Teri was settling in at Penatuka. The hardest part was maintaining constant vigilance against rearranging people’s minds. It was one thing to prevent others from seeing you, quite another to make them forget they ever had in the first place. Since the ability was more or less instinctive, she had to actively avoid doing it, especially when she was afraid or nervous. Even in this friendly atmosphere there was an undertone of fear, especially from the other mentalists.

  There were exceptions. She caught Cymber staring at her from time to time, but she sensed no fear or repulsion. Then there was Sean, who instead of being afraid of her, went out of his way to make sure their paths crossed. His favorite changeling form was a brindle greyhound and he would often pad along beside her acting foolish. The attention was nice, but Teri was used to being alone, and that hadn’t happened since they arrived. Not with Ruddy and Xeke always there.

  Something very strange had happened on the road when she almost died. Whatever it was, it had linked their minds together in ways she could not wrap her brain—or theirs—around. She was used to being in the minds around her, but with Ruddy and Xeke it was different. She was part of them … and stranger than that, they were part of her—and each other. Their thoughts were so intertwined that sometimes they weren’t sure whose ideas and dreams were whose.

  She wanted to fix it, but she didn’t know where to start. All she could think to do was to teach them how to build a mental barrier to shield some of their surface thoughts from her and from each other. Xeke was already good at it, but Ruddy … well. It was slow going.

  “OK, Ruddy, again,” Teri said. “Try picturing a wall.” They sat on their cots across from each other in their cabin. The rays of the setting sun fell on them through the window.

  Ruddy scrunched up his face in concentration. “Got it! I’m ready!” he said.

  She nudged his pitiful mental shield and it tore like tissue.

  “Agh!” he said.

  “Let’s try again.”

  “This is pointless. I really don’t care if you see what I’m thinking.”

  “Yes, but until I can figure out what to do about this link—or whatever it is—we have no choice but to see everything you’re thinking—and everything you’re doing, too. Xeke and I are tired of watching you pee. You’ve got to work on this. I’m not asking you to create an impenetrable fortress around your mind. All we’re asking is that you turn down the volume.”

  “I’m trying!” Ruddy said.

  “I know you are. Maybe Xeke can explain it better. He’s a natural. I swear, Ruddy, the harder you try to keep things to yourself, the louder you shout.”

  She created an illusion of him hopping up and down and waving both arms in the air. “Gosh I sure hope you guys aren’t looking over here while I do this thing I don’t want you to see!”

  Ruddy turned red. “Stop making fun of me. You know I can’t help it. Besides, Xeke’s been dating a mentalist for years, he’s had tons of practice. You’ll fix this link thing soon, I’m sure of it, then all this will be for nothing.”

  Teri sighed. “I’m working on it. I’ve been doing almost nothing but working on it. I don’t understand how it happened and if I try to reverse it, there’s no guarantee I won’t turn us all into drooling vegetables. I was hoping it would just wear off, but it’s getting worse.”

  “But I’m never going to be able to make a good shield. I mean come on, I can’t even ...” Someone knocked on the door and Ruddy jumped.

  Teri giggled.

  You could have warned me, he said.

  Yeah, but it’s Cymber, and it’s way more fun when she surprises you.

  Ruddy’s eyes widened. “Cymber?”

  She’s got Fred with her. I think they want to talk to us about staying for good.

  “Fred?” Ruddy jumped up and started throwing dirty clothes into the corner. “Just a minute! Coming!”

  Teri giggled some more. Ruddy shot her a wounded look and ran to the door.

  “Cymber, Fred! Come in. Have a seat.” He beckoned toward the unmade cot he’d been lying on.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  Fred sat down and smiled as Ruddy rushed around kicking more junk into corners. “I guess we should have called ahead.” She looked at Teri.

  Fred had dirty glasses, long, wispy white hair, and a disheveled air about her. She was wearing clean but worn baggy jeans and a The Clash—Hate and War t-shirt. She looked like she was either a well-laundered homeless woman or ...

  She smiled at Teri. Yes, I was a professor. Sociology, to be precise.

  Cymber sat down and thumbed open a notebook. “Normally we’d have called you to Fred’s place, but with Teri’s injury, we thought this would be easier. Xeke tells me you two might consider staying on permanently and we want to make sure everything is a good fit.”

  “So this is like a job interview?” Ruddy asked.

  “Sort of.” Cymber clicked her pen. “Really more like a job offer. Let’s start with you, Teri.”

  Teri nodded. “You want me to help you and Fred protect Penatuka, right?”

  Cymber tilted her head.

  Teri blushed. “I didn’t read your mind, I swear.” Not on purpose, anyway. “It’s just logical.”

  I won’t tell Cymber if you won’t, Fred said. Teri’s eyes widened.

  What, you think I have any less trouble staying out of people’s heads than you do? Fred said. Just don’t ever abuse it, because I’d rather not have that discussion. Deal?

  Yes, ma’am, Teri said.

  Teri felt a bit like a bug on a plate next to Fred. She’d always been able to focus on internal and external conversations at the same time, but Fred’s presence in her mind was overpowering. She forced her attention back to Cymber.

  “... and your powers are only a small part of what we’re excited about,” Cymber said. “I hear you’ve been talking to Paul about redesigning our electrical system.”

  “I have some ideas,” Teri said. A schematic appeared in the air. “Without making any major changes we can ...”

  Cymber laughed. “I’m not an engineer so I’m not going to pretend I understand what you’re talking about. But you seem to have a lot of knowledge we can use.”

  You pick up information you need from other people’s minds, right? Fred said. You’ve been doing it as long as you’ve had your powers, I’d imagine. Eidetic memory?

  I guess you could call it that, Teri said. I don’t remember every single thing I see, but I don’t ever forget anything once I know it.

  Extremely high IQ as well, Fred said. You and I will work closely. With our powers combined, everyone here will be far safer.

  What do you mean?

  Your arrival here was a blessing for Penatuka. I’m sorry to spring all of this on you, but I have to think of the future. I’m old. My kids don’t like to hear it, but I’m the one hiding this place from the government and everyone else. My biggest fear is what will happen when I’m gone. Now that you’re here ...

  But, what about … Teri glanced at Cymber.

  I couldn’t do what Cymber does, and neither could you. She keeps everything running smooth. She’s a born leader. But she can’t do what you and I can, either.

  She seems to me to be a very strong mentalist, Teri said.

  She is. But you may have noticed that she processes her mentalist input in a more emotional way than we do. She went through a lot right after the Event. She’s so empathetic, and the day to day thoughts of everyone around her—all of them going through such tragedy—it was too much. It almost broke her. She was in bad shape when I found her.

  Teri shuddered.

  You’ve been there too, haven’t you? Fred said.

  I suppose, Teri said. So, you took her powers?

  No. She still has them. I just … applied filters.

  I see. And will you filter me to suit your needs as well?

  You misunderstand. Cymber asked for my help. Begged, really. You aren’t like her anyway. You’re like me—you’ll always choose pain over ignorance.

  I’ve never been given a choice, Teri said.

  Well, you have one now, Fred said.

  Teri swallowed. You’re not just a mentalist, are you? You’re something more. I’ve never met anyone like you … you’re a teke too?

  Among other things. Fred was amused. I didn’t mean to let you see that. You really are very talented, aren’t you? I’m going to have to watch myself around you, Teri.

  But … how? I thought everyone only had one power.

  I’m an anomaly. There are a few of us around. We can talk more about that later. In the meantime, this is a safe place and I can shield you from accidents as you learn to wield your powers. If we’re both happy with the arrangement, we can talk about you taking my place one day. Are you willing to give it a try?

  Teri thought about it. Yes. No promises but … I’ll keep an open mind.

  “So, what do you say?” Cymber said. The conversation with Fred had only taken a few seconds. “We’ll give you a lot of responsibility, but we don’t ever put more on anyone than they can handle.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Teri said.

  “Welcome to Penatuka, then,” Cymber said.

  Fred winked at her. “You’ll be one of our most valuable residents, I’m sure of it.”

  Cymber turned to Ruddy and smiled. He blushed.

  “Your strengths obviously lie in more physical things.” She let her eyes wander over him and his shade of red intensified. “I can’t help but wonder what you might be capable of with a little training. Or, a lot of training.”

  Fred cleared her throat. “Perhaps you two would like to discuss this in private?”

  “No, ma’am … I mean … yes ma’am … I mean … whatever you …” Ruddy said.

  Fred laughed. “Teri, would you accompany me to the cafeteria? I’m sure we have nothing whatsoever to add to this discussion.”

  Ten minutes later, Ruddy joined them. His face was still red and his hair was rumpled.

  Oh my God, Ruddy! Xeke’s thought reached both Ruddy and Teri. I don’t know what disturbs me more, the fact that you broadcast that entire experience to me, or the fact that you ran away when she tried to kiss you. Are you insane?

  She’s ... so … I barely know her. Why would someone like that ... dammit, it doesn’t make any sense. She’s too beautiful, I mean, why would a woman like that be interested in me?

  Cymber has never been confused about what she wants, Xeke said. You’re overcomplicating this, Ruddy. She likes you. Just go with it.