The Elders (Mind Dimensions #4)(45)
“You can start by telling me your agenda.” Frederick leans forward. “Tell me why you can’t wait the six days. Tell me where you really stand when it comes to the issue of peace with the Readers. Tell me everything.”
I proceed to tell him a carefully censored version of the truth, which includes the fact that I’m the grandson of two of the Enlightened. I explain that they want something from me and outline the lengths they’ve gone to get it. I don’t talk about the Super Pusher, however, since there’s still a small chance it could be Frederick. And even if it isn’t him, it could be someone he’s close to.
“So I hope you see why I couldn’t tell this to the others,” I say in conclusion. “Given the status the Enlightened have with the rest of the Readers, what I want isn’t exactly compatible with the task you people want to give me.”
“So what did you think we could do for you?” he asks, then peers at the Rubik’s cube in his hand. It’s randomized, the colors all misaligned. Apparently satisfied, he offers it to me on the palm of his hand.
I cautiously reach for the puzzle. “As you know, I found out that I can reach Nirvana, as you call it. But I only did it once under severe duress and haven’t repeated the feat since. If I could do it at will, I could make my grandparents release everyone without having to resort to violence. So, in a way, if you teach me—”
“No,” Frederick says as I take the cube. “I will not arm you with such knowledge. It’s a power too great for someone as young and inexperienced as you. It would be criminally negligent of me.”
“So earning your trust wasn’t very helpful after all.” I don’t bother hiding my disappointment this time. I had been really hoping talking to Frederick would get me closer to my goal. As I consider what to do next, I glance at the cube, then back at him, wondering what he wants me to do with it.
“You didn’t earn my trust.” He mimes a twisting gesture in the air, universal for ‘mix it up’ when it comes to this particular toy. “You told me a story that clearly has a lot of information missing. In any case, even if I did believe you, I would not help you by teaching you how to reach Nirvana.”
“Well, since I’m not sure how I can make you trust me”—I twist the cube a few times—“it’s all moot anyway.”
“Actually, it’s not,” Frederick says, not looking at my hands. “If you are truly committed, there is a way that I can be sure you are telling me the truth. A way that you might not fancy, however.”
“What is this mysterious way? Are we going to do trust falls like at executive getaways?” I give the cube a couple of angry twists.
“Trust falls do not work,” he says, smiling. “But this would. Let’s just say it’s a situation where we would be compelled to tell the truth.”
“Both of us?” I offer him the now-randomized puzzle. “Or just me?”
“It would allow for mutual trust.” He carefully takes the toy. “We would each know the truthfulness of the other.”
“Okay, suppose I do want to learn more about whatever it is you’re hinting at. Can you tell me what your help would entail?”
“That part is simple.” After a quick glance at the cube, his hands begin manipulating it swiftly and without looking. “If I trusted you, I would order a few well-trained people to go with you and extract your friends and family so stealthily that the Enlightened wouldn’t know what happened, and thus peace wouldn’t be jeopardized.”
“That’s it? I could’ve Guided a group of Navy Seals to achieve the same result.” In fact, Bert mentioned this very idea in New York.
“I would not trust Navy Seals with a mission this delicate, but I would trust our team.” Frederick gives me a steady look. “If they are told ‘no casualties,’ there will be none. If they are told ‘no one is to see you,’ they will not be seen. It’s just that simple.”
“Will you be joining them?” I ask hopefully, remembering his fighting skills against Kate.
“No,” he says with apparent regret. “I—or more correctly, we, the Elders—never leave the Island. That would put too much stress on our real-world bodies.”
I really miss being able to phase into the Quiet to think during conversations like this. Something about his last statement has implications, but I don’t have time to think it through since he’s waiting for my response. “If not you, then who will join me?”
“We have many teams.” His hands stop rotating the Rubik’s cube. “In your case, I think the most logical choice would be Kate’s group, since you already know her. George can go as the Ambassador to supervise the mission.”
“And they’re Guides?” I look at his hands in disbelief. He’s solved the cube in seconds without looking, and it doesn’t seem as if he did it to show off either.
“Indeed. Guides are much more effective than the Unencumbered can ever hope to be.”
I give him an evaluating look. “Are the rest of the team as badass as Kate?”
“It really depends on the task at hand.” He puts the solved cube back on the table. “She’s an outstanding fighter, and if a situation calls for a sword fight, no one else can match her.”