"It's almost noon. Why don't I call Sunbeam, then you two have lunch
and get her to show you the ship? I have some work to do, and if
you're planning on going to the Academy you'll want to know all you can
about the Navy."
"Yes, I think I should. Personal experience is far superior to mere
study. But you need to rest, give your undermind a chance to adjust to
the idea of telepathy. Your overmind accepts it now; the undermind is
normally slower to accept change."
"I can't really rest," Medart said slowly. "I don't have the time. I
can work on something that won't take too much thinking, though. Good
enough?"
"I suppose it will have to be, though true rest is better." While
Medart called Sunbeam, Corina thought. Her former teacher meant well,
she was sure, had turned traitor out of conviction that it was
necessary and not for gain . . . yet the thing which had made him think
the humans unfit for rule, their lack of Talent, was not the case. How
would he take it when he could finally be convinced of his error?
Would he do as honor demanded, or would he continue his treason?
"We'll find out when it comes to that, won't we?" Medart responded.
"This works between us; I'd like to try it on Sunbeam, make sure it
really does work for me with humans."
Fascinating that he could read her undirected thoughts while doing
something totally unconnected, Corina mused. She could prevent that by
shielding, of course, but it was her first experience with it, and she
preferred not to. Such contact was not unusual between Talented family
members or extremely close friends, but Medart was neither, and she had
not found herself reading him that way.
"Maybe you know you shouldn't be able to, so you can't, but I don't, so
I can?"
Corina purred, wishing she could laugh. "That is as reasonable an
explanation as we are likely to get, I would say. But I am not sure I
can approve of you attempting to read Sunbeam. It is honorable to
probe the unTalented only when truly necessary, since they cannot
defend themselves--and you do not know your own strength; if you should
accidentally use darlas against her, she could be seriously hurt."
"I don't want to hurt her, of course," Medart said, "but I think this
is necessary. I need to know all I can about Talent, especially yours
and mine--and so far you're the only one I've read."
"That is true." Corina thought for a moment, then nodded. "I can
monitor, and if you should begin using darlas, protect her. It is a
risk, but in this case justifiable."