Nightmare journey

had the grains of the talent in his genes. The Presence's people could have helped man develop that drop of talent, but they were refused when they made the offer.
    Refused? Whyever-
    The big thing holding us back from space last time was xenophobia, Tedesco said. Mankind couldn't cooperate on an intimate level with other races. Even men of different skin color argued among themselves. The idea of such close contact with alien nonhumans was more than most men of that time could accept.
    Perhaps that's why men developed the artificial wombs, Kiera said. They knew they had not deserved the stars, and they were trying to become acclimated to the idea of nonhumans among them. Maybe they would have adjusted by having mutated children and finally been able to face the real aliens. But things fell apart too fast for them to make the grade. Their society decayed, and the Last War finished them.
    But what has this to do with my-job? Jask 'pathed.
    We can't afford to let simpleminded prejudices stand between us and the stars, Tedesco said. Not this time. We need every human esper we can get, but-
    But?
    Some of those the Presence has rounded up are Pures, Melopina said. They're the only ones in the lounge who refuse to communicate telepathically with anyone but their own kind.
    Chaney wiped at his muzzle and said, And you've been where they are now. You can teach them much.
    I guess I can at that, Jask said.
    Come on, Melopina said. These eight or nine months are going to pass as quickly as twenty years passes for the Presence. We've lots to do!
    Smiling at the way her behind swayed when she walked, Jask followed the blue-green girl from the sickbay, down a long corridor, and into the main lounge, where the future parents of countless starchildren spoke animatedly in utter silence.
    [Version 2.0 by BuddyDk - august 13 2003]
    [Easy read, easy print]
    [Completely new scan]