Contents
Six
Overview
At The Briars, Colin showcases his grandfather’s occult curios and outlines past mind-control and ghost experiments, setting a tone of skeptical inquiry. Zener tests expose Van and Donna’s trickery, but Arthur and Gwen unexpectedly score significant hits, sparking mutual attraction. The group’s dynamics shift as genuine ESP seems possible.
Summary
Arthur, Van, Donna, and Allie arrive at Colin Wren’s imposing seaside estate, The Briars. Inside, Colin casually reveals his grandfather’s background in psychological warfare and fascination with the paranormal. In the kitchen they meet Gwen Underfoot and her mother, the housekeeper, before moving to a library filled with curios, including a player piano and a Cabinet of Curiosities.
As Colin explains the Philip Experiment and his grandfather’s military reprise with “Corporal Hondo,” the group banters and explores, underscoring the house’s blend of wealth, eccentricity, and occult interest. The mood is playful until testing begins: Van and Donna attempt Zener-card telepathy while Colin scores their results.
Early failures lead to a short hot streak that Arthur exposes as cheating via Donna’s mirrored sunglasses, deflating the twins’ claims. The revelation reframes their cafeteria display as trickery and shifts focus to more rigorous testing.
Colin pairs Arthur with Gwen. Amid flirtation and competitive teasing, Gwen rapidly calls multiple cards correctly, achieving a run that Colin notes approaches statistical relevance. Arthur, simultaneously exhilarated and guilt-stricken due to thoughts of his mother’s peril, recognizes that Gwen can “read him like a book,” suggesting authentic ESP—or at least an uncanny attunement—between them.
The session ends with the twins’ debunking contrasted against Arthur and Gwen’s promising results, altering group dynamics and hinting that real phenomena may emerge under Colin’s guidance at The Briars.
Who Appears
- Arthur OakesNarrator; skeptical observer who debunks the twins’ trick and forms an intense ESP-like connection with Gwen during Zener tests.
- Gwen UnderfootHousekeeper’s daughter; witty, sharp, and unexpectedly syncs with Arthur, correctly calling many Zener cards.
- Colin WrenHost at The Briars; frames experiments, explains grandfather’s occult/psych warfare background, and moderates the Zener testing.
- Donna McBrideTwin who hams it up and is exposed using mirrored shades to cheat during Zener tests.
- Van McBrideDonna’s twin; participates in staged telepathy, throws cards at Arthur when confronted.
- Allie ShinerFriend and statistical whiz; provides music and commentary, acts as supportive presence during testing.