“If I’m a memory keeper, what does it mean? Are memory keepers expected to interrogate people?”
“No, that is not the function of memory keepers. If you pass the test, then we will arrange to have Alasiteh visit you, maybe after the Shindig I have heard about. She is currently elsewhere seeing to the testing of other potential memory keepers. One has not been born here in seventy years and suddenly there are ten possibilities, eight of those are Psycepts. We simply had to broaden our key word search. We first identified the term memories, but you gave us the idea to search for PsyChometrists whose abilities were slightly different.”
I look to Sheriff Helki in wonder. I’m the only Mind Sage that I know of so the idea that there may be others out there like me is moving. “Okay. Chief Quanah, I’ll do this one time. I’d like a contract signed by you and witnessed by Chief Yanaba, Sheriff Helki, and Nakan’oa ascertaining this. I’ll draft something short while the prisoner is being brought up. Nakan’oa, if you can keep me apprised of the search, I would appreciate it. Even if I’m not a memory keeper, maybe another failed possibility and I are similar which I wish to explore.”
Chief Quanah nods his head and two of the silent military guards leave the room to retrieve the prisoner. With Tommie’s warning, I drafted a brief contract last night and now can fill in the necessary information. It’s brief to limit the wiggle room, basically stating under no circumstances will I be asked or expected to do this again and my one-time agreement is not to be held to other Psycepts nor built into future contracts as a requirement for residency. Consent is still needed for everything and we continue to have absolute right of refusal. Sheriff Helki sends me a small smile when he reads the contract, he’s amused at my anal nature I suppose.
“Before the prisoner is brought in the room, a couple of ground rules,” I say as I stand up. “Nakan’oa or anyone else, do not touch nor speak to me. I believe connecting to Meathead’s memories will be difficult and the added strain of bringing Nakan’oa along means I need to concentrate.”
I take off my scarf and place it on the sideboard next to me, followed by my gloves and holstered Bobcat. Next, I unbutton my cardigan and shrug it off, exposing the woad-colored markings and symbols painted the length of my bare arms and shoulders. I made an emergency call to Wendy last night and swore her to secrecy, not even Sully knew. She followed Tommie’s recipe to make the blue tattoo ink and paint the designs. I call it woad-colored more for the designs than the color, the dye is made from hawa obtained from the Indigenous Peoples of Central America. At Sheriff Helki’s raised brow, I whisper “I had an inkling I needed to be well prepared.” Seriously, puns can be used in all occasions.
“Nakan’oa, I recommend you be seated here. Chief Quanah, while you and your people can observe, please stand back. I don’t need the distraction of people hovering around me.” I grab my scarf and drape it over my head. They might need to be here for safety reasons, but that doesn’t mean I have to let them see my face when I’m in contact with both Nakan’oa and Meathead.
The guards return, escorting two more guards and Meathead into the room. Meathead is strapped to a wheeled table set at an upright slant. It reminds me of a full-length dolly with a back or something. A strap is fitted below his jaw and at his chin to prevent him from widely opening his mouth, presumably a measure against biting. He’s awake and aware as he looks around at the people in the room, though his arrogant smirk lessens when he sees me in the room. The dolly is maneuvered to sit on my right.
Chief Quanah nods his head, “we’re ready, Gray.”
I know what they expect when I face Meathead, but I need to give him one last chance. “I’m Gray and I’m not here to trap you in your memories again. I will be escorting someone else into your mind so they can obtain the information we want without killing you. We can avoid this if you agree to talk with us and answer our questions as well as allow one of our telepaths into your thoughts to test your truths. Your aggressive tactics put you on this path of interrogation, but we don’t have to be ruthless. Will you take the easy way out?” He swallows but slowly shakes his head no. “Okay, the hard way it is. I’ll try to be as gentle as I can.” I’m not in immediate threat so I’ll take care to not inflict undue harm. Though I don’t like myself very much now.
Briefly meeting Sheriff Helki’s compassionate gaze, I turn to face the wall behind us and wrap the scarf around my face and upper shoulders. I extend my right arm to Nakan’oa, “clasp my forearm but don’t otherwise touch me.” Then I reach my left arm to hover over Meathead’s face, using the heat and breath to locate his brow. Taking a deep breath, I place my hand on Meathead’s forehead as if I’m taking his temperature by touch. Down we go.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The punch from plunging into the memory lake
