Page 41

This meteor fell in October, 2003. It has a mineral composition high in ferrite.

That’s it.

I feel so foolish for coming here.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit!” I mutter under my breath, wanting to smash the glass open with my hand and feel the sting of broken glass against my skin.

“Used to look a lot better back in the day,” comes a cracked voice from behind me.

I turn. An old man with a shock of white hair is sitting on a bench, catching his breath as he motions with a cane to the meteor.

“What do you mean, sir?” I ask, giving him an extra dose of respect.

“Saw that thing come down. Oh, must have been twenty-five years ago now. It was a real beaut back then.”

“What do you mean, a real beaut?”

He coughs, then laughs slowly. “Ha, they all said I was crazy. That I wasseeingthings. But I swear to you, that meteor had this big, beautiful, blue and blackthingin it. Never seen nothing like it before – and never gonna see nothing like it again. The scientists in their hazmat suits took it away.”

An Orb. It was an Orb!

Hope springs in my chest. I stare the old man deep in his eyes. “I believe you. I’ve seen one as well.”

His eyes widen. “You playing tricks on an old man?”

I shake my head. “No. You aren’t crazy. A blackness blacker than black, right? A darkness darker than the absence of light. A beauty – a danger, awrongness.”

The old man’s jaw drops. He clamps it shut, then shakes his head. “A blackness blacker than black… By God, youdidsee one! All this time… All this time, I thought I might be crazy… But you saw one too! Tell me more, young lady, tell me more!”

I give him a sad smile. “That’s all I know. I saw one, pretty small actually, when I was a kid. I always wondered if I imagined it. Same story as you. A meteor hit the ground, and scientists took it away. Now we both know we’re not crazy, as much good as that does us. You have an excellent day, sir.”

I nod respectfully, and leave.

Was it a lie? Of course. But it was a lie designed to make him stop doubting himself. I know what it feels like to not trust your own eyes. It’s terrifying. Now, he’ll know for the rest of his days that what he saw wasreal.

I check out of the hotel and take the next flight back to New York.

When I step back into my penthouse bathroom and see my face, I know I’m going to find my way back to the jungle planet. My eyes are wide, my jaw set.

Nothingwill get in the way of me being reunited with those three Aurelians.

I spend the weekend preparing my battle plan, and the first thing I do when I get into the office on Monday is call a meeting.

I walk into the boardroom and the ranks of my legal troops are filled and ready, all dressed in their battle uniforms of pricey suits and Rolexes.

I open my laptop and start the first slide.

“I have incredible news for the future of Wells, Gold and partners. The alternative energy market is filled with one thing: Money. Speculation is at an all-time high, with Silicon Valley pouring billions yearly into the field. China has pushed its way into the global market. There is agold mineof money just waiting to be scooped up. And we’re going to get it.”

My voice is pitched at the perfect tenor to grab attention, to inspire, and to enthrall.

By the end of the presentation, every lawyer and partner listening thought it was their own idea. That’s how you sell stuff – I learned that a long time ago.

They all file out, until only John Gold remains. He extends his hand, and I shake it, looking him clear in the eye.

“You’re right. It’s time we added a bigger stream of income to this firm. Alternative energy has exploded in the last decade, and I’ve been wanting to get into the sector for a long damn time. You’re right, Aubrey. I do get complacent. You continue to push me forward.”

I smile, charming him. “We’re a good team. And we’re going to take it by storm.