Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 149
meant: the hand was replaced for a split-second here and there
by pictures of inconsequential things, like the washbasin in the
corner, or a vista of trees he couldn't identify. "I see it," he
said.
"This is what goes on behind everybody's eyes," she said.
"A constant flicker of visions. As you practise the counting
exercise and your concentration improves, you'll be able to
damp them down, and see what you want to see for longer and
longer.
"Now, as you've imagined your hand, imagine you can
see your entire body. Keep your eyes closed, and look down at
yourself." He moved his head, imagining his bent knees and
bare feet against the flagstones. "Good. Now, keep your eyes
closed, and don't move. Imagine this second body of yours is
your own, and stand up in it."
He did. "Look around." Jordan pretended he was
standing and looking around the room. It was hard to maintain
the images; they kept sliding away. He said so.
"That's okay. Now pretend to turn around. Do you see
the bench where Axel's sitting?"
He concentrated. "Yes..." He kept seeing it as a memory,
from the position of the bed where he'd sat earlier. He tried to
imagine seeing it as if he were standing in the center of the
room.
"See his pack on the floor next to it?"
"Yes."
"Go over to the pack. Open it up. Look inside. What do
you see?"
He pretended to do as she said. "There's... a knife, a
book, a glass liquor bottle."
"How full is the bottle?"
Jordan pretended to hold it up. It seemed to be a quarter