Joey figured on two things.  One, he had his voice back.  Two, he could now go ask the crazed man at the crossing if he could go past.  When he got back the guy was still standing there.  Joey had been harboring a secret hope that the messed old fool would stop playing guardian and go home.  Even the guy was a damn good one; Joey rubbed the back of his head.

"Oy there!  Still wandering about are ya?"  Joey figured the man heard his footsteps. 

"Yeah, I'm back.  Can I pass now?"  His voice came not from his throat, but from the floating ball of light.  It sounded exactly like him though, only in a slightly different location- to the left of his shoulder.

"No, you have to answer a few questions first," The man rubbed his hands together; he wore a very serious expression.

"Alright then,"

"Why is it you can talk now and you couldn't talk before?"

"I found my voice,"

"Have you a piece of gum?"

"Heck no,"

"No need to get angry, son,"

"I'm not angry!"

"Are you allergic to shellfish?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Trust me it's for your own good,"

"No, I love shellfish.  Heck, I love food.  And if you'd let me pass I'm sure your town has some that I could eat,"

"Now you wait just a second boy!"  Joey had again tried to push past.  "Patience is a virtue," 

This was not the kind of questioning Joey had expected.

"When you said questioning I thought you were serious!"

"I am serious!"  Joey would have accused the senile old fool of a bad joke, if not for the dead serious expression on his face.

"State your name and business,"

"Joey Wheeler lost in the Shadow Realm.  Seeking refuge and pretty girl,"

"Okay then your name is Joey-,"

"I just said that!"

"Don't interrupt.  Okay then your name is Joey, and you are lost in the Shadow Realm.  Good, I'd been wondering what country we were in-,"

"Oh my god," Joey dropped his head into his hands.  This man was having trouble putting two and two together.

"Don't interrupt.  Good I'd been wondering what country we were in," As far as Joey knew the shadow realm was not a country, but hey, whatever this guy wanted, if it would get Joey to a place where his growling stomach could be filled.  "You're looking for a place to spend the night and a pretty girl.  Well, I know where to find a pretty girl, but I'm not sure she's your type.  She's a milkmaid.

"Umm, no," said Joey.  "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"Yessirrebob!  Are you a virgin?"  Joey felt his face grow red.

"W-what makes you think I-I'm going to tell you that?"

"Dunno, just thought I'd ask.  Anyway, do you have any money, foreign fruits, or pets on you?"

Joey didn't think his little light ball counted a pet.  In fact, he preferred not to bring it up.  If he had foreign fruits he would have eaten them hours ago, and he was broke.  He checked his pockets for food he may have missed in earlier checks, nope, nothing but his dueling deck.

"Nope,"

"You may pass,"

"Bye," Joey started to dodge past only to bee caught by that treacherous staff again.

"You wouldn't happen to have women's panties on you, would you?"

"No,"

"Alright then," Joey ran before the guy could ask him anything else.  That was so overly weird, he thought.

"That was so overly weird," the ball repeated.  I didn't say that out loud, thought Joey.  Again the ball repeated it.  Stupid thing.  That the "thing" did not repeat.  Joey rolled his eyes; it was beyond him at the moment to try to figure it out.  He leaned backwards against the invisible wall to catch his breath.  And fell through.