01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
It had been said as a bald statement of fact, there was no emotion which would have made
the statement sound corny - like two schoolboys pledging eternal friendship. It was
profoundly meant. Steve realised yet again, how little he knew about the Lynxe and their
culture. The thought must have transmitted. Danyk nodded in agreement.
"You do have a lot to learn about us. I find it easier to learn of your ways. Your thoughts
run riot within your mind, like a mob of unruly children, who cause damage and distress by
their activities. Thought is a powerful force which must be controlled. You have never had to
discipline your thoughts. Without such a discipline, it will be difficult for you to understand
us."
"I've learned to control my actions and until I came into your world, I had no one peering
into my mind. It was my private world, a place where I could do as I pleased. No one was
injured, as you put it - unless I chose to act on my thoughts. I learned to disengage the
intention from the action."
He was rather pleased with himself over that turn of phrase. Danyk clearly, was not very
impressed.
"A child has to learn to control its bowels, otherwise it will discharge its wastes as and
when it thinks fit. The mind also, must be controlled, otherwise it will discharge its carnality
and arouse passions that might not be easily quietened. Thought is impressive, it is that which
separates the intelligent from the bestial. Have you ever considered the power of a single
thought? That tiny impulse of energy that is triggered by something unknown and then is
converted into a word or action? It could be a thought that will stir thoughts in others and
create a chain reaction. Such little thoughts have led to mighty events."
It sounded a trifle overstated but Steve kept his peace, Danyk was opening up and
becoming - less alien.
"In the mind can be quietness and peace, that is one of the first things you must learn - to
be quiet within the mind. It is from the quietness of mind that the Gift is enhanced in those
who possess it. As you know, not all of the Lynxe have the Gift, some have to learn
tranquillity without it. At the School of the Adepts, students perform exercises to open the
channels of the mind and through these channels, pure thought energy flows. This is the
means we use to penetrate deeply into guilt and fear that blocks the minds of the injured."
Steve wondered if he still realised that he was there. One of his uncontrolled thoughts
interrupted Danyk's flow. It was as if it had come from somewhere else.
"But you have no power to answer your greatest grief."
Danyk started at him piercingly again. Steve felt anger and discomfort and then control.
"Would it be possible for you to switch me off once in a while? For your own peace of
mind as well as mine."
Danyk did the unexpected and draped an arm around his shoulders.
"I enjoy you, you are as fresh as a child. You blurt out things that we would hesitate to say.
I wouldn't miss one thought of it!"
He squeezed Steve's shoulders and then dropped his arm. Steve was getting confused.
"Now I'm as fresh as a child - just now I was a carnal minded moron."
"Not so, I was telling you of our ways and how different our two cultures are. I told you
what I found in you and how easy it is to know your ways."
"I wish I could go to this School of yours and listen to some of the - lessons - is that what
you would call them? Perhaps I could pick up some of this elusive peace of mind you seem
so enthused about."
Danyk laughed softly. Laughter didn't seem to fit in the dour environment. Steve shivered,
he didn't like the dead city.
"It would take too many years for you to do so, I think. Some struggle for inner peace for a
lifetime."
95