Leoh leaned forward on the .couch and clasped his hands in front of his chin. “The Terran races have never developed telepathy, or any extrasensory talents, beyond the occasional wild talent. They never had to, not with tri-di communications and star ships. But perhaps the Kerak people are different…”
“They’re human, just like we are,” Hector said. “Besides, if they had, uh, telepathic abilities … well, wouldn’t they use them all the time? Why just in the dueling machine^”
“Of course!” Leoh exclaimed. “Odal’s shown telepathic ability only in the dueling machine!”
Hector blinked.
Excitedly, Leoh explained, “Suppose Odal’s a natural telepath . .. the same as dozens of Terrans have been proven to be. He has an erratic, difficult-to-control talent. A talent that doesn’t really amount to much. Then he ets into the dueling machine. The machine amplifies his thoughts. It also amplifies his talents!”
“Ohhh.”
“You see? Outside the machine, he’s no better than any wandering fortuneteller. But the dueling machine gives his natural abilities the amplification and reproducibility that they could never attain unaided.”
“I get it.”
“So it’s a fairly straightforward matter for him to have five associates in the Kerak embassy sit in on the duel, so to speak. Possibly they’re natural telepaths, too, but they needn’t be.”
“They just, uh, pool their minds with his? Six men show up in the duel … pretty nasty.” Hector dropped into the desk chair. “So what do we do now?”
“Now?” Leoh bunked at the Watchman. “Why … I suppose the first thing we do is call the hospital and see how Dulaq came through.”