Experimenting with a new space-based atom smasher finally managed to tear a hole in space-time while searching for some method of teleportation to mak...e intergalactic travel easier after the world’s over-population became disastrous. This hole did not pave a way for teleportation or intergalactic travel, however. Instead, it became a gateway into another world-the Realm of Spirits.The realm of spirits was overflowing with energy, which the realm’s residents used to perform magic. Magic Leaked. I had only been there once, but I knew they had the real thing. I had also wondered how many of these crops, whips were actually used on horses, and how many on ... a different kind of chattels.I browsed around the shop, and, under the pretext of making a wall decoration, bought a springy crop, a long bullwhip and a flat leather strap, of the type favored by the Argentinean Gauchos. On impulse I also bought a number of leather thongs. "For the frame" I said, although I do not think the salesman. And what's to keep him from doing it again?" Oh, I don't know," Patty said, tears once again coming to her eyes. "I just needed to tell somebody, somebody who would understand. Please don't make things harder for me than they already are." And she sank down in a heap of dejected misery, her shoulders shaking from silent sobs.Danny stood irresolutely for a minute, not knowing what to do. Then he awkwardly knelt and put his arm around the distraught girl's shoulder. She clung to him fiercely. The weather was running riot outside, canceling their plans to go out dancing. She’d agreed that he take this new position now, worry about the commitments later. They decided to celebrate. Other than the promotion and their first anniversary being only five days in the making, there was another issue Karen noted to him that needed discussion. She didn’t tell him, but knew he’d better be in a good mood before she dropped it. Blasted weather for ruining everything. If you looked at it from the.