"Where I don't want to go," Howie said with firmness in his voice as he glared at Quinn who turned away. We waited until Howie continued. "I feel as if I'm spying. When the visions are decades ago, that's one thing." He turned to Betsy and me. "I'm not about to go on your honeymoon with you or watch Martha undress!"
"I never asked you to. . ." Quinn shouted before Martha put a restraining hand on his arm. The look on Betsy's shocked face was priceless.
My wife quickly recovered and smiled. "Where do you want to go? The possibilities are endless!"
"Yes, but for what reason . . . for my personal enjoyment? I can't share what I see with anyone else and it not only reeks of voyeurism but feels selfish to me. I'm like those reclusive millionaires who own priceless art and won't let the rest of the world see it."
"Could you see your past?" I asked.
He seemed to quiver at the suggestion. "I won't go there; ever. Just the prospect frightens me to death."
I was surprised. "Why wouldn't you want to see yourself growing up, what your childhood was like? We all remember ours but yours is missing."
His anger surfaced. "Let it stayed buried. I just want to move on. Watching strangers is one thing but I won't look at myself."
"I can think of a thousand scenes and places in history I'd visit!" Betsy said. "This is mind-blowing! God! Think of the great unanswered questions of the ages."
"Who would believe my answers?" Howie growled. "Am I going to tell the world Lizzie Borden really did it?"
"Besides," Quinn interrupted, "If I tried to set Howie that far back we'd be lucky to get within twenty miles of New Bedford and a couple of days of the killing. Remember, he only has a few minutes in his dream. It's a very small window. That's why more current dates are more important and far easier to verify."
"And I told you I don't like going there!" Howie snarled.
Martha raised her hand in a sign of peace. "It's Howie's mind so it's his choice. No one want's to force anything on him."
"I'm sorry," Howie said. "I know I'm pigheaded but I can't tell you how much I appreciate how you all embrace this with only my word. You have a right to more. If I can somehow utilize this gift I can't do it without all your help. I have to convince you; taking it on faith alone isn't enough."
"We believe you, Howie," Betsy said. "Our inquiries are directed toward the accuracy of what you're seeing; did those scenes actually occur in the past."