01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
It sounded a little lame, but he decided that concepts of space and/or time travel would be
beyond the capacity of the present company. The old man's response was reverential as if the
information was to be consigned to some sacred spot in his memory.
"My Lord's is named Steve-Holt
Steve wished he knew what he was supposed to be and what was going on.
He had been spoon fed with the contents of the large bowl by the woman Caela. This had
happened whilst the conversation with Jabez had been taking place between their minds. It
was a very convenient way of doing things. His messy eater half-brother, Ivan, would have
revelled in it. It would have given him extra ability to shovel more food into his gullet - but
Ivan was dead and his atoms scattered to the universe. Steve felt a surge of bitterness and
guilt - Ivan had died for him. He wondered how far away from home he was. Deep in his
guts, was the realisation that was never likely to return.
"Could you tell me some more about this - 'Gift'? How is it possible that I can hear you in
my mind. We don't speak the same language - "
It was a calculated risk but he had to start somewhere.
"If my Lord desires to know of the Gift, your servant will comply. Does my Lord not
remember it from those many other times he has visited us?"
Steve stared back at him. Perhaps the old man was mad - perhaps it WAS a planet of
madmen! He trod carefully.
"I have no memory of - those other times."
His host flooded his mind with raptures of exaltation.
"Then it is true! I have been chosen to lead you to Awareness!"
Steve nodded slowly.
"That would appear to be a fair assumption."
"The Gift is provided by the Great Gods. They who may not be mentioned. They who
guide all our destinies. There are many amongst us who possess this Gift, some to a greater
degree than others. Some have complete mastery, it is they who exercise the rule over us.
Some are not blessed - my woman, Caela, is one of these - "
He paused for a moment.
"The Gift has excited many of our philosophers to ponder on the nature of words and
actions. In ages past, some of our great ones realised that all words and deeds originate in our
thoughts. Does it not follow, Lord, that if we can reach across from mind to mind, the
thoughts do not need words to cloth them. This then, is the nature of the Gift. It is the ability
to reach from mind to mind. I can read the thoughts you wish to express in your wondrous
tongue and I can place the thoughts I wish to express into your mind."
He had seated himself at the table. He had a look of almost fanatical eagerness, as if he
wanted to be sure that his explanation had pleased him. Steve hoped that he wasn't going to
be too disappointed when the old man discovered that he wasn't dealing with who he thought
he was. Fanatics who thought they were being cheated, were always unpredictable. Steve's
response was measured.
"I can understand the concept - but how are you able to separate the thoughts to be spoken
from the thoughts not to be spoken?"
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