Read Online Homesmind by Pamela Sargent - Free Book Online

how willing you are to condemn it—
    A wave of anger flowed from the girl, knocking Rulek to the wood floor. "Stop it," his father cried aloud. "This child is already dividing us." He struggled to bind his children with mental cords. "She cannot live."
    Rulek lashed out before he could stop himself. A whip of light formed and snapped; his father staggered back, nearly dropping the baby, who began to wail. The boy pulled the bundle from the man's arms.
    Anra's fingers dug into her thighs as she watched, powerless to alter the scene. Rulek was trying to hold back his emotions so as not to overwhelm her, but too many of his thoughts had already seeped into her. She strengthened herself, afraid that the boy might withdraw and show her no more.
    Rulek was holding the baby, shielding her with his mind. His thoughts were confused; the shadowy form of a dark-haired girl was lingering near him. He was remembering Wyke, whom he had not been able to save, and Anra understood why he was clinging to the small separate self. Wyke's death during their ordeal had made him doubt the purpose of old ways, but he also wanted to wound the parents who had tried to train him not to doubt. If he had questioned their teaching sooner, he might have fled with Wyke from their ordeal and saved the girl he had loved.
    His mother lifted her arms as she sat up. —I gave birth to her— she said. —Can't you feel my pain? But we must do what is right. Give me the child. You've already struck out at your father. Give me that child before you're completely lost to us—
    —You can't have her— Rulek answered. —If you try to crush her mind, you'll have to crush mine, too. I'll take her to that village alone if I must—
    —Then I curse you— his father said. —I won't take your life, but I send you from this house. You're no longer my son. I close my mind to you— He reached for his partner's hand. —Take the soulless one and be damned—
    The woman wailed, but her mind was already shielded. The blond girl turned away. A dark spot was welling up inside Rulek, threatening to encompass all of his thoughts. Somehow, he had not believed it would come to this.
    The hut flickered and vanished. Rulek was running from cabin to cabin, calling out for help. A young woman nursing her own baby turned him away when he begged her to feed the infant. Two boys warded him off, threatening him with spears; children pelted him with pebbles.
    He came to a large hut at the edge of the village. An old woman with a long white braid came outside, followed by two old men.
    —Help me, Merging Selves— Rulek cried out. — I need your strength and that of our village Net. I must have help from Those called Minds, and I don't know if They can hear my thoughts alone. Reach out to the Minds and ask Them to send someone for both of us—
    —You want to deny what must be— the woman replied. —You want to escape—
    —Please! Call out, and I swear that you'll never see us again—
    —You must leave anyway— the woman said. —There is no longer a place for you here. You're separated from us now. Be grateful that we don't strike you down. We'll grant you some mercy. We offer you the chance to understand your evil before you die, and to repent. Leave us—
    —Grandfather— He held out the child to one of the old men. —Help us—
    —I cannot. We must root out evil, as we destroy the disease in our bodies, or all of the village will die— The man turned away.
    The Net suddenly broke. Rulek was cut off from the rest of the village; their minds were completely closed to him. He had been severed from the Net.
    He fled. The silver one and her companions, he recalled, had said that they came from the west; he moved in that direction, wondering if the Minds could hear the call of one boy. He sent out weak tendrils and heard no answer.
    At first, the baby he carried wailed; then she began to grow quiet. He left the forest where his people lived, crossing flat land. He caught a