Stephen's Logbook #1 Entry #5
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students. This was from a time before computers would fit on a
desk, and when people communicated with friends in other countries by
actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote 225 of them to
a friend. Please refer to them for insight into this new series of
stories. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he still wanted to
record his life, in case he loses his memory again. So, we can now look
into selected entries in his logbook to see how he is doing.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 15 in this story, before the Winter break of year 6 of
special school.
Stephen's Logbook #1 Entry #5 "On the Town"
NEW ENTRY
It was Friday. I decided to wander around town after school. Between
home, school, and the Bureau, I didn't have much contact with regular
people, and society in general. I felt the need to be with the people I
was working to protect. To be one of them. To prove to me I still cared
for strangers. Nigel heard me ask Glena for permission, and wanted to
come with me. I wanted to be alone to think and feel, but I only told
him my other reasons for going. He said he was just as isolated as I
was, and more of a stranger. That was so true, I had to agree. He
called and said he wanted to go with me, and was allowed. I think Glena
felt better I wouldn't be alone. I'm not sure if she thought Nigel
being an adept could keep me more safe, but even though I'm not an
adept anymore, I can easily protect myself from attack. I told him, "If
there is trouble, I'll handle it. Contact me if you want to suggest
something." He said, a little insincerely, "Right."
I wanted to go to Mr. Johnson's sporting goods store, to say hello.
It was cold, and we had heavy coats and gloves on, so waiting for the
bus wasn't that bad. The bus was crowded, so we stood. I played a
little game. I had a tight grip on the overhead bar, and locked my arm
and shoulder muscles in place. When the bus moved, the people moved in
reaction. I didn't move at all, relative to the bus. I stayed rock
solid. People noticed, and wondered. Nigel whispered, "What are you
doing?" I said "Exercising. I decided not to move, and am using my
muscle control to make that happen." He said "But people are watching!"
I said "Right. And I'm watching them. Aren't they interesting, in their
different feelings about it?" He said "Oh God!" I had to laugh. I said
"My goal for the evening is to interact with real people. That's what
I'm doing. You wanted to come along, knowing that. So stop fussing." He
said "Right. Sorry." I said "That's alright. You're people too." I
could feel him laughing inside.
We got off the bus near the store, and went inside. Mr. Johnson saw
us but didn't recognize me. We wandered around the store, then we went
to the counter. I said "Hello, Mr. Johnson." He said "Hello, son. Do I
know you?" I pointed to the wall behind him and said, "Well, I do look
a little different now, than when you took that picture of me." He said
"Stephen! Is that really you? Of course it is. Silly me. My, you've
grown." He came around the counter and hugged me. I said "It's nice to
see you again. Meet my almost new brother, Nigel." They hugged. Mr.
Johnson said, "Another rescue?" Nigel hugged me and proudly said, "My
hero!" Mr. Johnson said, "Mine too. Tell me all about it." I did
something I didn't know I could. I made a mind picture of Nigel in a
hurry, and really pushed my mind info it very hard, and made contact. I
said +Careful what you say. You aren't legally here.+ He said +You
didn't use a picture!+ I said +Later+ and disconnected. Nigel said "My
parents died. I was homeless. I fell in with a rough crowd. That didn't
last. The leader said I was worthless and useless for not wanting to
rob and kill people, and beat me up and threw me out. Stephen and his
friends were nearby, so I stumbled into them after I was almost out of
steam. He helped me, and said I wasn't useless and worthless, and that
I should never say or think that ever again. Now I have a home, his,
and I'm in a great school, and I have a real future. I owe it all to
him." Then he hugged me and cried on my shoulder.
Mr. Johnson put a hand on his shoulder and said, "That's just like
him. He saved my granddaughter, and almost lost his own life doing it."
Then he told him all about it. Nigel said "Wow!" Mr. Johnson said "He
hears that a lot." We had to laugh. We talked some more, and then left
to wander around the other stores in the area. Then I said, "Want to
eat?" Nigel said "Sure. Always." I said "What would you like? There are
all kinds of restaurants around here, serving food from all over the
world." He said "Burgers. That's still exotic to me." I said "I suppose
so. Let's ask around for the best." We did, and went there. It was a
fancy steak house. I said "Let's order different things, so we can
split and share." He said "Good idea." We did. I ordered a filet
mignon. He ordered a fancy burger. We ordered appetizers, too. He said,
looking at the menu, "This is expensive. Can we afford it?" I said "My
book on dogs has sold 4 million copies so far. I get 50 cents per copy.
Do the math. We can afford it, and a lot more." He said "We?" I said
"Brother, what's mine is yours. You don't even have to ask." He cried.
I said "Don't do that. What do I need money for? I have all the THINGS
I can use. Life and love are the real universe. People are precious to
me, not money and things."
He said "You contacted me without a picture. Is it all back?" I said
"No. Inventory me." He did and said, "Right. No change. So what
happened?" I said "Something Shan wouldn't like to hear. I discovered
sometimes raw power can overcome in a little way, lack of technique. I
did what Bone did, and tried REALY hard with a mental picture. It was
painful. I guess all that power I have, which you felt before, can
still be useful. Anyway, I'm not going to be doing that except in an
emergency." He said "Do you think you could port that way?" I said "If
I could, it probably wouldn't work in an emergency. Not fast enough. It
took almost all my strength to contact you." He said "And that's more
than anybody else in the world. No wonder you could do it."
Then somebody from a nearby table got up and came over to us. He said
"I couldn't help overhearing, but are you 2 Psychic Adepts?" I said to
Nigel, "Had you noticed his interest?" He said "No. I missed that." I
said "We'll have to work on that." I touched my head in the signal to
contact me, and he did, and I said, +We need Pete to connect to us and
watch, as team leader and backup.+ He contacted Pete, which I felt. I
said to the man, "Why do you ask if we are adepts?" He said "Because
I'm looking for someone for something I need help with." I said in
mindtalk, +Pete, check him out like he was applying at the Bureau.
Nigel, be ready to immobilize him. If anything bad happens, port us to
a safe room.+ I said to the man, "Please sit and explain. Be aware, we
are not going to fully trust an eavesdropper all at once." He said "I
understand. I am a security manager for a company with government
contracts. Things have been happening, bad things, for which we have no
rational explanation." I said "So you want to explore the irrational?"
He said "That's about the size of it." I said "Have you contacted the
police?" He said "They laughed at me." I said "The FBI?" He said "No.
We don't need more laughter, and we don't want to risk our government
contracts." I said "If we could guarantee they would take you
seriously, would you ask them for help?" He said "That might still
cause us to lose our contracts, which could ruin us financially. We
would really like to avoid that." I said, "I see."
I said in mindtalk, +Pete, is he clean?+ Pete said +Clean and closed
third eye.+ I said +As team leader, do you want to look into this?+ He
said +Yes. If for nothing else, it would be good for training. Where
should we meet?+ I said +I don't want him to know about the school, or
my father, yet. Not at his company, either. Save that for action. So,
neutral territory, like a hotel room, or your office at the Bureau.+ He
said +Hotel. You or your father should be there, with just me and Nigel
to start. His convenience.+ I said +Got it.+ I said to the man, "What
do you know about adepts, and from whom?" He said "We had a Ghost
Hunter come in and investigate. That's what he advised. Said it was
above his level." I said "And why do you think we are Adepts, and do
you approach strangers and ask that of them, often?" He said "This is
the first time. You said things in a way which suggests telepathy." I
said "Yes I did, and I noticed your reaction to that. We agree to a
full meeting, to investigate the possibility of helping you. Some of us
have some skills which might be useful in this situation. If we do
agree to help, we would go all the way, OUR way. For this meeting, we
will need all you have about the incidents, over and above working
knowledge of your company, and contact information for that ghost
hunter. We will arrange for a hotel conference room." He said "What is
your fee?" I said "We can't determine that until we know the extent of
the problem, and what will be needed to remedy it. We won't charge for
the meeting." He said "Do you have government security clearances?" I
said "We can arrange proof of that in one working day, if you need it.
DOD, or a branch?" He said "Army." I said "Can do. Is Monday afternoon,
around 3, good for you?" He said "Fine. Call me when you have a room,
that morning. Here's my card. Thanks." I said "One more thing.
Everybody we meet from your company will be checked out." He nodded,
and went back to his table to get his bill, and left to pay it.
I said in mindtalk +I'm feeling awfully stupid. I never thought of
doing actual business deals like this. We need to work up procedures.
One of those things is, we have to be a business ourselves, or look
like one. And we need a name. We need Jan.+ I told him the company name
and address from the card. I said +I'll ask my father to check them
out. Any comments for now?+ Pete said +Your father already has a
business in security. We could use that for now, if he agrees.+ I said
+I'll ask him. Anything else?+ Pete said +Not at the moment. Let me
know what you find out.+ I said +Nigel?+ He said +I'm just an innocent
bystander. Out of my depth. I look forward to whatever happens.+ I said
"Alright. Discom.+ They did. I said "Where's our food? Oh, here it is!"
I said "Here's my half. Give me yours." He did, and we ate. He said
"This is good! That bacon around your steak is great. I love bacon." I
said "I know. That's why I have to get to it first in the morning,
before you get it all." He said "Oh. I'll leave you a piece next time."
I said "Thanks. Nice of you to spare it." He said "Sure. Anything for a
brother." I said "All the bacon?" He said "Not even for a brother!" We
grinned. Chocolate cake for Nigel, and apple pie for me, for dessert.
We shared that too. The waiter brought the bill. I paid it, and he
brought back change. I left a tip, and then had to explain to Nigel
what it was and why I did it. He thought it was funny to pay somebody
to do what they were already paid to do. I said "Right. Customs aren't
always rational." We went out and wandered around some more. It was
dark.
Somebody came out of an alley, and demanded our money. He had a
knife. I'll continue this in the next entry.
END ENTRY
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Grant
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