Read Online The Overseer by Conlan Brown - Free Book Online Page B

expect. Much of the Prima sought revenge over old Civil War wounds, much of the Domani sought to demilitarize the Prima, and in the middle of it all the Ora played both sides against each other in the hopes of keeping the attention off of themselves—which didn’t work. A lot of Firstborn died.”
    John thought for a moment. “So, was that the Thresher?”
    “Who knows,” Jerry said, taking a noisy slurp of Diet Coke. “A lot of that violence started with the thinking that Domani had become the Thresher.”
    “So…” John frowned, thinking through the fog of facts. “The Thresher is a group?”
    An accepting nod. “That’s one theory. There’s an oral tradition that one of the orders of the Firstborn will be corrupted and become the Thresher. Blake Jackson was a big proponent of that idea.”
    John shook his head. “A real shame about Blake Jackson and the things he did because of that belief.”
    “Others,” Jerry continued, “believe the Thresher is a spirit. Like a spirit of contention. A general propensity toward the sin of division.”
    “Or a demonic spirit,” John offered.
    “That’s also a popular theory. Or the devil himself.” Jerry shrugged, making another noise. “Who knows?”
    John nodded to himself for a few more seconds, digesting it all. “Vincent always talked of the Thresher as some sort of invisible monster that stalked the Firstborn, hunting them into extinction. But that doesn’t sound like it’s the most widely accepted version.”
    “Well…” Jerry finished his Diet Coke, crushing and disposing of it the same way as the last. “It’s not a popular belief among the Prima, so I’m unique in saying this, but when everyone agrees on something, they usually aren’t doing their own thinking. And people who don’t come to their own conclusions don’t do anything of value.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Because,” Jerry said, reaching for his mini fridge again. “If a person believes the truth because they were told so, it doesn’t make them wise. It just means they’re a little gullible and a lot lucky. Even if you landed on the truth by accident, it’s only a matter of time until someone tells you something that isn’t the truth. And if you believe that , like everything else you’re told— then you’re stuck like Chuck.”
    John smirked at Jerry’s pithy comments. “And the alternative is?”
    “Do your own thinking as a solitary person.”
    “Isn’t that lonely?” John inquired.
    “Well…” Jerry shrugged. “Real truth isn’t determined by a popularity contest.”
    “But,” John fumbled, “if that’s true, then how does one person make a worthwhile difference?”
    “They don’t very often,” Jerry conceded. “It takes a group committed to the marketplace of ideas, where people, thinking individually, even disagreeing, can work together in the pursuit of a common goal—that’s when powerful stuff happens.”
    They were quiet for a few seconds as John thought about it. “And that’s precisely when the Thresher raises its head.”
    Jerry smiled coyly. “Most of the time people who are free to do as they please simply do as they’re told. Because it’s easier to have one person doing all the thinking and everyone else following that vision—whether it’s right or not. Which is why we now have the position of Overseer.” He raised a set of open palms. “No offense to you, of course.”
    “None taken,” John assured, taking a moment to think. “So, what do you think the Thresher is?” John asked pointedly.
    “Me?” Jerry asked, a set of chubby fingers pointing at his own chest. “Probably something demonic. Maybe it’s a kind of battle plan, or a specific position a demon takes on—like Overseer for us.” Jerry cracked open his new can, taking a swift sip. “But I do believe that the Thresher—whatever it is—is real. And its tools are fear and pride and a love of power.”

Chapter 6
    H ANNAH SAT IN the coffee shop by the