the subject, and at last she succeeded. "I have an
idea I would like to try, Ranger, if you have no objection."

"That depends on the idea. What is it?"

It wasn't really a strong conviction, more of a feeling, but Corina
said, "Unlike Thark, I believe that humans, at least some, do have
Talent and simply do not know how to use it. Were you an Irschchan,
with a mind shield as strong as the one you certainly possess, I would
be sure that your other Talents were equally strong. What I would like
to do, if I can get past your screen, is to find out if that is the
case. If it is, I would then teach you to use your Talent."

Medart sat in silent shock. Esper ability? Him? The psych people
kept trying to find real espers, but until Corina revealed her Talent--
despite what she'd said about the Rhine experiments, he didn't consider
them either complete or conclusive--he'd heard of nothing he found
convincing. If he weren't adaptable, though, he wouldn't be a Ranger;
after a few seconds, he said, "You really think there's a chance of
that?"

"A chance--that is all I am certain of, but yes, I think there is."

"Let's try for it, then."

"One caution," she said. "Even if you have the potential I think
possible from your shield, I have never trained anyone before."

"That's all right. I'm willing to take the chance if you are."

"Very well. You will have to let down your screen, however, before we
can accomplish anything. It would be best if you can drop it
willingly, though since you were unaware of its existence, that may not
be possible. If not, perhaps we can weaken it by inducing a relaxed
emotional state. I will not attempt to break through with darlas,
though I am sure I could, because it would be extremely painful at
best, and it would probably damage or destroy your mind. Nor, most
certainly, will I do what was done during the struggles to establish
the Order."

Omnivorous curiosity was part of a Ranger's job description; Medart
indulged his. "What was that?"

Corina's ears went back in distaste. "The infliction of systematic
pain, weakening both the will and the ability to resist."

"I wouldn't want that," Medart agreed. "We try the voluntary part
first, right? You'll have to tell me how to do it, though; until you
said something about it yesterday, I never even considered the
possibility of having one. And which is it--shield or screen?"

"The terms are used interchangeably, though tec