Different Senses Read Free Page B

think it is?”
    I’d come to distrust that
particular smile of hers, the one that said “Let’s not scare anyone
just yet.” I’d used it too many times myself in the field. “I don’t
think it’s helpful to speculate. You’ll just worry yourself and
there’s probably no need. How are you sleeping?”
    “Fine,” I lied. “I feel much
better today.”
    “Excellent. Then I’m sure these
tests will rule anything major out. Concentrate on your physical
therapy. More than enough there to keep your mind working.”
    We were both lying. When
doctors lied, patients had good reason to be scared.
    I had the scan and more
blood drawn, but I heard nothing from the psychologist the next day
or the day after that. I guessed if it had been something life
threatening like a tumour, there wouldn’t have been a delay, but
the silence made me edgy and cranky, and poor Kirin took the brunt
of it. At least Yashi was with him the second time and told me to
knock it off, but both of them were more concerned than angry. I
wanted to tell them to knock it off, but how could they and how
could I?
    They were making noises about
leaving when Doctor Woy turned up. “Oh, Javen, you have visitors. I
can come back.”
    “It’s okay, doctor. This is my
brother, Yashi, and my partner, Kirin.”
    “Oh. Nice to meet you.” She
shook hands with them. “I suppose it’s just as well...you could do
with some support, I think. If you don’t mind them hearing the
results of the tests, I mean.”
    Yashi took my hand. “Bad news,
doctor?”
    “Um, possibly. Javen?”
    “Tell me,” I said. Yashi
squeezed my hand. Kirin moved in closer. “Is it a tumour?”
    She was taken aback. “Goodness,
no. You’re not ill at all. Is that what you thought?”
    “Yes. But if it’s not
that—”
    “No, it’s not. Categorically
not. You two are twins, aren’t you? Identical? Do you have
children, Yashi?”
    “Identical twin boys.”
    “Ah, then this will affect you
too. Javen, you and Yashi have the gene for empathy. Did you
realise that?”
    I frowned. “No. How can we?
We’re both Kelon.” Yashi looked at me in confusion. Kirin squinted
at the doctor. I reached for his hand but he didn’t see.
    “I don’t know how specifically.
Obviously I don’t know your family history in every detail, but the
results are unequivocal.”
    “ You mean we have banis blood?” But we were Kelon. The whole family were
Kelon.
    Yashi grinned uneasily. “You
want to tell Dad or will I?”
    Wouldn’t that be fun. “Um, you,
I think, since I’m injured. But, doctor, I’m not empathic. I did
the test when I joined the force.”
    “No, you weren’t then. You are
now.”
    “What?”
    Kirin’s voice echoed mine. “How
can that be?” he asked. “When did it happen?” I didn’t care for the
accusation in his voice that seemed half aimed at me.
    “I think it was triggered by
the shooting,” she said. “It’s rare but there are cases on record
of trauma or severe illness activating empathy in Kelon individuals
with the gene.”
    “Then untrigger it. They can do
that now, right? Gene therapy or something?”
    She shook her head. “No, I’m
sorry. Some things we could reverse, yes. Not this. It
fundamentally changes brain structure and chemistry. Trying to
reverse could leave you severely damaged. You’ll have to accept
that you’re now an empath and will be for the rest of your
life.”
    “ No, you have to be
wrong! I’m not an empath. I can’t be a cop with empathy.” She
winced—my voice had got a little loud. But damn it, this couldn’t
be right. It couldn’t .
    Yashi finally realised what the
real issue was. “Javen,” he murmured.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “The
results are very clear. You are empathic, and very strongly so. And
I, uh, have a statutory duty to tell your employer.”
    “No! Run the test again! I
can’t be,” I pleaded. “I’m a cop. Please. Do it again.”
    “I would if I thought there was
the least point.