Recognition Read Online Free Page B

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of the ‘Graven forced their way in, interposing their thoughts
between me and my lover, pushing us apart, until I was back, alone
in my own consciousness, the ‘Graven glaring at me, the Terrans
unsure what had happened.
    In the commotion someone had turned the
lights up. All the ‘Graven showed the third eyelid, sliding across
from the inner corners like the last phase of twin eclipses. I had
never seen it from the outside before; the effect was strangely
erotic.
    I sat dazed, my mind awhirl with the
impressions I had picked up during the multiple telepathic
exposure, while shouted words were hurled around and over me.
All of these people were telepaths!
What I could do, so
could they, only with greater control. They were not merely
sufferers with a peculiar condition, as I was; to them the ability
was normal, and useful. And they all had the Evil Eye—I made the
association at last—including the woman, ‘Gravina Ndoko, who raised
her burqa to examine my mind with what I now guessed was telepathic
vision. Like Margrave Aranyi.
My Dominic-Leandro
, I
thought happily in the midst of the accusations.
    Viceroy Zichmni had taken my telepathic
activity for a deliberate attempt at subversion. He stood up,
obliging everyone else in the room to stand up also. Facing the
Consul he said, “This is a serious violation of diplomatic
protocol. How you thought you’d get away with it, I can’t imagine.”
His expression was sad, his voice steady, with none of the quaver
of old age. “For now, I demand that this woman be placed under
arrest. Until she has been interrogated, there can be no more
discussions between us. This meeting is over.”
    The Consul, Dominic, and Lady Ndoko all began
speaking at once. The woman prevailed; despite her unassuming
manner she possessed an indefinable authority. “My Lord,” she
informed the Viceroy, out loud, so that the Terrans would hear, “it
wasn’t deliberate.” People quieted down and waited for the Terrans
to catch up.
    Lady Ndoko spoke directly to my mind during
the pause.
I know you didn’t mean to spy
. For some reason
she was sympathetic, assuring me that at least one of the ‘Graven
was on my side.
    The Terrans decided the problem was related
to my cube and the recording. “I assure you, Lord Zichmni,” one of
them said, “it’s simply an electronic device, the same thing we all
have, what we call cubes, or smart phones. You must have noticed
them before, at other meetings.”
    The Viceroy’s voice rose sharply with
irritation. “What do you mean, ‘it’? We are taking about your agent
here.” He jerked his head in my direction.
    The woman continued her silent conversation
with me.
Have you been tested for
crypta? she asked.
    Surely, ‘Gravina Ndoko, that’s not
necessary
, Dominic broke in.
She obviously has
crypta. There was a beseeching quality to his request that didn’t
suit his imperious personality. He wanted to prevent whatever was
coming next, was unused to asking favors.
    That’s why she should be tested,
Margrave,
Lady Ndoko answered Dominic in that same tone she
had used with the Terrans, the civil manner masking the prickly
intelligence.
Because she has gifts—and potential
talents
.
    I was desperately trying to follow this
mental exchange, with its Eclipsian words and ideas that were new
to me.
Crypta
. “Gifts” and “talents,” used with specific
and mysterious new meanings. Lady Ndoko had been introduced, with
great deference, as a
sibyl
. I guessed that telepathy was
an established concept here. It had not just one word, but a set of
words—
crypta, gifts, talents, sibyl
—to describe its
manifestations and uses.
    This epiphany awakened something in me. Years
of denial, the only possible defense against so burdensome a
“gift,” had produced in me a habit of avoidance and dismissal of
the subject. Now I was intrigued, despite my earlier aversion.
“Could I be tested?” I asked eagerly. “Would you permit it?”
    My voice sounded