IX.
No, it was not a delusion. Chief Migration Coordinator Colonel Kurt Nakamara was lying on the floor of his office, staring at the ceiling with his unseeing eyes. Beneath his back was a black pool, frozen in an irregular stain on the carpet. Etta staggered. A moment ago, she had wondered why the office was so cold. Now she was sweating, as if the furnace was suddenly set to at least one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. For the first time in her life, she saw someone dead. It took some time before the girl pulled herself together and went to touch the telecommunication button. She quickly selected the number of the expedition’s captain. She didn’t even think about calling anybody else.
Kirk Willner showed up in the office a few minutes later. He patted Etta on the back and immediately proce
