upward. Ry.k cackles happily. "The Tower has made its connection with my home dimension. .e...c.'s arrival will soon be upon us! Oh, the rewards I will reap! My collection will overflow!" Suddenly, I feel the Cosmic Hand twist and tighten around my skin. It's practically squirming with urgency. A second later, I realize why...

"Uh, guys?" Dirk says. "You seeing this?" I'm seeing it. Tiny bursts of color are exploding in the air, like a flea-circus fireworks show. But unlike fireworks, these explosions of color don't fade—they grow. Each expands in the air, forming large, shimmering ovals. Quint whips his conjurer's cannon from around his back as one blossoms in front of him. He first stares at it —and then stares into it. "It's a window into the other dimension," he says. His voice is soft, but there's an excited edge to it. I don't think it's exciting. I think it's terrifying. We've never glimpsed that world. The closest we've