Read Online The Thought Readers by Dima Zales - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dima Zales
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have to admit it makes a weird sort of sense. There are parts that really fit my own experiences. Things that Eugene doesn’t even know—like the fact that the first time I phased into the Quiet was when I fell off my bike while somersaulting in the air. It was exactly like the out-of-body experience he described. An experience I quickly discovered I could repeat whenever I was stressed.
“Does this theory explain Reading?” I ask.
“Sort of,” he says. “The theory is that everyone’s minds Split into different universes under some conditions. As Readers, we can just stay in those universes for a longer period of time, and we’re able to take our whole consciousness with us.” He draws in a deep breath. “The next part is somewhat fuzzy, I have to admit. If you touch a normal person who’s unable to control the Split like we can, they’re unaware of anything happening. However, if you touch a Reader or a Pusher—another person like us—while in that other universe, they get pulled in with you. Their whole being joins you, just like I joined you when you touched my hand earlier today. When you touch someone ‘normal,’ they just get pulled in a little bit—on more of a subconscious level. Just enough for us to do the Reading. Afterwards, they have no recollection of it other than a vague sense of déjà vu or a feeling that they missed something, but even those cases are extremely rare.”
“Okay, now the theory sounds more wishy-washy,” I tell him.
“It’s the best I’ve got. My dad tried to study this question scientifically and paid the ultimate price.”
I stare at Eugene blankly, and he clarifies, “Pushers killed him for his research.”
“What? He was killed for trying to find these answers?” I can’t hide my shock.
“Pushers don’t like this process being studied,” Eugene says bitterly. “Being the cowards that they are, they’re afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Of ‘normal’ people learning to do what we do,” Eugene says, and it’s clear that he’s not scared of that possibility.
Chapter 8
I sip my tea quietly for a while. Eugene comes back to the table and sits down again, sipping from his own mug. My brain is on information overload. There are so many directions this conversation could go. I have so many questions. I’ve never met anyone who even knew the Quiet existed, let alone knew this much about it—other than Mira, of course, but chasing someone through a crowded casino doesn’t technically qualify as ‘meeting.’
“Are there other theories?” I ask after a few moments.
“Many,” he says. “Another one I like is the computer simulation one. If you’ve seen The Matrix , it’s relatively easy to explain. Only it doesn’t answer as many things as the Quantum Universes explanation does. Like the fact that our abilities are hereditary.”
I was initially curious about the computer simulation theory, but the heredity angle stops me dead in my tracks.
“Wait, does every Reader have to have Reader parents?” I ask. In hindsight, it’s obvious from what he’s said thus far, but I want it spelled out.
“Yes.” He puts his now-empty teacup down. “Which reminds me. Who are your parents? How could you not have known that you’re a Reader?”
“Hold on.” I raise my hand. “Both parents must be Readers?”
“No.” He looks upset for some reason. “Not both. Just one.” It’s obvious that this is a sensitive subject for Eugene.
Before I can question him about that, he continues, “I don’t understand why your parents didn’t tell you about this. I always thought this was an oral tradition, a story that every family who has the ability passes from generation to generation. Why didn’t yours?”
“I’m not sure,” I say slowly. Sara never told me anything. In fact, it was just the opposite. When I told my moms about falling off that bike and seeing the world from outside my body, they told me I must’ve hit my head. When I
“Does this theory explain Reading?” I ask.
“Sort of,” he says. “The theory is that everyone’s minds Split into different universes under some conditions. As Readers, we can just stay in those universes for a longer period of time, and we’re able to take our whole consciousness with us.” He draws in a deep breath. “The next part is somewhat fuzzy, I have to admit. If you touch a normal person who’s unable to control the Split like we can, they’re unaware of anything happening. However, if you touch a Reader or a Pusher—another person like us—while in that other universe, they get pulled in with you. Their whole being joins you, just like I joined you when you touched my hand earlier today. When you touch someone ‘normal,’ they just get pulled in a little bit—on more of a subconscious level. Just enough for us to do the Reading. Afterwards, they have no recollection of it other than a vague sense of déjà vu or a feeling that they missed something, but even those cases are extremely rare.”
“Okay, now the theory sounds more wishy-washy,” I tell him.
“It’s the best I’ve got. My dad tried to study this question scientifically and paid the ultimate price.”
I stare at Eugene blankly, and he clarifies, “Pushers killed him for his research.”
“What? He was killed for trying to find these answers?” I can’t hide my shock.
“Pushers don’t like this process being studied,” Eugene says bitterly. “Being the cowards that they are, they’re afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Of ‘normal’ people learning to do what we do,” Eugene says, and it’s clear that he’s not scared of that possibility.
Chapter 8
I sip my tea quietly for a while. Eugene comes back to the table and sits down again, sipping from his own mug. My brain is on information overload. There are so many directions this conversation could go. I have so many questions. I’ve never met anyone who even knew the Quiet existed, let alone knew this much about it—other than Mira, of course, but chasing someone through a crowded casino doesn’t technically qualify as ‘meeting.’
“Are there other theories?” I ask after a few moments.
“Many,” he says. “Another one I like is the computer simulation one. If you’ve seen The Matrix , it’s relatively easy to explain. Only it doesn’t answer as many things as the Quantum Universes explanation does. Like the fact that our abilities are hereditary.”
I was initially curious about the computer simulation theory, but the heredity angle stops me dead in my tracks.
“Wait, does every Reader have to have Reader parents?” I ask. In hindsight, it’s obvious from what he’s said thus far, but I want it spelled out.
“Yes.” He puts his now-empty teacup down. “Which reminds me. Who are your parents? How could you not have known that you’re a Reader?”
“Hold on.” I raise my hand. “Both parents must be Readers?”
“No.” He looks upset for some reason. “Not both. Just one.” It’s obvious that this is a sensitive subject for Eugene.
Before I can question him about that, he continues, “I don’t understand why your parents didn’t tell you about this. I always thought this was an oral tradition, a story that every family who has the ability passes from generation to generation. Why didn’t yours?”
“I’m not sure,” I say slowly. Sara never told me anything. In fact, it was just the opposite. When I told my moms about falling off that bike and seeing the world from outside my body, they told me I must’ve hit my head. When I
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