Dreams of Tomorrow

Part 19

"John?" You feel a little hesitant about speaking up but you know you have to do this. Everyone turns to look at you and you have to swallow hard before going on.

"Yes, Jay?" John asks gently, sensing your anxiety.

"John, it ought to be me who tries the mind probe first. You said yourself that the more trained someone is the harder it will be for them to do what this thing needs." You are paraphrasing slightly but even so you're a little surprised when John shakes his head firmly.

"No, Jay. You've had barely any real training. If something goes wrong you'd be defenseless. I'll try it."

"But, John." You can tell he's startled by how you ignore the note of finality in his voice. "You said that we'd all be defenseless if something went wrong, you included. This mind probe has less chance of going wrong on me than anyone else."

"John," Carol sounds upset and she looks at you anxiously, "He might be right."

"I believe that there is a high probability that young Jay is correct." Timon adds thoughtfully. "And Timus assures me that there the simulations are comprehensive. The chance of a problem is negligible."

John looks helplessly from face to face and then at you.

"Jay, are you sure about this?"

You look him in the eye, touched by his concern, and nod.

"I'm sure."

*****

You have a day and a half to think about that commitment before you have to appear in front of Overmind. The waiting is a nightmare. Carol, of course, spends much of her time with her husband and children but the tension levels amongst the other Tomorrow People only magnifies your own anxieties about the equipment you will be using. The discussions between the seven of you cover the same ground over and over again. What it comes down to is that Earth will have to stand on its own merits and there is little any of you can do to change how it is going to be judged. Ginge and Professor Cawston are already aboard the Sophostrian Kalinar that was sent for them. The ship has been carefully sealed and the two men are apparently closely confined. At first you asked John why, trying to imagine how the rough biker you've met would react to captivity, particularly with a professor of parapsychology.

"They're our friends, Jay." John explains. "But they're still Saps. There are things on the kalinar, and on the Trig too for that matter, that could destroy their minds. We're going to have to be very careful about what they see and don't see while they're up here. They'll be no use to us as quivering nervous wrecks."

Finally it is time for you to appear before Overmind. Timus and Timon arrive side by side at the door to your quarters and all eight of you Tomorrow People are waiting for them. You step towards the two identical men boldly as Timon's eyes fix on yours. John is frowning and he puts out a hand to stop you.

"You don't have to do this, you know, Jay." He says quietly.

"Yes. Yes, I do." You tell him.

"Good luck, Jay. Call if you need us."

"Good luck, Jay." Stephen and Mike echo as you leave.

*****

It's unsettling that Timus has asked the other Tomorrow People to stay away. You understand the explanation that the presence of other minds attuned to yours could distort your perceptions and viewpoints. Nonetheless a familiar face would be welcome as Timus and Timon connect you to a variety of exotic pieces of equipment. The two clones move around and behind you until you become too busy and disorientated to have any real sense of which man is which. Much of the equipment seems to be woven into swathes of fabric, one of which you wear as a cloak, another of which falls across your face like a veil.

"I look like an idiot!" You complain nervously.

"Few of the races which comprise Overmind have any sense of physical appearance, young Jay." Timon, or possibly Timus, tells you as if that is some form of consolation.

"Alright, Jay." The other goes on, and now you're sure that this man is the more approachable Timon. "The mind probe will not activate until you are addressing Overmind. It will make the first few levels of your mind audible to the gestalt. Including several of which you are not conscious. Just remain calm and say what you really feel about the status of your world."

Both men step backwards from fussing around you and study you with identical looks of satisfaction. Nodding slightly, they step apart to reveal a white door which slides into the ceiling at a mental command. Taking a deep breath you step forward into the dimly lit room beyond.

You jump as the door slides shut behind you and it takes several seconds for your eyes to adjust to the dimness of the lighting. When they do, you almost wish they hadn't. Row after row of still forms stretched into the distance. Some are stretched out on beds, others are standing or sitting in place. As you look from face to face, you realise that some appear more alert than others. Some fix their eyes on your face, studying you, others are lost in the absorbing mental gestalt. Around and above you, you feel the pressing weight of a million minds. And of one, enormous mind that absorbs them all.

[Welcome, Jay.] There are no words in the thought and yet you know with startling clarity what the unspoken words would be. Overmind brushes your mind, as gently as a butterfly stroking a flower's petals with its wings. [You have come to speak to us of Earth. Speak, Jay, and we will hear you. We will hear all of you.]

"I ... I want to speak of Earth, my planet. Earth is a young planet by your
[Earth is my home, I love it and I can't fail it now. We are the only hope the
[What if I say something wrong. I can't do this. I can't take this kind of
[What if we're wrong? What if Earth really isn't ready for this? Life is so

"standards. We are a young race. I've only been a Tomorrow Person for a very
[world has. We are the next stage of human evolution. All of humankind is our
[responsibility. No, I have to try and say what I really believe. Earth can't
[dangerous for us. Always we have to hide from those who would use us for war

"short time. My parents and most of my friends are Homo sapiens. It's
[responsibility. If we leave Earth now, if you declare it fully Closed and
[be abandoned so easily. The world we live in is frightening sometimes but we
[or for harm. Something hurts. All this frightens me so much. Pain. Pain

"up to us to keep all of them and the rest of our planet safe. We have a
[ take us away, who will be there to guide new Tomorrow People? How will
[cant abandon it just because of a few ... My head is aching rather. I
[Pain. Something's burning! Pain .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain ... Pain

"responsibility and we cant abandon that. We cant abandon our world.
[our world ever evolve to its full potential? Ouch! Something's ... wrong.
[wonder if something's wrong? It hurts! Pain .... Pain .... Pain ....
[... Pain .... Burning .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain

"Do you see that? Would any of you willingly leave your own planets behind?
[I have to go on. But it hurts! Please? Jo...John? Anyone? Pain .... Pain]
[Pain .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain ... Pain .... Pain ... Pain ....]
[Pain .... Pain .... Pain .... Pain ... Pain .... Pain ... Pain ....]

*****

You stumble, only now aware of the deeper thoughts you're projecting. You begin to tear at the fabric swathing you.

"Wh...what's happening? Please, it hurts!"

[Jay?] Overmind sounds alarmed and you fall to your knees as the huge weight of its power is suddenly focused on you. Distantly you can hear other minds reaching for you too but their alarm feeds your own. Your mind is burning now, the pain tearing through you.

Do you:
a) Try to get out of the mind-probe?
b) Jaunt away from the mind-probe?


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