Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corps by J. Gregory Keyes Page A
Authors: J. Gregory Keyes
Ads: Link
courtroom.”
“I did.”
“Well, tell me this. Some of my colleagues have been pushing to broaden the admissibility of teep testimony. What’s your opinion?”
“My opinion is that things are best as they stand.”
Lee nodded.
“Well, at least you have an opinion. Now explain it.”
“Spectral evidence.”
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me, son.”
“In the late seventeenth century, in North America, in Salem, Massachusetts, a number of people were tried and many hung for witchcraft. The court admitted testimony of spectral evidence-allegations that the accused had appeared in ghostly form to those they afflicted. One of the men involved-Cotton Mather-argued persuasively against the admissibility of such evidence. After all, the testimony wasn’t verifiable-the witnesses could lie for any number of reasons, accusing innocent people. Despite Mather’s objections, the testimony was admitted, and twenty-one people were executed. Later, there was a backlash, a big one. I think telepath testimony is comparable. It’s good for establishing the possibility of guilt, but shouldn’t be admitted without corroborating physical or overwhelming circumstantial evidence.”
Lee cocked his head.
“They teach you that in law school?”
“No. I’m something of a history buff.”
“Write that up for me. It’ll sound good on the floor. Can you think of other historical precedents?”
“Yes. In Nigeria, in 2002-“
“Just write it up.” He held out his hand. “Good to see someone earning their pay on the first day. Now, why don’t you have a talk with Tom? He can fill you in on the nastier aspects of working with me.” He turned back to his vid, but called again before Kevin could get out the door. “Have you been screened?”
“Yes, S-ah, Lee. It should be in my vitae.”
“We’ll want to screen you again. in-house. Good to have you on board, Kevin.”
“Good to be here, Lee.”
Tom Nguyen stood as the third member of their party approached , a lean fellow the color of black coffee.
“Kevin Vacit, may I introduce Akimba Ironheart.”
“Mr. Ironheart,” Kevin said, taking the black-gloved hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but it’s SOP to have a teep along for these sorts of things. To be candid, assisting Lee is an extremely sensitive position. Even the vice president doesn’t have higher clearance.”
“I understand completely. And I’m aware of Mr. Ironheart’s reputation-you worked on the Knorozov trial, didn’t you?”
Ironheart seemed pleased. “I did.”
“That was good work.”
“Thank you.” Tom drummed his fingers. “Another reason for Mr. Ironheart’s joining us has to do with security above and beyond you. Some of the things I’m going to tell you can’t be overheard, and there are a lot of people who would like to overhear, teep and normal alike.” Kevin nodded. “The first thing I want to stress is that this job carries some risk. While it’s not well known, there have been four attempts on the senator’s life in the past fifteen years. None succeeded, and in each case after the first, teeps were able to identify the assassin before his attempt.”
“I haven’t heard about these.”
“You wouldn’t have. Cards on the table, Kevin-you’ve signed a disclosure document. That’s to be taken seriously, and from here on out it comes into play. But I ask you again, for the record-do you swear to keep the things I tell you confidential?”
“I do.” He felt a sort of tickle among his thoughts, a faint alien presence. Ironheart nodded. “He’s telling the truth.” Tom smiled thinly.
“Good. Let’s go have a look at Teeptown, then.” Kevin took in the broad avenue, the carefully sculpted landscape . In the middle distance he could see a mass of scaffolding and lifters busily at work, and beyond that the sharp peaks of the Alps.
“Is that EarthDome?” he asked, pointing toward the distant construction.
Tom nodded.
“It will be. What else could it be?
“I did.”
“Well, tell me this. Some of my colleagues have been pushing to broaden the admissibility of teep testimony. What’s your opinion?”
“My opinion is that things are best as they stand.”
Lee nodded.
“Well, at least you have an opinion. Now explain it.”
“Spectral evidence.”
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me, son.”
“In the late seventeenth century, in North America, in Salem, Massachusetts, a number of people were tried and many hung for witchcraft. The court admitted testimony of spectral evidence-allegations that the accused had appeared in ghostly form to those they afflicted. One of the men involved-Cotton Mather-argued persuasively against the admissibility of such evidence. After all, the testimony wasn’t verifiable-the witnesses could lie for any number of reasons, accusing innocent people. Despite Mather’s objections, the testimony was admitted, and twenty-one people were executed. Later, there was a backlash, a big one. I think telepath testimony is comparable. It’s good for establishing the possibility of guilt, but shouldn’t be admitted without corroborating physical or overwhelming circumstantial evidence.”
Lee cocked his head.
“They teach you that in law school?”
“No. I’m something of a history buff.”
“Write that up for me. It’ll sound good on the floor. Can you think of other historical precedents?”
“Yes. In Nigeria, in 2002-“
“Just write it up.” He held out his hand. “Good to see someone earning their pay on the first day. Now, why don’t you have a talk with Tom? He can fill you in on the nastier aspects of working with me.” He turned back to his vid, but called again before Kevin could get out the door. “Have you been screened?”
“Yes, S-ah, Lee. It should be in my vitae.”
“We’ll want to screen you again. in-house. Good to have you on board, Kevin.”
“Good to be here, Lee.”
Tom Nguyen stood as the third member of their party approached , a lean fellow the color of black coffee.
“Kevin Vacit, may I introduce Akimba Ironheart.”
“Mr. Ironheart,” Kevin said, taking the black-gloved hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but it’s SOP to have a teep along for these sorts of things. To be candid, assisting Lee is an extremely sensitive position. Even the vice president doesn’t have higher clearance.”
“I understand completely. And I’m aware of Mr. Ironheart’s reputation-you worked on the Knorozov trial, didn’t you?”
Ironheart seemed pleased. “I did.”
“That was good work.”
“Thank you.” Tom drummed his fingers. “Another reason for Mr. Ironheart’s joining us has to do with security above and beyond you. Some of the things I’m going to tell you can’t be overheard, and there are a lot of people who would like to overhear, teep and normal alike.” Kevin nodded. “The first thing I want to stress is that this job carries some risk. While it’s not well known, there have been four attempts on the senator’s life in the past fifteen years. None succeeded, and in each case after the first, teeps were able to identify the assassin before his attempt.”
“I haven’t heard about these.”
“You wouldn’t have. Cards on the table, Kevin-you’ve signed a disclosure document. That’s to be taken seriously, and from here on out it comes into play. But I ask you again, for the record-do you swear to keep the things I tell you confidential?”
“I do.” He felt a sort of tickle among his thoughts, a faint alien presence. Ironheart nodded. “He’s telling the truth.” Tom smiled thinly.
“Good. Let’s go have a look at Teeptown, then.” Kevin took in the broad avenue, the carefully sculpted landscape . In the middle distance he could see a mass of scaffolding and lifters busily at work, and beyond that the sharp peaks of the Alps.
“Is that EarthDome?” he asked, pointing toward the distant construction.
Tom nodded.
“It will be. What else could it be?
Similar Books
