Part 6
Frankie and his parents are at the other end of the street when you look around for them. The boy glances over is shoulder and gives you a puzzled look as if he can feel something of who and what you are but doesn't understand it. His parents are oblivious to the electric contact between you.
You follow at a distance, through unfamiliar streets and bustling pavements. It's almost lunchtime now and the first wave of business people out to beat the rush is already flooding out from the office buildings on either side of the road.
[John, TIM.] You call, projecting the image of the boy ahead of you. [He's a Tomorrow Person, I'm sure of it.]
John's rather startled thoughts come back to you at once.
[He's rather young. Are you sure, Jay?]
[Of course I am.] You snap, irritated. You may be new to this decade, new to this century even, but you're still a Tomorrow Person and this is something you know about. [I could feel him, this close I still can.]
[He could be in the initial stages of breaking out.] John notes thoughtfully. [Then his broadcasts would just be fleeting and we might not pick them up.]
[He could be considerably more advanced than that, John.] TIM corrects. [We know that some individuals become telepathically sensitive some time before their ability to broadcast is fully developed.]
John's thoughts become quiet and regretful.
[All those quiet breakouts we don't hear until it's too late to help, or just miss entirely.] He agrees. [Jay, stay with him but don't let his parents see you until we have a clearer idea of who he is and what's going on.]
Frankie and his parents have stopped walking while you were caught up in your telepathy and, distracted, you fail to notice in time. You walk straight into the group as they wait for Frankie's father to unlock the expensive luxury car that is drawn up on one side of the road.
[Too late.] You tell John quickly even as you steady yourself against the car and begin to apologise. "I'm dreadfully sorry...." Your voice trails off as your eyes lock with the child's. His face is flushed as if with some exertion but his eyes are deeply shadowed. There are lines of strain around the young eyes and mouth. He can hear your thoughts, you know that in an instant.
Frankie's father see the look you and his son exchange and he grabs you by the collar swinging you back against the car. His wife clutches the child to her as the man holds you firmly.
"What are you doing here? What's your business with my son!"
"Peter!" The woman whispers urgently. "The boy was just passing. This excitement isn't good for Frankie!"
"He knows something, Anne!"
From this close you can feel the protective anxiety the man feels from his son and you can feel something else too. Your proximity is affecting Frankie in ways his Sap parents can't begin to understand. The child has to be in the final stages of breakout. As you watch the voiceless murmer that has been plaguing him becomes a tumultuous roar. Barriers that have protected the young mind shatter and, to your horror, Frankie collapses with a small cry.
"Frankie!" His mother screams.
The child's life hangs in the balance and you know that TIM could help stabilise his condition but already the scream is begining to attract attention.
Do you:
a) jaunt Frankie to the Lab before a crowd develops?
b) Try to help Frankie from a distance?
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