Quaa Part III

A smile spread across his face forcing Sawyer's heart to skip a beat. "I was sleeping," he said putting it bluntly. Somewhere in the back of Sawyer's mind, she matched his voice with that of the sweet, soft voice she had heard earlier and suddenly her anger dissolved. "You...you're the voice from earlier," she said. His smile only widened. "Indeed," he replied, "now I'll keep my promise. Let us talk of...whatever's on your mind." "Where to begin," thought Sawyer to herself. "How about with a proper introduction," the man said, "my name is Damon." Sawyer caught herself before she spoke. He had read her mind! "Yes I did," Damon said startling Sawyer, "and before you ask how, allow me to explain." Sawyer reluctantly agreed.1

"Do you remember earlier? how you were unable to avert your gaze?" Sawyer felt her cheeks flush and knew she must look like a cherry. He lifted an eyebrow in amuzement. "Yes...", she answered in a timid voice. "I was using echo-loacation on your mind", he said, "the sound waves bounce off your thoughts and memories and project them into my head." :So it's like a reflection," Sawyer said. Stunned by her comprehension, he remained where he was, speechless. Sawyer's brilliance continued. "You're like a dolphin then," she said more to herself than him, "you have gills yet you don't live underwater. You're living on land like a human. I take it you can breathe underwater as well," she said, finally directing her thoughts to him. 2

"Yes..." he said completely astounded. She continued. "You used echo-location on me like a dolphin uses to navigate and hunt. So, you're like half fish or something right?" Sawyer's brilliance had ended. "No I am not half fish," he said, "both of my parent are Quaans...well El Ceaseans really." The look she gave him then was one of complete incomprehension. He sighed. "Do you know what a Quaan is?" he asked her. She shook her head. "A Quaan is an inhabitant of this real," he said like a teacher who was instructing, "this realm is called Quaa for that is the endless ocean that surrounds us. There are 100 known cities all throughout Quaa and from each city there is a different race."3

"So each city is like it's own contry," Sawyer said making it sound like a question. "Precisely," Damon replied. "Well if you are from El Cease, what race are you?" asked Sawyer. "I am Dalfin," he said, "Dalfins use echo-loactaion. It is what our race is known for." "Known for?" thought Sawyer. "Yes," came Damon's voice from inside her head, "each race is known for a special characteristic. Dalfin's echo-location allows us to communicate with someone through thought. It also allows us to view another's memories." 4

"Why would you need to go through someone's memories? Isn't that invading someone's privacy?" Sawyer was feeling outraged that someone would do that. Then it dawned on her. He had gone through her memories!