Garner working as a waiter at an upscale restaurant with a growing attraction to a man named Alonzo, who always asks to be put in his section for dinner. One night after work, the man is assaulted while trailing Garner. Garner goes to his aid, but is shot for his trouble.<br><br>Taking time off from work to recover, Garner is resting on a park bench when Alonzo suddenly appears at the other end of the bench. Garner never saw him approach. He asks why Alonzo is trailing him.<br><br>After some hesitation, Alonzo explains he wants to recruit Garner to help fight against others who systematically hunt people like himself. Garner isn’t inclined to get involved in anything dangerous, but he does finds Alonzo more and more attractive, so he agrees to consider the idea. As he learns more about Alonzo’s bizarre and dangerous subculture, what Garner really wants to know is whether Alonzo is romantically interested in him at all.

Call to Love

“What about me?” he said. “You said I was special. What does that mean?”


This question seemed to make Alonzo withdraw. He was silent for a long time, and Garner could sense an increase in his fear and hesitation—caution.


“Well,” Alonzo said. “It’s something quite different. You’re what we call a Sensitive. You have a stronger mind—in a certain way. I don’t know the details, but—” He broke off, as though stopping himself from saying something more. Then he resumed. “And it’s something innate. I mean, anyone can become a Vee, through the Change. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. And, among Norms themselves, most can develop somedirect mind perception and influence. But, you’re different, something more—”


Again, Garner had the impression of something left unsaid.


“Something more,” he repeated. He was puzzled at his reaction to this idea—which was that he didn’t quite like it. He looked at Alonzo, considering.


Chapter 56