In retrospect, it was a miracle none of us fainted. I know for a fact my wife turned as white as Casper and Quinn looked no better. How we controlled ourselves sufficiently as not to gasp and startle Howie awake, I don't know. He simply continued to speak in a calm voice.
"Betsy is standing on one leg and she's holding a Time magazine, open to page eighteen." My wife was biting her lip and tears began seeping down her cheeks.
Howie continued to tell all of us exactly what we did, relating our deeds and writings with absolute perfection. It took him only a few minutes in between each pronouncement to locate us. Quinn had written a random series of thirty numbers and letters which Howie repeated in a bored voice. My books and pages were rattled off quickly while Martha had pointed to twenty different words listed in a large dictionary. We remained spellbound, not even bothering to check our notes as his accuracy became apparent. The entire session lasted barely ten minutes before he awoke a smile on his face.
We traipsed up the stairs to the living room, a parade of zombies, each as stunned and speechless as the others. Once seated, Quinn was the first to utter a word. "I don't know what to say, Howie. I was so positive it was impossible."
"Well, it isn't," I said "We can all agree on that."
"I can't even conceive how monumental this is," my wife said.
"Could other people do this too?" Martha continued. "God, there'd be no such thing as privacy! You could spy on anyone; anywhere!"
"No," Quinn said, though hesitantly. "I admit I don't know exactly how this is happening but I'm sure it's not my equipment; yes, it's a catalyst but it's mainly Howie's scrambled brain."
"Thank god Howie pledged us to secrecy," I said. "I can't even picture the bedlam making this public would cause."
"We'll have to exercise caution," Quinn murmured.
Martha turned to her cousin. "You were convinced from the start, weren't you?"
He nodded. "I was the only one to see those visions. Just trying to explain them can't do them justice. I knew something epic happened the first time it occurred."
"What are you going to do with this . . . gift?" Betsy asked.
Howie shrugged. "What are we going to do? You're all part of it. I'm sorry I involved you but we're in this together; the five of us. I may be the person who's having the visions but I can't do it alone. It's not only Quinn and his machines that are important; I need guidance even more. I don't want to abuse what's been given to me but I'm half sick with worry and I can't think straight."