"I don't blame her," Mike said, "after all they've been through!" Then he was finally able to explain who he was and who sent him to the officer.
"We thank you, Spirit Lad, for helping solve the worst criminal puzzle to hit here in years!"
"You're very welcome, sir, but if you'll excuse me, I have another task awaiting me at The Pentagon...one that I wish I didn't have to contend with."
"Oh, er, yes....I wish you good luck on all your endeavors, and please give Gen. Pick my condolences."
"I will!" Mike saluted the best way he knew how, and flew off toward The Command Post. He gingerly lifted the body once again, and vanished, reappearing in Gen. Pick's office almost instantly. He was surprised to see another General at the desk. The man sat up in surprise.
"Oh! Y ou must be Spirit Lad!" he said, "I'm Gen. Firestone. Gen. Pick is out on official business. What do you have there?" "This, I regret to inform you, is what is left of Maj. Chris Pick, sir. I have found him, as ordered by his father. I don't know how I'm going to break it to him. I've never had to do this before."
"Here....put him down on the desk here. Don't worry about breaking the news to him....Gen. Pick and I have been close friends for years. I'll do it for you if you'd just give me the preliminaries of what happened to him, son."
"Thank you very much, sir. And tell The Generals if they need anything else done I'll be available. They know the procedure to reach me."
"All right, I will. And many thanks, Spirit Lad. I wish things had gone better for you. Good-bye."
"Good-bye, sir," Mike saluted again, and was gone. Mike made sure the coast was clear, then appeared in the clinic. He and Doctor Horton talked for awhile as the boy explained his mission and how he was able to contact the vibrations of the dead man which had led him to the grave and helped him solve the crime. He seemed very tense, and of course, upset by the incident, as if he would burst into tears at any moment. Finally he said in a choked voice,
"I don't know if I can ever forget anything that ever happened today. It was so terrible. The shame and hatred I felt after I touched the body.....the last things he felt before he died...I....I....don't know what I'll ever do if anything like it ever happens again. I can't shake the memories. If this is a curse that goes along with having these special powers, I don't want them."
"Don't worry, son. They'll wear off in time."