Chapter 42
April – 3,390 BCE
Earth: Crash site
Colonel Mikhail Mannuki’ili
MIKHAIL
He put the small, carved doll into a wooden box, ornate in its simplicity, but lined with red velvet. It was the kind of box someone might carve to place upon their altar. He traced the drawings he knew he had etched into the wood. While he could not name the language, he knew how to read it.
"I will wait for you," it said. "Just but on the other side."
He touched the doll's face, the too-large eyes carved into a slender body and the awkward hint of Angelic wings. Who had it belonged to? Why did he carry a child's toy? And why had he woken up this morning feeling empty even though he had Ninsianna at his side?
Ninsianna cleared her throat.
"Are you ready?"
He snapped the lid shut and placed it far
