How to trick a torivor

"Torivors can read minds. But we cannot see all. Memories are hard to reach unless they are on the main stage of the mind. Your present thoughts are the most vulnerable. We can perceive those as if you are speaking them to us. We will sometimes ask questions to bring thoughts to the foreground. We can deduce and assume much from only a little information. There are patterns.”

  “I have to try not to think about it?” Cole asked.

  “Do not think of a large red lion,” Trillian suggested.

  “It’s all I’m thinking about,” Cole said.

  “You will not succeed in hiding your thoughts about the Pilgrim Path,” Trillian said. “Not on your own.”

  “You can help?” Cole asked.

  “With your permission,” Trillian said. “I can hide some memories. I can create new realities in your mind. You will believe them. And I expect Ramarro will too.”

  “Why do you need my permission?” Cole asked.

  “Your will is sovereign,” Trillian said. “Your will belongs to you. Others can complicate your circumstances and reduce your options. You can be tricked, abused, intimidated, jailed, and enslaved. But your will, your core self, what you know, who you choose to be, your identity, is yours alone. It can be influenced. It can be surrendered. But not taken.”

  “What would you make me believe?” Cole asked.

  “You would believe that the Pilgrim Path was a temporary opportunity,” Trillian said. “Only an option for a very limited time. You would feel sure that the Wayminders wanted to sacrifice Earth to save the Outskirts. And you would believe you had proof that access to Earth would simply allow Ramarro to rule both worlds. You would think you had proof the Wayminders were utterly mistaken in their hopes. It would feel real to you. It would be extremely frightening. And it might mislead Ramarro.”

  “Wouldn’t that be lying?” Cole asked.

  “I would help you believe what you tell me you want to believe,” Trillian said. “That is not lying. That is executing instructions with permission. Any lies would come from you.”

  “It could mislead Ramarro,” Cole said.

  “I mislead frequently,” Trillian said. “But I mean every word I say.”

  “Are you misleading me now?” Cole asked.

  “You don’t know all of my motives,” Trillian said. “But I am telling you the truth.”

  “Won’t Ramarro see other things in other minds?” Cole asked.

  “We would need to adjust Violet’s mind as well,” Trillian said. “The other minds have no certainty. They will appear conflicted. Ramarro would have to see very deeply very quickly. Think of him surrounded by many books. He has the ability to read them, but not the time and perhaps not the desire. He has abundant confidence. The things you believe will shout at him, while other minds are uncertain. It could work.”

Chapter 28