Books In English "City Of Illusions" Ursula K. Le Guin | Page 105

incarnateness of voice, this was comprehensibility pure and simple, reason
addressing reason.
"We mindspeak so that you may hear only truth. For it is not true that
we who call ourselves Shing, or any other man, can pervert or conceal
truth in paraverbal speech. The Lie that men ascribe to us is itself a lie. But
if you choose to use voicespeech do so, and we will do likewise."
"I have no skill at bespeaking," Falk said aloud after a pause. His
living voice sounded loud and coarse after the brilliant, silent
mind-contact. "But I hear you well enough. I do not ask for the truth. Who
am I to demand the truth? But I should like to hear what you choose to tell
me."
Young Orry looked shocked. Abundibot's face registered nothing at
all. Evidently he was attuned to both Falk and Orry—a rare feat in itself, in
Falk's experience—for Orry was quite plainly listening as the telepathic
speech began again.
"Men razed your mind and then taught you what they wished you to
know—what they wish to believe. So taught, you distrust us. We feared it
would be so. But ask what you will, Agad Ramarren of Werel; we will
answer with the truth."
"How long have I been here?"
"Six days."
"Why was I drugged and befooled at first?"
"We were attempting to restore your memory. We failed."
Do not believe him, do not believe him, Falk told himself so urgently
that no doubt the Shing, if he had any empathic skill at all, received the
message clearly. That did not matter. The game must be played, and
played their way, though they made all the rules and had all the skill. His
ineptitude did not matter. His honesty did. He was staked now totally on
one belief: that an honest man cannot be cheated, that truth, if the game be
played through right to the end, will lead to truth.
"Tell me why I should trust you," he said.
The mindspeech, pure and clear as an electronically produced musical.
note, began again, while the sender Abundibot, and he and Orry, stood
motionless as pieces on a chessboard.
~ 103 ~