“He's not well.That’s why I’m here. Today, he started...I don't know, it's like he...like he can't breathe or something. He gets this pain in his chest.That’s why I need help. I think I have to figure out how to get him back up into the sky. He has to go back.He has to be safe.”
I’m not surprised at the look on his face. My voice is full of desperation that I can’t seem to quell. Now, it’s almost like he’s… analyzing me.
“Yeah,”is all he says.
“We tried going out to the woods, back to where the energy peaks, but we don't know what to do.He can't just?—”
“You need a stargate.”
“A what?”
“A stargate.”
My mind starts running over what I remember of 90’s TV shows.
Marty sighs. “At the intersection of the two lines, where the energy is the highest, like you said, a storm would have caused electromagnetic energy to spike, like a boost, creating what is essentially a portal. It's normal.”
I can feel my face twist. People talk about electromagnetic portals when they talk about time machines and magic rock circles. Stuff I never believed in. “You mean like the time travel thing?”
Marty scowls.“Are you really going to come here with a story about a sky man, but you think that time travel is impossible?”
He has a point.
“Anyway, you need a burst of electromagnetic energy.I would say wait until the next interference, but...”
“What if he can't wait that long?” I finish his thought.
Marty nods.“I think your best bet is to create an artificial electromagnetic field.You need to create a burst.Again. A nudge. Find a spot where the electromagnetic activity is already high, create a burst, and poof.”
My stomach turns. “Poof?”
“Yeah.He goes back the same way he came.”
He goes back the same way he came.The words echo through my head like screaming into a well.
I know he's right.I know Star has to go.But the thought makes me sick.
“This, uh, Star guy... he's nice?”
I stand.“I appreciate your help, butI can't really talk about this with you.”
He puts his hands up in surrender.“Like I said, I've seen some weird shit. And some dude falling in love with a guy who fell from the sky? Not even the weirdest thing I've seen this year.So...I wish you all the best of luck. If you need help, let me know.”
I put out a hand.He doesn't stand.Just reaches up and shakes it.
“I appreciate your help.”
“Once your guy's back up in the sky and safe...I'd love to talk to you more about this situation.”
“Right.” I back towards the door.“Thanks again.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Isneak in as quietly as I can when I get back to my house. The lights are all off, and I can only assume Mackenzie and Star went to sleep. Star was in pretty bad shape when I left, so I’m glad he’s resting.
I find him in my room, already under the blankets.
For a little while, I stand there, my back against the door, watching him. He has his arms wrapped around my pillow, cradled against his body, and I can’t help but wonder if, in his sleep, he thinks it’s me.
