Amaryllis Read Online Free PDF Page B

become one by being stupid. He must know the hypnosis thing is very improbable. Maybe he just wants to check out all possibilities before he makes his move. A superstrong hypno-talent who could force someone to act against his or her will is at least a theoretical possibility, isn’t it?”
    Clementine grimaced. “Sure. And it’s theoretically possible that the Return cult kooks are right when they say that the curtain will reopen one of these days and we’ll all go back to Earth.”
    â€œGet serious, Clementine, Trent’s not crazy the way the cultists are.” Byron turned back to Amaryllis. “I know he’s a class nine. He told me that much when he made the appointment. But what kind of talent is he?”
    â€œHe’s a detector,” Amaryllis said. “He can sense when other talents are working.”
    â€œIs that all?” Byron was clearly disappointed.
    â€œAccording to his certification papers.” Amaryllis straightened the forms on her desk. “A class-nine detector.”
    â€œClass nine.” Clementine whistled in awe. “What a waste. All that psychic power and no useful talent to go with it. Sort of like putting a hot engine in a big, souped-up ice-cycle and then putting it up on blocks.”
    â€œBad synergy, all right.” Byron shook his head. “Just imagine what it would be like to know that you had a high-grade talent, but the only thing you could do with it was detect other people when they used their talents.”
    â€œMust be frustrating for him,” Clementine agreed. “No wonder the news reports have never said much about his psychic abilities. He probably doesn’t like to talk about them.”
    â€œYou know,” Byron pursed his lips. “I thought for sure he’d have some really interesting talent.”
    Amaryllis glanced at him. “Such as?”
    â€œWell, they call him the Iceman because he’s so good at finding jelly-ice, right? I thought maybe he’d at least have a talent for locating valuable ore and mineral deposits or something.”
    â€œApparently he did his prospecting the old-fashioned way,” Amaryllis said. “Detailed research and a lot of grueling fieldwork. He has a degree in Synergistic Crystal Mineralogy.”
    Amaryllis did not know much about the complex process involved in the search for jelly-ice, but she knew it was difficult, sometimes dangerous work. It was also vital, high-paying work.
    Jelly-ice was slang for the substance known in technical circles as semiliquid full-spectrum crystal quartz. Jelly-ice had a multitude of strange properties including a weird, jellylike consistency when it was in its natural state. But the most important fact about the stuff was that it could be made to produce energy. Clean, efficient, inexpensive energy.
    Lucas Trent had made his fortune by locating severalextremely rich deposits of jelly-ice in the Western Islands. The company he had founded, Lodestar Exploration, was one of the most successful in the business.
    â€œI don’t give a damn how he goes about finding jelly-ice,” Clementine said. “All I care about is that it’s made him a very important person here in the city.” She leveled a finger laden with several steel rings at Amaryllis. “I’m counting on you to convince him that even if there’s no psychic vampire hypno-talent involved in this case, he got exactly what he paid for from Psynergy, Inc.”
    â€œRight, boss.”
    Clementine stood and planted her hands on her hips. “Trent is contracting for a professional, highly skilled prism, and that’s just what we’ll give him. Whatever answers he gets when he links with you are his problem.”
    â€œI trust you’ll remember that when it’s time to hand out the yearly bonuses,” Amaryllis said politely.
    Clementine gave a crack of laughter. “Don’t worry, you’ve already earned your