BOOK 4: PREPARATION / CH. 17:MEETING OF MINDS

WEDNESDAY, 6TH DECEMBER, 6PM

Harriet read the message she'd got a few hours earlier. 'Dear Harriet, You have been selected to be one of fourteen members of Security taking part in a combined test of civics awareness and training/discussion event, to take place by royal command. The meeting will take place in meeting room three, royal protection wing, the Palace. Starting time will be 9am, on Friday, 8th December, refreshments will be available from 8.30am, and meals will be provided. No end time has been set. Your supervisor has been informed, but please discuss any hand-over arrangements or other responsibilities. In the event of illness or major injury, either to yourself or a close family member this assignment may be annulled. Inconvenience, prior plans or other minor issues are not acceptable motives. This assignment is for you individually; a replacement is not acceptable. Your ticket is attached.'

“Well, two of fourteen! That is, you are going too, aren't you, Jim?”

“Yes. Too late to bottle out now.”

“Indeed. You're known now. I have the feeling that getting yourself arrested by the police might be counted as a minor issue, too. I never expected the meeting to be at the palace, though.”

“Well, it makes some sort of sense. It is by royal command, after all, and it's a secure location.”

“True.”

----------------------------------------

9AM. FRIDAY, 8TH DECEMBER

The little group of people, mostly arriving one by one, had showed their assignment note to the gate guard, followed the initial directions and then signs and behind the door of a room called meeting room three, they found tea and coffee, biscuits and other slightly nervous people. Everyone had arrived with gloves on, of course, it was a cold day outside, but no one had taken them off yet.

There were fourteen people in the room, they noticed, then the door opened.

Most of them recognised Maria, and there was a short woman behind her that no one knew.

Maria spoke first. “Hello, people. Thank you for coming. We might need you one day, but perhaps you need each other more than we need you. I won't stay long. First of all, some facts. You all have the same abilities as the former king had, and Roland Underwood also had, before certain brave Christians gathered round him and prayed that it would be taken from him. In the queue at his local fish and chip shop, I understand.

“I know very well that Roland had it, because my nasty little brother used it on me when we were growing up, before I joined Security. If I'd been a little braver and had told His Majesty about my brother as soon as I joined, then history might have been a little different. But, I had no idea that he'd know exactly what I was trying to describe, and I fully expected I would be laughed at. I've been wearing gloves since I joined Security; I told people it was to cover the scar on my hand. People who I was close to, I told that my brother had burned it there. I didn't tell anyone the real reason wasn't vanity, but carefulness. You know the real reason. Any questions that you need me to answer? Oh, this is Bella, she's got the same ability you have, and is going to lead the meeting.”

“Do we need to know who it was that contacted us?” Jim asked.

“Not unless she tells you. I know her, Bella knows her, as do the royal family. If she contacts you again, know that you can trust her, and she will not knowingly deceive you. She can contact the royal family and be contacted by them, and might on occasion ask you things on their behalf. She has clearance to know the answer. If she asks you to look something up, do. Assume that she speaks with the same authority as I do, and will not abuse it.”

“So the royal family know she's one of the fifty-six?” Trevor asked.

“Yes.”

“But she's not here?” Jim asked.

“You have no need to know where she is, who she is, how old she is, or anything else about her.”

Bella added “There is one question she's asked me to pass on, for you to think about. Will you give her the permission to check your thoughts so that she can hear the answers to her questions? The easiest way for her to get answers is like she was holding your hand, except that you won't get anything from her unless she deliberately sends it to you. If you insist on mental privacy, she won't invade — you could still answer simple questions by moving around the room or something clumsy like that — but it'd be much easier on her if she doesn't need to do that. Not to mention less obvious.”

“How long has she known about us?” Harriet asked Maria.

“Bella, I think you were there?”

“Yes. We'd had the idea that her gift could be useful, say in the event that there was a total collapse in the communications network, and prince Albert asked her how many people there were in Security with the Power. She checked, and found thirteen dots. One of the dots turned out to be two people walking down a corridor in the Academy, holding hands, another dot was half way up a mountain, Trevor. Nigel would say hi, by the way, but he doesn't know about you being here, or about this meeting as far as I know. So, she's known how many of us there were since early November. She only found out names just before contacting you.”

“Does Nigel know her?” Trevor asked.

Bella looked to Maria “I know the answer, but I don't know if this is needed information.”

“Yes, Nigel knows her, and knows that she talks to the royal family quite a lot.” Maria responded. “I don't know if he knows she has the gift, and I'm sure he'd be too discreet to talk about it even if you asked him, Trevor.”

“Can I ask who Nigel is?” someone asked.

“Trevor's brother, Nigel, is in royal protection. He's assigned to prince Albert, I'm assigned to Eliza, so we seem to bump into each other quite a lot and also get to meet unusual people.”

“Bella has some other claims to fame.” Maria said, “One is that she was Eliza's witness protection officer, and when Bella was called to a meeting and her replacement got herself locked into a transport with total systems failure, it was Bella that brought Eliza here to the palace and introduced her and prince Albert to each other.

You may consider yourselves warned that none of you have a need to know the circumstances of that meeting, any events at it or any other claims to fame that Bella has. Of course, if Bella accidentally thinks about those things and you pick it up, you will treat that as an accidental overhearing of classified information, and won't repeat any of it to anyone, including each other. Understood?”

“Yes, Maam.” fourteen voices replied.

“Good. Right. Since you've been called to a civics test, here it is. A young officer in Security was putting in all the over-time she could to save up for a deposit on flat of her own. Hands up who knows why Bella is turning red?”

Trevor looked at Bella and asked “Really?”

“No one ever told me.”

Trevor, along with those his age and above raised their hands.

Harriet raised hers half way. Maria, looking around the room, decided to pick on Harriet, but not to say say anything.

“You'd like me to answer, Maam?” Harriet asked after a little.

“Yes please. But first tell everyone how you knew.”

“I heard you decide to pick on me, but not to say anything. I guess that's a lesson, but I'm not very sure what about. As for the answer, I guess it's because there was something that Bella should have known, maybe should have learned at school. But I didn't learn it either.”

“The answer is that you have the right to request suitable housing, and the civil Service has the duty to provide it. The lesson is that even in the middle of a group of thought-hears, there can be secrets. You were all here, but only you got the message, Harriet, indeed only you knew there was a message passed.

That is ever so ever so useful. I've been in situations where I knew I was being watched by unfriendly eyes, but I needed to pass on a message. I had to try and contact someone by eye signals or work out how to pass a note. I didn't always succeed. If you'd been there, then I could have wandered near to you and thought 'I must get Harriet to tell Bill “run home now! “' No note, no eye signals, not even a touch. But a message gets passed on. It's only one way, but I hope you see that knowing of your ability could be useful to Security. Thank you for coming. Right now, the only people in Security who know your names and that you have the power are Bella and I. The royal family know what this meeting is about, the gate guards know who's invited, but the guards know better than to ask, and the royal family are trusting Bella and me to tell them what they need to know, when.

“You youngsters, my brother wanted you to know nothing about your rights, and the system failed to protect you from his plans. I'm sorry. There's a pile of data-crystal books on civics by the door, feel strongly encouraged to take a copy. Otherwise, have a nice meeting, get to know each other, learn more about your power, and come up with a good motive to meet again if you want to, I'm sure if it's good enough then you can persuade me. Lunch is at one, dinner is at six. Bella knows how to get tea, coffee and so on. I'll leave you to it. Oh, as part of getting to know each other, you have my permission to tell each other where you're assigned, and in very general terms what you do, but no needless information sharing about work, please.”

With that, she left.

“Agenda item one: did anyone miss out on tea or coffee, or want a refill?” Bella asked.

It turned out that several refills were needed. It had been an early morning for some people.

“Agenda item two: does anyone have any objection to name badges? I know they're useful for some people.” No one did, so they were handed out.

“I suggest that we just use first names and our departments. The interesting box in the corner is not a rubbish bin, but a laser incinerator. We can use that for the badges at the end, along with any notes we might make. We've got a stack of paper for that. Please, no notes on wrist units, and nothing to leave the room, except in your head, without everyone agreeing to it. Is that acceptable to everyone?”

There was one query, from a man Bella didn't know, “I'm sorry, why might we want to make notes?”

“I'm thinking that perhaps we might want to temporarily write down some ideas in a brain-storming session, for example, or we might want to write a few notes to remind ourselves of the things we've learned. Unless everyone knows about hiding your thoughts and sending images, for example. I'd love to know if there are other aspects of this power that I don't know about, so perhaps we should write those up too.”

“I get it. So we list what we know, prioritise them, and if we have things that we can't all do by the end of the meeting we tell Maria we need to have another one?”

“Exactly. And my suggestion is we all take a copy of the book as evidence that we've been a focus group on civics, and that we're modernizing the school textbook and looking for things that Security personnel should all know. We'll even do some of that, after lunch, so that we don't need to lie to our colleagues about it. OK?”

“Surely there's people better qualified than us to do that?”

“Yes, But unless you want to wear a T-shirt saying 'Let's touch hands so I know what you're thinking', then it's good to have a plan of what to say. What I'm trying to do is keep things plausible. and truthful. So, this morning we had a test and discussion on some aspects of civics, then after lunch we can start on looking at the book. We don't need to let on that it was only one question and two minutes of discussion or however long it was, or that we only spend half an hour on the book.”

“And this morning we also spent time talking through exactly how we'd proceed with the task we've been given.” Trevor offered.

“Exactly. And we need to introduce ourselves too, don't we? Can we do that now?” There were nods “OK, I'm Bella, royal protection, as you've heard. I share the power with my Mum, and she taught me sending pictures but I thought of it as a child's game, until I saw one of the fifty-six using it for real stuff. One of them also taught me to hide my thoughts, which, by the way, is how they managed to surround Underwood to pray against him. Oh, I'm also a Christian, as of a few weeks ago, and very happy to answer simple questions about God, but I probably have to pass on complicated ones. I have no siblings or romantic attachments.”

“I'm Jim, still in training. I don't know anything about hiding thoughts or sending pictures. I think of myself as a sort of Christian, but from what I hear others might not agree. No siblings, but I guess it was me and Harriet holding hands. We've been tending do to that a lot for the last month or so.”

“I'm Harriet, still in training. My gran talked about hiding thoughts before she died, but said I was too young to learn. I think she sent me pictures, at least it rings a bell. She also always seemed to know just when I was going to thump my little brother. I don't know how she did that, but I guess it's part of the power.”

“Protecting my little ones, I call it,” offered a woman almost ready for retirement. “I could do it for my kids when they were little. I don't know if it still works. My name's Helen by the way, but it's not my turn yet, so I'll stop until it is.”

“As you've gathered, my name is Trevor, I'm in Analysis, and my big brother is called Nigel. I've been a Christian for over a decade so hopefully I can answer questions about God that Bella can't, or at least I know who to ask. I don't know of anyone in my family with the power, but when I was eight or so I met an old lady with it who reassured me that I'm not a total freak. As Bella's hinted, I enjoy the odd bit of mountaineering, and I have a dog called Fido. No other siblings, I'm single, and I've no idea what you're talking about when you say hiding thoughts or the rest.”

“I'm Chris, I work in Communications. My wife also has the power, but she's military comms, so I guess that's why she didn't get an invitation here. She taught me to hide my thoughts, and I'd like to know about this sending pictures thing and protecting kids. One son, he's called Terry, and is six months old.”

“I'm Rachel, in Auditing. I'm glad there's not many of us, because if there were then I'd need my husband with me. No living relatives with the power, but my husband knows I have it. I also got met by an elderly woman when I was eight. She told me that when I was older I wouldn't like crowds and boy, was she right. She called it the Pain. She met me again when I was fourteen and taught me to hide my thoughts to escape the Pain, and warned me about not doing it too long. We'd moved house in the mean time, but she walked right up to the door as though she visited every week. She's one of the gifted, I'm sure, If she's still alive. She also taught me about sending pictures but I'm very rusty, and I'd like to know about this protecting kids from danger. I've got two lovely kids: a boy aged twelve and a girl aged ten, and I hope we don't go on until dinner time because my husband's a rotten cook.”

Bella mentally revised the day. “The exact agenda's up to us. My plan is that we should try and finish the work section by five, or five thirty, and then those of us without family commitments can stay and socialise, and maybe do some discussion about civics. Does that suit everyone?”

“Finishing by five would be excellent.” Rachel answered.

“OK. Five it is. You said the Pain wasn't right from the start? When did you start getting it?”

“When I was about twelve, I guess.”

“And what does your husband being with you do?” Helen asked.

“Somehow him being there blots it out, or at least makes it tolerable. I don't know how. The old lady said it might happen. She also said that being in a worshipping church was wonderful, and I agree. I'm happy to talk about God too, but perhaps that sort of talk ought to be over meals or after I'm gone, if we've got a long agenda.”

“I'm Helen, my kids are married, but no grand-kids yet. I used to be field work, but got a bit old for that and now I'm training ignorant youngsters like these two. Don't expect better marks, because we share the power, Jim, or Harriet, it doesn't work like that. But do feel free to ask for a chat. Hmm. We'll have to do something about separating you at exam times, too, won't we? And make sure you're not able to touch the iron radiators. Complications, complications! I love them! Oh, my husband's retired, or I guess he'd be here too. I can do hiding and pictures too. It's handy when sending my husband shopping. Oh, since we're all confessing our faith, I'm Romano-baptist, which for the ignorant is the wing of the Roman Catholic church where only believers are baptised and we think the Pope is probably right if he agrees with the Bible.”

“Isn't that heretical, according to Catholic doctrine?” Trevor asked.

“Well, we've got various church fathers on our side, and they decided a century ago that since we do accept the authority of the pope, they'd let us stay.”

“I see. Interesting!” Trevor said.

“I'm Naeel, I work in witness protection, and I was raised to be Moslem.” a man a little younger than Bella said. “Like Trevor, I never met anyone else with this power, before I met the old woman. She stopped me in the street when I was going to school one day, when I was twelve and troubled, and she touched my face, and spoke into my mind. Then she left as quickly as she'd come. As for family, I am engaged to someone, who has the power, but we argued... we are not talking at the moment. I wish it were not so.”

Eventually, once all the introductions had been made, Bella spoke again.

“Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that only the unmarried people here need to learn about hiding their thoughts. It's really important that everyone knows that, and I'll be happy to explain why, but my question is, would it be OK with everyone if we schedule that towards the end of the day, so that people with kids can go home to them while we stay on?”

There was general agreement. “Helen, you're the only one who has any experience hearing threats to your kids, and that sounds immediately useful for the younger parents here, but if we could apply that to anyone then it'd be really useful for me too, as a body-guard. It'd be easiest with kids, I'm sure, but we can't do that, so I think I'd like to put Jim and Harriet on the spot as the only couple here. If you think you could get them to be able to hear decisions affecting the other one, then perhaps we can all learn. Sending images is a skill that's sometimes useful, but that's not nearly so much a defensive skill as the others, so I'd like to put that towards the end of the main session, if that's OK with everyone. If we don't get to it, then that would be something we could cover in another meeting. Other agenda items that would come before that between are: one, a discussion on talking to my friend with the gift; two, another discussion about how the power might be useful to preserving national security in our present roles, or in another one if you'd consider a move; and last but not least I do think we should be ready to bore people to death about civics if they ask on Monday. Trevor, thinking about Monday, you and I need to have a private chat about that.” Trevor nodded.

“Is everyone OK with all of that?”

“I've no idea if I can teach how to protect kids, but I'll give it a go.” Helen said. “I was worrying for a moment that you were building the whole day around an unproven skill I might not be able to teach anyone.”

“We all know that we can instinctively pick up thoughts that affect us, out of the noise. That sounds like our brains are doing a wonderful job of filtering and interpreting.” Trevor said. “My guess is that Rachel's filters aren't quite as effective as the rest of us at blotting out the noise. The question I have then is whether we can alter our filters to include others, or if we do that then we're risking opening ourselves up so that we end up with Rachel's pain. I don't think we'd want that one bit.”

“I understand.” Bella said, “So, would you suggest that we don't even try, but stick to things we know can be taught?”

“It'd be safer.” Harriet said.

“So would staying in bed.” Jim countered.

“The old lady spoke as though she knew what the Pain was like, and she knew I'd develop it. I don't know how she knew that, but maybe it's genetic, or something that I don't have the right filters.” Rachel said.

“It also might be that your filters are just as good, but your receiver is better.” Chris said. “I mean, I can't tell if someone three metres from me is making a decision concerning me, so I've no idea how you can hear a whole church congregation.”

“I think I'd hear decisions further than three metres.” Rachel said.

“Good point.” Trevor acknowledged. “Is there some way we can test how good Rachel's receiver is?”

“Of course.” Jim said. “Extension of the hand-slapping game kids play. We blindfold her and give her ear-plugs, and then see how far away we need to be to throw something at her without her noticing. You can try it on me first if you like.”

“I don't suppose the Institute for the Human Mind have done this sort of research, have they?” Helen asked.

“Not that they've published.” Chris replied.

“Would you like me to ask?” Bella queried. “I know some staff there.”

“It could save us some funny looks when we move into the corridor. I mean, this room isn't very big.” Rachel said.

“OK, I'll step out and make that call, and find out what if anything they know anything about the Pain at the same time. Not to mention protecting kids. Shall we call this a good time for a coffee break?”

----------------------------------------

“Hi Sarah, it's Bella. Kate said you were the person to talk to about some questions we've got here.”

“Oh yes? What's that then?”

“We're having a meeting of Security staff with the Power. Someone mentioned that their gran could tell when she was about to beat up her little brother, and another woman said she'd been able to do the same thing.”

“My mum could do the same. No threats to me unnoticed.”

“Can it be taught? If so, then some parents would like to know how, if I could watch over Eliza like that it'd be an extra advantage.”

“Hmm. No idea. I can ask around though.”

“Please. Next question is about the Pain. We've got someone here with it. She said it only developed later in childhood, maybe twelve years old.”

“Poor thing. You know I have it?”

“I thought it sounded familiar, but I wasn't sure. She says it's OK when her husband is with her.”

“Why do you think I stay with John as much as I can? He makes a noise-proof blanket of love to wrap me in.”

“That's roughly what she said too. Apparently she got warned that she'd get it when she was eight by an elderly woman with the gift. At least, she presumes she had the because she knew exactly where to find her again when she was fourteen.”

“Oh, that's interesting!”

“Said lady cropped up several times, in fact, reassuring confused eight year olds who didn't know anyone with the Power, mostly.”

“Curiouser and curiouser. Might have been Mama Ng, Arwood's mum. She died early in the summer.”

“Oh. So, we've got two thoughts circulating at the moment: one is poor filters, the other is unusually good receiver. Have there been any experiments on what the range of decision-detecting is?”

“No. But I think the receiver option is more likely. I get more insights when I use part of the gift than most people. Feel free to experiment if you like. You think it's important?”

“We'd like to learn this watching over kids, loved-ones or clients if we can, but don't want to touch our mental filters if that's the way to the pain.”

“Good point. I doubt it is, though. But I'll ask."

“While you do, can you find out if there are any other bits of the power that we don't know about? We're aware of hiding thoughts, images and this thing for protecting children.”

“OK. Will do. Is it urgent?”

“It is rather. We're trying to set the agenda for the rest of the day. If we can't teach it, then there's no point trying and we can get on with other things.”

“OK, I'll give it a go. Shall I call by phone, or just call?”

“Feel free to just shout it to me. There's a bit too much shielding in that room for phones to be a hundred percent reliable.”

“OK. No problem.”

“Thanks!” Bella said and went in search of Trevor. He wasn't hard to find, and it seemed a good time to talk. Coffee was still being drunk, and smaller conversations were taking place.

“Bella, you thought we should talk?”

“It occurs to me that us getting to know each other today makes Monday complicated. Does Nigel know you've got the power?”

“No.... no he doesn't. Or at least, I don't remember telling him and he's never mentioned it. I couldn't explain before, it was too weird and embarrassing, but I've been meaning to tell him, now the institute made everything public. I'd thought I would on the November trip, but I just didn't get the chance I thought I'd have.”

“He doesn't know I have it either, that's mostly because the topic's not come up. He wasn't there when we were discussing this meeting. In case you're worried about his reactions, I know that he knows some people who are thought-readers, and he appears to have just taken it in his stride.”

“That's reassuring.”

“I thought so, too. So, I've no motive not to tell him, I just haven't. You might have when you were four, I don't know. But we're booked into the staff restaurant — perfectly normal when there's a meeting here, but Nigel could turn up. Alternative one, we could ask to eat here, and pretend not to know each other on Monday. Alternative two, you could tell him you're here and why, and we don't need to pretend. Alternative three, we make it up as we go along, and see if he drops his tray in surprise. By the way, he suggested you come along next week, saying Fido would love it.”

“He will, I'm sure. Is he off duty? I think I'd like to tell him.”

“I'm not sure. I can call him even when he isn't though. Privileges of the job. Want me to tell him you're here? Maybe you could chat at lunch.”

“Yes, please.”

“OK.” Bella said, and rang Nigel. “Hi, are you on duty?”

“Yes, in transit at the moment, though, so I can talk.”

“Oh, of course, that businessman's lunch. Will you be back for dinner? Visitor here in a meeting who knows you.”

“Oh? Who's that then? I'll be there.”

“Your brother.”

“Really? What's the meeting about?”

“Cover story is that it's a civics working group. Trevor can tell you more face to face, if he wants to, but if he does then don't tell anyone else what he tells you, or ask about other participants, OK?”

“Sounds undercover.”

“Oh, it is. Very hush-hush. Only the royal family, Maria and us participants know what it's really about.”

“You're another participant?”

“I'm nominally leading it, if you must know. I'd better go and lead.”

“OK, bye then.”

“Bye.” Bella said and disconnected. “You were staying for dinner, I hope?”

“Yes. Fido won't starve, and I need to learn.”

[Bella?] Sarah called. [Initial results: not much more to learn. Anyone can learn to hear decisions affecting others, but it takes a pretty deep emotional tie, so it normally only shows up between spouses and parents towards their kids. Maybe siblings. The Pain is rare, about two percent of women with the power have it, and guesses are that it's a sensitive receiver. You're welcome to test it, no one else has as far as I could find out. And it's only ever been found in women, by the way.]

[Congratulation on being one of the ultra few. Does that mean you're the only one of gifted with it?]

[Thanks. No, actually there are three of us. I don't know what that means other than statistics aren't the same as a law. And it was Mama Ng. It's not something that everyone does, but she thought it was important.]

[Thanks. I'll pass on about the statistics. Should I say about Mama Ng?]

[You can tell people she's dead now, but you've met one of her sons, who's a pastor.]

[Thanks! All that should help us. I don't suppose you know how we can learn to hear decisions about others?]

[Not really. Never tried it myself. Practice, maybe?]

[OK, I'll pass that on. I'd better get back to my meeting.]

[Bye!]

“Sorry, Trevor, I got a reply about the pain and other issues.”

“Mind to mind? I saw you not really looking at anything. Was it our mystery voice woman?”

“Yes to the first, no to the second. I'll tell all to everyone. Can we re-assemble, people? I've got some good news and bad news.”

Once they'd settled down, Bella announced: “I've just had a reply in answer to my query, from one of the gifted. She has the pain, like you Rachel, apparently it's only experienced by women, and someone obviously did some counting and the answer is that it's only experienced by two percent of women with the power, but at the moment there are three women amongst the gifted with it though. Which goes to tell you something about statistics or about God. No one's ever tested the range of decision-sensing, so we're welcome to if we like, and I'm sure the institute would be only too happy to publish it if we want it to be public. However, my thought is maybe we don't want it published. Why tell people how far away they need to be to plan things against us? The elderly woman that visited some of us was almost certainly known as Mama Ng, who's now gone from this world. Apparently I've met one of her sons, if anyone wants to pass on a message, he's a pastor.

“As for Helen's trick of watching out for her kids, apparently that's something that anyone with the power can learn, but my contact doesn't know how, since she's never done it. However, it normally needs a really close bond, like parent to child, or between husband and wife. I'm not sure where that leaves us.”

“Throwing balls of paper at a blindfolded Rachel for the sake of science?” suggested Harriet. “You can throw some at me too, for the sake of comparison. I hope that's OK, Rachel.”

“Oh, I've had worse thrown at me, that's fine.” Rachel laughed.

“A waste of paper though.” Bella said. “Wait a moment, I'll be back soon.”

She nipped to the supplies cupboard to check what was there.. One catering sized pack of multi-purpose cleaning sponges, and a pack of rubber bands.

“Ta-da! What do you think? I've got the rubber bands in case the foam's too light to fly otherwise.”

“Beautiful!” Trevor said, and Bella thought she heard an echo, as though there had been a decision with it. Had he decided she was beautiful, as well as her idea? She'd been playing with the idea of Trevor as romantic interest without actually deciding anything since she'd met him, but hiding her thoughts briefly, she resolved that if he was interested, then she was too. Bob from witness protection, the other single man in the group, was physically more impressive, but since he wasn't a Christian, then he was off the list. Unhiding she realised that playing with ideas to avoid decisions was another thing they needed to practice. She'd almost forgotten it in the excitement. “Are Harriet and Rachel ready to be targets?”

“Yes. At least I am.” Rachel said.

“Me too.” Harriet agreed. They stationed themselves at the far end of the room.

“Now, I guess in the interests of better science, we shouldn't change throwers, should we? Who's willing to bombard these volunteers?”

“I'll give it a go, but I'm not sure how throwable those sponges are, even with the rubber bands.” Chris said.

“You don't actually need to hit them, Chris.” Bella pointed out. “It just adds to the realism if you have some hope of doing it. Rachel, Harriet, if you hear a decision to throw at you, step sideways to avoid the missile, OK? We'll see how close Chris needs to be before you notice anything except the indignity of being hit by a flying sponge. Chris, you'll need to tell us who you were aiming at after each throw. I doubt they'll fly very straight.”

“Fine.”

Chris threw at Harriet first. The length was OK, but the aim was wrong. Harriet didn't react. “That was meant for Harriet.”

Bella handed him another two and he threw both, in quick succession.

Rachel moved two steps, as he threw. “Both at Rachel.”

Bella handed him another two. He aimed one at Rachel, who stepped straight into it's path, and the second at Harriet, it hit her, but she hadn't moved. “Rachel, then Harriet.”

“Interesting results so far, Chris please take a step forwards.” Bella said.

“Binary search should be faster; half, then quarter and so on, forwards or back depending on results.” Trevor said, pointing to the middle of the room.

“OK by me.” Chris said, launching another one at Harriet. She didn't react, so he stepped to about two metres from her, and threw again. That time she reacted. He stepped back a metre and threw again. She reacted, but hesitantly.

“I guess your range is around three and a bit metres, Harriet.” Chris said.

“And Rachel?”

“More than across the room. The only time she got hit was because it would have missed and she stepped into it's path.”

“Any other volunteers?” Bella asked.

“Let's see if Harriet can hear me better.” Jim said.

Collecting a pile of sponges, he went to about half way across the room, and launched one at Harriet. It hit her. He went half way to her — about two metres away, and threw. She moved. He stepped back to where he had been before and threw again, and scored a hit again. One metre back, he threw again. She moved. “Did you notice anything, Hari?” he asked.

“Yes. People keep throwing sponges at me, I want some revenge.”

“It's better to give than receive.” quipped Rachel.

“Do we have enough blindfolds to give Harriet and Rachel lots of targets?” Trevor asked.

“Good idea.” Bella asked.

It didn't take long for them to prove that Harriet was actually less sensitive than most people, and that Helen, with a range of six metres, was the most sensitive apart from Rachel. In fact, it seemed that there was quite a good correlation with age.

“Well, it looks like age wins on this measure.” Helen said. “Interesting.”

“Indeed. But I think we've got a definite answer, Rachel.” Trevor summarised “Your 'ears' are far better than the rest of ours.”

“And I bet your kids learned quickly that they can't get away with much when you're in the same room.” Helen said.

Rachel smiled. “They're good kids.”

“Another skill to practice.” Bella said, “isn't specific to us. That's to avoid making decisions in public. That's one Maria told me about, and I've been trying. It's not as good as hiding thoughts, of course, but if you can play with the idea, think around it, and so on, then you can be very ready to make the decision without having actually made it.”

“Should we practice?”

“We could, but I think that's a low priority task right now. However, it is one thing that Maria's asked us: Could we help others to practice it? It might be quite an advantage if our ambassadors and so on were able to avoid decisions that affect people who might overhear them.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Do we actually expect there to be a thought-hearing person in a meeting of ambassadors and heads of state?” Rachel asked.

“Well, we should. I won't tell you where she's from, but there's one woman thought-hearer who's been named as successor to the current ruler of a friendly nation.” Chris said.

“It would mean exposing our ability, I presume.” Helen stated.

“Yes.” Bella replied “Again, it would be a limited exposure, and it could be masked as something else, like this meeting.”

“But it's the sort of thing which might expand? Once the Ambassadors have been trained, then government ministers, and so on?” Helen pressed.

“Eventually, I'd expect so. Field operatives too, of course. It's even been suggested that there might even be a required module at the academy, training everyone with a certain level of clearance to watch their thoughts and keep the secrets in their heads safe.”

“Whoever does that work would need high clearance themselves.” Trevor said.

“Yes.” Bella agreed. “But while that excludes some people here, that's not a massive problem.”

“But the biggest risk is to their majesties, surely?”

“Along with the department heads.” Rachel pointed out. “I mean, they know more than their majesties.”

“Yes. I don't think we need to worry about training the royal family ourselves, though, and probably not department heads, either.” Bella said.

“Your friend with the nice mental voice?” Jim asked.

“She'd certainly be one possible and trustworthy individual, but there are others. Our nation is blessed with more than its fair share of gifted people.” Bella pointed out, “And as long as their identity is kept a secret, I've found them very willing to help the authorities.”

“Don't they insist on being apolitical?” Bob asked, as though not taking sides was a crime against humanity.

“I don't think think they would be willing to spy on anyone, if that's what you mean.” Bella said, “On the other hand, I don't think you'll find them offering to teach much to people working for oppressive regimes, either, but someone with the gift taught me to hide my thoughts.”

“So, they're neutral but try to have principles?” Bob asked.

“I think I'd say that they have a strong sense of right and wrong, and they're happy to be helpful to people who want to do the right thing.”

“And how do they know that they're not helping the bad guys?” He said, pressing the point.

“Bob, think about it. If they're suspicious of you, they can read you as though you were holding their hands anywhere from here to Jupiter. In the same room they're able to see the reasons behind your attitudes you don't know yourself, and to top it all off, if they really want to, they could also check your record in God's book of judgement.”

“And what if they're not suspicious enough?” Bob insisted.

Bella was getting frustrated. “Then, Bob, someone who knows them can ask them, as a favour, if there's anyone on the invitation list that is abusing their power or not to be trusted. Congratulations, you passed, just like everyone else here.”

“And you trust your friend. Of course you do!”

“Bob,” Trevor asked, “Just what is your problem?”

“I don't trust religious extremists not to be gullible fools, and these people who claim to have some God-given power sure count as extremists in my book.”

“Bob, you're here because you were identified as having the power by someone when she was sitting not very far from here, and she checked if there was anyone else there with you and saw you were probably in a meeting. She then checked up on you at roughly speaking half-hourly intervals until you got to be out of your meeting, and contacted you. All of this is surely evidence that her God-given power is real. She could have just written down everyone's names and handed the list to Maria, then we wouldn't have had all the extra work with setting up the special phone number, and the whole mystery voice competition wouldn't have happened. But I heard her insist to Maria and their Majesties that she let you to have a totally free choice about whether she identified you as having the power or not. Does that sound like someone overly trusting? A gullible fool?”

“I guess not.”

“Good. I'd also like to point out that the whole thing about identifying you using her gift was her idea in the first place. My earlier suggestion would have had me shaking everyone in Security's hand in an effort to set up this meeting.”

“Did she happen to tell you if there were any who didn't want to come?” Trevor asked.

“A full set, she said. Of course that's just Security, not military, or police.”

“Why do we get special treatment?” Helen asked.

“Because we know too much, more than we can admit to, more than we're supposed to, sometimes.” Chris said.

“And if some criminal thought-hearers identified us,” Bella said. “then we'd possibly face physical or mental torture to get us to think about things we wouldn't say. That's one place where hiding our thoughts comes in, by the way, but it's dangerous.”

“How is it dangerous?” Harriet asked.

“Because if you hide your thoughts a long time it becomes harder to unhide them. You can get stuck. And if you get really stuck then you'll get used to it and stay that way for life. Your thoughts will stay hidden for a few days, but you won't be hearing anything. Therefore, the most important thing about learning to hide your thoughts is learning how to get out, and getting to know trustworthy others with the power is also good, so they can remind you how to get unstuck in nice calming terms so that you don't panic too much.

If you can't get through to anyone, and you need help, then you could also call the Institute for the Human Mind. I won't say everyone there knows what to tell you off by heart, but they're learning, and they know how to pull it up on their computers, apparently.”

“So, help is only a call away, as long as we're in working hours?” Harriet asked.

“There is that. The advantage of working with the institute, of course, is the understanding and the anonymity. However, as I understand it they are planning to get the response programmed into psych-computers, and it's something we could tell the guys on the switchboard at control if you like.

Really, though, it's not rocket science at all. I'll tell you: When you're hiding your thoughts it feels like you're hiding in mud, the mud starts out runny, no problem at all to get out, but it's like it slowly gets sticky. To get out, you need to imagine yourself as a perfectly smooth, non-stick bubble floating to the surface. It sounds silly, but it works. Just don't panic or give up. That's it, make a note to tell your spouses, you married people. It is something that you're likely to panic about, even if you're not a panicking person. The closest thing I can liken it to is waking up and not being able to open your eyes. The first time is really scary, and it never gets pleasant.”

“But that's it?” Trevor asked, “Make yourself a bubble, and up you come? And a calm voice telling you what to do helps you not get panicked and spiky?”

“Exactly. Not exactly the sort of thing you need a few PhDs to administer, is it? But, on the other hand, if you call control and say 'Help, I was hiding my thoughts, and I've got stuck,' well, that's rather let the cat out of the bag, hasn't it?”

“But at the time, you won't care one fig.” Helen said, “So having alternatives: friends, relatives, the Institute and control is a really great idea. I only had my Mother and she was at work, giving a lecture in front of a hundred people, the first time I got stuck. I cared not one iota. The bubble works, by the way. Bubbles don't get confused which way's up. They float up all on their own. That's the great thing about them, it might take a time, but you'll get free in the end, praise God.”

Jim spoke up, “Can I ask, what's the longest time you've been stuck?”

“Well, like you know, I used to be in fieldwork. Lots of stories I still can't tell you, but... there was a time early in my career, I was caught by someone a long way away who had a torturer-cum-thought-stealer on his staff. Bad, bad time. The only thing to do was hide and hope for the rescue to come. Rescue came after almost a day, and the wounds healed eventually. I had plenty of time, lying there in hospital, for the bubble to work. Prayer helped too, of course. I'm sure I wouldn't be sane if I hadn't had prayer. And encouragement. I got some encouragement too — either it was an angel or someone got into the maximum security wing of the hospital some other way, and they told me that they had a message from God: I was half-way to the surface, and it wouldn't be long now. That was after a week, when I was about to give up. God's good, and I'm sure he could have got me out some other way, and sometimes I've wondered why he didn't. But, maybe, just maybe, it might be that he wanted me to use that bubble so I could tell you guys about it.”

“Helen, that's a powerful testimony,” Trevor said, “would you mind it being written down or otherwise recorded somehow, so it's not just us you encourage but others too?”

“You think so?” Helen said.

“Yes.” Bella and Trevor said at the same time.

“I'm sure.” Rachel said. “I've wondered, how long was it worth trying, if you got really stuck. I'd have thought it was all over if you weren't out by the time your thoughts started leaking again.”

“Well, I didn't have anything else to worry about, so maybe that helped.” Helen said modestly. “And like, I said, I was praying, so it might have all been a miracle. But... with that message, I don't think it was.”

“It doesn't sound like one, I mean, miracles are supposed to be obvious, aren't they?” Jim said. “But... I do think I want to learn a lot more about your version of God.”

“Then no, I don't mind writing it down. You know it's the first time I've told it all in one go? My husband knows, but he didn't get it all in one go.”

“Thank you for sharing it with us.” Bella said.

“And thank you, Father God, for bringing Helen through that terrible time with her faith, her life and her power.” Rachel prayed.

“Amen.” sounded from several voices around the room.

“I also thank Allah the merciful and compassionate that you are here to tell us, Helen.” Naeel said, “When the old woman spoke to me, I saw an image of a place of great peace where God washed troubles away, and she spoke into mind, saying 'Greetings to you, Naeel who hears thoughts, from my God, who provided the ram in the place of Abraham's son, and allowed them to crucify the sinless son of the virgin, so that he could display his power over the powers of darkness. One day, you will meet others who share your ability, who will tell you more of God's mercy. If you ask, they will also tell you of this place I have shown you.' And then she left me, with my mouth gaping like a fish. Was she right? Do you know of this place? How can I get there?”

There were blank looks around the room. And then Bella spoke, “I know of it, Naeel, I have spoken with my friend about it, but I have never been there, not as truly as she has been. I think that it is a Christian reality, that all Christians have a little of, that we can reach to if only we stop our busy-ness, and think, and rest in God. But it is also a place that those with the gift of supernatural knowledge can spend time, and be refreshed. I do not know why you were shown it.”

“Ah. A Christian place. I thank you, Bella. I must think.” He stood up and walked to the wall. “I must think.” he repeated, staring at the brickwork.

“I think I must talk to someone. There is more I have not said. Bella, you can contact your friend? I need counsel, an older man, who knows this wonderful place. Is it possible? I must talk to someone.”

“You say older? Is mid-thirties sufficient? There is the husband of the woman who contacted me earlier; I know him to be a wise man, who is not in Security but has clearance, if that is relevant.”

“A wise, trustworthy and impartial adviser. That is what I want. He has been married long?”

“Not very long. His first wife died suddenly, years ago.” Bella said.

“Ah. Yes, I would like to talk to this man. You can arrange it?”

“Yes. I can arrange it. How urgently?”

“For the sake of my fiancée, the sooner the better. But it does not need to be before we finish today.” Naeel replied.

“Then during lunch I will ask him when he can talk to you.” Bella concluded. “Helen, we don't have a massive amount of time, but can you try and explain what we'd need to do to know of threats to others?”

“I've been thinking, really I have. The best I can think of is that I probably thought of my kids as part of me. You know, you see them taking risks and you flinch. I guess that's why I don't think it'd still work. They're their own people now, they've got husbands and wives to look after them.”

“Can you remember when the last time was that you heard someone think something about one of them?”

“Yes. I can. My youngest, Brian, he's called. I was beside a young woman, and I heard her making very definite plans for Brian's future. She was deciding that his then-current girl-friend was no good for him, and she'd rescue him from impending doom.”

“Was she right?” Bella asked.

“I think so, and he obviously thought so too; they're married now.”

“So it isn't just threats?” Trevor asked.

“No, no more than it is with hearing decisions about yourself.”

“I've got an idea: it's a bit artificial, but let's all take a piece of paper and in nice big writing, write the name of someone who's really important to us, who we feel responsible for; the person who's most likely to get us running out of the door if there was a problem.” Bella passed out pens and paper, and quickly put her mother's name on her piece of paper, then while everyone else was thinking, she put two chairs back to back in the middle of the room.

“Now, I'm assuming that we're going to need to be close for this to work, but obviously not touching, so what we'll do is have one person sit in the chair facing the door, and then one by one we'll let three people sit on the other chair and try and make a non-threatening decision about the name on the paper, and we'll all try and listen in turn. How does that sound?”

“It's worth a go.” Helen said.

“Would you like to go first?” Bella said.

“OK.” Helen replied, her paper said 'Brian'. “Now what I'm going to be doing is thinking protective thoughts how helpless Brian is and how he gets into trouble without me around, which is a bit of a laugh, given that he's been married for five years now. But... that's the only way I've known it to work.”

“Who's up first?” Bella asked. No one volunteered. “Fine, I'll give it a go.”

Bella sat down, and thought to herself [I'll buy Brian a coffee.] But she wasn't sure it was a decision, after all, she wasn't likely to meet him, so she decided [I'll buy him a coffee if I meet him.]

“Get anything?” she asked.

“Nope.” Helen reported.

“Oh well. Who's next?”

It was... not unexpected, Bella decided, when they still had no results when they were half way though. Trevor was due next and he held up his paper with a flourish. It read 'Fido!' and he'd sketched a picture of his dog plunging into a river.

“Oh, well done!” Bella said, and decided on the spur of the moment that she needed to get Fido a bone.

“Really, Bella? He'll be your friend forever if you do!” Trevor asked.

Bella looked in shock at Trevor. “You heard?”

“Yes, shouldn't you be sitting down though?”

“I think I need to. You really heard that?”

“Yes. Bella's going to buy Fido a bone, everyone, for which she'll be on his top five people in the whole wide world list, at least until someone else buys him a bigger one.”

“I think that part of the problem is that we're not going to ever meet the people on these bits of paper.” Bella said, “But I'm due to meet Fido on Monday.”

“Oh? And do I detect a little romance in the air?” Rachel asked.

“Fido, Trevor, I, and some others have been assigned to a multi-speciality field operation.” Bella explained. “Since the others include Trevor's brother, we've been wondering how to pretend we don't know each other, or how to explain our meeting each without talking about this meeting.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Rachel said.

“It's OK.” Bella said, wondering what Trevor was really thinking.

“Trevor, have you ever heard anyone making decisions about Fido like that?”

“No, but then I'm not sure if I've ever thought about him quite like that either. It's true, but I've just not actively thought it.”

“Shall we continue? Or does everyone else agree that it's too artificial? I think we've shown it's feasible, where there's a genuine dependency.” Harriet asked.

“I agree.” Rachel said, then asked “Bella, should we do some of the inevitable civics stuff now, so that we've got more time for practising pictures? I mean, with only three of us able to demonstrate, it could take quite a long time.”

“Yes, by all means, let's move the civics up. Phase one is a little test that Maria's handed me. First we do it, then the experts among us get a laugh about where we went wrong and then we might even have some time before lunch to find faults with it.”

----------------------------------------

1:10PM

[Hi, Bella, are you free?] Sarah's mental voice came to her, as Bella was sitting down at the lunch table.

[Yes, meal time, and I was about to call you anyway.]

[Oh? Do you want to go first, or shall I?]

[I don't mind.]

[Then you go, I've got notes down already.]

[OK. One young man here, raised Moslem but I'd guess he's having doubts, met Mama Ng when he was a lad. She showed him an image of the Peace, and gave him a little message that could be taken as a prophecy about this meeting. He admits that he's not told us everything, but said he needs to talk to someone older than him, male, and who knows the peace.

I suggested John might be just the person, and he agreed — I called him the husband of the woman who'd just contacted me. Oh, he's also in the middle of some kind of major argument with his fiancée and they're apparently not talking at the moment, so he'd like to talk when we finish tonight if that's OK, so that he can resolve that.]

[Well! That's complex enough. I wonder why Mama Ng showed him the Peace! That's weird.]

[Not as weird as me being asked 'She said I'd be told more about it if I asked. Do you know about it? How can I get there?']

[How can he get there? Well, first he needs to change religion and then ask God for a scary gift.]

[You think just asking is enough?]

[Probably not. I'm sure there are lots of people who ask. My mum did, for instance. But then, John and I didn't ask, did we?]

[Not from how you tell it, no. What's your news?]

[About the pain. Did you do a range test at all?]

[Yes. Most of us had a range of three to five metres, which increased with age. Rachel who has the pain could hear anywhere in the room.]

[But you didn't reach the limits of her range?]

[No, just more than eight metres or so.]

[According to tests we've just done, you'd probably have found she had a range of around thirty metres. At least, that's my range and the range of the other two.]

[Wow.]

[Yes, that's what I thought. There's also news on protecting people.]

[Yes?]

[They pretty much have to need protecting in your mind. Like, they're not safe out of your sight.]

[That ties in with what we found here. One participant used to have it regarding her son, but apparently she felt that once he married he wasn't her problem any more.]

[I'm sure his wife appreciates that attitude!]

[Yes, me too. I've got a lot of respect for that woman — mother not wife that is. She had a very traumatic experience when she was a young agent. Tortured by a thought-stealer. She hid her thoughts for almost a day before help came, and was stuck in the mud for more than a week before she got free.]

[A week!]

[Surprised us too. Apparently after a week either an angel or someone told her God said she was half way out and it wouldn't be long now, so I don't know exactly how long she was being a bubble, but... wow.]

[So there's always hope?]

[Maybe. She was in hospital at the time, without anything else to do, she said. I guess the torturer was brutal.]

[Can I pass this on, or is it cleared-people only?]

[She's going to write it down, then... I think it's Maria's call. But I'd say the fact that the bubble can still get you out of the mud even after your thoughts have started leaking, well, that just needs to be out there.]

[It does, I agree. Thanks. What's the guy's name that John needs to talk to?]

[Naeel. Oh, he asked if John had been married long. I said no, but his first wife had died suddenly a long time ago. Sorry, I probably shouldn't have said that much without asking.]

[I think it's better you did, actually. It saves John having to. And Mama Ng met him when he was young?]

[Yes. Obviously made an impact on him, he quoted what she said to him.]

[Can you remember it?]

[Roughly. It went something like 'Greetings to you Naeel who hears thoughts from my God. Then there was something about God providing a ram for Abraham's son, and allowing Jesus to die and why, except she called him the sinless son of the virgin.]

[OK, so she alerted him to some contentious points there, and he remembered them. That's a pretty good sign. What's your programme for the rest of the day?]

[Well, we're going to be trying to learn to send pictures to each other and beef up our cover story that this is about civics, and then at five the people who need to rush off will, and I'll be left passing on to the rest how to hide, which'll be a bit of an adventure into the unknown. Dinner's provided at six, and I hope we'll be finished by then, so people can leave afterwards.]

[Oh, you've got plans for the evening?]

[Sort of. I expect I'm going to need to write up a report about the meeting.]

[Oh, fun. I'll get John to shout to him at about six-thirty. I'll leave you to your meal then.]

[Thanks. My plate seems to be mostly empty.]

[And who's the young man patiently waiting beside you to say something? ]

Bella flicked a glance around the square table. Trevor was beside her on one side, Helen and Rachel were on the other sides, talking about something. [He's called Trevor, is single and Christian.]

[And you're hopeful.]

[Sarah!]

[For what it's worth, so's he. I can tell that from here. Be brave and tell him I said that, or I will. Bye.]

Bella almost choked on her mouthful.

“Are you OK?” Trevor asked.

“Sorry, Trevor, another long range conversation. With a complete stirrer.”

“Stirrer?”

“Well, she seems to think that we need help.” she looked at him significantly.

“Help?” he was confused.

“OK, her words were 'Be brave and tell him I can tell from here that you're both hopeful, or I will'.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“That's stirring all right. Nice to know, though.”

“But of an invasion of your privacy.”

“Oh, I don't mind that.” He fell silent for a bit, and Bella heard him decide that he'd really like to tell her something but mind to mind. In acceptance, she took off her glove and placed her hand on the table. Nervously, Trevor did the same thing.

[I've never done this before.{embarrassment}]

[What, speak mind to mind to someone?]

[Yes. It's nice to know I'm hopeful. Answer to prayer. Even nicer to know it's mutual.]

[Answer to prayer?]

[I prayed that I'd know what was I was feeling about you. Hopeful is a good word.]

[Oh, the sneaky stirrer!]

[What?]

[I misquoted. She told me I was hopeful, which I knew, and then added that you were too and she could tell that from where she is, and I should tell you that or she would. So she could claim that she just meant that I was to tell you that you were hopeful.]

[Well, I for one don't mind the extra information. You don't mind letting a strange man into your thoughts?]

[What about a dangerous woman?]

[You're dangerous?]

[Well, I did get unarmed combat trophy in my year.]

[I bet your power helped.]

[Oh, it did, I'm sure.]

[I never took part in the competition; I thought it wasn't a good idea. Part-way cheating, and part-way giving things away.]

[I wasn't a Christian then.]

[I'm not criticising, I just thought it was safer not to.]

[Thus says the man who hangs off rocks in winter!]

[That's different. Physical danger isn't as... Personal I guess.]

[Odd way to look at it. I take it very personally when someone attacks me.]

[Well, I mean that no one's going to dissect you for falling off a mountain, just stitch you back together.]

[If there's enough of you to stitch.]

[If there's not then I'm beyond caring.]

[You don't think that God might tell you off for dying for such a silly reason?]

[It hadn't occurred to me, actually. You think that maybe I shouldn't do it?]

[Not necessarily. I'm sure it's good for your muscles, and presumably you enjoy it. Just, have a good reason for taking risks, you know. There are other dangerous things you could do.]

[Like spending ten minutes holding hands with a beautiful woman in front of lots of people?]

[Hmm. That one counts as a personal danger, doesn't it? You really think so? That I'm beautiful, I mean?]

[No question in my mind. But, well, that doesn't really mean much, does it?]

[It doesn't?] Bella was surprised.

[Ideals of beauty are flexible and changeable. I'm hoping to get to know you better than just from the outside, rather than judging the book by the cover, if that's OK.]

[Uh, yes, fair enough.] Bella thought, a little disappointed by what sounded like it might be leading up to `let's not go out yet.'

[I mean, life changing decisions shouldn't be made after only a few hours.] he continued. And Bella realised that he hadn't been thinking about going out. [Trevor, I think, you're thinking a little too out-loud, aren't you?]

[Probably. I'm not used to this.]

[Should we talk normally then?]

[I like your mental voice, Bella.]

[I'm glad. So, can we pretend that you weren't just mulling over the idea of proposing to me quite this soon, and stick to a more realistic sequence of events?]

[{embarrasment} I was, wasn't I? Sorry, Bella. So, trying to get things in the right order, I really like what I've seen of your character and your faith so far. I don't want to pretend we don't know each other, I'd never pull that off, and I'd be very happy if you'd consider spending time with me so we can get to know each other better, that is to say going on some dates together.]

[After a lot of miliseconds of careful consideration, Trevor, I like that idea too. But we've got lots of time together next week. Let's try hard not to rush ourselves, OK? I mean, just because we're the only single thought-hearing Christians in Security at the moment, that doesn't automatically mean we're going end up more than friends.]

[I suppose not.]

[I mean, you might find I'm terrible company, and you'd much rather wait for one of the other girls in the room to turn to Christ.]

[And you might find Naeel an interesting prospective if he breaks up with his fiancée.]

[Theoretically possible, but I doubt it, any more than I was interested in Albert.] Bella found herself thinking, then realised that wasn't an acceptable line of thought without breaking some laws.

[Were you hoping for compliments by the way? You're much prettier than any of the others. Who's Albert?]

[Ooops. Naughty thought, sorry.] she broke the link. “I need to break hands, I think. Talking by thought can be dangerous.”

“Yes. I could get used to it, though. It's faster isn't it?”

“Much. Well, per word it's faster, but then you end up saying more.”

“Or rather thinking, but the filters we've got that stop us saying things don't quite catch up with the thought in time to stop it, do they?”

“That's why the power's potentially useful in interrogating witnesses, but probably it won't be allowed.”

“Well, not in secret anyway. 'Bugging people's brains' is not a very nice thing to do.” he said quoting the title of an article written by Kate, intended to promote discussion about the ethics of using thought-hearing in legal cases.

“You read that article from the Institute, then?” Bella asked.

“Yes. It was interestingly put. But I think the point about being able to catch people out when they made a slip up, but not to prove they were telling the truth was a good one.”

“Yes. It was. It was all very well thought out and reasonable and infuriating.”

“Infuriating?”

“Well, I was hoping for something new, but it seemed to just repeating the usual points of view, pro and contra, but arguing both sides, and doing it so well that you end up feeling like an idiot if you decide one way or the other. I hoped for clarity, but it feels like she's saying there is none, and she's explored everything so well that there's no arguments left.”

“Oh, I don't think so. They've left some avenues unexplored. But you keep saying she? You know the author?”

“Yes. I saw a draft and asked her to please reach a conclusion before she published. She laughed and said that wasn't the point. So what is the point?”

“Read it more carefully. It's cleverly done, but she's actually pointed out some holes in each side's arguments that aren't being addressed.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I bow to your superior intellect, I didn't see that at all.” she conceded.

“Well, I'd be happy to show you some time, maybe after a meal?”

“You're persistent, aren't you?” Bella said, pleased. “Any time in particular?”

“Well, I don't have any plans for tomorrow. Do you?”

“I'm not sure. I should be off duty.”

“But?”

“But I'm suspicious that things might be waiting for me after I declare this meeting over.”

“Oh. Yes, Nigel's told me about that sort of thing. You think you're free, then suddenly you're earning overtime instead.”

“Yes. It's one reason I'm looking forward to next week, actually.”

“You think we'll be working fixed hours?”

“No, but I don't think the plans will change much.”

“Speaking of which, when are we supposed to be restarting?” Trevor asked.

Bella looked at her wrist unit. “Soon. I'll just tell to Naeel I've arranged his meeting.”

“Before you go, can I ask something? It's why I sat here in the first place, but I'd forgotten.”

“Of course.” Bella asked.

“Nigel's asked me to get supplies for next week. Is there anything you're allergic to?”

“No, no allergies.”

“Thanks.”

“When are you going shopping?”

“Tomorrow morning, why?”

“I thought that maybe you'd like a hand, subject to no extra duties. Six adults for a week is a lot of shopping.”

“That... that'd be great.” he stammered, gazing at her in wonder.

“What did I do now?” she asked.

“I'll tell you later.” he said, failing to hide his embarrassment.

“OK.” Bella said and went off to deliver her message to Naeel.

Helen asked Trevor in a whisper, “I won't let on, but did she just offer to draw water for your camels?” referring to Genesis 24.

He got the reference at once. “How did you know?” he asked.

“Put it down to experience of age, young man, experience of age. Congratulations.”

----------------------------------------

6.05PM

Bella put down her tray, sat back on the dining room chair and closed her eyes. “Over at last.” she sighed.

“You're not exhausted by any chance are you?” Nigel asked, coming in.

“Just slightly.” Bella replied.

“Hi, Nigel. I'm just guessing, but I think Bella would prefer it if we'd finished about three hours ago.” Trevor replied.

“I've never seen Bella so exhausted, what have you been doing to her?”

“Not his fault, Nigel.” Bella said, “Just a lot of things to tell people about and practice. I never realised how hard it is to be a teacher.”

“So, how did you end up being a teacher?”

“This is the point where I think we should move to another table, or in fact, lets go to meeting room three, can we?” Bella asked.

“Urm, sure.” Nigel said. “Big secrets?”

“Indeed.” Trevor said, then as they went down the deserted corridor to the meeting room he added, “Unless of course I told you when I was four.”

“Oh?” Nigel “Do you mean about the blue aliens who made the ice-cream?”

“Nope.”

“Or the pink fairy with the big nose?”

“Don't remember that one. Have a seat.”

“Then the only other thing that stuck was when you told Mum that you knew I'd wanted to break your toy soldier when I'd got really annoyed with you, because you'd heard me decide to.”

“Now that sounds on the spot.” Bella said, taking her seat.

“You mean...?” Nigel asked.

“Disclosure time.” Bella said. “I got a commission from Maria and the royal family to meet all the thought-hearers who wanted to be met, train them in stuff they didn't know, learn what I didn't know, etc.”

“I decided I wanted to be met.” Trevor said.

“Wow. And you, Bella?”

“I'm one too, yes. So, information protocol is that you're being told about the meeting because that's how I met your brother, plus I don't mind you knowing. You never know, it might be handy that you do, sometime. But don't tell anyone else about what the meeting was about. OK?”

“Well, I suppose that explains a few things.” Nigel said.

“Like what?” Trevor asked.

“For example, young Bella's reaction when she thought I was suggesting that next week would be just the two of us. She just told me flat out that she wasn't interested in me. There I was, thinking it was my naturally repulsive personality, but no, I just didn't meet one of the qualifications. I can live in hope of finding a wife one day.”

“I never knew you were wife-hunting, Nigel!” Bella said. “Tell me the qualifications, and I'll see if I can make any suggestions! But really, it did sound like you wanted me to go with you on a romantic weekend for two. I didn't think that was at all appropriate.”

“Well, to be honest, someone taller that you would be nice. Nothing personal, Bella, but, if we're talking my ideal woman...” Nigel started.

“It's OK, I know I'm not very tall.”

“Tall, clever, dark hair, and ideally enough clearance so I can talk freely to her, but not so much that she can't talk to me.” he finished.

“Age?” Bella asked.

“Younger than me.”

“Hmm. O.K. I'll see who I can think of.” Bella said.

“I wasn't serious!” Nigel protested.

“That list sounds familiar though.” Trevor said.

“Well, the list is serious, but I don't need help, honestly. What was your list, Trev?”

“You remember what pastor Percy used to say?”

“Two arms, two legs, the rest changes with time anyway, eyes you like to look at, a living faith, and the helpful attitude which offers to help water your camels without you even asking. Yes, I remember. That's the basic, the rest of my list was entirely up for negotiation.”

“I decided that being able to use the gift together was great. But I really used to struggle with the camels bit.”

“What camels?” Bella asked.

“In Genesis, Abraham's servant is sent to look for a wife for Abraham's son. He asks God to show him who she was by her offering to pull water up for his camels when he asked for a drink. I don't know how much water that means, but I assume it's a lot of pulling.” Trevor explained.

“Oh, I see. But you don't have a camel, I presume.”

“No.” Trevor laughed and hid his face. “Go on, Nigel, you tell her.”

Nigel said “He was only little when he first heard it. And he looked all puzzled for the next few days. Eventually I heard him asking God to give him some camels so that he could know who his wife would be.”

“And Nigel thought that was so funny that he ran to tell Dad, and Dad came and explained to me that these days we don't have camels, but maybe it would be like someone offering to help you do a massive amount of shopping without being asked, or something like that.”

“Do you have a witness to that?” Bella asked, keeping her tone neutral.

“Nigel was there too, weren't you?”

“Yes, that's what he said.” Nigel confirmed. “Why?”

Bella ignored Nigel's question and turned her gaze full onto Trevor “And?”

“When you told me I was hopeful, that's part of what I was hoping.”

Nigel looked at the pair of them. “You didn't go and offer to help him with his shopping, did you Bella?”

“I did, yes. All unprompted, too, as soon as he told me he had some to do for next week.”

“We had already discussed the idea of getting to know each other better.” Trevor said.

“OK, so I guess that explains the look you gave me.” Bella said. “I heard about the Prince's prayers for Eliza, and I thought how sweet, but I never thought it'd happen to me. I wish I'd thought to ask God for some kind of indication about who I'd marry. No I don't. I was so messed up with prophetic dreams that I'd have probably run a mile.” She gave Trevor a little nervous smile. “Of course, you might run a mile when you learn about what a silly girl I was.”

“Prophetic dreams?” he asked.

“Another of my claims to fame.” Bella said “I got called to the palace twice to talk to their majesties about my dreams of a ruined city. The second time is when Eliza came too.”

“And she told Albert that she wasn't interested in giving up being able to beat up people as part of her job of protecting people, just to watch someone else having all the fun.” Eliza supplied from the doorway. “Sorry for butting in, but I need to talk to you, Bella. Hello, Trevor, I'm Eliza.”

“We've just been filling Nigel in on Trevor and I having the power, Eliza. And Trevor has just told me that by offering to help him with the shopping for next week I've sealed my fate, at least in his eyes.”

“I didn't mean it like that, Bella.” Trevor protested, “I don't want to say you've got not choice.”

“It's OK, Trevor. I didn't mean it that harshly. I'm hopeful too, remember. Just... less certain yet.”

“I can see you've got lots to talk about, but can I just have a couple of minutes, Bella?”

“Of course.” Bella got up and followed Eliza into the corridor.

[Sorry, it's about one of your other participants, Naeel.]

[What's up?]

[John was talking to him, I guess you set that up?]

[Yes, he said he needed to talk to someone, male, older. John seemed the ideal person.]

[OK. He probably was. John was talking to him just now, and Naeel said 'thank you', then went silent on him. Hid his thoughts, and has gone into the toilet, I guess for privacy. John's concerned, but not enough to force the matter. You don't think he's suicidal, do you?]

[I don't think so. He said that he wanted to talk soon for the sake of his fiancée. You don't think he's just phoning her, do you?]

[No. That's why John called me. I got Albert to check with the palace computer, there's no sound from there.]

[But you can see through hidden thoughts, surely?]

[If I thought there was a risk to him, yes. Being nearer helps — It'd be harder for John, but yes, we both could. But if he just wants some privacy with his own thoughts, well, it would have saved some worry if he'd said that.]

[Shall we get Trevor to go and talk to him?] Bella suggested.

[Good idea.] Eliza said, then asked [So have you decided you're going out, or was that announcement of his totally out of place?]

[Going out, but I had suggested we go slowly, at least until after next week.]

[So much for going slowly. How unsure are you, really?]

[Not unsure at all, which scares me silly.]

[I bet Pris didn't think chaperone would be one of her duties.]

[Eliza!]

[Just teasing. Go get your new boyfriend then, unless you want me to?]

[He doesn't need to know, does he?]

[No. It just keeps things clumsy. But you probably shouldn't have told me about him having the power without asking.]

[I suppose not. I'll apologise. Hold on. How do we explain your being involved?]

[We don't. But you have my permission to tell him, if he works it out. He's trustworthy. I did check. But warn him that I'm apparently a class epsilon state secret, and Albert's a class delta, if he works out about Albert too.]

[Thanks, Eliza.]

[I'll leave it in your hands and vanish then, if that's OK?]

[That's fine. We'll handle it, whatever it is.]

“Bye.” Eliza said, and headed back to her rooms.

Bella went back to the meeting room, “Boys, I need help. Nigel, I'll give Trevor more details, but could you come along as backup?”

“Backup?”

“Just in case. Unknown situation with one of the participants, ideally you shouldn't find out who, but if there's a problem, then an extra pair of hands is helpful.”

Touching Trevor's hand she explained [Naeel went silent and hid his thoughts during his conversation, and has shut himself in the toilet. The man he was talking to didn't know if that meant he was going to phone his fiancée or try to kill himself. Eliza tells me that the Palace computer doesn't hear anything, and I don't think he's at all likely to suicide. You agree?]

[Absolutely.]

“So the question is, what's up?”

“So you want be to break taboo and knock on his cubicle door and talk to him?”

“Yes. Sorry. And Nigel can stay outside in case there's trouble.”

“And you're not planning on coming too?”

“Into the mens' toilet? Not unless there's trouble.”

“Fair enough. In there?”

“Yes.”

Trevor went in. One cubicle was closed, which made it easier.

“Naeel, it's Trevor. Is there a problem? The man you were talking to is worried.”

“Yes. There is a problem. I cannot do any of what I must do.”

“What is that?”

“I must talk to my fiancée, I must unhide my thoughts, I must pray. But I cannot do any of these.”

“And so you stay here?”

“Yes. I thought it would be easier to be a bubble here, but it is not. I cannot pray here, it would be insulting to God. I cannot call my fiancée.”

“Does your fiancée have the power?”

“Yes, this is part of the problem.”

“Why?”

“Because she saw my doubts, and I saw her certainty, and I called her certainty blasphemy, and now I come to realise that eventually I must join her in it. It is most embarrassing.”

“I think the meeting room is a more comfortable place.”

“I saw you were there, so I came here.”

“Then come to the meeting room, my friend. It is a better place for all you must do. We can talk elsewhere, I'm sure. My brother has a room here in the complex.”

“Thank you, my friend.”

“It is nothing. We worried, that is all. I will tell my brother he need not worry, and need not see who it is that we were worrying about.”

“Again I must thank you.” Trevor went outside again, and spoke to Bella and Nigel “Nothing to worry about. Just a case of him being too embarrassed to call his fiancée, too messed up to unhide, and not in the right place to pray. I told him he could have the meeting room.”

“Good call.” Bella said.

“Maybe the chapel would be even better.” Nigel added.

“Excellent idea.” Bella agreed. “But I guess we don't need you any more Nigel.”

“No problem. We can probably chat more next week.”

“I expect so, unless we reconvene in your room?” Trevor suggested.

“You're welcome, but I think you'd better stick with your friend until he's left the complex. And I'm sure Fido's missing you.”

“Fido can cope.” Trevor said.

Bella added “We'll see how long he needs, but I think there's some things to discuss before Monday.”

“Like when the wedding date is?” Nigel teased.

“Oh, you! Get out of here!” Bella said. He did.

“I'll go and say the coast is clear.”

“That's not necessary.” Naeel said. “You were being quite loud out here.”

“So, meeting room first.” Bella said. “And then, if you would like, the chapel.”

“There's a chapel here?”

“Yes. It's just a quiet room with some chairs, a nice carpet, and space on the floor. We'll show you, but Trevor said you were stuck?” Bella asked.

“Yes. I didn't really want to hide, but I did it. It just seemed easier than asking him to stop. But then, I think I wasn't paying enough attention when you talked about the bubble.”

“Then, let us solve that first.” Bella said, opening the door to the meeting room.

“I have been a fool, and do not deserve this special treatment.” Naeel said.

“You have had a lot on your mind.” Trevor said.

“I think you two also?”

“We're glad that we have met.” Bella said simply, “Now, Naeel. I want you to close your eyes, and relax. You do not need to worry, because God is in charge and he has given you this way out of the mud. The mud is sticky, but you are in a bubble, A shiny, non-stick bubble, and the mud cannot hold onto it, and you are lighter than the mud, so you must be going up. If you listen carefully with your imagination you might hear the mud sliding around your bubble, but in any case, you'll be free soon, I am sure. The nearer the surface, the runnier the mud is, so you will get faster and faster as you rise to the top.” Naeel opened his eyes.

“Thank you. I am out.”

“Now, your second problem.” Bella said, businesslike. “Trevor said you were too embarrassed to talk to your fiancée.”

“Yes. We argued, about what God is like, about which religion is true. I will explain. I saw that picture of peace, and I prayed for weeks on end that I would be able to know it. Then I had a dream, in which I was told I was not right with God, and I must submit fully to God if I wanted my prayers answered, that peace came as a gift, not something earned. Moslem means submission, but it was confusing. I tried to be good, to submit more, and felt I was earning Gods forgiveness, which my dream said was not right. I shared my thoughts with my fiancée, my doubts. Then, last week she told me she had been convinced that the way to submit to God is to follow your Jesus. I said she blasphemed, she said I was ignoring God's message to me. More words were said. I know I hurt her.”

“And now?” Bella asked.

“And now I know I need to learn more of your Jesus.”

“I think your fiancée should be the one to teach you.” Trevor said “It will bring great joy to her heart to replace the pain you have caused her.”

“I tried, but I cannot find the words to say.”

“Would you like Trevor or me to talk to her first?” Bella asked.

“I feel like a little boy who has broken a window, and asks his sister to help him admit it. That is also shameful.”

“But it is not unusual.” Trevor said. “I think you can trust Bella to not embarrass you more then is needed. Or I have another idea, you said your fiancée has the power?”

“Yes, she has.”

“Then perhaps, I don't know, Bella could you make a call? So that Naeel could finish talking to the man and then he talk to Naeel's fiancée?”

“Or his wife would, I'm sure.” Bella said.

Naeel nodded. “I think that would be better. Please.”

“I'll call.” Bella said. She rang John's wrist unit. “Hi. Me again. Naeel would like to talk some more, and then perhaps if your beloved could talk to his beloved, then there might be some reconciliation there too. He's sorry for the hurt he caused her, our thought is that she should be the one to lead him to the Lord.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” John said, and called [Naeel, what Bella said, do you agree?]

[Yes. I want to call my Jazmin, but I think she will fear to answer. And if she does then I will not know what to say.]

[Sorry is a good place to start, I have found. Jazmin has the power also?]

[Yes.]

[And you hurt her with words or also with thoughts?]

[Words and thoughts too, and also I slapped her. I was very angry, and it the pain I caused her burns my heart.]

[You should meet, I think, as well as talk. Tell her how much you regret your anger, your thoughts, your violence. And I agree with Bella, you should ask her to teach you about Jesus.]

[Yes. That would be good. Perhaps if she met me from the hypersonic transport? But it will be late. I do not want to cause her risk or more dishonour in her parent's eyes.]

[She lives with her parents still?]

[Yes.]

[Perhaps when you phone her, you could ask her father or mother to bring her to meet you? Then there would be no question of dishonour to her.]

[Thank you, that is a good idea. Your wife will talk to her?]

[Yes. She will tell your Jazmin that you are sorry, and wish to talk.]

[And learn.]

[Should my wife say that as well?]

[If I know that Jazmin knows, it will be easier to tell her myself.]

[Then she will say that also.]

[Thank you. You will tell me when I can call her?]

[Of course.]

“You heard, love?” John asked Sarah.

“Of course. I'll have a little chat to Jazmin.” Sarah said.

[Jazmin, hello. I have the gift, my husband also. He's just been talking to Naeel about repentance.]

[I'm not dreaming this?] Jazmin said.

[Nope, I don't think so. Naeel wants you to know that he's about to call, say he's sorry and ask you to teach him about Jesus.]

[I don't know much. All I know is he died to take my sins, the righteous for the unrighteous.]

[That's a very good place to start. Naeel said you were living with your parents?]

[Yes, and now grounded for life, since Naeel has accused me of blasphemy and slapped me in front of my parents.]

[How old are you that you can still be grounded?]

[I'm twenty one.]

[OK, so it's a cultural difference thing?]

[I guess so. My parents say until I'm married I'm under their authority.]

[The law doesn't agree with them, but I presume you know that. Well, Naeel wants to meet you, tonight, to apologise. He thought maybe you could meet him at the transit terminal, with a parent.]

[It might work. He'd speak to them?]

[Yes. He's pretty embarrassed, but he's also very very sorry.]

[I'm not allowed to be vindictive am I?]

['Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.']

[I've heard that before. Where's it from?]

[It's what we call the Lord's prayer. Jesus taught it to his disciples. Do you have a Bible?]

[I did, the woman who led me to Jesus gave me one. My parents took it from me.]

[And your wrist unit?]

[No. That I still have.]

[There's plenty of Bibles available on the network. The meaning is important, find a translation you can understand. I suggest you read one of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, and then Acts. Can you remember that?]

[Yes. I'm making notes.]

[You going to need to find a good church, where they have what are called 'nurture groups'.]

[My parent's won't let me do that, I'm sure.]

[Not even if Naeel takes you?]

[You think he would?]

[Yes. He said that he needs to pray, and he wants you to teach him what to say.]

[But he knows even less about Jesus than I do!]

[But he knows that he has sinned and needs to turn to Jesus for forgiveness, Jazmin, and follow him. That's enough. Even a child can become a real Christian. You don't stop there, there's always more to learn about God, but if you trust Jesus to save you and to lead you, then you are saved. That is what the Bible says: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.]

[You fill me with hope. I had expected Naeel to break off the engagement.]

[He will not. He called you 'my Jazmin' to my husband just now, and even this morning he said that he was engaged but that you two had an argument, and he wanted to resolve the argument quickly. That is why he wanted to talk to my husband.]

[I don't understand how he spoke to your husband, though. You are at Security?]

[No. A friend was leading a meeting of thought-hearers in Security, where Naeel spoke about you. She put us in contact.]

[She also has the gift?]

[No, she has the power like you. She has my wrist unit number though.]

[Thank you so much, I cannot repay you.]

[I am glad to have helped, Jazmin. We serve the same Saviour. He has paid so much for our salvation that we insult him if we try to pay for that, but that does not mean we should not try to be like him in helping one another without expecting reward. You are prepared now to talk to Naeel?]

[Yes. Yes, prepared? I am excited!]

[Then my husband will tell him he can call you now. He has been waiting.]

“John, she's ready. Excited, actually.”

[Naeel, Jazmin is looking forward your call.] John called.

[I call! Thank you!]

“It's ever so tempting to eavesdrop on that conversation.” John said.

“I know. But we mustn't. It'd be an abuse. What we can do though is pray.”

“Yes. We could also ask Bella how it went from her end.”

“John, stop it! You're supposed to be the ethical one.”

“I know, but I like happy endings too.”

“You can give him a call tomorrow if you like, but leave them some mental privacy tonight.”

“Assuming her parents allow them to.” John pointed out.

“We can't really interfere if they don't let them meet.”

“You're suggesting they'd imprison her?”

“She's twenty-one and therefore an adult, but she said she's grounded. If she or Naeel decide to call it false imprisonment, then that'd be their call. I did point out to her that while her parents might say she can't leave the house without their say-so, the law doesn't agree.”

“It'd be pretty devastating to the family to bring the police into it, though.” John said.

“It might be necessary. I don't know how they might react to hearing that not only is their daughter a Christian but their future son-in-law will soon be one too. They took her Bible.”

“Ouch. You're really not reassuring me, Sarah.”

“I'm just saying, it might not be quite the happy ending you were hoping for, love.”

“Let's pray.”