Telepath (Hive Mind Book 1) by Janet Edwards Page B

“but my imprint includes some very nasty facts. Things that are kept
secret from the general population of the Hive to avoid terrifying people. I
recommend that you pull out of my mind if you see me thinking about them,
because the details are horrific and you don’t need to know them. I often wish
I didn’t know them myself, but I have to be informed about these things to do
my job.”
    He paused. “My point is
that the reason you shouldn’t meet other telepaths could turn out to be
something even worse. Something that both of us would regret learning. Something
that could leave either or both of us traumatized. You’re a newly emergent
telepath, Amber. The next few months will be hard for you. I’m not going to try
to learn information that could make your life even more difficult.”
    I deliberately pulled out
of Lucas’s mind before I said the next sentence. “You’re worried it could
increase the risk of me ending up like Olivia or York.”
    There was a short silence
before Lucas spoke. “I thought you must know about them by now. Your staff have
to be fully informed about what happened to Olivia, York, and other telepaths
in prior centuries, so we can help guard against you suffering similar
problems. We can’t stop ourselves thinking about them, and you’re too good a
telepath to miss seeing those thoughts in our minds. You weren’t saying
anything about it though, and Megan agreed with me that it was best to let you
raise the subject in your own time.”
    “I think this is the
time,” I said.
    “What happened to Olivia
and York won’t happen to you, Amber.”
    “You think the Hive can
stop me from breaking under the strain by giving me a luxurious apartment to
live in and my favourite foods to eat?”
    “Of course not. We’ll do
everything we can to help you be happy and relaxed when you aren’t working, but
that can only help a little. What will make the real difference is that you
have deep reserves of inner strength.”
    Lucas sounded as if he
believed what he was saying. I didn’t dare to check his mind to see if that was
really true. If Lucas had doubts about my ability to cope, then I didn’t want
to see them. I had too many doubts of my own.
    My dataview chimed with an
incoming call. I pulled it from my pocket, tapped it to make it unfurl, and saw
who was calling. I pulled a graphic face of despair at Lucas before hitting the
accept call button.
    “Yes, Megan, what is it?”
    “It’s nearly time for your
next training exercise.”
    I forced a smile. “We’re
not due to start the next training exercise for another twenty minutes. Lucas
and I have been discussing the latest developments in 600/2600, and whether our
unit should take over responsibility for that area once we’re operational. I’ll
join you as soon as we’ve finished the conversation.”
    I held the smile while I
ended the call, then indulged myself with a faint scream.
    Lucas laughed.
    “It’s not funny,” I said. “I
understand that Megan’s primary role is protecting my physical and mental wellbeing,
in the same way that Adika’s primary role is protecting me from attack, but she
takes it much too far. If I bump my elbow, or cut a finger, Megan acts as if
I’m terminally wounded, and just look at the way she’s making excuses to get me
out of your apartment. Anyone would think she wasn’t my Senior Administrator
but my mother!”
    I was drifting among the
top levels of Lucas’s mind again now, and caught his amused reaction to my
words. “What? Lottery selected Megan to act as her telepath’s mother? You may
think that’s funny, Lucas, but I don’t. I’m not letting Megan replace my own
mother!”
    He cowered at the anger in
my voice. “Respectfully point out that you have a strong relationship with both
your parents. Many people aren’t that fortunate. I’ve no contact at all with either
of my parents.”
    “Oh.” My anger instantly
faded, and I pulled out of his mind again while I thought for