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."Forty percent of those who take the drug speak in tongues and fall into a coma.""And what percentage of the human population is a psychic at a level 4 or better?"Frog smiled."Forty percent, sir.""He'd need one hell of a reliquary for something that big," SA-15 pointed out, and Jason stared at her a moment, which made her look away, pink."That's actually brilliant," he said."You're right.So we're looking for someone strong enough to harness all this soul energy to summon the Devourer.We're looking for a large enough physical link to feed those souls into.We're looking for someone who has access to a substance derived from plants in the Middle East, as well as working out of a 15th century book of spells from the Middle East.If that same someone has ties to the Imperial Sugar plant, so much the better.""Not to interrupt," Frog said, only choking a little, "but there's one more thing we should be looking for, too.A location.The magic that has to be performed on a scale this large would need some pretty secure facilities.And…it might be a good idea to find out why this dude wants a Devourer.Is he trying to destroy the world, purify it, what? We need a motive beyond 'crazy fucker.' Right?"Jason, pleased, nodded at Frog."We'll make an Agent of you yet, good sir.Go ahead with your current track of learning more about the pill's physical origins.SA-15, get on the lookout for a big warehouse or other building that pings the energetic radar—any baseline over a 3 means there's something going on inside.Hit the usual informants.Doyle couldn't be the only one who knew about this.Our first priority is to find the manufacturer and where he's keeping this stuff so we can destroy it before it hits the streets.Everyone please dump your notes thus far into my server sometime tonight so I can go over it.We'll meet back in 48 hours."Thus dismissed, the team scurried on their separate errands, leaving him with the two constants in his life since he had transferred to the Texas branch: filling out paperwork and buying fruit.Part Six"Okay…why am I here, again?"Rowan looked over at Frog, who was busy manipulating some sort of program on two of his three lab computers."We need a test subject," Rowan explained."We think that this model of the inhibitor may be the one.We've done trials on it with just me and Frog, but since he's not really psychic, there's only so much we can learn.Now we need to try it on you.If that works, the next step is wearing it around the base.After that, out in public.""You're really that close?" Sara asked, amazed."Yeah," Frog replied, pushing his glasses back on his nose."The last set of modifications to the output modulator seem to have done the trick."Rowan opened the metal case on the lab bench, revealing three small pieces—two triangular bits about the size of quarters, and a long strip of metal with a click wheel, something like the one on an iPod.He took the two triangles and fit them behind his ears, then strapped the third around his wrist."How does it work?" Sara wanted to know."It's complicated," Frog said, "but basically it's a portable shield.It takes Rowan's energy, amplifies it through a series of crystals, and projects a barrier between his mind and those around him.The dial on his wrist allows him to raise and lower the barrier, and strengthen it or thin it out, depending on the situation.So if he's on a case and needs to sense something, he turns it down; if he's at the movies surrounded by people, he turns it up.""So it has no effect on other people whatsoever?""None.It's designed to help him blend in.If it's turned to the highest setting, he's supposed to be invisible to any but the most powerful psychic sweep."Rowan smiled."Don't worry, you won't feel a thing."Sara raised an eyebrow."What about you? Isn't this dangerous if it malfunctions?""Not at the level we're working on today.There are seven settings, and there's only a risk once you pass level four.Four is where I'd set it for the average public outing.We'll be working at two and three.The worst that can happen there is that I get a migraine."She wasn't entirely convinced, but she nodded."Okay.What do I do?"Rowan touched the center of the click wheel, and the two triangular pieces lit up.He took a deep breath."Frog, are we recording?"Frog gave him a thumbs-up."All right.Starting at level 1." Rowan touched the wheel, and Sara felt something very subtle about him change.She couldn't articulate it, but it seemed like a shimmer of heat moved over his aura, like a mirage.Frog, staring at his monitor, nodded."All readings at minimum.Safe to increase power level.""Going to level 2."Sara felt her heartbeat step up, waiting for something to go wrong despite their assurances."Am I supposed to be doing anything?""Not yet.Frog?"Another nod."Minimum.Ready to try 3?""Okay." Rowan gave Sara a confident smile, and turned the wheel again."Level 3."Now, the change in him was much more noticeable—the shimmer returned, and flickered in her inner vision, though on the outside he looked just as he had before.To her senses he was there, only…paler.It was, she realized, the way someone changed when they shielded.He was shielded.“God, it’s quiet,” Rowan murmured, eyes half-closed.“I’d forgotten…”"Readings on the output modulator are rising, but they're still well within tolerance," Frog said."What are you getting, Rowan?"The Elf closed his eyes all the way, concentrating."It's working.I can't read her at all.Sara—I need you to drop your shields.Open yourself as much as you can."Sara bit her lip, not at all happy with the idea, but Frog wouldn't get anything from her, and Rowan was well acquainted with her energy and her gifts.It was safe enough, at least, for her.Slowly, she breathed in and out, imagining the psychic protections she'd built around her mind parting like a curtain, opening inch by inch, only wide enough for Rowan to see in."All right," Rowan said, "Level 3 blocks out mundane energy levels, but wavers slightly with stronger psychic power present.Moving up to level 4.""You said you were only going up to 3," Sara protested."If 4 doesn't block out one gifted Witch, there's no way it'll work in a crowded street," Rowan replied, turning up the inhibitor another notch.He looked frustrated until the new level was set, then his face cleared."That's better.Full blackout achieved in…three seconds.Not bad."Frog looked thrilled."Readings are still well within tolerance.""One last test," Rowan said, turning back to Sara."Attack me.""What?""Attack me.Psychically.Poke, prod, shove, whatever.""You have got to be out of your—""Please, Sara," Rowan said."This is the only way to be sure."Angry with him for putting her in this position, she lashed out with her energy, the psychic equivalent of slapping him in the face.He didn't react at all.Sara paused, her irritation pushed aside, and did it again.Still no reaction.She reached out a third time, visualizing the energy as a finger, and poked him hard between the eyes."Well?" Rowan asked."Did you do it?""Yeah [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]