Mind Over Psyche Read Online Free Page A

as if approaching a shy child. He knew he was the one feeling insecure, and he hated himse lf for it.
    â€œOh, hi.” Deryl sat cross-legged on his bed, still wearing the same blank, goofy grin he’d had at breakfast, his eyes unfocused and roaming. His hands, however, were busy at work drawing on the sketchpad i n his lap.
    â€œWhat are you drawing? May I see it?” Deryl looked down as if seeing the paper for the first time. He didn’t object as the intern took the pad from him. Joshua’s eyes widened at the cacophony of images. A large syringe dominated the lower right. At the top left, a baseball. To the middle was a ring of fire, or lava, or water standing vertical. It reminded Joshua of the stargate on the television show. Across the page Deryl had drawn images of himself—tied to a machine; sitting on the floor, a shattered table beneath him, a baseball in his hand; wrestling with Dr. Malachai. Of the chief psychiatrist, he had drawn a portrait of him leering. It was a disturbing—and disturbed—mural. Joshua looked up to ask him about it.
    Deryl had folded over like a rag doll and was clawing at his hair, pulling it up over his head and across his face.
    â€œYou itchy?” The patient didn’t answer. “Never mind. Your aunt and uncle shouldn’t see you l ike this.”
    Joshua made him dress in a T-shirt and jeans, then rolled up his own sleeves and had the teen lean over the tub to shampoo his hair. He noted the dried flakes of gel. Hadn’t Malachai said he’d destroyed the EEG machine before they’d started any tests? Joshua scrubbed them out, then combed and braided Deryl’s long hair. He thought about Rique teasing him about playing with Sabrina’s hair and wished his best friend were there bounce his thoughts off of. Despite Joshua’s skills of observation, Rique’s BS meter was better than his.
    Deryl padded docilely back to his bed, sat obediently while Joshua helped him put on shoes, and then lay back on the covers and fell asleep. Joshua turned the desk chair toward the bed, picked up the sketchbook and flipp ed a page.
    He found the beautifully detailed pencil drawing of Joshua proposing to Sachiko that Deryl had refused to show them Friday night, claiming it wasn’t finished. Deryl must have worked on it for hours. It said, “To ‘Ko and Josh. I’ll be there. Promise.”
    Afraid of our leaving, huh? Joshua decided he didn’t need someone else to tell him something stunk. Sketchbook in hand, he headed to Edith ’s office.
    *
    No! Tasmae slammed her hand on the table, making the plant in the center bounce. I am not doing this . Not now.
    The plant, which held the memories of Gardianju, the first Miscria to contact the Ydrel, uncurled a leaf in her direction. She shuddered. It was the most dangerous of all the Remembrances, for Gardianju’s sanity had been ripped from her with the coming of the Second Sun. Though she had protected their world, even though some miracle had chased the invading star from their sky, all had feared her then and in generations to come. Only a few Miscria—those chosen to communicate with the Ydrel—ever experienced the Remembrance. No one touched her memories and came away unchanged.
    Salgoud sided with her. So close to the war, they could not lose her or her abilities.
    She will not lose her abilities , Leinad countered, although she felt his hesitancy.
    Perhaps not her abilities, then, but what about h er sanity?
    Leinad offered no false reassurances, only an urgency. When the Remembrance demanded to be experienced, one had to comply.
    I’ve not even experienced the memories of the Miscria from after they encountered Gardianju’s Remembrance , she argued . I agree that I need to finish my training, but there are other Remembrances I should experience first. Why would you bring me this, now?
    Leinad sighed and sent them a confusion of images:
    â€”Kanaan