12-02-2013, 04:07 PM
Satisfied that Jensen would be protected -- at least in the legal sense -- Jon settled back in his chair and listened to Jensen recount his tale to Mr. Indyk. He did so in much greater detail than the summary he'd provided Jon. Sickening sounds of a thing feeding on bodies? This creature had truly been a thing of nightmares.
And then at Mr. Indyk's question: "How did you frighten her away?"
Not how did you get away. The man had not shown an inkling of surprise at Jensen's story; indeed, to Jon's enhanced hearing he couldn't even detect an elevated heartbeat from Mr. Indyk. Yes, the man already knew what sort of creature Jensen had encountered and was merely seeking confirmation, so it seemed. Perhaps more. He was certainly more than who he claimed to be.
Surely Jensen wouldn't be foolish enough to tell the man what he'd done to scare the creature away. The downcast preacher had certainly shown discomfort with lying or evasion, but there were other ways around that. Jon leaned forward, prepared to interrupt his client.
But Jensen didn't give him the chance. He sent Jon a chagrined look with soft eyes that begged apology and blurted out "Light, my friend."
Jon suppressed a sigh, but had no opportunity to react, for that answer had finally provoked a reaction in Mr. Indyk, who stood so quickly his chair slid backwards on the concrete floor, hands braced on the table top as he stared at Jon and Jensen. Eyes open, Mr. Indyk whispered a single word, barely even a whisper -- but Jon caught it.
"Gods."
Gods.
Was that what the man had really been looking for?
It was enough to confirm Jon's suspicions. Noah's words came back to him: They hunt the things of the old world, the demons and gods of old myths. And perhaps that was what Jon and Jensen were. Not supreme omnipotent beings, of course, but Jon had deduced long ago that the gods of his people, those with true power of medicine, had been able to wield the force of the Great Spirit.
Yes. In Ömer Indyk, Jon could finally put a face to the mysterious Atharim he'd been warned of so long ago.
Jon put up a hand, remaining seated and his face devoid of emotion. "Mr. Indyk, my client has suffered a traumatic experience here. It is known that the mind is prone to creating fictitious memories in order to block out those that are even more traumatizing."
Not exactly a lie, but certainly the implication of one with his substitution of an alternate theory. But that, of course, was at the core of what a lawyer did in the courtroom: two adversaries, both with truth on their side that conflicted with the opponent's, fighting over which would come out on top. "For the sake of his own mental well-being, it's probably best to leave what must undoubtedly be a fantasy construction alone at the moment."
Even as the words left his mouth, Jon felt the suggested alternate truth he'd offered would fall flat to the man, even though without a doubt the Atharim had come across plenty of hoaxes and false witnesses in their time. After all, people were still faking Sasquatch sightings in the Pacific Northwest. His mind raced as he drew on the power of the Great Spirit. What else could he do to clean up this mess? The man could reveal Jensen to their hunters. Thoughts of altering the man's memories came and went. Jensen would know Jon was doing something to the man and he'd probably try and stop him, righteous person that he seemed who would not wish to see harm befall another, even one who presented a great danger. It would probably make the situation even worse.
Perhaps it would be best to just push the dialogue past that particular incident. "I take it you have encountered something like this thing before, Mr. Indyk, what do you think it was?"
As he spoke, he still prepared weaves to seize the man's mind and stop him in his tracks at the first indication of hostility.
And then at Mr. Indyk's question: "How did you frighten her away?"
Not how did you get away. The man had not shown an inkling of surprise at Jensen's story; indeed, to Jon's enhanced hearing he couldn't even detect an elevated heartbeat from Mr. Indyk. Yes, the man already knew what sort of creature Jensen had encountered and was merely seeking confirmation, so it seemed. Perhaps more. He was certainly more than who he claimed to be.
Surely Jensen wouldn't be foolish enough to tell the man what he'd done to scare the creature away. The downcast preacher had certainly shown discomfort with lying or evasion, but there were other ways around that. Jon leaned forward, prepared to interrupt his client.
But Jensen didn't give him the chance. He sent Jon a chagrined look with soft eyes that begged apology and blurted out "Light, my friend."
Jon suppressed a sigh, but had no opportunity to react, for that answer had finally provoked a reaction in Mr. Indyk, who stood so quickly his chair slid backwards on the concrete floor, hands braced on the table top as he stared at Jon and Jensen. Eyes open, Mr. Indyk whispered a single word, barely even a whisper -- but Jon caught it.
"Gods."
Gods.
Was that what the man had really been looking for?
It was enough to confirm Jon's suspicions. Noah's words came back to him: They hunt the things of the old world, the demons and gods of old myths. And perhaps that was what Jon and Jensen were. Not supreme omnipotent beings, of course, but Jon had deduced long ago that the gods of his people, those with true power of medicine, had been able to wield the force of the Great Spirit.
Yes. In Ömer Indyk, Jon could finally put a face to the mysterious Atharim he'd been warned of so long ago.
Jon put up a hand, remaining seated and his face devoid of emotion. "Mr. Indyk, my client has suffered a traumatic experience here. It is known that the mind is prone to creating fictitious memories in order to block out those that are even more traumatizing."
Not exactly a lie, but certainly the implication of one with his substitution of an alternate theory. But that, of course, was at the core of what a lawyer did in the courtroom: two adversaries, both with truth on their side that conflicted with the opponent's, fighting over which would come out on top. "For the sake of his own mental well-being, it's probably best to leave what must undoubtedly be a fantasy construction alone at the moment."
Even as the words left his mouth, Jon felt the suggested alternate truth he'd offered would fall flat to the man, even though without a doubt the Atharim had come across plenty of hoaxes and false witnesses in their time. After all, people were still faking Sasquatch sightings in the Pacific Northwest. His mind raced as he drew on the power of the Great Spirit. What else could he do to clean up this mess? The man could reveal Jensen to their hunters. Thoughts of altering the man's memories came and went. Jensen would know Jon was doing something to the man and he'd probably try and stop him, righteous person that he seemed who would not wish to see harm befall another, even one who presented a great danger. It would probably make the situation even worse.
Perhaps it would be best to just push the dialogue past that particular incident. "I take it you have encountered something like this thing before, Mr. Indyk, what do you think it was?"
As he spoke, he still prepared weaves to seize the man's mind and stop him in his tracks at the first indication of hostility.