The Ecphorizer
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At times we speak with a silence that is deafening, with words unsaid and thoughts unspoken. It was like that with Phil. Somehow, it always seemed that what he didn't say was louder than what he said. Like last March, when we were all out in the country. It was one of those nice days before all the hell hit us. Anyway, the four of us were having a picnic. Mary was talking about her new assignment and then Phil went mute on us. Pat and I tried to keep talking, but it was no use, we all fell silent. [quoteright]"Hey Phil", Pat said, "when do you ship out?" "I dunno, maybe tomorrow, maybe never. I really don't care now." I suppose a bit of explanation is in order. This was when our side got the TeaMs to work. Pat and Phil were one TeaM while Mary and I were another. But off duty, it was the other way around. You see or maybe you don't -- Pat and I are Receivers, the other two are Senders, and it makes bad music to be able to read your lover's mind. So we four worked out a pattern of work one way and play the other. And, Phil and Mary were due to be dropped later, but on separate planets. Team Minds they called us, TeaMs. The chance that either of them would ever get back was almost zero. For both? Forget it! Sorry if this seems confused, but I'm tired. And it hurts. Let me give up trying to tell it like we said it. It would be hard for me. And I haven't got the time. Back in the 20th century, somewhere in the Americas, a researcher found a method of cloning pairs from a chosen sample and growing the clones as complements in certain characteristics. The first pair tried (it was the simplest) was a male female pair. Much to everyone's surprise, they were mildly telepathic but it was unidirectional. After that, the techniques improved until it was possible to get a perfect telepathic link. A couple who could send and receive at will, over long distances, virtually instantaneously. About that time, history repeated itself. The colonies - rich in raw materials but poor in manufactured goods -- wanted to be free, to trade with anyone. "Mother Earth," in the manner set by time, resisted. Well, the war is now almost over. We are almost free. But, at what price freedom? What price love? Phil died on Earth, caught sending their master plan back to Pat. She died also. I knew that she would, but it hurt just the same. Mary got the defense plan from the garrison on Centauri III. I just gave it to my boss. But they caught her. They are torturing her now. And when Mary dies, so will I. The link is too good. We are one.  He describes himself as a "software wizard" ; he lives in Silicon Valley. James is also into caving, motorcycling, and bridge, as well as computers. |
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Good judgment comes from experience -- and experience comes from poor judgment. More Articles by Martha Johnson |
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