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TAXILA'S CHILDREN<br />
"I can't be two people - "<br />
"It is said that we are all two people - In every man there are two sides to his nature. The<br />
one comprises the base self, who is assertive and is responsible for acts of wildness, lust and<br />
anger. The other is that which we would like to be, the person who is gentle and who seeks to<br />
control the excesses of the other self. I recognise this in your nature as well as in ours."<br />
"This is different!"<br />
Zayez nodded.<br />
"It is different. You are a complex being who is now playing host to - I will call him - a<br />
traveller!"<br />
"A traveller! What sort of traveller?"<br />
"A traveller who utilises the channels of the Psi."<br />
"The Psi! What - ?"<br />
"Relax and listen. Become quiet - relax - allow the agitation to ebb away."<br />
"How can I allow it to ebb away? I've been invaded by some - alien life form!"<br />
"It could be said that all races have all been invaded by an alien life form. We are like a<br />
plant which has been grafted upon. You understand the concept? There is a wild, rampant<br />
growing root stock, upon which is grafted a shoot of something refined and desirable. Every<br />
race has a wild, rampant growing, basic self, upon which is grafted something cultured and<br />
refined. It is this which has resulted in the Men of Lynxe, whereas the Scarn are the brute<br />
wild stock upon which no such grafting has taken place. I see in your mind, that your race is<br />
similar. Do you understand?"<br />
Steve nodded.<br />
"I understand - but it doesn't explain an alien life form invading me and using me as some<br />
kind of vehicle to get from one place to another."<br />
"You have missed the point. Taxila is not using you as a vehicle to go from one place to<br />
another. No traveller in the Psi has a need for such a crude approach. He is travelling with<br />
you because he has need of you."<br />
The note of panic in Steve's voice increased.<br />
"What does he want to do with me?"<br />
Zayez shook his head.<br />
"I do not know, but he is already using you for his purposes."<br />
Steve's throat was dry. He rasped out.<br />
"How do I get rid of him?"<br />
He felt a surge of amusement within. Zayez stared back at him.<br />
"You do not - you cannot! I would not advise you to try - for your sanity's sake!"<br />
Steve sprang to his feet and paced the floor.<br />
"You're trying to tell me that I have no rights in what goes on in my own body? I can just<br />
be taken over and I'm expected to sit back meekly and let myself be abused at the whim of<br />
some insinuating bastard who thinks he has the right to do as he pleases without considering<br />
the consequences?"<br />
Zayez held his gaze. He nodded.<br />
"That is correct."<br />
Steve whirled around.<br />
"Well, I won't! I'll fight whoever or whatever this is until I drop!"<br />
He felt a pitying contempt within him and a degree of disbelief. Zayez leaned forward<br />
earnestly.<br />
"I counsel you most strongly, to resist such inclinations, they can only lead to disaster!"<br />
Steve sat down again, he was shaking once more.<br />
"Explain to me, who this - Taxila - is."<br />
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