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    Wanda: Full Circle
    Wanda: Full Circle
    Wanda: Full Circle
    Ebook700 pages10 hours

    Wanda: Full Circle

    By Margaret Gregory

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    About this ebook

    Three generations after the alien Kumatan left Earth, their own world is suffering from alien invaders. In desperate hope, one returns to Earth seeking help - little knowing they had left one of their own behind.
    Wanda, a child of the third generation, answers the call.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMargaret Gregory
    Release dateJul 30, 2020
    ISBN9781925332674
    Wanda: Full Circle
    Author

    Margaret Gregory

    I have loved writing stories since I was in high school. Now...some years later...I am enjoying making them come alive again.After being a scientist for years, I have since turned to writing fantasy for upcoming publication and creating science articles for The Australia Times.

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      Book preview

      Wanda - Margaret Gregory

      Chapter 1

      The white clad man examined the two bodies slumped in chairs in the General’s office.

      The Secretary is dead. The General’s wound is not immediately fatal.

      Wanda Martin swore as General Addison pressed a switch on his desk and alarms began ringing.

      New rules, Mrs Martin. Hide for two hours or get off the base.

      She wasted no time leaving the office and locking the door behind her. The two ‘dead’ door guards in the passage smirked at her. They were artistically slumped against the wall, chests bleeding from the paint pellets. More guards, all members of the State Department training class, would soon be converging.

      Wanda didn’t try to leave via the ground floor doors of the two storey building. Instead she raced up a flight of stairs, and found the maintenance hatch to the roof. From there, she had an overview of the grounds and the men racing to the building. With the two inside, the four who had been patrolling around the building, and the six now racing towards her – that accounted for all but eight of the twenty man team.

      Fools!

      Staying crouched low, so as not to be seen above the roof parapet, Wanda ran for the end of the roof near a stand of tall trees. There was a gap of twelve feet from the nearest, but she did not see that as a problem. It was also the end from which the powerlines from the generator room went towards the perimeter.

      Removing a long coil of thin, but incredibly strong line from her shoulder, Wanda tied one end to a small grapnel, and the other end to her belt. The grapnel end went into the barrel of a modified airgun. The sound of the alarms hid the sound of the pistol firing, and the rustle of leaves as she tested the grip. Once she was sure, she tied the line to a bar on the nearest air-con unit – but with a special sort of knot. It would not pull loose when her weight went on the line, but when she pulled on the excess line, it would pull loose.

      Wanda eased her head over the parapet to look for observers, and then sub-vocalised into a throat mike. Dav? Diversion – west side.

      Her partner, and husband, playing the part of a renegade ‘mole’ in the security team, raced that way and then threw a smoke grenade. It drew out four more of the team and as they raced away, Wanda swung of the roof, and crossed to the trees via the line. She was across in less than half a minute. Once she had planted her weight on a tree limb, she yanked on the excess line, and the knot undid. She quickly reeled in the line and recoiled it.

      From her hiding place, she saw David moving purposefully, looking everywhere as if for the intruder. He had the advantage of knowing all her skills and favourite techniques, and if she could fool him, all the better. His attention was more focussed on looking away from the building, although he did stop in cover to scan the roof. He probably thought that she was still on the way in and had been seen or tripped an alarm. He had no way of knowing that her failure to instantly ‘kill’ the two targets had resulted in new rules. Now the General was testing her, as well as the trainees.

      Her mind, already focussed on the exercise, went into an even higher gear. Already, she had succeeded in infiltrating the base from outside the perimeter. That was no mean feat since she had been the one who had ensured it was intruder-proof two years ago.

      Should I hide, or make for the fence? Wanda considered.

      The men streaming out of the building, and the orders being given, decided her. Hiding would be as challenging as leaving the base, but still had a few advantages. The trainees were good, but still had some blind spots and pre-judged assumptions.

      Wanda had met them all, but they didn’t know her skills and for the last month she had played the part of David Martin’s ditzy wife and had used a wig of tight curly blond hair to hide her natural brown colour. Now, clad in snug fitting camo-dyed clothing in shades of green, brown and grey, with splotches and leaf shapes, she would be hard to see up the tree. She couldn’t stay there though. She was still too close to the target.

      The men were being sent to the perimeter, and were to search inwards. If they did a proper job, they would even check in the cottages. Wanda estimated how much time she needed to get to the one she and David shared. Deciding it was doable, with time to spare to change into something frivolous, she began to plot a path to her place.

      Like a squirrel, Wanda was down the tree and into the cover of some ornamental bushes. When she checked her way was clear, she sprinted to the next cover. She paused between sprints, to let her special inner senses warn her of people nearby. No alarms had come until she got in sight of the cottages. Then she saw that two of the guards were already checking the empty ones.

      New plan! Wanda backed into better cover, already thinking of an alternative hiding place. No part of the base was exempt from the exercise, so she changed the direction of her stealthy movements and headed for the high security quadrant. The guards there were aware of the exercise, but not actually part of it. Still, they were fair game, and when they felt the hit from the paint pellet, and saw the crimson blood, they fell down, emitting low laughter.

      Moments later, Wanda was at the gate, hacking the electronic lock, and picking the manual backups. At that moment, her danger sense kicked in, something it hadn’t done until now in this exercise. She threw herself to the ground, drew her paint gun and fired at the guard who had fired at her.

      Her ‘bullet’ got him in the chest, his went harmlessly over her head and was decorating the cement inside the compound. Going from sprawl to crouch, she looked around and saw no one running her way, but her glance at the supposedly dead compound guards showed her that one was crawling away, smearing paint on the ground. She fired another pellet at him, and he stopped, correctly judging it to be ‘fatal’.

      His mate had also been foxing, and now he pulled his side arm and fired a shot into the air. He knew this was an exercise, but he still had a duty to protect the security quadrant. The shot would attract attention, Wanda knew she had to leave, and immediately sprinted away from the gate, towards a screen of trees between it and the perimeter fence. She was up the nearest before any of the guards from the exercise came into sight. She briefly thought of making for the perimeter breach where she had come in, for by passing her, the way was clear, but the idea of hiding in her place won out. She was right in her thought that her cottage would now be unwatched.

      When the general search resumed, and the expected knock at the door occurred, Wanda had changed from the camo outfit into a bright yellow house dress and the blond wig. She opened the door only after the man had shown his state department id, and allowed them to search through her cottage looking for the intruder. He didn’t check her washing machine, where her camo suit, and the coil of line was hidden under other clothes due to be washed.

      Then, for the next hour, until the ‘end of exercise’ siren sounded, Wanda sat and listened to her IPod. Only then, did she remove the wig, and head to the base gym for the de-brief.

      The trainees would get a surprise, seeing her there, but they would get an even bigger one the following week when she turned up as their instructor for a class on security protocol’s and lock picking.

      Chapter 2

      Wanda was still too wound up to sleep properly. The high she felt for having found the child of one of LA’s industry moguls, and retrieving him from under the kidnappers’ noses, had not abated. She wasn’t going to be publically thanked, for she and David had been on temporary assignment with the FBI. That organisation would have the credit. However, her skills, and David’s had been highly praised by the field team. Likely, there would be more work for them in between doing missions for her mentor, Jim Phillips.

      After going to bed near midnight, she’d woken again three hours later from a dream that must have morphed from the day’s events.

      Somehow, the emotional reunion between the parents and the child had turned into a revenge fuelled massacre. The hooded kidnappers became robed figures with bluish faces. In the back ground of the dream, was the sense of desperation, helplessness, akin to what she had felt from the kidnapped twelve year old. Waking up had been a relief. The feeling faded as she walked around and turned her mind to making a drink.

      Then the sense of desperation hit her again, and her mind heard, Can anyone hear me?

      Crystal clear, stronger even than her cousin’s sending from across a room.

      Hello? Who is this? Wanda thought, tentatively. The only other voices she had heard in her mind had been, until then, those of her sister, Elisabeth, or Tanya, her cousin.

      The return thought, sounded like a voice with an accent. Jahnni. Did he mean Johnny?

      Something within her felt a connection, but this was a male – no one she knew.

      What is your trouble? Wanda thought.

      I need help.

      What kind of help?

      Can we meet here?

      Where are you?

      Where our village used to be. I think. Nothing looks the same.

      That’s no help, Wanda said, exasperated.

      I can bring you here, the thought offered.

      Huh? How?

      Link your mind to mine…

      I don’t know about that. How? Wanda was curious in spite of her mild unease.

      There was silence for a while.

      You should be able to, the mental voice seemed less sure. You have the potential.

      Wanda moved back to the bedroom and shook her mate by his shoulder. He mumbled something, but he didn’t wake. She shook him harder. David! I need you.

      What is your name? the mental voice came again.

      Wanda. She gave the answer almost absently, for the force of the emotions was so strong that she was fighting with herself not to go running to him – wherever he was. She could feel the fear and helplessness as if it were her own.

      David! Wake up!

      This must be another nightmare! She had to still be dreaming, or David would have woken up. Her mind seemed to tell her, It’s just a dream, see where it goes. It might help you understand those odd abilities of yours.

      She relaxed. Nothing in the emotions she sensed suggested something being hidden from her. It couldn’t be a trick, or her danger sense would warn her.

      Wanda forgot about getting a drink, and walked outside into the fresh night air. She didn’t feel cold, even though the breeze held a distinct chill. It was like it was cooling fevered skin.

      Then, in a dreamlike discontinuity, she was somewhere else. One moment in the State Department compound, and a step later in a clearing amongst trees. The stars bright above, the smell of pine resin in the air, the feel of soft dirt under her bare feet. As she looked around, she noticed that everything seemed to glow faintly. The trees and grasses, and even the air.

      A youngish looking man moved around to be in front of her. He didn’t come too close, as if he was afraid of her. Wanda studied him, feeling she should know him. He seemed vaguely familiar.

      Was he real?

      She reached out a hand to touch him, at the same time that he did.

      Was he wondering if she was real?

      You are the only person who heard me. The man spoke English, but a little oddly. He did have an accent, but she couldn’t place it.

      There are not a real lot of people in this area, Wanda told him, surprised to hear her own voice. I mean, where I came from there aren’t.

      Your mind is still like that of a child. The man seemed disappointed. He took her hand in his.

      Hey. I am not a child! Tell me what help you need. I’ll see what I can do. So long as it isn’t illegal. I am not without skills.

      No. I shouldn’t have bought you here. You have potential, but you are untrained.

      But you did, and no one else heard you. Do you need help or not?

      Wanda was aware of the power of this young man’s mind. In him, all of the odd abilities she had were multiplied. He could use them as a maestro played music. She craved a similar power.

      Look, mate, you were desperate enough to bring me here. Should I just walk off?

      The man looked startled, and suddenly the feeling of desperation abruptly shut off.

      No. Don’t go. If your potential was realised, you could help. Did you mean it when you said you would?

      Wanda didn’t try to pull her hand away. And without her impetus, she found memories of the past two days playing through her mind.

      You are so like someone I once knew, the stranger said. He gripped her hand with both of his now.

      Something akin to every nerve being touched, exploded in Wanda’s head, spreading like pins and needles pricking her along every nerve pathway. When she opened her eyes, although she didn’t remember closing them, her dream vision seemed to have gained a new dimension, as if it had gone from monochrome to colour, night to day.

      Oh! The young man moved closer, seeing Wanda swaying a bit on her feet. I’m sorry! I didn’t expect…

      I said I’d help, Wanda said, trying to pin down what felt different. So what do I have to do?

      I…I didn’t mean to blast open your potential. I thought they would develop gradually and you would be able to master them on your own.

      I’m okay, Wanda assured him.

      No, you’ll find that everything is so much more sensitive. You will need help, but I can’t stay here to help you. I have to go back…

      Wanda saw the figure in front of her start to waver in and out of view. She used her other hand to stop him pulling away from her. He seemed to solidify again, and he was staring at her, as if memorising her face.

      I sense you have courage. You have to persevere, and master these new mind gifts. I have to go. I will call you again.

      Where do you live? I will come and see you, Wanda insisted.

      You can’t, not yet. Master your powers first, and quickly.

      At least tell me what I can do. What you need me to do, Wanda tried again.

      Wanda felt the man pull his hands free, as he backed away a few steps. He glanced over his shoulder as if he had heard someone call his name. Then he seemed to stagger, and almost fall. Wanda rushed closer, caught him, and it seemed then that a breeze blew through her and her mind seemed to meld with his for a moment, all sorts of odd images flashed past her inner eye, too quickly to see. Then he pushed her from him, turned and walked two steps. The last thing Wanda heard was, Listen out for me. We, my people, need you.

      On the third step, he vanished.

      Then everything vanished.

      Chapter 3

      David Martin paced the small room, unable to settle. Every time the phone rang he stopped, tense and listening. With every knock on the door, he spun around, then resumed pacing when he didn’t see the one person he wanted to see.

      His agitation spread to General Edwin Addison, Director of the Rockwater Base. He knew David well, respected both him and his wife, Wanda. The latter was missing and he did not believe that she would just up and leave without telling her husband. Not that she wasn’t capable of doing that and having no one notice her, but she just wouldn’t do it. The fact was though, Wanda Martin was missing and a search of the base had so far found no trace of her.

      David spun around once more at another knock on the door. This time, his eyes challenged Dr Rowan Wallace and seemed to be begging for good news.

      I’m sorry, David, Rowan said softly. I have nothing to add. Tanya is still sleeping and I won’t wake her just yet. She is in a bad way, almost totally depleted. I have spoken to Magnus Goldman and he is flying here with Colonel Aldrin.

      He has placed us on full alert, Addison added. He says we must assume the worst.

      David’s face contorted, as he tried to control his expression. So they think that Wanda has been abducted or has gone off on some compulsion.

      Addison nodded and David’s expression hardened. He paced to the window, watched the base guards doing their systematic search.

      It has been two years, General. Wanda was cleared of any lingering hypnotic suggestions that they gave her during that Krinsky business.

      We have to consider every possibility, Addison reminded him gently. She may have felt the need to go and help someone, or sleepwalked, like Tanya.

      The possibility of her going off to help someone was very real. David knew that if Wanda felt danger to her sister she wouldn’t think twice about going off. That had been his first thought, but Elisabeth Willard, Wanda’s sister, was perfectly fine.

      She would not go off without waking me, David stated. His eyes dared the other men to contradict him. There is no sign of a struggle, and if someone had tried to take her, you can bet there would be. And if she went under her own steam, she wouldn’t go out in her pyjamas and leave her handbag at home. Nothing makes sense.

      We don’t have all the facts yet, Addison pointed out. I have people looking over the security films now. When did you last see her?

      I was awake for a bit just after two o’clock this morning. She was sound asleep then.

      It was a quarter to three when the guards noticed Tanya sleepwalking along the fence, Rowan Wallace said thoughtfully. Outside the fence! And none of the alarm systems were tripped. Wanda might manage that but not Tanya.

      Tanya was outside? David challenged. Security must be slipping. Was one of the guards asleep?

      We will be investigating everything, Addison assured David. But I do not think that the security is at fault.

      It must be, David insisted. Wanda can’t just disappear.

      Addison ignored David’s innuendo about the security and reminded him, She managed to get past the security last month and we have now cleared all trees that were within fifty metres of the perimeter fence. We have also acted on all her other recommendations.

      So, you should have seen her, David insisted. Yet you tell me that everywhere inside the fence has been searched. Does that include every tree, every roof, every cellar and crawlspace?

      Those places were included in my instructions and so far there has been no trace. We will have a tracker dog arriving later today, on loan from LAPD, Addison advised.

      Dog’s a damn good idea, David agreed, less belligerently.

      We are doing everything possible. She may have taken an overnight bag and minimal gear, Addison returned to the point. Have you checked all her clothes? Everything she usually has in her handbag? I am sure most women carry more than they really need.

      She didn’t take her ID card, or credit card, David could confirm.

      If she went on her own, that might indicate that she didn’t expect to need them. Have you contacted everyone she might have gone to see? I have already spoken to the local and state police.

      Ok, I’ll call her sister again, David promised, dragging his fingers through his hair.

      And perhaps you should try whatever it is that you do to try and reach her, Rowan suggested.

      Do you think I haven’t? I don’t have her mind trick, but she usually knows when I want to talk to her. She would try to reach me – or someone.

      Perhaps she did, Rowan suggested further. Maybe Tanya?

      Who is still asleep and you won’t wake! David growled in frustration. What if Wanda is in the same state that she was? Lying out in the open? It is supposed to get really cold tonight. It was cold enough last night.

      Rowan said nothing. He had already thought of that.

      After glancing again at Addison and Wallace, David stalked to the door. He was getting nowhere talking to them. I’ll be over in my place. Call me if you hear anything.

      He left the admin building and ran towards the nearest trees. Wanda had told him that she had seen him from there, and he hadn’t known it. That gave him thoughts – had she climbed somewhere and passed out? Had someone on the base locked her in somewhere? Some of the last lot of trainees hadn’t taken to being trained by a young woman. No. That lot had gone and none had come back. Besides, Wanda would have told him if she had sensed anything off about any of them. If there had been any animosity towards her from anyone on the current staff roster, she would have known that by now.

      His trouble was his highly active imagination. An asset when helping Jim on missions, but right now, when the woman he loved more than anything in the world was missing, anything but. Wanda did have a knack for irritating people. She may have made enemies…and each new idea that came into his mind was worse than the one before. He had to get his mind off those depressing thoughts.

      He altered his direction to take him to the base gym. He would be useless if he didn’t work off some excess energy. There, once he had begun a vigorous workout on the equipment, the sleepwalking suggestion popped back into his head.

      Sleepwalking? No way! Wanda has never sleep walked in her life!

      Once he’d calmed himself, he did return to the cottage and this time did a thorough search of it. At the end, he was confirmed in his belief that if his wife went unwillingly, she must have been unconscious first. If she went willingly…No! She didn’t!

      A moment after Rowan had phoned him and told him that Tanya Krinsky was awake, David was sprinting towards the infirmary. He burst in as Rowan was explaining to her what had happened.

      What? Tanya asked incredulously. I was outside the fence?

      Wanda wasn’t with you? David blurted.

      No. I didn’t see her after she went off with you after dinner. Why? What has happened?

      Wanda is missing.

      Rowan inserted a gentle question. What do you remember? He sat himself in the chair beside her.

      Tanya frowned, thinking back. I was having a really strange dream, she admitted in her soft, heavily accented voice. All I remember was that I was hearing a voice – someone was calling me. Like they needed me desperately. I couldn’t help thinking back to before I came here. I thought I was hearing my mother.

      David understood her reference. He had helped get her and her father out of Russia. Her mother had died before she could be freed. He wasn’t surprised to hear her admit, I got up to walk around and make a hot drink.

      Her next comment, got his full attention. While the water was heating, I heard the voice again.

      Was it Wanda calling, Rowan asked before David could. Could you tell?

      Tanya may still have been feeling tired and a little woozy, for she took a while to answer. It wasn’t Wanda. I am sure of it. You’ve had us working together telepathically so much that I know her mind voice. The feel of this other thought was different. I think it might have been a man.

      Tanya looked at David’s worried face. I tried to reach her, just now. I got nothing. Not even an echo. She might be asleep.

      Considering how Tanya had been, that was probably the case.

      So, we have a man who has talents like Wanda and Tanya, Rowan proposed. He watched David’s fists clench. Does she have any brothers? Male cousins?

      Ah, what? David asked. The unexpected question yanked him from his spiralling unease. Yes…I mean she has, but they are all step-brothers. Elisabeth is her only full sibling.

      I don’t, Tanya also answered the question. No cousins either. Neither of my parents had siblings.

      David’s attention seemed to have gone elsewhere. Tanya sensed he was recalling a series of people.

      David? I don’t think she is in trouble. Not like she was when you were helping me and Papa. Do you think she is?

      David’s mind jerked over to a different line of thought and he recalled the time Tanya had mentioned. When Wanda had been in bad trouble then, he had known. He felt his face and shoulders relax. No, you’re right. I don’t have that feeling. Though if she is unconscious, and we don’t find her…

      We will find her, Rowan assured David. Or she will get in touch with us.

      David hoped so, but he still wasn’t convinced Wanda had gone off on her own.

      We will let Tanya rest, Rowan suggested. Come back to the Director’s office, David.

      Addison was briefing Magnus Goldman when David and Rowan returned. Colonel Stev Aldrin was leaning against a wall.

      That’s it, Addison was saying. The security film shows nothing until the report of Tanya outside and then the cameras were redirected. None of the gate guards let either of them out. None of the passive detectors were tripped.

      Goldman looked at David, his face neutral. The younger man didn’t need to read Goldman’s face to know what he was thinking. He remembered what the man had thought last time Wanda had been missing.

      No! David said to Goldman even before he had said anything. I do not think she’s acting on some old hypnotic compulsion. Jim cleared her of that two years ago. Anyway, all those were aimed at her helping those bastards get to Tanya’s father. And if they wanted her for anything else, there would have been breaches in the high sec quadrant.

      That was the wrong thing to say, he realised with an internal groan. Wanda had easily opened the gate there during the training exercise. She is not a traitor! She is not a sleeper agent, nor has she defected.

      So you think she left of her free will? Goldman probed, asking the same question that everyone else had.

      Sir, while I don’t think she is in any danger from any person – if she had been abducted, she would have had to have been unconscious first. She sleeps like a cat. You know what she is like if anyone comes near her with hostile thoughts. She would be instantly awake and ready to fight. There was no sign of a struggle. If she went on her own, she would have got dressed first. Her ID, purse and stuff, are all still in the cottage.

      Addison repeated his previous advice. We haven’t got all the facts.

      David had to agree. If she’d left on her own, from what Addison said, they would have had a record. But…she wasn’t anywhere on the base. The police dog was still searching, but from what the handler had said, Wanda walked out of the cottage, went about five paces towards the fence, and disappeared. All other traces were older, but even those faint trails were being rechecked.

      She might have left a rat hole to slip through, Aldrin commented in a neutral tone.

      David glared at him, and didn’t admit that such a situation was possible.

      Sit down, David, Goldman directed, as he sat himself on a second chair behind Addison’s desk.

      David slipped onto a chair, but sat on the edge as if ready to jump up.

      Has Wanda been acting oddly recently? Goldman asked.

      No. Why?

      Could she have made enemies on any of the missions you have been on? Goldman persisted.

      I don’t think so, David considered. When she needs to be the centre of attention, she doesn’t look like her usual self. Most of the time, Jim keeps her in the background.

      So, it is not likely she was recognised by old acquaintances?

      David shook his head. Wanda would know... He seemed to stare towards the window.

      Have you spoken to her family? Goldman went on.

      I spoke to her sister. They haven’t heard from her and there has been no family emergency.

      What about the case you just finalised for the FBI?

      No one should know we live here. We were wearing FBI jackets.

      Goldman continued his probing questions, which to David sounded more like he considered Wanda a possible defector or political pawn. He was concerned by the fact that Wanda had become privy to some high level secrets.

      David squirmed at the necessity for this session of questioning. He understood the reasoning from the point of view of the Director of the OSI, but that made it no easier. Sitting down and calmly answering questions was not what he wanted to be doing. He wanted to be out looking for Wanda. He stood abruptly and began pacing the room again.

      Goldman studied the younger man’s behaviour as he continued his questions. David had gone to the window and was staring out towards the mountains.

      David? Goldman prompted when his last question went unanswered.

      David seemed not to hear him.

      What’s out there? Goldman asked sharply. He had to repeat the question before David turned.

      Sorry, David apologised. I am really too wired up to answer questions right now.

      I asked what was out there, Goldman iterated. You have been staring out the window for five minutes.

      David looked startled and turned back to the view. A really weird idea had come into his head.

      In a screwy kind of way it fit the facts as he knew them. But if he believed it, it was terrifying.

      He shook his head, trying to dispel the idea.

      What did you think of? Aldrin asked from where he leant against a wall.

      It’s crazy, David protested. Just a really way out idea.

      Tell us, Goldman invited.

      You won’t believe it. David told them.

      Your instincts are pretty good, Aldrin encouraged.

      David snorted. Really? How about this – since Wanda and I do have something of a mutual radar, he paused, trying to think of a way to make his idea sound less insane. I feel a pull towards those mountains. And if that is our radar reaching, then Wanda is up there and since she didn’t walk out, and I don’t believe she was physically abducted, all that is left is that she was taken there or called there by someone like her. A man who has much stronger mind gifts, and she got there by mind power alone.

      There was silence as his statement was considered.

      What makes that idea seem at least possible to you, Goldman asked delicately.

      There is nothing logical about the idea, but Wanda did say that all those repetitive experiments Rowan dreamed up, was making her more aware of everything. More sensitive, or receptive, to everything around her. That’s what she thought helped her locate the kid, yesterday.

      Two years ago, Goldman admitted to himself, he hadn’t believed in telepathy, but what Tanya and Wanda had could not be denied. Was David implying that telekinesis was possible? Did he know that Tanya’s cottage had been locked and her keys still inside when she was found outside the gate? One thing he was sure of – there was a special bond between David and Wanda – perhaps like what was supposed to exist between twins. Maybe, just maybe, David was sensing something.

      He didn’t like the idea of a maverick with powerful psionic talents. Wanda’s were bad enough, but she was firmly patriotic…now. Someone who wasn’t, was another matter. They’d have to find this person, if he existed, and learn his intentions.

      Stev, why don’t you take David up in one of the trainer planes, Goldman suggested. Stev Aldrin straightened, guessing Goldman’s thought.

      Do you believe me? David asked incredulously.

      I think it worth you checking your idea, Goldman said without emphasis. Since we have no firm idea where Wanda is and you will only wear out the carpet if you wait around here.

      Aldrin gestured to David and they both left the room. You arrange the car, Aldrin told David. I will call the airfield and make sure a plane is ready for us. I will also get some binoculars.

      David fidgeted all the way to the small local airfield. He was impatient for Aldrin to finish all the necessary pre-flight checks. He couldn’t keep his hands off the spare controls once Aldrin had taken off and cleared the airfield area.

      Aldrin knew David had soloed in the trainer, and he let him take over. They had filed a flight plan that would allow them to fly a search pattern over the mountains east of the base, but David seemed to have an inbuilt sense of direction. He flew straight for ten minutes and then began to circle over one area. Aldrin, who had kept a light hand on the controls, took full control as David reached for the binoculars. He glanced down as they circled using his own sight to help search the rugged and tree filled scene below.

      She is down there, Stev, David insisted. I just know it. There was frustration in his voice because he knew he couldn’t get men sent in to that wilderness without a positive sighting. Goldman had only been trying to keep him busy – he knew that.

      Keep looking, Stev told him. I am going to start the search pattern. Your best bet is to look straight down. That way you are more likely to see anything on the ground.

      Aldrin wasn’t sure that they would find anything. He believed in hunches but ... how would Wanda have got to a position down there? There were no roads and the fire tracks were steep and rugged. She couldn’t have walked there, even if she left at three that morning and walked non-stop.

      They had been in the air for an hour, quartering an area defined only by David’s unconscious body language. Aldrin flew east and west doing tight turns at each end of each run. When David suggested going over the same area again, Aldrin didn’t question it, but changed the direction of his runs to north and south.

      After another half an hour, just before Aldrin was going to say they needed to return and refuel, David spotted something.

      Down there! I saw something white. There’s a narrow area of cleared land. Go around again.

      Aldrin did a tight circle and looked down for himself. He had an artificial eye - one Rowan Wallace had designed and it enabled him to adjust his vision. He used it now and spotted what David had seen, and in greater detail than the binoculars. He switched his vision back to normal and glanced at the GPS.

      Take us back to the airfield, David, Aldrin directed.

      David knew that Aldrin had agreed with him. Wanda was down there. He turned the plane back to the airfield.

      Aldrin pulled out the navigation map and marked the position of the prone woman he had spotted. Then he called the Rockwater base and reported their discovery. He requested a search and rescue team to meet him on the nearest main road to the GPS position. He would rather they could drop searchers in, but there were too many trees and that clearing was very narrow. He checked the time. With luck they would find her before dark. Another night up there only in nightclothes would not be good.

      Chapter 4

      It was evening before Wanda was found and again, Stev decided, it was David’s unerring instinct that led him and the men with him to her. David ran to where she lay and checked her pulse, breathing a sigh of relief and visibly relaxing when he felt it. He let the team’s medic take over, but she looked okay. Her night clothes didn’t look disturbed. There were no dirt patches or tears. David saw that Wanda’s bare feet were dusty but not scratched or bruised. It was as if she hadn’t walked far at all – certainly she couldn’t have climbed up the trail from the road. Had she been carried? David looked around for tracks and noticed Aldrin doing the same. Their eyes met.

      There was someone else here, he said quietly, and beckoned.

      David walked to where Aldrin was and looked where he pointed.

      Odd looking, David commented. Not like bare feet, but like no foot covering I can think of. Closest I can think of would be those rubber shoes skindivers wear – but I thought those usually had some grip pattern on them. Can we get a photo of them?

      I have, and I will see if we can do a cast. It depends if the medic has plaster in his kit, Aldrin said. You go down with Wanda. I will catch up.

      David asked the medic for his opinion.

      No signs of hypothermia, but the day has been warmish. No signs of injury. I can see no reason why she is unconscious. Vital signs are not too bad. We will get the doctor to look her over at the base.

      They lifted Wanda to a stretcher and covered her with a warm blanket. Two marines carried the stretcher down the track. David stayed in close attendance. It was full dark by the time they reached the road. He went with Wanda to the base in one of the trucks, leaving the car for Aldrin to use on his return.

      The marines went off duty once Wanda was delivered to the infirmary. David stayed and watched Wallace examining her and confirming the medic’s diagnosis, but he arranged to have x-rays taken. These also showed no sign of an injury.

      I’ll keep her here, Wallace told David. I’ll put a drip in and give her fluids. That might be all she needs. Her condition is like Tanya’s, except we took longer to find her. Are you going to hover here all night?

      If you let me, David said tactfully. His thought was try and stop me.

      I’ll find you something to sleep on, Wallace promised.

      Morning came and Wanda still slept, but Wallace assured David that her vital signs were good. Tanya wandered in late in the morning, wheeling a stand with a drip.

      How are you? David asked.

      Well enough to want to be out of here, Tanya admitted. It’s too noisy here with all the machines buzzing.

      David looked startled. He was hearing virtually nothing, except when the diagnostic cuff Wanda had on activated to take her blood pressure.

      I thought it was too quiet, David said. Perhaps you should get Dr Wallace to check your ears. Sometimes an infection or something causes buzzing or ringing.

      Really? I will then. It’s getting annoying. How is Wanda?

      David gestured. I’m told she is recovering. They keep taking finger pricks and checking who knows what. Just wait until she wakes up – I’m going to tell her what I think of her for scaring me.

      Tanya just grinned.

      Just then, the nurse assigned to massage Wanda arrived. At least Wallace knew what other problems to avoid while Wanda couldn’t be active. David decided to use the time to get something to eat. He escorted Tanya back to her nearby room and continued on to the mess hall to see what he could scrounge.

      His phone rang while he ate his way through a plateful of sandwiches.

      Hello David, came the cheerful voice of his sister-in-law.

      Hi yourself, Elisabeth. To what do I owe this call?

      You never got back to me to tell me why you rang before, Elisabeth Willard commented. And you didn’t reply to my text messages.

      Sorry, David said instantly. Yesterday was insane. I woke up yesterday morning and couldn’t find Wanda.

      Oh, Elisabeth said quietly. Really. So that was why you wondered if she had called me?

      It was a long shot, David admitted. But all is well. She’s back here, looking deceptively innocent.

      So what happened? Did she sleepwalk too?

      What! David was startled. Did you? What did you do?

      Well, when you rang, I was a bit fuzzy headed. And embarrassed if you must know. Sandy found me wandering down our street in my pyjamas. I have never down anything like that in my life. And the odd thing is, the doors were locked and I didn’t have my keys. And you need keys to lock them.

      David was feeling decidedly weird. That was exactly what had happened to Tanya. He decided to keep that to himself. Odd alright. Wanda got a bit further than that. She’s a bit dehydrated and the doctor here has her resting.

      But she is alright, isn’t she? Elisabeth insisted.

      What was Elisabeth sensing David wondered?

      Not a scratch on her, David assured her. At the moment she is still sleeping it off.

      Elisabeth was silent for a moment. One day, David, you are going to have to tell me all of it. At least you are no longer hysterical. Look after her.

      Always, David promised. He pocketed his phone after Elisabeth had disconnected. She seemed to have gotten better at ‘knowing’ things, he mused. Had she guessed that there were things he wasn’t to mention? He wondered if he should mention Elisabeth’s tale to Wallace. Was it connected? Or had Elisabeth just reacted to what Wanda was doing? He would think on it.

      David spent most of the next two days sitting by his sleeping wife. He took brief breaks to eat and stretch his legs or for other needed functions, but never went far. He returned from one such break to hear Wanda screaming. He ran to her room and saw her awake, sitting up, but trying to squeeze her head with her hands. David went and hugged her, relieved when her screams subsided to whimpers.

      Tell them to stop it! I can’t stand all the noise, Wanda pleaded. Why is everyone shouting?

      David heard nothing. He glanced askance at Wallace who had also come running. He was followed by the two nurses that worked under him. More people arrived in response to the screams, and when they burst in Wanda began screaming again.

      Out! Wallace barked to the latest arrivals. The marines obeyed at once, having seen that there were no armed raiders in the room. Wanda quietened again.

      Tell them to be quiet, Wanda said again. Do they have to talk so loud? I have a really foul headache.

      I can give you something for that, Wallace told her. Though we did x-rays and you don’t have concussion.

      Why would I have concussion, Wanda asked. It was only then that she seemed to realise where she was. How come I am in here?

      You’ve been asleep for two days, David told her. We found you unconscious.

      What? Oh, frig it! Tell them to shut up!

      It’s in your head, David thought at her.

      You don’t have to yell. I’m not deaf but right now I wish I was.

      David thought at her again, this time, making her see his lips weren’t moving.

      Hon! It is in your head. See? I am not speaking.

      Wanda felt the truth hit her. So this was what the man in her dream had meant. Make it stop, she whimpered. David felt her go tense as if straining to concentrate, and then she went limp and began to cry. Wallace returned with a sedative and administered it. As Wanda drifted off to sleep, she said, but only in her mind because her body was becoming unresponsive, Get me away from here, Dav.

      David eased her down onto the bed. Wow! he said.

      Wallace looked at him. Wow? he queried.

      Doc, you may not believe this, but I just heard her, as clear as anything in my mind.

      What did she say – I heard nothing.

      She asked me to get her away from here, David said.

      Wallace looked thoughtful. I don’t think that is a good idea. She is still very weak.

      You heard her, Doc. She is hearing loud voices, people yelling. We didn’t. She’s hearing it in her head. She’s hearing what everyone is thinking!

      I see, Wallace said calmly. I wonder what brought that on. Tanya hasn’t been affected like that.

      Tanya complained about buzzing in her ears, David reminded him. It could be related.

      Indeed, Wallace agreed. His mind was full of the implications of what David had said, both for his patient and for the scientific world. Did Wanda say anything else?

      No, David admitted.

      We need to find out what she remembers, if anything, Wallace decided. That sedative will wear off late tonight. By then most of the base personnel will be asleep. Let’s see how she is then.

      And if it is still as bad? You can’t keep her unconscious 24/7.

      No. But I have never had to treat something like this, Wallace admitted.

      Then consider Wanda’s idea. I think she needs to be right away from people. Maybe then she can get a handle on this.

      We will discuss that later. Why don’t you get some rest while you can? I think she will need you.

      Sure, David agreed. There were some things he wanted to find out about before then. He wanted to call Jim Phillips. Perhaps Jim knew someone who might understand what was happening here. And there was that para-psych place that had tested her a few years ago. Someone there might know what to do before the whole thing weirded him out.

      When Wanda awoke, it was as if she had been woken by a loud nearby conversation. She could hear a number of voices, and if she concentrated she could understand what they were saying. Saying? She queried herself. Hardly. Surely people might think those things but they usually didn’t say them aloud? She tried to tune that conversation out. She was no voyeur. Another voice caught her attention. Again, odd things to say aloud. More like the mental wanderings of a bored mind on guard duty. He had better be careful what he wished for!

      Hon?

      Wanda winced. Not so loud, she complained. I still have a headache.

      Sorry, David apologised in a soft voice. How are you? Are you still hearing everyone’s thoughts? He had taken her hand and he felt her go tense.

      I must be, but thought I was dreaming it before, Wanda said softly. There are not so many right now. And I really don’t want to listen to most of those. The closest ones are like shouts, but I call hear whispers too.

      Thoughts from further away? David suggested.

      Wanda nodded. I think so. I think if I tried hard enough, I could understand them too. I really didn’t think it was going to be like this.

      What was going to be? David asked.

      Wanda shook her head.

      Talk to me! David urged. I can’t help you if I don’t know what I’m up against, and right now I’m not far off freaked.

      Wanda shook her head. Dav, anyone else but you would have me locked up if I told them what I think, and you still might. I haven’t changed, not exactly. I reckon I have got stronger doing all those odd things I could do before. Like how I could sense people, and how sometimes I echo thoughts people just had. Now I hear the actual thoughts. He didn’t intend to make me like this though – suddenly hearing everything. He thought it would strengthen gradually.

      He? David asked. Someone was up the hill with you? Who was he? How did you get there?

      Up what hill? Wanda asked. David explained where she had been found. Wanda subsided into silence. Did I walk there?

      Personally, I don’t think so. You had bare feet and not a scratch or bruise on them. And where you were was a two hour hike up rough terrain from the nearest road. I don’t know how you could have been carried there either. Tanya was found walking around outside the fence.

      Wanda was thinking again. Has Tanya said anything?

      Only that she dreamed she was being called, that she was needed desperately.

      Yes, that’s what it was like. Wanda had a distant look.

      Talk to me, David prodded again.

      I know what I remember, but it was a dream, I thought. But if I really was up on that mountain – the rest of it might be true too. I had been having a nightmare and I got up to clear it from my mind. That’s when my mind was swamped by a wave of desperation.

      Recalling that feeling now, Wanda sensed other things – sorrow, failure, anger, futility.

      Then I heard, crystal clear, ‘Can anyone hear me?’. Tanya has never come in that strongly. I answered, not trying to force the thought outward, and the mind heard me and told me he needed help. I wanted to know where he was, but I don’t think he knew how to explain. He said something about ‘where a village used to be’. I think he expected me to be able to go to him. I wanted to help him. I had no doubt he did need help.

      Hon, do you really think you should go running to help every random mind that is desperate? Shouldn’t you have some say in the matter?

      I felt like I should know the person whose mind it was. Anyway, he said that I should be able to link my mind to his and go to him. That I had the potential. I hadn’t a clue what he meant. I tried to wake you then because I was feeling like I wanted to run to wherever he was, but all you did was mumble. That is when I was convinced it was all another dream, and decided to let it play out. It wasn’t like my nightmare.

      I think you were better off when you didn’t get the volume, David muttered.

      I wanted to be like him, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. He had mind gifts like mine, strong ones, and he could use them at will.

      Did he say what sort of help he needed?

      No. He didn’t think I could…unless my potential was realised. What I remember is that he said his people needed help, and I could feel the truth of that.

      And you don’t remember being up the hill? David asked her.

      Well, no. Where I was, everything seemed to be glowing. It didn’t seem real. When he said he had to go, he seemed to waver in and out of visibility, and he began to walk off and vanished.

      Anything else?

      The memory hadn’t faded like dreams usually

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