She chose her words with care.
“Your mind moves so fast that you can hardly form whole thoughts. It’s more like you soak up information rather than think things through logically. It’s not easy for you to trust on an emotional level, but you have a very well-honed ability to know what somebody is going to say or do, almost before they say or do it. Being able to tune in to people that way gives you a big advantage.” She considered him, hoping he wasn’t tuning in to her. Hidden microphones were one thing; mind reading took invasion of privacy to another level.
He withheld comment as she continued. “Your handwriting suggests to me that you’re currently functioning under a tremendous amount of emotional strain. Maybe that’s why you tend to skim the surface of emotion, and don’t allow anything to touch you too deeply, because . . .” Because you’re afraid it could send you over the edge. Because you’re paranoid. “Because you feel as if you have so much on your shoulders, you may wonder if you can take on any more. Yet, at the same time, it’s as if there were no barriers between you and the environment. You leave yourself wide open to everything.” She stopped again to gauge his reaction.
Harold Stedman looked thoughtful. He nodded. “That’s quite astonishing. Are you sure you got all that out of my handwriting?”
“As I see you now, and as you were on the podium, you don’t project an image of being stressed to the max. So, where else would I have gotten it? I don’t have a hidden microphone.” She couldn’t resist that jab. Looking back at what he had written, Claudia let herself read the words now.
“Now I’m tired and I can tell the creative juices have subsided temporarily, but I’m optimistic about rejuvenation, my own and this earth’s. No matter what happens, I have traveled a hundred thousand miles, and no one can take that away from me. Harold Stedman”
Claudia thought about the confessions they had viewed earlier in the evening. What would Brother Harold have written if he had been tasked with that assignment?
“You’re quite right about me reacting quickly,” he said. “And I’m going to prove it. I would like you to come and spend some time at the Ark. I want you to examine some handwritten statements and tell me what you think about the people who wrote them—whether what they wrote is the truth, whether they’re loyal, and so on. I want to know whether they’re being honest about what motivated them to join us.”
Claudia’s mind raced. If Rodney had indeed confided in James Miller, being on site at the Ark could provide opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have to question him on the whereabouts of Erin’s husband. It was the only lead they had and they needed to move fast. She glanced at Kelly, whose expression told her she was thinking the same thing.
As if he thought she was taking too long to answer, Stedman added, “I know it’s a long way from here, so you’re welcome to stay over for as long as it takes for you to do these analyses.”
“I’d love to come too,” Kelly chimed in. “I thought what you were talking about tonight was fascinating.”
Stedman considered her for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid of being humiliated?”
Kelly leaned into his space and gazed into his eyes. “It’s true, I didn’t like that part of the program so much. But what you said about the earth being destroyed got me thinking about the future and I want to learn more about how I can get saved. I don’t want to die in the end of times.”
That seemed to convince him. He beamed at her, nodding with approval. “That can definitely be worked out. You can both come right away, tonight, and we’ll get started first thing tomorrow.”
“If we’re spending a couple of days, we’ll have to get some clothes,” Claudia said, refusing to be bulldozed into the arrangement by Stedman’s need to be in control. “I’ll also want to pick up some
“Your mind moves so fast that you can hardly form whole thoughts. It’s more like you soak up information rather than think things through logically. It’s not easy for you to trust on an emotional level, but you have a very well-honed ability to know what somebody is going to say or do, almost before they say or do it. Being able to tune in to people that way gives you a big advantage.” She considered him, hoping he wasn’t tuning in to her. Hidden microphones were one thing; mind reading took invasion of privacy to another level.
He withheld comment as she continued. “Your handwriting suggests to me that you’re currently functioning under a tremendous amount of emotional strain. Maybe that’s why you tend to skim the surface of emotion, and don’t allow anything to touch you too deeply, because . . .” Because you’re afraid it could send you over the edge. Because you’re paranoid. “Because you feel as if you have so much on your shoulders, you may wonder if you can take on any more. Yet, at the same time, it’s as if there were no barriers between you and the environment. You leave yourself wide open to everything.” She stopped again to gauge his reaction.
Harold Stedman looked thoughtful. He nodded. “That’s quite astonishing. Are you sure you got all that out of my handwriting?”
“As I see you now, and as you were on the podium, you don’t project an image of being stressed to the max. So, where else would I have gotten it? I don’t have a hidden microphone.” She couldn’t resist that jab. Looking back at what he had written, Claudia let herself read the words now.
“Now I’m tired and I can tell the creative juices have subsided temporarily, but I’m optimistic about rejuvenation, my own and this earth’s. No matter what happens, I have traveled a hundred thousand miles, and no one can take that away from me. Harold Stedman”
Claudia thought about the confessions they had viewed earlier in the evening. What would Brother Harold have written if he had been tasked with that assignment?
“You’re quite right about me reacting quickly,” he said. “And I’m going to prove it. I would like you to come and spend some time at the Ark. I want you to examine some handwritten statements and tell me what you think about the people who wrote them—whether what they wrote is the truth, whether they’re loyal, and so on. I want to know whether they’re being honest about what motivated them to join us.”
Claudia’s mind raced. If Rodney had indeed confided in James Miller, being on site at the Ark could provide opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have to question him on the whereabouts of Erin’s husband. It was the only lead they had and they needed to move fast. She glanced at Kelly, whose expression told her she was thinking the same thing.
As if he thought she was taking too long to answer, Stedman added, “I know it’s a long way from here, so you’re welcome to stay over for as long as it takes for you to do these analyses.”
“I’d love to come too,” Kelly chimed in. “I thought what you were talking about tonight was fascinating.”
Stedman considered her for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid of being humiliated?”
Kelly leaned into his space and gazed into his eyes. “It’s true, I didn’t like that part of the program so much. But what you said about the earth being destroyed got me thinking about the future and I want to learn more about how I can get saved. I don’t want to die in the end of times.”
That seemed to convince him. He beamed at her, nodding with approval. “That can definitely be worked out. You can both come right away, tonight, and we’ll get started first thing tomorrow.”
“If we’re spending a couple of days, we’ll have to get some clothes,” Claudia said, refusing to be bulldozed into the arrangement by Stedman’s need to be in control. “I’ll also want to pick up some
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