She used her fingernail to pick up a protruding sliver of wood. To her surprise, not just one sliver, but an entire piece of poorly painted wood broke off, revealing the inside of the railing - soft and porous, like a sponge. At first she thought the tree was moving. Ellen stared blankly at it - and realized that the wood was infested with termites. Screaming in disgust, she backed away at the sight of this world that accidentally opened up before her, immediately returned to the house and locked the door behind her.