MINDBRIDGE by Joe Haldeman

“Who is in charge here?”

A black, gray-haired woman stepped forward. “I am Sara Bahadur. Coordinator of Research, Sirius Project.”

“But you cannot speak for all humans.”

She smiled. “No one can do that.”

“But there are those who can speak for larger numbers.”

“Yes.”

“Bring them to me. Now.”

“That isn’t possible. They’re all on Earth.”

“This isn’t Earth, then. Your home planet.”

“No. It’s very far away.”

“But you can travel between here and Earth instantaneously. In a sense.”

“That’s true.”

“I repeat: bring them to me.”

“And I repeat, that isn’t possible. Not in ten . . .”

“How long?” She didn’t answer. “Don’t worry about giving away secrets. I, the I-that-was-then, knew about this transportation process when-“ He paused, evidently searching Jacque’s mind. “-you humans were still in trees. I abandoned it as too limiting. How long?”

“Ten days. A day is-“

“I know.”

“I could take you to them.”

“No. I will not be in the presence of many humans. I perceive directly your.. . your subconscious beings. It would be distressing. I could not function. It is difficult enough here.

“Go to your planet and bring back such leaders as will come. Have this one well so that I can talk through him. I will go away until they come.”

“Wait,” Bahadur said. “You want to meet with all the leaders of humanity, but you haven’t established who you are. A spaceship pilot? What gives you authority to speak for all L’vrai?”

“The question is meaningless. I go now.”

“But how will we find you? Where are you go-“

“You will not find me. I will know when to come back. From this mind I see that we are surrounded by desert and mountain. That is where I will be.”

“Do you need food and water?” someone said.

“Only solitude.” It released Jacque and the bridge and stood up. The figure of Jacque’s father dissolved, then rose again as a python-sized serpent, covered with shimmering golden scales. It slithered to the door and out.

Carol broke the silence. “Jacque!” He was lying limp, his eyes rolled back, saliva drooling out of the corner of his mouth. She ran and kneeled by him and cradled his head between her breasts. She rocked back and forth with her eyes squeezed shut, making tight noises in her throat.

It took a minute for the doctor to pry her gently away.

48 – Psychiatrist’s Report

It is 14 April 2035. Drs. Mary and Robert Lefavre sit in a well-appointed psychiatrist’s office in New York City. He is Dr. Chaim Weinberg, a child psychiatrist who specializes in the problems of gifted children.

Weinberg opens the slim folder on his desk. “Well, there’s no question that Jacques is a brilliant child.” He traces his finger along the top sheet. “His IQ is 188 on the Modified Stanford-Binet (181 on the acultural version); his reading ability is that of the average college junior. Thematic Apperception and vocational preference tests . . . reveal a creative and challenge seeking personality. He has as great a potential for success and happiness as I’ve ever seen in a child.” He looks at them expectantly.

Robert supplies his punctuation: “But.”

“Well, as you know, he doesn’t get along with the other children.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Mary says.

“Dr. Lefavre, if I didn’t put things mildly to parents, I’d run out of patients in short order.” They share an urbane chuckle at Dr. Weinberg’s situation.

“I’ve had two talks with Jacques now, with Jacques under hypnosis. He believes that all of his classmates are either close allies or bitter enemies. No one in between.”

“Is that so unusual?” Robert says. “I think I felt the same way at his age.”

“Only unusual in its intensity and absoluteness. Most children are at least mildly paranoid. In your boy’s case, though, he sees the situation exactly backward. I’ve interviewed his teachers and social worker: they say he has a few close friends, but all of the other children are afraid of him. His unpredictable outbursts of violent temper-“

“They gang up on him!” Robert says sharply.

“Well, he’s a head taller than any of them, and stronger.”

“You aren’t suggesting we move him up another year?” Mary says.

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