You'd think, after getting the most study points for the week, I wouldn't have to stay after school and clean up the chalkboard and the dusty erasers. But not when History was my last class of the day. Sister Mary Helen thinks it's "democratic" if all her students take turns cleaning up. Today was my day. So here I was, cleaning every important date of the entire Revolutionary War off the blackboard.

As I stood there, laboriously erasing and trying not to get too much chalk dust on my sweater, I heard a loud humming behind me. It seemed to be coming from the wall next to the window. Jeeps, I thought, is the heating system overloading? I stepped over for a closer look (or listen). I realized the humming wasn't coming from the wall, but from the window itself. I peered out, but could see only the school grounds, nothing that'd be making that strange noise. This was a real mystery!

Suddenly, the air in front of the window split open. I know that doesn't make much sense, but that's the only way I can describe it. One moment I was looking out the window, the next into some sort of jungle. It wasn't the jungle that caught my attention, though. It was the creature standing in the middle of it.

Whatever he was, he was only slightly taller than me; probably a little over five feet tall. He had dark green skin, yellow eyes, pointed ears, a small, flat nose, and a wide mouth with four fangs (two pointing up, two pointing down). He was wearing a sleeveless fur tunic. He looked a lot like a drawing of a goblin in a picture book I'd had when I was younger.

The goblin (that was the only name I could give him) saw me, grinned, and growled, "Prey!" Before I could react, he reached into the classroom, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me into the jungle. Pulled off balance, I landed face down on the ground, knocking the wind out of me. The goblin scrambled on top of me, grabbed my arms, and twisted them behind my back. He tore a length of vine from a nearby tree and used it to tie my wrists together. I could hardly breathe, much less fight back.

The goblin climbed off my back, rolled me over, and lifted me to my feet. He looked me up and down. His eyes were solid yellow -- no pupils or irises. "Yes, yes, you fine prey," he said. His breath smelled worse than a garbage dump. "Gnark" (he pronounced the "G" in that word, not like "gnaw" or "gnome") "hunt well. Make Ghormish very happy." Then he bent down and scooped me up over his shoulder, wrapping one arm around my legs. He may not have been very big, but he was very, very strong.

I could still see into my classroom. The goblin muttered something that sounded like "Alkenhen Anabara." As I watched, the window gradually shrank, until it disappeared entirely. I realized I was trapped here -- and I was in a whole lot of trouble.

"Gnark take prey to Ghormish," the goblin said, setting off through the jungle. I had no idea who (or what) "Ghormish" was, but I wasn't really anxious to meet him.

"Help! HELP! Somebody, please, help me!" I shouted, kicking and squirming as best I could. The goblin merely laughed and tightened his grip. "Good! Prey put up fight!" he chuckled. "Gnark like it when prey struggle." I realized "Gnark" must be the goblin's name.

I settled down. No sense wasting my strength. I doubted I could get away from Gnark anyway, and even if I could, what then? I'd be alone, virtually helpless (until I could free my hands), with no way to get home. Gnark seemed talkative; maybe I could get some information.

"Wh-where are you taking me?" I asked, trying to keep the quaver out of my voice.

"Gnark already say. Gnark take prey to Ghormish. Prey should pay better attention." The goblin seemed to find that very funny, because he laughed for a long time.

"Who is Ghormish?" I asked after Gnark's laughter died down.

"Ghormish great ruler. King of all goblins." Gnark didn't really say "goblins." He used a word I could barely pronounce, much less spell. I just translated it as "goblins."

"Wh-what's going to happen to me?"

"Prey not know? Prey find out soon enough." With that, Gnark fell silent. I really wished he'd stop calling me "prey." I concentrated on trying to loosen the vine holding my wrists.

The jungle was thinning out, and our way sloped steadily uphill. I craned my neck around and got a look at our destination.

Carved into the mountainside was a huge goblin skull, complete with the four fangs. Smoke poured out of the nose opening. The jaw was wide open, and the path, like an enormous tongue, led into the skull's mouth and straight down its throat. That's where we headed.

The passage narrowed considerably as we entered the cave. Gnark edged past a deep pit. I thought I saw movement within the pit, but that may have been just a trick of the shadows.

Gnark carried me into a large cavern, lit by a central bonfire. Beside the fire sat a stone throne, atop which reclined a goblin, picking his teeth with a bit of bone. Several other goblins watched as we approached, their yellow eyes glowing in the dim light.

We stopped before the throne. "Hail, Ghormish! Gnark bring prey."

The goblin king tossed the bone aside, shifted his position a bit, and spoke a single word. "Show."

Gnark lowered me to my feet and spun me around to face his ruler. Ghormish looked like one well-fed goblin, I thought, noting the round belly pressing against his tunic and the horns growing out of the sides of his head. The remaining goblins crowded around. Between the smoky air and the goblins' rancid odor, I was feeling pretty woozy, so I sat down before I fell down.

Ghormish looked me over. "Yes, yes, fine prey indeed. Ghormish will enjoy eating this prey."

All along, I'd had a pretty good idea what the goblins intended for me. Now my suspicions were confirmed. I started pulling harder on the vine around my wrists, trying to get loose. I had to get out of there.

"No!" Gnark objected. "Gnark hunt! Gnark catch! Gnark should eat!"

"Ghormish will eat," Ghormish replied.

"Gnark's prey! Gnark eat!"

"Ghormish king of goblins. All that belong to goblins belong to Ghormish. Therefore prey belong to Ghormish. Ghormish eat."

As the two argued over who would eat me, I felt the vine loosen. I snuck a peek over my shoulder; there were only a couple goblins between me and the cave entrance. Just a little more!

The vine slackened enough that I could pull one wrist free. I scrambled to my feet, kicked Gnark in the shins, and ran. Another goblin reached out for me, but I ducked under his arm, stomped on his foot, and kept going. I'd rather take my chances in the jungle than wind up the main course in some goblin barbecue. I was almost to the pit by the entrance --

Suddenly, an enormous shape sprang up out of the pit. I skidded to a stop and found myself face to face with the biggest snake I'd ever seen.

Its head looked bigger than I was, and it towered over me. Its beady eyes stared into mine. A forked tongue ran lightly over my face. I started backing up, slowly, but I'd only taken a step or two before the snake opened its mouth and struck, engulfing me up to my waist.

I caught a brief glimpse down the snake's throat before the light cut off. My arms were pinned to my sides, my hands still outside its mouth. The snake raised its head, lifting me into the air. Its throat muscles constricted, crushing against me and pulling me further in. I was kicking frantically, trying to catch hold with my hands, but I kept sliding down more and more.

The pressure on my ribs was so great, I could barely breathe. The snake had almost swallowed me entirely when I felt hands grabbing my ankles. One good tug, and I popped out of the snake's mouth again. It gave an angry hiss and slid back down into the pit.

"You too good prey to be given to Hisser," one of the goblins who'd pulled me out told me, before tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me back to the bonfire. I couldn't do anything except hang there, trying to get some air into my lungs.

Goblin laughter echoed off the cavern walls. I looked around, but couldn't see Gnark anywhere. "Ghormish eat prey now?" asked the goblin carrying me.

The goblin king belched and patted his stomach. "No, Ghormish still stuffed from last prey." He indicated the bones of ... something. Not human, and no animal I recognized.

"Glomel take prey to dungeon and watch. Prey get away, Hisser get Glomel," Ghormish continued.

"Glomel obey," replied Glomel, and set off down a passageway. I tried to keep track of all the twists and turns, but in the bad light and my upside-down position, that was impossible. Before long, I was hopelessly lost.

Eventually we came to a long hallway lined with barred doors. Glomel opened one of the doors, set me down, and pushed me inside, slamming the door behind me. I was in a small, windowless cell. There was a shelf carved out of the rock on one wall; otherwise, nothing.

So this was the goblins' dungeon, I thought. Well, in every mystery story I'd ever read, there was always a secret passage leading out of the dungeon. I explored the walls and floor, looking for cracks or crevices that might conceal a switch or button to activate a hidden door.

Nothing but solid rock all around. Whoever built the dungeon didn't read the same stories I did.

Okay, so the only way out of the cell was the door. Maybe Glomel's attention would wander, and I could pick the lock and slip away. I'd still be deep within the cave, but it beat sitting here waiting for Ghormish to get hungry again.

I approached the door. It didn't seem to have a lock at all. I gave it a cautious push. Sure enough, it swung open a few inches. I looked out into the hallway. Glomel stood about three feet away, holding a nasty looking spear. When he saw me, he grinned and touched the spear point. I got the message and retreated back inside the cell.

Things didn't look good, but I was still alive. The best plan now seemed to be to wait, conserve my strength, and watch for a chance to escape. I sat down on the shelf. I tried to stay awake, but before long I was yawning and nodding off ...

I must have slept for a while, because the next thing I knew, there was a hand over my mouth. "You scream, you dead," Gnark hissed in my ear. I nodded. He slowly took his hand away, but I wasn't about to make any noise.

Gnark put me over his shoulder and carried me out of the cell. I saw Glomel sprawled out on the floor. I couldn't tell if he was alive or dead, and right then I didn't much care.

As Gnark carried me through the narrow, winding passageways, I went over my options. Gnark was probably my best chance for getting out of the cave, but then what? I didn't think he was rescuing me out of the goodness of his heart. As a junior detective, I know it's important to be prepared, and that's why I always have a hacksaw blade stashed inside my headband. I took the blade out and tucked it in the sleeve of my sweater. The way things were going, I had a sneaky suspicion I'd need it soon.

We reached the main cavern. Sleeping goblins lay scattered all around, their snores echoing off the walls. Gnark stepped cautiously over and around them. I didn't see anyone standing guard. I guess they depended on Hisser to keep intruders out -- and their captives in.

Gnark edged past the pit (no sign of the snake) and down the hill. As soon as we reached the jungle, he started muttering, just loud enough for me to hear.

"Lazy Ghormish! Sit on throne all day and take best prey. Gnark do all work. Gnark best hunter. Gnark catch more prey than all other goblins put together. Ghormish ever hunt? Ha! Ghormish never get off throne. But Ghormish still eat all best prey. Not this prey, though. This prey belong to Gnark."

Well, now I knew for sure what Gnark intended. Just for a moment, I thought about stabbing him with my hacksaw blade. Then I decided that wasn't a good idea. The blade was meant for sawing, not stabbing, and I doubted I could get through his thick hide. Besides, escaping from Gnark wasn't my only problem. I still had to get out of the goblin world. Gnark brought me here, maybe he could send me home again.

The jungle thinned out into a clearing. Gnark set me down by a tree next to a sandy area. He pulled my arms around the tree, behind me, and tied my wrists together. Then he went back into the jungle, returning a few moments later with an armload of branches, which he threw down at my feet before setting off again.

Firewood, I thought. I carefully slid the hacksaw blade out of my sleeve and started sawing away at my bonds.

It didn't take long to cut completely through, but I kept my wrists behind me. After his third armload, Gnark evidently figured he had enough firewood. He knelt down and began arranging the wood. Now or never, I thought.

"You know, Gnark," I said, "you really are a great hunter."

"Oh?" he grunted.

"Yes," I went on, "you're the best hunter I've ever seen."

"Prey right. Gnark best hunter of all goblins."

"Oh, yes," I agreed. "I'd much rather be eaten by you than by Ghormish." I had to swallow hard to say that without gagging.

He looked up at me. "Prey make fun of Gnark?"

"No, no, not at all," I hastily replied. "It's a real honor to be eaten by a great hunter like you." He thought for a bit, then nodded and went back to the wood.

I went on, trying to sound enthusiastic. "And that -- that window between your world and mine! That's so clever! How do you do that?"

He shrugged. "Gnark say magic words, gate appear, Gnark go through gate and hunt."

"Do you always hunt in the same world?"

"Not always. Gate can open up anywhere. Depend on what Gnark what."

"How -- how do you mean?"

"Gnark want hunt at old place, Gnark keep picture of old place in head when say magic words. Gnark want new place, Gnark say magic words without making picture in head."

So this might be the first time he'd hunted in my world. "I bet you get prey every place you hunt."

He chuckled. "Most places, yes. In some places, prey eat goblin. Not Gnark. Gnark careful. Gnark get away. Then Gnark close gate for good."

I hadn't expected that. "How do you do that?"

"Say different magic words. Alkenhen Anabara Axcelnum."

"Alkenhen Anabara Axcelnum?" I repeated.

"That right. Gate closed forever. Goblin never hunt there again."

I recited the words again to myself, hastily revising my plan. "Do you remember where you caught me?"

"Oh, sure. Gnark know that place well. Gnark hunt there many times again. Maybe take hunting party next time."

I pictured a horde of goblins racing through the halls of Sacred Heart, each with one of my schoolmates over his shoulder, and shuddered. "Could ... could you show me?"

He gave me a suspicious look. "I just want to see it again," I explained. "On my world, it's a tradition to grant a condemned person a last request."

He thought some more, then shrugged again. "Okay. Gnark show prey. Then no more questions. Gnark hungry!"

He closed his eyes and began chanting. I couldn't make out the words. The humming began again, gradually getting louder and louder. Then the air split open and there was Sister Mary Helen's classroom. I could see the unerased chalkboard and everything. Bingo Ringo!

Gnark looked up at me. "Prey happy now?"

I had to move quickly. I jumped away from the tree, grabbed a handful of sand, and threw it in Gnark's face. He howled, clutching at his eyes. I ran into the classroom. "Alkenhen Anabara Axcelnum!" I shouted.

Nothing happened.

I tried again, louder. "Alkenhen Anabara Axcelnum!"

Still nothing. I could see Gnark rolling on the ground, rubbing his eyes. But the gate wasn't closing.

Maybe ... maybe it could only be closed from the other side.

Could I go back to the goblins' world, say the words, and make it through again before the gate closed?

I didn't know. But I knew I had to try. I couldn't leave an opening for the goblins to invade. I just couldn't.

I took a deep breath and stepped back across. "Alkenhen Anabara Axcelnum!"

For a second, nothing. Then the humming got softer and the gate began to shrink. I started to make my way to my world again -- only to be knocked off my feet. Gnark had tackled me. We rolled over and over, wrestling with each other, while the gate continued to close.

Suddenly, I heard a loud howling behind us. The other goblins raced down the trail toward us, Ghormish at their head. “Slay them! Slay them both!” the goblin king roared.

Gnark scrambled to his feet, grabbed me, tucked me under his arm, and leapt through the gate. We just barely made through before the portal closed entirely, cutting off our pursuit.

The classroom felt strangely quiet. Gnark put me down. He stood, breathing heavily, for a few seconds, then addressed me.

“Goblin world ... is closed ... to Gnark. No matter. There are other ... worlds ... where Gnark can live. Gnark is tired ... and hungry. Gnark needs to find other prey ... easier prey. Gnark will deal with this prey later.”

He closed his eyes and started chanting. This time, I listened carefully. Before long, the humming started and the air split open. This time, I saw what looked like gray sand and a green sky on the other side.

“Prey will see Gnark again. Prey can count on that,” Gnark said to me before muttering “Alkenhen Anabara” and stepping through. The gate closed behind him, leaving me alone.

Behind me, the classroom door opened. It was Sister Mary Helen. She looked at the chalkboard and frowned. "Miss O'Keefe! You should have finished cleaning the blackboard a long time ago! Instead I find you staring out the window! Do you need a Detention?"

I glanced at the classroom clock. Although I'd spent several hours in the goblins' world, only a few minutes had elapsed here. "But, Sister," I protested, "I wasn't looking out the window! I was ... I was ..."

"You were what?" she prompted. "And it better be a good excuse!"

I thought quickly. What could I tell her?

That I'd been captured by a strange creature who'd opened a magic gate and carried me off to another world?

That I'd been threatened with being eaten, and almost swallowed by a giant snake?

That although I'd escaped my captor for now, he still lurked on some other unknown world, just waiting for the chance to grab me again?

I couldn't tell her any of that. She'd never believe me, and I'd wind up in Detention until next spring.

There was nothing I could tell her.

I walked over to the chalkboard, picked up an eraser, and started erasing. Only now I worked as quickly as I could. I’d heard Gnark’s chant for opening the gate twice, and I needed to write it down before I forgot it. If Gnark was coming back, I intended to be ready.