be cut out for something
cut and dried
cut corners
cut it fine
cut somebody short
'I don't think time travel,' said Dong rubbing his chin. 'I want to go home already.'
He lay in lush grass on a ridge overlooking a wide green plain. Marching in single file across it, some 300 metres away, were a group of what looked like Neanderthals carrying spears.
Next to Dong lay Ngugi, peering at the Neanderthals through binoculars. 'Home? You'll be lucky.'
'Why?'
Ngugi turned to face Dong. 'We, remember? That thing back there,' he said indicating a door that appeared to be standing free in the middle of the grass. 'That thing doesn't have two-way hinges. It only opens one way.'
'What are you saying? We're stuck here forever?'
Ngugi shrugged and turned back to the Neanderthals. 'It's not as as that. If someone on the other side of the door opens it, then we can get back through. Otherwise, yes - we're stuck.'
Dong moaned. 'So we have to hang around here until someone does.'
'Lying around here would be, I think.'
'Really? Why?' asked Dong, looking suspiciously at the door.
'Because whoever comes through it might shut the door behind them. We need to stay right next to the door.' Ngugi swatted a fly away. 'They're not talking to each other at all. I wonder if they have language at all. Really, this is absolutely...'
Dong snorted. 'I don't mean to Ngugi, but if what you say is true, shouldn't we go and stand by the door right now?'
Ngugi rolled onto his back, shielding his eyes against the powerful morning sun. 'I don't want to go back, Dong. I want a new beginning. I want to spend the rest of my life here and start civilization again.' He smiled. 'Do it properly this time.'
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