Page 21 of Polestar
Antony.
No, it couldn’t be Antony.Wouldn’t be Antony.
I can’t sense anyone else.
“Probably another victim that didn’t make it.But she mentioned a group of men trying to protect them in there.Uniforms.She mentioned‘some kind of uniforms’.”
Magnus nodded.“If you’re good to continue, I’ll contact Kane and find out if there are reports of missing servicemen, which doesn’t fit the usual abductee profile.”
“No, it doesn’t.But yes, I’ll move on to the other survivors.We have a long day ahead of us.”She rubbed her palms down her thighs and gripped her knees.
Magnus placed a hand over one of hers.“Let me know how I can help.”
Her gaze flicked up to his.
You can’t.
“Thank you,” she said, standing.“If I think of something, I will.”She slipped her phone into her pocket and moved toward the door.
Drawing a breath, she straightened her shoulders and stepped back into the room of survivors to interview.
SIX
MagnusneverleftAna’sside during the hours of interviews.He didn’t think he could, even if he’d been ordered to.
No matter how pale she became or how much her hands trembled, she repeated the process again and again, recording each conversation.
There were no other eerie one-sided interviews like the first.
He’d been present when the tribal shamans conversed with the spirits.
This was different in as much that it lacked the ornate ceremony which normally accompanied the practice.
And yet, in her way, there had been similar points of respect.Permission, an offering, and an expression of gratitude.
Still, Magnus would admit to himself, if never anyone else, the experience had unsettled him.He preferred physical communication.Tangible.Anchored inthisreality.
As he observed Agent Ortega throughout the day, the care and consideration which she approached every individual she spoke to never wavered.
In between sessions, she uploaded every recording to the cloud where any of the team members could access them.He knew Kane and Maeda would have them transcribed and reviewed within a few days.Neither cared to waste time or effort.
It wasn’t until late evening, when the team packed up for the day, that a young woman approached agent Ortega.
“Sascha,” Agent Ortega said.
The young woman nodded, hands wringing, gaze on the industrial carpet beneath their feet.
“How are you feeling?”Ortega asked, her voice soft.
“I—we… We spoke earlier?”Sascha asked, lifting her tear-swollen eyes to Ortega.
“We did.”
This was the young woman Magnus couldn’t see.What was it Ortega had said… bi-located?Not dead.Just… separated somehow.His heart twisted a little as he continued his role as observer.
“I don’t understand.I thought it was a dream, but then, I’ve watched you talk to the others all day.And I don’t think it was?”
“No, not a dream, but similar,” Ana said, not elaborating.
