science is saying weâre psychically connected, then there really must be something wrong with Charlie.â
âScience would never say âpsychically connected.â Itâs all just speculative ⦠weâre just talking.â
âYeah, weâre talking too much. What time is it anyhow?â
Peter looked at his watch. His expression was enough; Jack took off running toward the physics lab.
Jack tore into the room and went straight to his laptop.
âCharlie! Iâm sorry, Iâm here, donât hang up!â He stopped dead in his tracks.
On the computer screen, Charlieâs name was still grayed out. So was Ernestoâs. No messages. Nothing.
Peter walked into the room. âJack!â
Jack quickly checked his e-mail. Nothing. âOh, God. No!â
âDid you miss him? What happened?â
âHe didnât call. Something really did happen.â
âJack, calm down. Listen to me. You donât know for sure.â
âOr what if he did call, and I missed it! Because we were so busy talking!â Jack began to pace back and forth, his fists clenched, a strange look on his face.
Peter studied him and made a decision. âWhat did you see, Jack? Tell me now. What did you see?â
âI saw Charlie in the desert. I saw sand and a hill and a ridge. And in the distance what looked like a coyoteââ
âA coyote?â
âOr something like one ⦠and the guys, they were talking. But then there was this horrible buzzing, screaming sound! And then, I felt it burning through me! This horrible feeling! Burning through me!â
Enraged, Jack pushed over a lab table, causing equipment to crash to the floor.
âJack, thatâs not happening. Get it out of your head. Thatâs not real.â
âIt was real. Why would I see it if it wasnât real?â Jack put his hands to his temples, his breathing strained.
âI donât know. Maybe it was a premonition like you saidââ
âBut how can I warn Charlie if I canât speak to him?â
âAll right, just relax, Jack. Itâll be okay.â
Jack breathed deeply as he focused on a large poster of outer space that hung on the wall beyond Peterâa poster of endless stars.
After a moment, he closed his eyes, and before he knew it, he was envisioning another flash of bright sunlight and then a Humvee followed by two other army vehicles, moving across the desert. The caravan was heading in the opposite direction from the last time heâd pictured it.
Jack fell back against the wall and put his face in his hands. He was shaking.
âOh, my God, itâs happening, right now! I can feel it! Charlie â¦â
Peter went to Jack and grabbed him by the arms, trying to control him. Jack struggled but ended up falling to the floor. Peter got down by his side and tried to calm him.
âJack, listen! Panic doesnât help. Itâs a waste of time. Thereâs a link between you and your brother, so use itâlike a radio frequency.â
âI want him back,â Jack wept.
â Wanting wonât work. You have to focus.â
âI donât know how! Itâs too late.â
âItâs not . Bring him into focus. Open your heart up to him. And make him aware that youâre guiding him back to safety.â
âI canât,â Jack cried, sounding like a small boy. âI donât know how.â
âWhat does it feel like to know heâs safe? What would it feel like to look up at that screen and see your brotherâs face on it?â
Jack did his best to look up at the computer, tears welling in his eyes.
âIt feels good. It makes me feel so relieved.â
âWhat are you going to say to Charlie?â
âI donât know, I donât know. Charlie, please be okay.â
âHe is okay, Jack. He is! Now, let him know how important he is. Use the energy field that connects you to