human
What I mean is something like this. Picking up the mental activity of another person is called telepathy. Floating in the air is called levitation. Moving objects around is psychokinesis. Going from one place to another instantaneously is teleportation. And so on.
gpt
The language you use, O'Connor said, still miffed,
human
Dr. O'Connor, he said,
gpt
I believe so,
human
Well, then, Malone said.
gpt
Yes or no?
human
Yes or no what?
gpt
I Malone blinked.
human
I meant, the things have names, he said at last.
gpt
All the various psionic manifestations have names.
human
Ah, O'Connor said.
gpt
Well. I should say. He put his fingertips together and stared at a point on the white ceiling for a second.
human
Yes,
gpt
Good, he said.
human
That's what I wanted to know. He leaned forward.
gpt
And if they all do have names, he went on,
human
Forced?
gpt
Forced by mental power,
human
At first, O'Connor said,
gpt
I might think of various examples: the actions of a mob, for example, or the demonstrations of the Indian Rope Trick, or perhaps the sale of a useless product through television or through other advertising. Again his face moved, ever so slightly, in what he obviously believed to be a smile.
human
The usual name for such a phenomenon is 'mass hypnotism,' Mr. Malone, he said.
gpt
But that is not, strictly speaking, a _psi_ phenomenon at all. Studies in that area belong to the field of mob psychology; they are not properly in my scope.
human
Yes?
gpt
I will grant that there may be an amplification of the telepathic faculty in the normal individual in such cases.
human
Good,
gpt
Such an amplification, O'Connor went on, as if he hadn't heard,
human
He looked judicious for a second, and then nodded.
gpt
However, he said,
human
Well, he said at last,
gpt
I'm not sure that's what I meant. I mean, I'm not sure I meant to ask that question. He took a breath and decided to start all over.
human
It's not like a mob, he said,
gpt
Of course I do, O'Connor said flatly.
human
But what you're suggesting-- He looked straight at Malone.
gpt
Have you had any experience of this ... phenomenon?
human
Experience?
gpt
I believe you have had, O'Connor said.
human
Such a concept could not have come to you in a theoretical manner. You must be involved with an actual situation very much like the one you describe.
gpt
Me?
human
Mr. Malone, O'Connor said.
gpt
May I remind you that this is Yucca Flats? That the security checks here are as careful as anywhere in the world? That I, myself, have top-security clearance for my special projects? You do not need to watch your words here.
human
It's not security, Malone said.
gpt
Anyhow, it's not only security. But things are pretty complicated.
human
I assure you, O'Connor said,
gpt
I didn't mean--
human
Please, Mr. Malone, O'Connor said. His voice was colder than usual. Malone had the feeling that he was about to take the extra chair away.
gpt
Go on, O'Connor said.
human
Explain yourself.