The Making of a Psychic - Part 6

Psychic spies will often see things as they are currently unfolding, versus seeing into the past or the future. One of the training exercises involves sending someone to a specific place. It could be beside an easily recognizable landmark (in the early stages of training) or inside a heavily fortified building (in advanced training). The psychic is not told where the individual is, but they must describe where they are. The level of detail they provide helps to determine the psychic's abilities.

Some psychics, like Vicki Boyd in the Black Swamp Mysteries series, sketch what they've seen. They can sketch faces like a forensics expert can do, or draw buildings, roads and topography. Others prefer to write what they've seen. The sketches and reports are provided to analysts, who use their information as a piece of the puzzle that comprise the overall mission.

Here's a scene out of The Pendulum Files, in which Dylan asks Sam if Vicki's dreams are premonitions into the future:

When Dylan looked at Sam, his brows were knit and his face darkened. “Are you sayin’ that Vicki here, in addition to bein’ able to travel around the world w’ her visions—she can also see into the future?”

Sam stroked his chin and peered at Vicki for a moment before answering. “Psychics can be highly effective at seeing into the past or even the present,” he said. “But they are less effective at seeing into the future.”

“Why is that?” It was Brenda’s voice now, and as Dylan glanced in her direction, he noted her face had grown paler.

“Scientifically—which is what I deal in,” Sam responded, “everyone on the planet has what is known as ‘free will’. Every decision you make, regardless of how minor or insignificant you believe it to be, places you on a certain path. At any time, another decision can veer you slightly off that path or even on a different one entirely.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning there are too many variables—hundreds, even thousands—that can be changed at any instant. Once that occurs, any predictions of the future can fly out the window. Suppose, for example, one of you is told that you’ll be involved in a car accident. You make a decision not to go out to dinner one evening; maybe you don’t feel so well. So you stay home. Or you’ve misplaced your keys and you’re getting a later start than intended. Meanwhile, the drunk driver predicted to hit you is passed out, or a bartender calls him a ride, or he’s picked up by the cops and spends the night in jail. Or maybe, just weeks or months before, he’s had an intervention and he’s not drunk at all. Each one of those factors is enough to change the future.”