Dreamworms Book 1: The Advent of Dreamtech by Isaac Petrov (drm ebook reader TXT) 📕

bodies turn briefly to glance at the eight mares standing behind, “shall instruct you in the three steps of the Path of Light.”

The Path of Light. Ximena feels Edda’s anticipation with amusement. Everybody in the twenty-sixth century knows, of course, about the Paths. To a great extent, dreamtech defines their age. But for Edda, they are just words—never-heard-before words of hope.

“But a master of the Path of Light,” Yog continues, “is but an apprentice of the Path in the Shadow.”

The Path in the Shadow. Ximena smiles, as she feels Edda’s steel determination, like a drooling lioness. A sudden image of Willem crosses the psych-link in a flash of love and angst, but Edda promptly gathers herself in an impressive show of discipline, and her attention snaps back to the speaking mares.

“The three steps of the Path in the Shadow are the true source of power over others. That is your objective, humans: to tread the Path in the Shadow. Your objective, and ours. Without treading the Shadow, you are worthless to us—and to yourselves. Only a Walker in the Shadow—a true Walker of the Mind—can traverse the Second Wake, intrude into the minds of others, and hope to mold them to their will. It is my duty to ensure that only the worthy tread the Paths.” Her heads turn left, as if talking to Rew directly. “It is a sensitive and dangerous discipline, that which Walker Rew plans to instruct you in. Thus, it is also my duty to limit the access to the powers of the Mind Walker to a minimum of subjects.” She turns her heads to the forty-eight gripped youngsters. “Only the two most worthy humans shall be granted access to the Path in the Shadow. Only two of you shall become Walkers of the Mind.”

Two? Ximena feels Edda’s flush of icy fear, as her hope wavers. Only two?! She exchanges a wide-eyed glance with Aline. Behind them, Pieter and others begin to complain. The mares watch in silence as the protests grow louder. Gotthard, at the edge of the group, is talking agitatedly to a pale Rutger. The clamor continues for a long while, as the mares look on, impervious to the human storm, until it finally calms to a fearful, expectant murmur.

“Do look around you, humans, to your peers,” Yog continues. “Do observe them, and assess their motivation—and worth. Do ask to yourself, are they grander than yours?”

Many do indeed turn their heads studiously. Not Edda. She just stares at Yog, hands closed in fists. She feels… betrayed. This is not what they promised! Power, they said. Power to fix your world. That’s what they said. They never spoke of—

“There are forty-eight of you now. But not for long. Your determination shall be put to the test after every single step Walker Rew pushes you along the Path of Light. If you do lack talent to Walk, or talent to learn, or motivation, you shall be flushed out, back to your human life of despair, in full knowledge that you are not worthy of a last chance to make right whatever wrongs you. Do look around you again, and if your strength falters at the thought of proving yourself more worthy than your peers, do step forward, and accept your fate now.”

Silence falls on the staging permascape as Edda and the rest exchange glances of curiosity, even suspicion—but no one moves.

“What happens if we don’t pass your tests?” a tall man in his late teens asks, his voice more aggressive than curious. Edda doesn’t know the man, probably from one of the other Geldershire colonies. From Oosterbeek perhaps, judging by his arrogant stance.

“Nothing shall happen,” Rew says, speaking for the first time since Yog stood beside her. “Which is punishment enough, Elder Kuipers. You are but barred from revealing our existence.”

“But you are a very big deal! The world needs to know what you’re doing. I bet you can get more help if you collaborate openly with aws Head.”

“You shall not reveal our existence,” Yog says.

“Even if you would,” Rew says, “nobody would believe you, Elder Kuipers.”

“I can be very persuasive. What if I try?”

“Then you shall be terminated,” Yog says.

Edda blinks in shock. Terminated?

“Nobody shall believe you,” Rew repeats. “I do suggest not to make a fool of yourself in the attempt.”

“What does, er, Overseer forgotername mean by terminated?”

“Overseer Yog, human,” Yog says. “If you do attempt to reveal our existence, or the nature of this… collaboration, we shall terminate your life.”

“Whoa! Oookay.” The man raises his hands in a gesture of appeasement. “Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

“Uh huh,” the man folds his arms across his chest. “Why are you doing all this? What do you want from us humans?”

“To help you flourish,” Rew says. “As we have for millennia.”

“Nice work you’ve done. Where were you during the collapses?”

Rew takes a few seconds to reply. If mares could breathe, Ximena thinks, Rew would probably be taking a deep breath. “Our power is limited, Elder Kuipers—that is why you are here. Human Walkers of the Mind shall remedy our handicap.”

“But why are you helping us?” Elder Kuipers insists. “Why really? What’s in it for you if we humans flourish or die? Is it your religion? Do you even have a god? Are you angels of Goah? Why us? Why, Goah’s Mercy, are you here?”

Yeah, Edda thinks. Ximena feels her curiosity overwhelming her apprehension. That’s a fucking good question.

Yog replies immediately. “Your inquisitive mind disqualifies you from worth, human.”

Before Elder Kuipers can reply, he disappears. Every one of the forty-seven remaining people stare at the empty spot in astonished silence.

Rew turns her head towards the three Yog mares. “Elder Kuipers was a promising candidate.”

“There is no promise in curiosity. Only danger.”

“He had a strong traversing halo. Very rare. His selection was a substantial investment of my personal time.”

“Alas, ultimately unworthy of it.” Yog’s three faces turn to the apprehensive audience. “Humans, your way into the Path in the Shadow is now a spot closer. Only forty-five opponents