"Herman," I yelled. "You have to help me!"

He let out a small yelp when he saw me charging him. The rubber hose now aimed at me, and I skidded to a stop, breathless.

"Please. You have to come with me. There's too many spiders out there." My arms prickled with a creepy-crawly sensation, as though what I had just said was true.

His grip on the hose tightened. I wished he would aim it somewhere else. "Where are they?"

"Right outside. The roots will lead ...