Telepath (A Hyllis Family Story #4)

by Laurence Dahners

  As Vyrda had spoken, Eva’s eyes had widened. She reached into the pocket of her apron and came up with a closed fist. “What’s in my hand?” she asked softly.

  “A silver,” Vyrda replied. Then she snorted, “Although, I could’ve guessed that from the fact Holly just gave you twenty-five of them.”

  Eva grinned and gave her a little shrug, “I might’ve had nothing in my hand.”

  Vyrda gave her a smile and a nod. She took a breath, “In any case, you have no reason to worry that I’ll give you away as witches. I’m just as guilty.”

  Eva said, “And you use it for your healings?”

  Vyrda nodded, “The most successful thing I do is lance infections. My spirit lets me guide the tip of the lance into the collection of pus—without missing, or hitting blood vessels like so many other healers do. I’ve learned one other thing I can do with my witchery. I pull away small fragments of the crusts that form in old people’s blood vessels. It improves the flow feeding their hearts or brains.”

  Eva blinked and breathed, “You can move things inside the body?”

  Vyrda nodded. “Little things.”

  Giving a sharp shake of her head as if trying to clear it, Eva asked, “What do you do with these… ‘crusts’ once you’ve pulled them loose?”

  “I pull them back and guide them to different vessels, letting them go block a vessel someplace that’s less important than the heart or brain. Preferably a big muscle.”

  Eva’s eyes widened a little. Despite Daum frantically shaking his head from behind Vyrda in an effort to suggest Eva not give their secret away, Eva spoke in an awed tone, “Oh. That’s a great idea.” She paused thoughtfully for a moment, then asked, “What else have you learned to do with your… ability?” She frowned at Vyrda, “We prefer ‘ability,’ or ‘talent,’ to ‘witchery.’”

  Looking desperately unhappy, Vyrda said, “Nothing. Despite thinking about it all the time, I haven’t been able to come up with anything else I can treat. However, just those two things have made me the most respected healer in Clancy Vail. But… but I want to do more.” She leaned forward beseechingly, taking Eva’s hands, “Will you teach me? Even if it’s only a couple of other things, I’d be able to help so many more people! I can come with your caravan. Even if I can’t find work in the caravan, I’ve saved some money. I could just pay for passage.”

  Eva gave the young woman a searching look, “You don’t have family who’ll tell you not to go?”

  “My parents are dead. I have a fiancé. He’ll just have to wait.”

  Eva looked up at Daum. He shook his head.

  She looked back down at Vyrda, “I’d love to teach you what I can.”

  Daum rolled his eyes. I don’t know why I think I’m the head of this family.

  Eva continued talking to Vyrda, “But, we’re thinking about leaving the caravan and living, at least for a while, in Clancy Vail. We really could use someone who knows their way around the town. Someone who could guide us while we’re trying to decide whether that’s what we want to do. Even help us find work and a place to live.”

  She’ll never go for having a competing healer move into town, Daum thought, hoping that might break up this budding relationship.

  Vyrda shrieked her delight, embracing Eva.

  ~~~

  When Daussie came around the end of the wagon and first saw Kazy, Kazy was already looking up at her with a warm smile. She always manages to do that, Daussie thought. Remembering how Kazy’d had a fixation on Daussie shortly after Kazy was rescued, Daussie wondered, does she constantly track me with her ghost? Is that how she always knows when I’m coming?

  Kazy’d stopped following Daussie everywhere, so Daussie’d thought her fixation was dissipating. But Kazy’s ability to always be looking at Daussie when they first came in sight of one another seemed eerie. If she’s constantly tracking me with her ghost, how does she ever get anything done?

  As Daussie approached, she gave Kazy a curious glance, “Are you hypnotizing cats now?”

  Kazy looked down at the big cat sprawled, sound asleep, across her lap. “I don’t know. Maybe? When I pet them and think soothing thoughts at them, they fall asleep—just like people.” Kazy’s head suddenly turned to the side. She glared that direction.

  Daussie followed her eyes and saw the caravan’s guard Sam standing between two wagons. He was looking at her. This happened a lot and seemed a little bit creepy, but then Daussie often caught men looking at her. Turning back to Kazy, she asked, “Why’re you giving him such a hateful look?”

  “Because,” Kazy said, “he’s disgusting.” She looked back at Daussie, “One of the great things about staying here in Clancy Vail would be the fact that he wouldn’t be around anymore.”

  Daussie drew back at the vehemence in Kazy’s tone. “Why do you say that? He doesn’t seem so terrible to me.”

  “It’s what he thinks,” Kazy said, catching Daussie by surprise. “Don’t you feel him staring at you all the time?”

  Daussie shrugged, “Well, yeah. But it’s one of those facts of life that men tend to look at women. He’s not the only one doing it, you know?”

  Kazy snorted, “You’re gorgeous. Every man follows you with his eyes. But Sam…” She glanced at him, “You feel what he’s thinking, right?”

  “I suppose,” Daussie said uncomfortably. She’d been told that men thought about sex a lot, but she didn’t really want to contemplate the possibility they might be thinking about having sex with her when they stared.

  “So,” Kazy gave her a searching look, “you don’t think what he’s thinking about’s a lot worse than what other men think?”

  Daussie narrowed her eyes, “You think you know what he’s actually thinking? You don’t think you’re just guessing?”

  “You don’t know what he’s thinking?!” Kazy said, an astonished expression on her face.

  “No! Of course not.”

  The two cousins stared at one another for a moment. Finally, Daussie quietly ventured, “What am I thinking now?”

  “That I might be crazy,” Kazy replied.

  Daussie giggled, “You might have figured that out from what we’ve been saying… I’ve picked a number. What is it?”

  Kazy frowned, “Come a little closer.”

  Feeling a little unnerved, Daussie said, “You really think you’ll be able to read my mind for the number?”

  Kazy crooked a finger at her.

  Daussie stepped closer and, with trepidation, asked, “What is it?”

  Kazy frowned, “Now you’ve got to actually think the number…” A moment later, she said, “Five.”

  “Oh… My… God!” Daussie said, suddenly sitting down. She felt like all the strength had suddenly trickled out of her legs.

  “Wait,” Kazy said, “you can’t do that? What’s the number I’m thinking?”

  Staring at her cousin, Daussie said, “I have no idea.”

  “Come on. You’ve got to at least make a guess.”

  Daussie shrugged, “Seven?”

  Kazy slowly shook her head. “I’ve been thinking everyone could do it. But now… now I’m realizing I don’t think I always could. I think it just came on so gradually I didn’t notice…” She paused, apparently to think for a moment, “Wait, maybe I just think I can do this.” She turned her gaze on Daussie, “Think of another number… Two. Another. A hundred and fifty-one. Seventy-six. Eleven thousand, three hundred and fourteen.”

  “Those were all correct,” Daussie whispered. “Is this… Is this why you make up your mind about people so quickly? You know, how you decided that Farlin, Nylin, and Grace were good people? I mean, honestly, you decided that before you’d hardly even talked to them.”

  Kazy frowned introspectively, “Well, yeah. But… you agreed with me.”

  Daussie’s eyes flashed wide, “Are you influencing my… our thoughts?!” She looked down at the cat, “Is that why our patients go to sleep while you’re sitting up by their heads whispering to t
hem?” They sat and stared at one another for a moment, then Daussie said, “It isn’t hypnotism at all is it?”

  Kazy looked down at the cat for a moment. It suddenly leaped to its feet and trotted away. “Maybe I am,” she whispered as if horrified. “I just thought ‘wake up’ at that cat and… it did.”

  ***

  With Vyrda going as their guide, Daum and Eva started toward the town. Vyrda was going to help them figure out whether they’d like to live in Clancy Vail. The rest of the Hyllis group would all go into town separately. They’d agreed to meet back at the wagon at sunset in order to discuss what they’d learned. Thus, they were surprised when Daussie and Kazy came hurrying up behind them. Daussie said, “Mom, Dad… Kazy and I have something important to talk to you about.” Her eyes flicked towards Vyrda, and she continued, “It should be private.”

  Eva said, “Then I should go first. I’ve taken on Vyrda as an apprentice healer.” She waited a moment for the shock and confusion to fully register on their faces. Then she glanced around and continued quietly, “Vyrda’s telekinetic. At least now she’s not as strong as Tarc, but it’s still a wonderful talent. I’m hoping Tarc’ll be able to teach her to increase her strength like he’s taught the rest of us.”

  Daussie and Kazy gave Vyrda wide-eyed looks. Eva feared Kazy’d look hurt that someone else had telekinesis while she didn’t, but to her relief Kazy looked just as excited as Eva felt, saying “That’s great!” even before Daussie seemed to fully register the import of her mother’s statement.

  Eva couldn’t help smiling broadly, “I’ve always wanted to be able to teach a big group. Our knowledge and the knowledge in our books should be spread widely. My mom said, ‘When we heal a patient, we only heal that one patient. But, if we teach someone else to heal, we can think of ourselves as healing everyone that healer cares for as well. It’s something like the old saying about, ‘Give a man a fish—’”

  Vyrda stumbled, “You have books?! Books about healing?”

  Eva caught Vyrda’s arm, supporting her while she nodded. Despite being able to sense Daum’s tension and his distinct wish that she wouldn’t, she said, “Yes. Medical books from the ancients. They’re fragile because they’re so old. You’ll have to be very, very careful with them, but they’re filled with invaluable knowledge.”

  “Can I…” Vyrda cleared her throat, “can I copy them?”

  Eva nodded again, “I think everyone who reads them should copy them when they do so. We won’t be able to copy the pictures—”

  “Oh by the Gods! Pictures too?”

  Eva nodded and stopped walking, a little worried that Vyrda was hyperventilating so much she might pass out. “Slow your breathing Vyrda. We’ll just stop here a moment while you come to grips.” She turned to Daussie, “What’s your news?”

  Blandly, as if it were an everyday announcement, Daussie said, “Kazy’s a telepath.”

  “She’s what?” Eva said, having to search her memory for exactly what a telepath was. “Uh, she can read minds?”

  Daussie shrugged, “Kind of. She’s much better with attitudes and emotional states. You remember how quickly she decided Farlin, Nylin, and Grace were good people? Before she even spent much time around them? But, if you want proof, let her stand really close to you and think of some numbers. She’ll be able to tell you what they were.”

  Eva’s eyes tracked over to Kazy. “Is that why… why Tarc getting all excited about Daussie being able to drill holes woke you up that night we were talking about it?”

  Kazy looked surprised, “Maybe? I hadn’t thought of that until just now. But, when someone gets stirred up, their thoughts are really… I guess you’d say ‘loud.’”

  Wanting to observe it for herself, Eva tested Kazy with a few numbers. “That’s amazing,” she said, stepping back and thinking such a talent had to be useful, though she wasn’t quite sure what for. Tentatively, she said, “You’d be able to tell us if patients are withholding information, or lying, or even malingering…”

  Daussie was shaking her head, “She can probably do those things too Mom, but her talent’s how she’s been putting people to sleep while we’ve been working on them. She isn’t hypnotizing them, or just calming… Well, I guess she is calming them, but it’s much more than just that she’s talking soothingly to them. With her ability, she can actually change their emotional state, calm them, wake them, or put them completely to sleep.”

  Kazy looked at Daum, “For instance, I can tell you that Daum’s really worried about how we’re talking about all this stuff in front of Ms. Soh.” She turned her attention to Vyrda, “But I can also reassure him that Ms. Soh has nothing but the best intentions. She really does want to learn whatever she can from Eva. She wants to support our mission to heal people with all of her ability.”

  Daussie interjected, “She can also tell when people have unsavory inclinations or intentions. That might be really helpful when we’re trying to negotiate deals.”

  Wide-eyed, Vyrda said, “You can make people sleep through having a boil lanced?”

  Kazy shrugged, “Maybe? I’ve only helped people sleep while Tarc was also freezing their nerves. Maybe I can’t make them sleep when their nerves are transmitting something really painful like that.”

  A hopeful look blossomed on Vyrda’s face, “Tarc freezes people’s nerves with his telekinesis? Is that something I might be able to do?”

  “Yeah,” Eva waved a hand toward Clancy Vail. “You look like you’re feeling good enough that we could walk while we’re talking?”

  They all started walking. Eva decided not to quiz Kazy about her telepathy until they had a little privacy. She turned to Vyrda, “Tarc says that if he really concentrates, he can feel little tiny things moving around inside of a substance. He thinks they might be atoms or molecules, though of course we have no way to tell how small the things he senses actually are. They’re flying around when we’re talking about a gas like air. They roll past one another in a liquid like water. They only vibrate in something solid. Anyway, he can use his telekinesis to make them hold still, which makes them get cold, or speed up, which makes them get hot. You probably know how cold makes fingers go numb. But, even without actually freezing a nerve, just stopping the motion of the molecules in a nerve makes them stop working. You can try it on yourself with the little nerves running over your collarbone.”

  “Oh,” Vyrda said, getting a look of focus on her face suggesting that she’d just sent her ghost into the tissue over her collarbone. Her eyes brightened and she looked up questioningly, “Are the ‘nerves’ these little ropy things running down from my neck, over the collarbone and out toward my chest?”

  Eva gave her a startled look, then said, “Sorry. I keep thinking you know this stuff, but of course no one’s ever taught you even the basics of anatomy, have they?”

  Vyrda produced a sad exhalation, “I don’t even know what ‘anatomy’ means.”

  Eva patted her shoulder, “You’ve got a huge amount to learn. Sorry. Anatomy means how all the parts of the body are arranged, which you probably already understand from sending your ghost into people. But you need to learn what those parts do. You’ve also got to learn their names so we can talk to each other about them.”

  Vyrda frowned, “Ghost is your word for what I call my spirit?”

  Eva laughed, “I’d imagine so. I’ve been thinking that ‘ghost’ isn’t a good word for it because it might frighten people who hear us talking about it. ‘Spirit’ isn’t much better. We need a completely new word so people will just be confused, not frightened. She glanced around at everyone, “How about ghirit?”

  No one dissented, though there were a few chuckles.

  Eva turned back to Vyrda, “Tarc said he started by focusing his ghirit on the tip of his finger, then trying to speed or slow the molecules there, feeling for the heat or cold. Wait, you might have to start at a more basic level of trying to use your ghirit to feel the molecules.”

  “Okay,” Vyrda said, l
ifting her finger and staring at it with a look of intense concentration.

  “While you’re doing that, I’m going to talk to Kazy,” Eva said.

  She toward her niece. “So, you’re going to be our anesthesiologist?”

  “Anesthesiologist?”