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"If you would. Please." Minc added the polite word like an awkward child.
Minor sat down and began to dig into his past, skimming over the dull spots.
Minc sat down, too, and was soon interjecting comments as Minor unfolded the
events in his discovery of his abilities. The story of his near fall into
insanity at first fascinated the boy, then made him uneasy, so Minor quickly
finished with that and returned to relating how he had learned to channel his
powers into areas that were useful to the world.
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He concluded, "I've come out with a good measure of respect and value, Minc. I
have a definite place, and necessary work to do. If you'll grant me a little
ego, I
save lives and the planet."
"That's not ego. It's true. I'll be doing that, too?" The boy was alight,
caught up in the sight of himself receiving deference and gratitude. "You've
used the PSI as I
figured you would. Isn't it glorious to have such control? I know that
already, in my own limited way. You can make people think whatever you want
them to think, and it's a sensation you can't describe to anyone who can't do
it himself.
Does it give you the same feeling of power it gives me? Or has the edge worn
off for you?"
Minor was startled. "We're out of sync here. What you're describing is thought
control, and I've never gone in for that. I leave it totally untouched. You're
not saying you use it?"
"Naturally! I plant ideas in these zeros' heads all the time, and they think
they thought them up. It's some of the best fun I have. You really don't?" He
looked at
Minor oddly. "Then what about hypnosis? We can hypnotize in an instant. How do
you feel when you're making people go around like marionettes doing what you
order?"
Through a sudden clutch of wariness, Minor made himself remember that Minc had
been encouraged to run at will through the minds of the staff members, and
said only, "I don't go in for hypnosis, either. It's unethical."
Minc blinked in disbelief. Then he stood up, and his next words were scornful.
"And you're supposed to teach me
? With all the things you don't know about our power, I should be the teacher.
You haven't taken half of what you deserve for yourself. You've been just
plain stupid."
"Ethical is the word, Minc. And decent. You'll have to learn the meaning of
those two qualities. That will come easily when-"
"Oh, no, Minor.
You'll have to learn the meaning of what it really is to be Us. And
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futurelove you will. From me! When we work together on my plan, we'll have to
cooperate all the way."
Minor's stomach was a mass of icicles. Something in what the boy was saying
wasn't right, and was leading to a place he didn't want to go. There was an
undefined darkness lurking behind Minc's words.
Minc's black eyes were locked onto his as the boy demanded, "What's the matter
with you? It's crazy, but I think you're actually afraid of me
, now. Afraid of what we are! Well, I can show you "
"Not another word, boy," Minor cut him off. "You've gone too far with this.
Way out of focus. The outside world isn't a protected place like this
installation, and children's games are forbidden there. I admit, I
experimented with those special powers when I was growing up, too, but I was
fortunate enough to be forced to stop because using them would have given me
away. Besides, watching other people dance to my orders sickened me. It went
against my conscience. I made a vow to myself, when I was younger than you
are, never to touch those parts of my power again. Today, because of my
position and the faith people put in me, the entire idea is repulsive. Those
things are a child's toys, not a man's. You're a man now, so you'll have to
relinquish them." He spat it out, letting it come harshly.
"When they're mine to use? Never! You're weak, Minor!" Minc condemned him.
"And since you willingly gave up your chance, you have no claim to any part of
mine when you see what I make of it. I'll stand alone! I always knew I did,
anyway."
"Explain!" Minor ordered.
"Not one word's worth. This is where we're different parent-cell and I'm
holding onto that difference. I
am an individual, after all! Total-PSI or not, you're a zero like the rest of
them."
Minor pushed himself up and strode across the room. He didn't want to hear
this, or any more that might come. It shattered eighteen years forty years and
it scared him. But it had to be faced.
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He gave Minc one more chance. "Take some of those statements back, or explain
your whole meaning. Otherwise, I won't be responsible for what I do."
Minc countered defiantly, "The meeting is over, Counselor. Well see which one
of us they clone the next time. The deciding factor will be weakness or
strength, and I have the strength!"
Minor stopped still. This was too immense to let pass, and his silence flooded
the room with a tension that reached out to push against the walls.
"All right, boy
I'm coming
. Consent or not, trauma or not. Get ready to meet me, M-I-N-Clone! You're
hiding things that are too big for hiding."
Minc whirled to run, but Minor was on him, crashing through his ego and down
into his id, sucking up its essence, pulling at it brutally, repelled by it
but forcing everything out Never moving from his place, he attacked his Clone,
and the boy fell against the door, receiving images in return images didn't
want, he either images of Minor's past fear and insanity and loneliness.
After four minutes of absolute silence, Minor was through. He pulled his mind
back, leaving Minc crumpled into himself. Minor turned away from the sight of
him, sick to his stomach, and more than that afraid.
So these were Minc's talked-of plans! No wonder he hadn't wanted to be probed.
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This boy was planning to destroy the world! And this boy could do it!
Minor gulped in air and crossed the room. He grasped Minc's shoulder and
thrust him away from the door. "Get out of my way," he cursed at the boy. "I
finally know you, and I have nothing to say."
He left with Minc's telepathic shrieks in his mind. "
Don't leave me NOW, for
God's sake! Don't! Help me! Please
!"
Minor didn't answer, but stamped on, letting the hard hit of his feet crush
down the shock that was numbing his brain.
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As he turned for his living quarters, he felt Minc's emotion change, going [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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