Gatekeepers (23 page)

“Is that . . . a
man
?” David said.

More of the humanlike creatures emerged from the rubble. They crawled and stepped and scurried out of the shadows like individual nightmares conjured too soon. They were pale, hunched over, jittery. But—yes, they were people. Two of them bumped into each other and began fighting. They bit and scratched and rolled out of sight.

“They see us,” Keal said.

Faces were turning up to stare at them. A few of them pointed. Several howled and screeched.

They began scurrying up the hill. A handful at first, then dozens and more.

“There's gotta be a hundred,” Xander said.

David backed away. “Dad?”

Dad turned in a circle. He looked back the way they'd come, then toward the approaching horde.

Xander started down the hill, heading for the spot where the portal had dropped them into this world. He stopped. “What are you waiting for?” he called. “Let's go!”

“Dad,” David said. “We gotta find the portal. Now.” The expression on his father's face made him ask, “What?”

Dad looked at Keal. The man held the pistol in one hand. With the other, he balanced the tam-o'-shanter on his fingers, carefully watching it as though expecting the hat to hop off his hand and scamper away.

Dad said, “You feel it too?”

“Like a magnet,” Keal said.

“What?” David said. “Come on, let's go.”

The first of the attacking future-humans were more than halfway up the hill. David could see their crazy, bulging eyes and the sparse, broken teeth in their gaping mouths.

Dad frowned. He said. “The portal—”

“Yes!” David yelled. “You know where it is?”

He nodded, and David knew. Even before he noticed the picnic basket quivering and lifting off of Dad's hip, showing the way home, he knew.

Dad pointed at the mob running up the hill at them.

He said, “It's down there.”

NOT
THE END . . .

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO . . .

SLADE PEARCE, for
being
David: you rock!

NICHOLAS and LUKE FALLENTINE (again): you guys are great

BEN and MATTHEW FORD, insightful readers and my new friends

ANTHONY, my son and most fervent fan

JOEL GOTLER, my wonderful agent

The rest of my family, for letting me be a kid again

LB NORTON, JUDY GITENSTEIN, and AMANDA BOSTIC, editors extraordinaire

The terrific team at Nelson: ALLEN, JOCELYN, JENNIFER, KATIE, MARK, LISA, BECKY . . .

And my readers, for letting the King family live!

R
EADING
G
ROUP
G
UIDE

1. Marguerite, the little girl David saved in the French village, grew up to become instrumental in the eradication of small pox. His hero-ism saved millions of people from contracting the disease. Do you believe that the things we do—whether good or bad—have a domino or ripple effect on many others?

2. Can you think of something you've done that had a direct effect on people beyond the ones with whom you had direct contact?

3. Confused by events and needing advice, Xander drives the family car to the jail to see Dad, even though he doesn't have a driver's license. Do you think it's ever okay to break rules—even laws? If so, was this one of those times? What should Xander have done?

4. Continuing his aggressive efforts to rescue Mom, Xander is willing to send Toria to the Civil War. David thinks she's too young and should not be put in such danger. In such a situation, would you have been more like Xander or David? Why?

5. David says the family needs help, and he's willing to trust Jesse to get it. At first, Xander doesn't trust Jesse. Does trusting people come easy to you? Has there been a time when you trusted some-one when you shouldn't have? What happened?

6. There are many theories about time travel affecting the past. Some say it can't happen because then the people who went back in time should never have known about a world without the change (for example, they would have grown up with the change already affecting them). What do you think of the whole concept of time travel? Can you think of reasons that it should not be possible? (Don't think too hard about this one. I did once and my head exploded.)

For more reading group guide questions, be sure to check out www.DreamhouseKings.com