Crosstalk

by Connie Willis

“And you know who people lie to the most? Themselves. They’re absolute masters of self-deception.

Inside their heads is the only place the bad stuff can come out, which tends to make their thoughts disproportionately unpleasant. But also, people are brutish, hateful, greedy, mean, manipulative, and cruel.”

The voices weren’t gone, but they no longer roared over her, deluging her. They were calmer, quieter, like a harmless, murmuring stream. She looked over at C.B., amazed. How did you do that? I didn’t, he said, nodding in the direction of the other people seated at the long tables. They did. But how—? He grinned. Never underestimate the power of a good book.