me you'd seen some of my future, right? You did say that I'd be with you, with E-Branch, for quite some time to come.''That's true, yes,' Goodly answered.'In what capacity?''I don't know.''Okay, then is it going to be that way simply because Trask won't let me go off and do my own thing, or ... ?''Possibly because he won't let you go,' the precog answered. 'He has to see how you work out, which could take a while. That could be - it obviously is - part of the reason why I've foreseen your continuing presence, yes. But what is this, Jake? Are you still uncertain? I thought you'd decided to stay?''... Or, is it mainly because he thinks I'm going to be useful to you?' Jake ignored Goodly's last.'Well, that too, we hope. But Jake, you're talking in circles. And I don't see - '' - I'm getting to it!' Jake growled, his attitude intense now. And after a moment's thought: 'So tell me, is it me, Jake Cutter, who'll be useful to you, or is it this Harry?''Er, that was my meaning, yes,' said the precog, 'that the Necroscope would definitely be useful to us. But if you want me to pick and choose, I can't do it. I would have to answer, both of you - you'll both be extremely useful to us. I thought that had been made plain, too.''He's ... what, contacting me, this Harry? Getting into my head to guide me, is that it?' Jake was pushing it now. 'Or is he simply using me?''Using you? Personally, I would say he's keeping you safe. Wouldn't you?''But in my head, like telepathy? A kind of telepathic control?' Jake scowled.
'Telepathy?' Goodly seemed uncertain. 'Something like telepathy, yes. But Harry had a different name for it.''"Had"? Why is it that when we talk about this Harry everything has to be past tense?' Then Jake gave a snort. 'Huh! Dumb question - because he's dead, of course! - which I can't see at all. For if he's dead, how can he do whatever it is he's doing to me? See, I don't believe in ghosts. They're a concept I just can't seem to wrap my head around. And as for Harry Keogh: he's something I don't want to wrap my head around, even though it's apparent he's already seen to that! But, since he's obviously a disembodied voice out of the past, then it must be equally obvious that his talent was similar to yours. I mean, Harry didn't so much read the future as reach into it... is how it seems to me? But okay, fine, let's keep it going: so if what he's doing to me isn't telepathy, then what did he call it?''It wouldn't help you to know, not at this stage.' Goodly shook his head. 'In fact it could easily become an obstruction, a deterrent to your acceptance of... of everything.'Jake's frustration was mounting again. 'A deterrent to my acceptance?' he snapped. 'Don't you think there are enough deterrents already? It's nuts, all of it! I mean, what am I, some kind of psychic medium? If there was a reason, just one logical reason, why I should suddenly become this dead bloke's target, his focus, his genius loci, then I might be willing to believe at least some of this ... this whatever. See, I know that what I've actually seen and experienced so far is real, but I don't know that a lot of what I've been told is real. I trust my own five senses, or used to, but I don't understand how or why I'm involved. I'd even like to believe what I've heard, if only as an alternative to considering myself some kind of psycho, some kind of schizoid nutcase. But ... but... but Harry is fucking dead!'
'Well, in a way he's dead,' said the precog, just as serious as ever, as if their conversation was utterly mundane. 'But you see, Harry didn't view existence, life and death, as we do. There was a time when he really was two people. It was after he suffered
... well, an accident, that his mind temporarily manifested itself in the identity of his own infant son. And later, he underwent another singular change. Best to think of it as a kind of metempsychosis, or - '
'Metempsychosis?' Jake cut him short. For despite that he was sure he'd never heard the word before, still