Wild Talent by Wilson Tucker

Author:Wilson Tucker [Tucker, Wilson]
Language: dan
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The suggestion so unnerved the C.I.C. officer that it was many minutes before he could force himself back into the chair, many minutes before the purpose of his visit returned to mind and he could once again objectively consider the analysts' report. Carnell paced the floor, his fist smacking into his open palm with monotonous regularity. The suggestion upset him, not only because if true the consequences could be unbelievable, but because they hadn't thought of that before. They had searched their own military records seeking another possible telepath and now they were searching other government records. Even if it were possible, no one had suggested examining the files of foreign countries. No one had imagined that any other country but the United States could possess a telepath! What idiotic blindness!

Carnell whirled around. 'Paul--?'

'I've already answered that one. There are no others to my knowledge.'

'But you would know if another should appear?'

'I don't know. Maybe -- maybe not. What would I look for? What indications? I've never met another person like myself. How would I recognize them?'

'But you could read their minds!'

'If they wanted their minds read,' Paul reminded him.

'Do you mean they could forbid it-- conceal it?'

'I don't know, Mr Carnell. I have nothing to guide me! How can I cope with something I've never experienced before, something of that nature? I would actually have to meet one and try.'

Carnell had to be satisfied with that although he didn't like it. It was difficult for him to understand, because he was not a telepath and did not know the mental processes involved, did not know the problems and shortcomings present in theoretical cases. Another such telepath might or might not readily be apparent to the first one; there would be no real way of knowing until such a meeting occurred. In time, Carnell returned to the matter under discussion, the report on Breen handed in by the analysts.

'Ah, Paul. . . about this matter of teleportation. Dr Roy indicates that--'

'Dr Roy missed fire completely on that one,' Paul cut in. 'I can't. I've tried, and I can't move myself an inch unless my legs carry me.'

'You-- tried?'

'Certainly. I wanted to find out.'

'But it failed?'

'It failed. If it had worked, I would be tempted to move myself away from here at the first opportunity. I'd jump into the next state or the next country, or to the very limit of my powers. I've even had some ideas about a writ of habeas corpus to get me out of here, but I know Slater would quash it because I'm still army. So --I can promise you this-- if I can make teleportation work in actual practice, I'll go so far and so fast your department will never find me.'

Carnell dropped his gaze to the rug and after some moments replied, 'I didn't realize you felt that way.'

'I got into this with my eyes closed, Mr Carnell. I was full of patriotism, I was green, and I was eager to help people whether they wanted it or not.

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