A Vision of Fire by Gillian Anderson Read Free Book Online

Talk soon.” Caitlin switched to the other call. “Hello?”
    â€œDr. O’Hara?” said a man’s voice.
    â€œMr. Pawar.”
    â€œPlease, it’s Ganak. I am sorry not to be visiting you in person, to thank you. But eyes are upon me.”
    â€œNot a problem. How is Maanik?”
    â€œShe is a little better.”
    Caitlin heard strain in his raw, raspy voice. “Did she have another episode?”
    â€œYes, but not like before.”
    â€œTell me about it.”
    â€œWe’re not sure. It was—forgive me, I am not used to describing these things. It was as if she was there with us at dinner, eating her soup, but she was listening for something else.”
    â€œDid she talk at all? Respond to you?”
    â€œNo. It was as though she was on the alert for something. But not in an urgent way. It’s very difficult to explain.”
    â€œHow long did that go on?”
    â€œPerhaps five or six minutes. She said nothing the entire time and we did not want to question her until we spoke with you.”
    â€œI understand.” Caitlin paused to consider the situation. “Mr. Pawar—Ganak. Maanik may have been suffering from a mild, self-­induced trance.”
    â€œI’m sorry. Do you mean she hypnotized herself?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Caitlin said. “Did Mrs. Pawar tell you I used hypnosis to stabilize her?”
    â€œYes. And I must be candid, Dr. Deshpande expressed some concern—”
    â€œDr. Deshpande may be a fine doctor but he was prepared to overmedicate your daughter,” Caitlin interrupted. “That’s like washing your eyeglasses with a hose. It’s not my way.”
    â€œPlease, I did not mean to question your judgment. This is all so unfamiliar to us.”
    â€œCompletely understandable,” Caitlin said. “My point is, occasionally, individuals who have been given hypnotherapy will return to that state if they feel threatened in the same way as before.”
    â€œYou mean her mind self-hypnotized to fend off a relapse?”
    â€œIn a manner of speaking,” Caitlin said.
    â€œI see.” The ambassador was silent.
    â€œSir, may I make a suggestion?”
    â€œPlease.”
    â€œThere is an obstruction in her mind, something that is redirecting her natural response to ordinary thoughts and stimuli. My guess is it has something to do with a traumatic event—in this case, the shooting. Maanik was very responsive to the superficial hypnosis I used earlier. I’d like to put her into a deeper trance.”
    â€œDeeper? What does that mean?”
    â€œI only helped her to sleep before; I didn’t fully engage with her.It’s clear that something is blocking her normal self and we must uncover what that is. This process is a proven tool for enhancing memories.” She added, “Leaving her untreated could make the situation worse.”
    There was another silence. Caitlin had the impression the ambassador was not considering her suggestion but thinking about how to refuse it respectfully. She was right.
    â€œHypnotism is a practice honored across time and across many cultures,” Ganak said. “The Hindu Vedas call it a ‘healing pass.’ Yet I believe a mind moves between different strata of consciousness for its own good reasons. Interfering with that self-organization may be premature, if not dangerous.”
    â€œI respect what you are saying but you’re forgetting an important point—the self-mutilation,” she said carefully. “The sounds she was making while scratching at her arms alerted those around her. But it’s possible that she could harm herself in silence in the future, without anyone knowing in time to prevent it.”
    â€œThen someone will stay with her constantly,” Ganak said.
    â€œWhich could bear a psychological cost, drive her farther into hiding,” Caitlin pointed out. She let that sink in for a