The Seeker - Isobelle Carmody [79]
Alexi took the diary, opened it, and held it in front of my eyes. I tried not to look at the crabbed scribing, which I recognized from the maps and books in the doctor’s chamber, but the nearness of the diary was such that I could hear the faintest whisper of the woman’s thoughts. I strengthened my shield.
“I have dreamed of the power that will come to me,” Alexi said. “It is my destiny, and Marisa had no right to keep it from me.” He moved a lever on the machine, and the buzzing increased. It was uncomfortable enough to begin eroding the solidity of my shield. Again I heard the whisper of Marisa’s thoughts rising from the diary like a scent. Complex calculations. The desire for a certain book. An unkind thought about her baby son, whom she suspected of being dull-witted. Irritation with her husband.
“Open your mind to her,” Alexi commanded, and again the buzzing increased. Now there was pain. I could tolerate it, but there would be more, I knew, and worse. What if I could not hold out?
Fear made me grope for Rushton’s mind. If I could just speak with him, I might find courage enough to endure.
“Think of Marisa,” Alexi commanded.
My mental probe found Rushton’s mind, but it was blocked. I despaired for a moment, but then I realized that his mind was not consciously shielded. Nor had he a natural block. The barrier I encountered was unlike any I had felt. It was like a thick wall of cloud or mist. I gathered my strength and arrowed my way through it into his mind. Distantly I heard him moan.
“What is the matter with him?” Vega asked.
“He’s fainted again,” Ariel said contemptuously.
But he was wrong. Rushton had retreated into his thoughts to deal with my intrusion. Quickly I identified myself.
“It was you.” I heard Rushton’s thought and, with astonishment, recognized the mind of my rescuer. At least, his mind seemed part of the entity that had helped me get free from the Zebkrahn once before. But I could tell he had no Misfit ability.
Seeming to guess my puzzlement, Rushton explained. “There are many among my friends who have mental abilities like yours, and though none are as powerful as you, they are able to combine their strength. Somehow they use my mind to focus their energies, and carry me with them. If I had succeeded in making my claim on Obernewtyn, I would have made it a refuge for them.”
I told Rushton he must not give up, for his friends were on their way with help.
“My friends?” he echoed.
Swiftly I shared with him everything that had happened since we parted last. It took but a moment, because I used mental pictures rather than words. I read in his mind that he was unaware that the weaponmachines sought by Alexi and the others were those that had caused the Great White. I chose not to burden him with the knowledge, though he asked if I could do what Alexi wanted.
Before I could answer, the effect of the Zebkrahn increased dramatically. I tried to withdraw from Rushton’s mind, but he held me.
“Let me go!” I begged. It would have been easy enough to tear free, but he would be hurt.
“I can help you endure,” he said. “Draw on me.” I warned him that he would share my pain if I stayed inside his mind, but he insisted. “If you give them what they want, they will kill us both anyway, so I help myself in helping you.”
“This is taking too long,” I heard Ariel say impatiently. He reached up to adjust the machine, but this time there was no increase in the pain. Had the machine reached its limit? I prayed so, for on the other side of my mental barrier, I could sense Marisa’s thoughts clamoring.
“Don’t be afraid,” Rushton told me. Then I heard him moan and realized with horror that he was shielding me from the worst of the pain. I did not know how it was possible, and yet he was doing it.
“What is wrong with him?” Vega snapped.
Alexi sprang forward and looked into my face. “He’s