“Fascinating!” I said. I knew the agents were watching me for any sign of recognition, any revealing reaction of any sort, so I forced a nonchalant deadpan as I looked carefully to see if I knew who she was. I was quickly relieved to see she was not my Lolita or her mother, or any of the other natives of that far-off land I had come to know particularly well. Still, odds were I had not only met this poor girl, but had probably 'known' her in the biblical sense as well during my sojourn there. Simple mathematics dictated the odds, yet the limits of human memory are inescapable.
I did not know her!
After carefully looking her over, I stepped back and my companion replaced the sheet and returned the body to storage. They then turned to me with
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She may have survived the physical injuries from the collision had she received prompt medical attention, but according to the M.E., she also suffered an adrenaline induced myocardial infarction caused by a stress induced coronary artery spasm, doubtless triggered by the sustained, intense mortal fear induced by her circumstances. She had died of pure extreme fright! The local police had collected the corpse, and, they thought, all the videos from various bystander's cell phones and security systems, and somehow managed to keep it from the news media.
“Is she human?” I asked. The woman responded, “Our M.E. says she is as human as you or me. Just as you described the people in your book. Fur-bearing humans without clothing.”
Collecting my wits, I decided continued feigning of ignorance was my best approach. At least for now. “A mystery, to be sure, but other than a superficial resemblance to the fictional people I wrote about, why would you bring her to my attention? Why involve me?”
The three of them looked at me. I looked back.
“You got your inspiration for the description in your book somewhere. We were hoping you could tell us something.