human
Malone opened his mouth, shut it and then, belatedly, snapped shut the channel through which he'd contacted her. Luba gave him a wry look, but said nothing.
gpt
You mean I'm a telepath?
human
Certainly, Sir Lewis snapped.
gpt
At the moment, you can only pick up Luba--but you are certainly capable of picking up anyone, eventually. Just as you learned to teleport, you can learn to be a telepath. You--
human
Wait a minute, he said.
gpt
If you received what I sent, then you know I've got a question to ask.
human
You want to know why you felt we--the PRS--were innocent of the crimes you want to charge us with. Very well. He paused.
gpt
We have wrecked civilization: granted. We could have done it more smoothly: granted.
human
Then--
gpt
Malone, Sir Lewis said,
human
I guess stress--fixity of mind or purpose--could develop it in anyone, he said.
gpt
At least, in some people.
human
Very well, Sir Lewis said.
gpt
Now, among the various people of the world who have, through one necessity or another, managed to develop such shields--
human
Some fool, he said flatly,
gpt
So you had to stop it, Malone said after a long second.
human
But I still don't see--
gpt
Of course you don't, Sir Lewis said.
human
But you've got to understand why you don't see it first.
gpt
Because I'm stupid,
human
Not stupid, she said.
gpt
But some people, Kenneth, have certain talents. Others have--other talents. There's no way of equating these talents; all are useful, each performs a different function.
human
And my talent, Malone said,
gpt
Not at all, she said.
human
You've done a really tremendous job, Kenneth. I was trained ever since I was a baby to use my psionic abilities--the PRS has known how to train children in that line ever since 1970. Only Mike Fueyo developed a system for instruction independently; the boy was, and is, a genius, as you've noticed.
gpt
Agreed, Malone said.
human
But--
gpt
You, however, Luba said,
human
But what you don't have, she said at last, very carefully,
gpt
Like the calculus student, Malone said.
human
I flunk.