Galaxy's End: Book One by LeRoy Clary

Author:LeRoy Clary [Clary, LeRoy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-21T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

Kat:

There came the merest touch of a strange sensation inside Kat’s mind. It was him, the steward sitting across from her and Captain Stone. She didn’t try to block it or manage it in any manner. She trusted Captain Stone would keep control of the situation, however, Kat wanted to understand how it felt to be on the receiving end of an empath.

The steward’s attempt to convince her to put aside her weapon was crude and abrupt. The idea of releasing him came in a wave that anyone should be able to reject, she decided. Besides that, the mental touches were contrary to her wishes and beliefs. There was no chance she would do as he wanted. However, it showed how poorly he was skilled. Or perhaps it was just a quick response without any planning.

Her method was softer, often a small step at a time. Gentle suggestions and doubts about the alternative, both at the same time were effective. Tiny thoughts implanted and left for the other to work out until they came to his or her point of view. She would plant an idea and allow it to simmer instead of telling someone what to do.

In other words, the steward stomped on the mind of his victim. He may as well have shouted. The difference was between the nudge of the elbow of the person sitting next to you and a slug on the shoulder.

The experience helped Kat in a hundred ways. There were times she had tried the same approach as he had—and she had often failed. Not always, but usually. Her method took longer. It was also more subtle and allowed the person to lean in her direction before making a choice.

She didn’t feel pressured to do what he wanted, which was a surprise. Instead, she had thoughts that conflicted with what she’d been thinking. It reminded her of sharing a meat pie with Bill years ago. She was hungry. He was hungry. There hadn’t been food for them in three days. He’d offered her the first bite.

Instead of taking half the pie, which was fair, she had bitten off two-thirds. That only left Bill the far end, and she would have wolfed that down too if he hadn’t reached for it and tossed it into his mouth. However, what she chewed seemed to sour. His eyes accused her, not his words.

“I’m sorry,” she had mumbled.

“Okay,” he agreed.

After that incident, she didn’t feel she had earned his trust back for half a year or more. With that single huge bite, she almost lost a valuable friendship.

That was the way the steward used his empathic ability. Like a sledgehammer smashing a finishing nail, she realized. Or a selfish person eating more than his share.

Kat had learned a good lesson with the experience with Bill. She applied that to dealing with the steward. It was time to see what else she could learn. The ice cream arrived in a pair of bowls and they ate and talked genially about starships.

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