The Wings Of Pegasus - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Asitwas,heonlyjustgotoutofstunrange.
Onceclearofthebusyalt.i.tudes,Daffydhovered,callingan"abort"totheCentertransports.Thesituationhadgonebeyondtheircapabilities.He'donlycompletedonecirclebeforehesawthattheLEOcopterswerelayinggas.Itwasalltheycoulddowithsuchamobstartingtorampage.SallywasweepingsoftlyasheveeredeastwardstowardtheCenter.
"Iwasn'thonestlycertain,Daffyd,"Sallysaid,curledinasmallcontriteballonthesuspendedcouchinhisquarters.Shekeptexamininghergla.s.sasiftheamberliqueurwerefascinating.She'dtheappearanceofasmallgirltryingtogetoutofascold.ActuallyherpublicmindwaswideopentoDaffyd's,permittinghimareviewofherinitialimpressionsofthesinger."Imean,whileIcouldn'tthinkwhatelseshemightbe,therewasthepossibilitythat.i.twasallsonicamplification.Youknowwhataskilledoperatorcando."
"Allthemorereasonyoushouldhavereportedit,Sally.Thatkindofmanipulationiswhymechanicalamplificationisstrictlylicensedtoreputableandreliabletechnicians."
"Andnotaclueaboutthegirl?"
"Notyet."ThelicensedownersoftheFactorywereamongthosedrowsilyhelplessinsidetheofficeinthelobbyofthebuilding.
They'dbequestioned,ofcourse,byGillings'smen.PerpetratorsofriotscouldexpectscantmercyfromtheLEOoffice.
"We'vegottogettothegirlfirst,Sally."
"IfonlyI'dtoldyousooner..."Sallywasfloatinginchagrin.
"Ikeeptellingyou,andeveryothermemberofmystaff,Idon'tmindbeingbotheredwithsocalled'trivia."Becauseitisn'talwaysastrivialasyoumightbelieve."
"Iknow.Iknow.Isimplywasn'tthinkingclearly."Thatwaswhatshesaid,butwhatSallywasthinking,alsoforhimtosee,wasthatshehadn'twantedtodisappointhim,orherself,incaseherinitialimpressionaboutthesingerhadbeenwrong.Thegirlhadbeenalmosttoogoodtobetrue.
"Wa.s.sheafraidofthatcrowd,Daffyd?Itwasthreetimesthesizeoftheonetheothernight.Infact,thesizealoneputmeoff."
"Youfirstheardher..."
"Justtwodaysago.Itriedtogetbackstagetoseeher..."Sallyshruggedherfailure.
"Muscleboys?"
"No."Sallywasastonished."Everyoneelsewantedtogetnexttoher.
I'dneverhavehadachancetofindoutforsurewithsomuchinterference,muchlesssuggestshecometotheCenter."
Daffydbegantostrollabout,hisarmscrossedoverhischest,hisheaddown.
"Webothsensedherfright?"
Sallynodded.
"Wearebothagreedthatsheisabroadcastingempath?"
Sallynoddedagain,moreemphatically."Couldshealsoreceive?Imean,thatwouldaccountforthat'echo'phenomenon,wouldn't.i.t?Shethrowstheemotionsoutandthenmagnifiesthemonretrieval""That'soneexplanation."
"Hmm,butyoudon'tsubscribetoitwithanyenthusiasm."
DaffydgrinnedatSally."Itdoesn'tfitallthecirc.u.mstances.
Besides,Roznineusedaplural...'thoseeffingcopouts."
"Sally'seyesroundedwithsurprise."Shelinks.Thatwouldaccountfortheamplificationandtheecho."Daffydnodded."Thenwho'stheotherempath,orempaths?"Daffydshrugged."Doesn'tsherealizewhatsheis?"
"Probablynot.Weshallhavetoinformher."
"Andhowdoyouplantodothat?"
"IthinkweaskforFrankGillings'shelp..."
"But...but...shestartedtheriot.Youknowwhathappenstoriotprovokers."
"Yes,butIalsoknowthatFrankwantsallTalentedpeopleregistered,trainedandcontrollable.Sowhenhe'shadachancetoquestionthesleepingbeauties..."
"WecantraceCinderellaandfitheroutwithgla.s.sslippers..."
Sallygrinnedsaucilya.s.shepickedupthea.n.a.logy.
"BeforePegasusfliesawaywithher."
"Pegasus?He'samyth,notafairytale.That'snotfair,Daffyd!"
"b.u.t.thea.n.a.logyismostapt,"andopOwenwasgrimlyserious."Andwe'vegottoputabridleonherPegasusorshe'llendupwithsingedwings."
AlthoughtheLEOCommissionerandtheDirectoroftheEasternAmericanParapsychicCenterwereongoodworkingterms,theCommissioneravoidedcomingtotheCenter.Respectingthiswhimsy,DaffydcalledthroughtoGillings'sofficethenextmorning,askingforanappointmentandspecifyinghisbusinessastheFactriot.
"Howdidyouhappentobethere,Dave?"Gillingsgreetedhim,risingfromhischairasopOwenwasusheredintohistoweroffice.
Daffydspentamomentadmiringthe360viewofthesprawlinghazedmetropolis.
"TrackingaratheruniqueTalent."
"Thatsinger?"AndGillingssworewhenDaffydnodded."Doyouknowthetollonthatcaper?"
"No,but.i.t'soneh.e.l.luvalotcheaperthanitwouldhavebeenifwehadn'talertedriotcontrol."
Gillingsfrowned."Sheshouldn'tbeallowedapublicperformer'slicense."
"Iwantedtofindoutifshehadone."
Glaring,GillingsicilybangedathisdeskcomsetanddemandedtobeputthroughtoID.Nolicensehadbeenissuedtoanyoneansweringthedescriptionofthesinger,Amalda:norhadtherebeenalicenseissuedtotheFactforsoloentertaining.Therewere,however,specificationsonrecordastowhatmechanicalamplificationwaspermittedthemanagementoftheFact,thefrequencyoftheprogrammingandthenightsonwhichpublicgatheringscouldbeheldandthemaximumnumberofpeoplepermittedtogather.
Lastnight'sperformance,ittranspired,wascompletelyillegal.
Gillingsissuedasummonsfortheowners,brothersnamedd.i.c.kandHarryDitts,whohadtoldanentirelydifferenttalethepreviouseveningwhentheyhadrecoveredfromsleepygas.Fiveminuteslater,Gillingswasinformedthatneitherd.i.c.knorHarryDittscouldbelocatedattheirresidencesonrecord.
"HavetheyanyknownconnectionwithRoznine?"
"Roznine?"GillingsregardedDaffydwithacombinationofdisgustedannoyanceandstartledconcernwhichfadedintodeepreflection."Yousawhimthere?"
"Yes,hewasattheFact.Whenwewerewithdrawingfromthesceneoftheimminentriot,hewasdeepinconversationwithseveraltypesinthelobby.LaterhespottedtheLEOcoptersontheirwayinandmadehiswayout.Funnyhedidn'tsuggesttotheDittsbrothersthattheyleavewithhim."
"Don'tbenaive.RozninelooksafterRoznine,first,lastandalwaysorI'd'vehadhimcooledlongago.ButSectorKisfarfromhisbailiwick..."Gillingsstaredoutacrossthecitywithnarrowedeyes.
"He'sbeengettingtood.a.m.nedpowerfulintheCityandnotjustwiththeSlavs.Amegalomaniaciswhatheisandtheyoperatewithacuriousabilitytoavoidminordisasters...untiltheygetoverconfident.Rozninehasn'tmadethatmistake...yet..
"Ishouldn'twonderthatthere'ssomeTalentinamegalomaniac,apartfromhismadness."
"Talent?"GillingseruptedasDaffydhadknownhewould."Christ,that'sallIneedisaTalentedpanethnicleader.G.o.ddammit,whydon'tyoupeoplegetontheballandroundupalltheseG.o.dd.a.m.nfreakingTalentsbeforetheygohaywire.We'vegotenoughproblemskeepingthat..."andhisbluntfingeredhanddescribedacircleatthepanoramicmetropolisoutsidetheplexigla.s.s,"...fromexplodingasitiswithoutunnaturalhazardslikelatentTalents..."
"...ThenhelpusfindAmalda.Shecanbeimmenselyuseful..."
"She'sariotprovoker..."Gillings'seyesnarrowedwithaflashofvindictiveness.
"Areyougoingtohelpme,orhinderme,Frank?ThegirlisvaluabletobothofusbutnotinyourcoolerasanRP.She'sanintelligentbroadcastingempathoftremendousrangeandpower.Idon'tthinksherealizeswhatsheis...ordidn'tuntilpossiblylastnight.
Somethingfrightenedheroutofherwitshalfwaythroughherthirdsong.Sheran!Idon'tknowwhat.i.twasnordoIknowexactlyhowshecanbroadcastthewayshedoes,but.i.t'simperativethattheCenterfindandprotecther."
Gillings'seyebrowsroseinironicsurprise."YouandIselinwerethere.Whydidn'tyougetherthen?Whathappened?"
"Amongotherthings,ariot.Somepeoples.h.i.+eldautomatically,Frank,andifyoucan'ttracethemind,youcan'tcatchthebody."
"Allright,allright,"Gillingssaid,irritablywavingasideDaffyd'smildreproval."Buthowcomeshedoesn'tknowwhatsheis?Allright,allright.Iknowtheanswertothat,too.Allright,whatdoIdo?"
"Iwantatraceronanyyoungsingerofherdescriptionapplyingforaperformer'slicenseanywhereinthecountry.AndIwanttoknowwheresheha.s.sung,whereshetrained,whereshecamefrom.She'sgonetocoverandshewon'tfindeasy.Inthefirstplace,she'sterrifiedofwhateverhitherlastnight.Andsecondly,she'llhaveagoodideawhathappenedwhentheaudiencefoundoutshewasn'tgoingtosingagain.Shehastwoverygoodreasons...o...b..ingscarce.Ialsodon'twantherfrightenedoutofherwitssoletmehandletheactualsearchwithmypeople.I'llgetmypropagandateamtoaltersomeofthepublicinfobroadcastssubliminally.Wemightgethertoseekusoutspontaneouslywhichwouldbepreferable,"Daffydadded,rising.
"Okay,youhandleit,butIwantthatgirlfoundandtrainedorwhateveritisyoudowiththem.Andquick.I'llshuntthereportonhertoyourcomputer.Shouldn'ttakelongtotraceher."ttooktwodaystotracethegirlknownasAmalda.Andtheprintouthadmanygaps.
She'dbeenbornandrearedinasmallAppalachiancommune:educatedtohersixteenthyearintheCountySchoolsystemwhichshequitto"travel"...anotuncommonpatternforanundirectedorunmotivatedyoungster.Therewasnorecordofformalmusicinstructionbutmusicwasafeatureinherenvironment:noofficialrecordofherforseveralyearsuntilshetookworkinaFloridafoodcontrolcomplex.Twoapplicationsforperformer'slicenseinFloridaweredeniedbytheAuditionBoardthere.Thethirdapplicationwasprovisionallygrantedandlapsedwithoutformalrequestforanextension,butseveralshorttermengagementswereonrecordforherasanunamplified,stringinstrumentedfolksinger.Anewapplicationasapprentice,nonsinger,hadbeenfiledinWas.h.i.+ngton,D.C.fourmonthsbefore:oneengagementwaslistedwithoutaterminationdate.ThenDaffydhadacheckmadeontheplayinwhichshehadappeared.Amalda,whohadstartedasawalkon,hadbeenabruptlypromotedtoanimportantsupportingrole.Theplaywa.s.scheduledforametropolitanopeninginthreeweeks.
AlthoughDaffydhadonlyasuperficialacquaintancewiththemechanicsofthePerformingArts,therewereseveralglaringcontradictionsinthisreport.AndnoexplanationforAmalda'ssuddenappearanceasaselfaccompaniedsoloistinaminorityentertainmenthallofdubiousreputation.
Inthemeantime,heandSallyworkedwiththepropagandadeappealforsomeoneinAmalda'ssituation.Daffydalsogotintouchwiththeplay'sproducer.
"I'vehadenoughtroublewiththatflittingbird,"NormanKabilovtoldopOwen."Ifshedoesshowup,I'lltellherstraight:shegetsnomorecontractsandsheshouldn'teverhopetogetaPPlicenseapproved.NotifIhaveanyconnectionwiththePA."
"WhatkindoftroubledidyouhavewithAmalda?"Daffydasked,injectingplacatorythoughtsattheirritatedlittleman.
"Troubles,plural,nottroublesingular,"andNormanKabilovgloweredatopOwen.
DaffydknewthemanwasconsiderablyperplexedbytheCenter'sinterestinhis.e.xactress.
"First,shelatchesontomystagemanager,RedVaden...goodman,Vaden.Solid.Dependable.Onlythislittletwithas.h.i.+mhoppingtohertunelikehe'dnevertriedtobrushoffastagestrucktailbefore.
Reddoesn'taskmanyfavorssowhenhewantsthisbirdinthecast...
sowhentheshowtravels,he'snotlackingwhathe'sbeenhavingregular...Isay,yes.Whatharm?SuddenlyIgotRedbeggingmetogiveheranauditionforoneofthesecondaryleads.IalreadygotagoodPApickedoutforthepart.
.."Kabilov's.e.xpressiontoldDaffydthathischoicehadbeenpersonalratherthanprofessional."...butIgottakeep'emhappysoIauditionthegirl."Thelittleproducerfrownednow,histhoughtsvividtoDaffyd.ThemanhadbeensurprisedoutofboredomatthequalityoftheauditionandimmediatelysignedAmaldafortherole,despitethefactthathe'dknownhe'dbeinforaheavytimewiththedisappointedcandidate."Mindyou,itwasn'tthatgreatapartuntilthatkidreadsit."Anotherheadshakeofperplexity."IdunnohowshediditbecauseshesurehadnotheatreartscreditsbutIcouldn'tnotgiveherthepart.Andthentheauthorcomestorehearsalandh.e.l.l,he'srewritingtheparttogivehermore.Id.a.m.nnearhaveajeopardyactionfromCarlaJacobswho'sthenameintheplay.OnlyRedgoestoworkonherandshequietsdownlikealily.AndyougottabelievethatJacobsdon'thandlethateasy.She'spus.h.i.+ngfifty,y'see,andanynewbirdisathreat.Funnything,"andKabilovstaredoffaboveDaffyd'shead,hismindtakingupanddiscardingahundreddifferentglimpsesofCarlaJacobsinhightantrum,CarlaJacobssoothedandveryfews.n.a.t.c.hesofAmalda.Themanwasunconsciouslycensoringthoserecollections."OnceLaJacobsgottoworkingwiththekid,thingswereokay.Wantaseethereviewswegot?"
Daffydhastilya.s.sentedbuthewasgivennochancetodomorethanglanceatthecommendatoryheadlinesinthefascsheets.
"AslongaswewereinWas.h.i.+ngton,itwasokay.b.u.t.theminutewegottoJerhattan,troubles!LaJacobsstormsinherewithherlawyersandhercurrentmanandshewon'tplaywiththatcreatureanymore.Infact,shegets...o...b..olutelyviolentwegottatrankher.NowIcan'tloseLaJacobsorIlosethetheatreandtheplaysincethat'sthecontract.SoItellRedtofindhisbirdanothernest.Ican'taffordtrouble.Andtheybothwalk!"Hewasindignant."Justlikethat.Hewalks.AguyI'dswornwas100%dependablewalksoutoftheshowtwoweeksbeforeopening.Onaaccountofascrawnybird!"
IfNormanKabilovlookedthepictureofoutragedinnocence,he"sounded"likeamanreprievedfromanunknownordeal.However,hedidhavepublicityshotsofAmaldaandRedVaden,whichheappearedrelievedtogiveDaffyd:asifbygettingridofeverythingremindinghimofthisunsettlingepisodehecoulderaseitfromhismemory.
DaffydopOwenhadhisbestfindersscanthepictures,hesentcopiestotheLEOofficeand,onanoffchance,gaveafinalprinttohisbestprecog.
"Youbetterfindthatgirl,"GillingstoldopOwen,"orI'llfindherandmakeheranswerofficiallyforthatriot."
"Frank,don'tprovokeanotherMaggieO."
Thoughthecomsetwasnotcolor,DaffydwascertainthatGillings'sfacechangedshade.
"We'redoingallwecan,"hewentonsoothingly,"tofindherb.u.t.there'snowayofforcinghertocometous."
Gillingsgrowledsomethingdireashebroketheconnection.
ThereweredayswhenGillingswasnotDaffyd'sonlycross.HeandSallyhadspentmostofthemorningtryingtofigureoutawaytoattractAmaldatothem.LesterWelchwalkedin,listenedafewminutesandthensnortedindisgust.
"Whydon'tyoujustfindoutwherethisRedVadenlives?Ifhewa.s.sogoneonthegirlhe'dleaveasuccessfulshow,he'sprobablytieduptightwithher.Andifhe'satleisure,"andLestergrinnedasheusedtheperformingarts'euphemism,"he'ssurelycheckedintothePACastingAgency."
OpOwenclosedhiseyesbrieflybeforehethankedLesterwithagoodgrace.
"I'mnotsurewhatwe'deverdowithoutyourcommonsense,Les."
"Oh,someoneelse'dtellyouyournoseisonyourface."AndLesleft.
"ThisisonetimeIwis.h.i.+wereakinetic,"Daffydsaidwithawistfulsigh,thinkingallkindsofdisasters,ofaminorsort,tobefallthedourNewEnglanderonhiswaydowntheaisletohisownoffice.ThenhecaughtSallygrinningathim,hereyessparkling."AndifyourepeatanyofwhatIwasthinking..."
Shecomposedherfaceintosolemnity,raisingonehand."Dai,youknowIcan't'paththataccurately."ButinhermindwasavividpictureofLesterstuffedintooneofhiswastepaperbaskets.
DaffydplacedacalltotheCastingAgency.BruceVadenhadreportedhisavailabilityandanewaddress.However,theAgencyinformedhim,theaddresswasnaturallyrestricted.DaffydexplainedwhohewasandthatheurgentlyneededtogetintouchwithVadenandwasinformedthatPerformingArtistVadenwouldbecontactedandwouldreturnhiscallifhewereinterested.
"'Ifhewereinterested'indeed,"Daffydrepeated,breakingtheconnectionwithuncharacteristicirritability.
"ShallwethinkLesterish,andperhapsdropawordintheomnipotentearofourlocallion?"askedSally.
Hersuggestionelicitedtheneededaddressinfiveminutesandinlessthanhalfanhour,theywereontheirwaybycoptertoanisolatedareaoftheCoast.Thesmallseasilveredcottagewastightlylockedandobviouslyuntenanted.Ratherdepressed,SallyandDaffydreturnedtotheCenter.Lestermetthemattheroofstairs.
"You'recoveredwithcanaryfeathers,"saidSally.
"Ithoughtyoucouldn'treadmymind,"Lesterreplied,startled.
"WithyourexpressionIdon'tneedto."
ButSallyhesitatedatthedoorofDaffyd'soffice.Rathermoreaggravatedwithcirc.u.mstancethanSally,Daffydtookherfirmlybythearmandpushedherintotheroom.Hewasinstantlyoverwhelmedbyseveraldevastatingimpressions:contactwithSallyinforminghimthatheremotionswerehighlyunstable;therewereintenselovehateaura.s.swirlingintheroomandamongthemthesureknowledgethatthechestnuthairedgirlseatedfacingthedoorwasapowerfulandviolentlyagitatedempath;thattheredbeardedmanstandingbythewindowwaslinkedtoherinadesperate,despairingbond.
"I'mDaffydopOwen,"hesaid,"andthisisSallyIselin,headofourClinicRecruitingTeam.We'vebeenlookingforyou."Daffydpouredoutwavesofsympathy/rea.s.surance/overtloveandrespect.
"Wefoundyou,"repliedtheman."I'mBruceVaden."
