The Wings Of Pegasus - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"WetriedtolocateyouattheFactlastnight,"Daffydsaid,turningtoAmalda.Hissecondimpressionwasthatthegirlwasabouttoimplode.
Atthatpoint,SallygaspedandmadeamovementtowardsAmaldaastheimpactoffear/confusion/hatred/love/horror/revulsion/affectionlappedoverthetwoTalents.
"That'sjustasampleofwhatIcando."Despiteasouthernsoftness,thegirl'svoicegratedintheirearsandwasechoedbyanintens.e.m.e.ntalshoutthatcausedbothDaffydandSallytoshaketheirheads.
"Idon'twantthis.Itdoesn'tmatteranymoreifRedisinoroutoftheroom.Itworksanywherenow."Shewasdrenchedinbitterness,b.u.t.therewaspityaswella.s.satisfactiontobereadfromherglancea.s.shewatchedSallybeginningtoshakewithreaction.
DaffydcurtlygesturedSallyfromtheroom.Sheresisteduntilhereinforcedtheordermentally,tellinghertogetJerryFramesoverhereonthedouble.Hedulynotedthatshewasrebelliousandnotbotheringtohidethefactinherpublicmindorherexpression.
Daffydwincedslightlya.s.sallyslammedthedoorbehindher.
"You'reanempath,"DaffydtoldAmalda,tryingtoreachthroughherbroadcasttosootheherstampedingemotions.
"Idon'tcarewhatIam.Iwantyoutostopit.Now!"
"Ican'tstopit,mydear,"hesaidinhiskindestvoice,buthehadavisionofabridlelesswingedhorseboltingacrosstheheavens.
Amaldarose,inasinglefluidmovement,hereyesblazing."ThenIwill!"Herwordsrosetotheedgeofascreama.s.shelaunchedherselfatthewindow.Daffydmovedtointerceptherphysicallyandmentally,butnota.s.swiftlyasRedVaden.Notthatshecouldhaveachievedherend,sincethewindowwasunbreakable.Soshehittheplastichardandcrumpledintothearmsoftheredhead,sobbinghystericallyandbroadcastingsuchconflictingandpowerfulemotionsthat,outofpity,Daffydreachedforthetrankguninhisdeskandshother.
TherewasabsolutesilenceoneverylevelintheroomasthetwomenstareddownatthelimpfigureinVaden'sarms.
"Isupposethatwasnecessary,"themansaidinableakvoiceasheswungherupinhisarms.
Daffydcouldreadthereliefintheman'smindwhichhadbeenbruisedbyconfusion,fearandanunquestioningdevotiontothegirl.OpOwengesturedtowardsthecouch.
"Allright,opOwen,whatnow?"VadenaskedafterhehadarrangedAmaldagentlyinacomfortableposition.Theman'seyeswereacold,troubledblue.
Daffydreturnedthegaze,probingdeftlyandfindinginVaden'souterthoughtsthattheirvisitherehadbeenhissuggestion,alastpossibilityofa.s.sistance,sinceAmaldahadbeendeterminedtoendherTalentevenifitmeanttakingherlife.
"FirstwehavetheCenter'sdoctorprescribesedation,"andDaffydnoddedtowardsthepainfullythinarmoftheunconsciousgirl,"andadecentdiet."
Vadensnortedasifpracticaladvicewasthelastthinghe'dexpectedfromopOwenbuthetookthechairDaffydindicatedtohim.
"ThentheCenterteach.e.s.h.ertocontrolthisTalent."
"Talent?"Vadenexploded."Talent?It'saneffingcurse!Aftertheothernight,she'sscaredtogooutofthehouse.She'llneverperformagain...Shewon'teven..."andheclenchedhisteethoverwhathe'dbeenabouttoaddbutnotbeforethethought,"audible"toDaffyd,madehimpitythetwomore.
"AnyTalentisatwoedgedsword,Vaden,"opOwensaid,swinginghischairalittle,asoothingmotion.
"Whatkindofafreakisshe?"
"She'sbynomeansafreak,"Daffydansweredinratherseveretones.
"She'sabroadcastingtelempath..."
"AndI'mtheboosterstation?"
"Ithinkthatwouldbeagooda.n.a.logy."
"Look,opOwen,I'vereadagoodbitaboutyouTalentsandnothingwa.s.saidaboutwhatAmaldadoes..."
"Quitelikely.We'rejustbeginningtoappreciatethemutationspossibleintheparapsychic.Wehaveonlyonetruetelempathhere.Heunfortunatelyhasnomoremindthanarabbitandheonlyreceives.
Amaldacanapparentlytransmitexactlywhatshechooses.Igatherthephenomenononlybeganwhenshemetyou?"
OnthetopofVaden'smindwastheactualfirstmeeting:asortofdazedcomprehensionthattheywere"meantforeachother."Theirfirstlovemakinghadbeenarevelationtotheblase,s.e.x-weariedVadenandeachsucceedingdayhadstrengthenedtheirinterdependence.
"Shewasdownandout,"Vadensaidaloudinanexpressionlessvoice.
Whathewasn'tsayingwasvividlyandpictoriallyflas.h.i.+ngacross.h.i.+smind,elaboratingwitheveryshadeoftheemotionalspectrumadryrecitaloffact."ThankG.o.ditwasmesheapproached..."andbeyondtheflashesofmemories,DaffydsawthatVadenhadneverallowedhimselftheluxuryoflovingorcaringforanyoneforfearofbeinghurtandused.Inatransientprofession,constantlybesiegedbystagestruckyoungsterswhothoughtaPAlicensewas"all"theyneededtoachievefame,hehadbeeninvulnerabletophysicalcharmsandordinaryploys.ButhehadabsolutelynodefenseagainsttheimpactofAmalda'smindinhis.Nowherannervousfingersthroughhiscrispredhair."Wewenteverywhere."He'dbeenhauntedwiththefearthatshe'dleavehimorbetakenfromhim."Eventorehearsal.ThenthegirlwhowastoplayCharmianwaslatesoIaskedAmaldatofillinandreadit'tilshecame.I'veneverheardabetterfirstreading.Sheevenlosteverytraceofherregionalaccentandbecamethehard-voicedtrollop.Weallloathedher.Itwa.s.suchatotalcharacterization!I'veneverseensuchathinginalltheyearsI'vebeenaPA.I'dexpectsuchexpertisefromsomeonelikeMathesorCrusada,butanovice?Anexcanary?"Vadenlookedtowardtheunconsciousgirlandgaveasortofincredulousshrug."Shewa.s.sopleasedtothinkshedidhaveability.She'dtriedoftenenoughtoqualifyasavocalist."Vadenmadeanexasperatednoiseinhisthroat."ThefirsttimeshesangformeIcouldn'tcreditthatshe'dbeenrefusedalicense."HeturnedbacktoDaffyd."Itjustdidn'tmakesense."
"I'dhazardthatyouwerethemissingfactor."
"AmodernSvengali?"Vadenwasbitter.
"Notexactly.b.u.t.thebraingenerateselectricalcurrents.Andinthesamewaythatareceivermustbetunedtoacertainwavelengthtogetamessagebroadcastonthatsamewavelength,mindsmustbebroadcastingonthesamefrequency.YoursandAmalda'sare.Wereeitherofyoureverparapsychicallytested?"
"NotthatIknowof."
"Well,wecansortoutthepuremechanicslaterduringtestingb.u.t.thereisoneotherpressingquestionImustask."
VadendidhaveTalent,whetherithadblossomedthroughcontactwithAmaldaornotwasimmaterial,forheinstantlyperceivedwhatwasonDaffyd'smindandstiffened.Daffydcontinued,feelingitwisernottoletVadenrealizethathewasinthepresenceofastrongtelepath...
atleastnotyet.
"GrantedyouserveinthecapacityofanamplifierforwhatevermoodAmaldacreates,whathappenedtheothernightattheFact?Whatterrifiedhersothatshefledfromwhatobviouslywasasmashsuccess?
Shehadthataudienceinthepalmofherhand."
AnexpressionakintoterrorcrossedVaden'sface,ruthlesslysuppressedinasecond.
"Youwereintheaudience?"Vadenasked,temporizing.
"Yes,SallyIselinhadheardAmaldatwonightsbeforeandwantedmetoconfirmhersuspicionthatAmaldawasahighgainempathist.WhatscaredAmaldaoffthatstage?Andsentbothofyouintohiding?"
TherewasnothinghelpfulinVaden'smindexceptarepet.i.tionofwhatDaffydandSallyhadfeltinAmalda'sprojection.Instead,Vaden'sthoughtsbecamedespairing.
"That'swhyyou'vegottohelpus,opOwen.TurnAmaldaoff!"
Vadendidn'tattempttodisguisehisfearnow.Andhedidn'tstrikeopOwenaseasilyfrightened.Hewastough,abletotakecareofhimselffromthelookofhisbearlikebuild.Andhadtakencareofhimself,tojudgebythescarsonhisknucklesandface.
"Fortunately,noonecanturnAmaldaoff.NordoIyetseethenecessity."OnlyanebulousbutoverwhelmingfearinbothVadenandAmalda.
"You'dbettersee,"Vadencried,leaningurgentlytowardopOwen.Hiseyeswereblazingwithanger,fearandasenseofimpotencewhichwouldbemorefrighteningandhumiliatingtoamanofVaden'stemperament.
"You'dbetterseethat.i.t'scrus.h.i.+ngAmaldatothepointwhereshewaswillingtocommitsuicideratherthanlivewithwhatshe'sbecome!"
"Youhaven'ttoldmewhatfrightenedherandwhat,ifImayspeakcandidly,isbotheringyouaswell."
Vadengotagriponhisfearandanger."Therewa.s.someoneelseinthataudience,"hesaidinaharshcontrolledvoice,"whosuddenlylinkedupwithus.Someonewhowastryingtodominate.WhowasdeterminedtocontrolwhatAmaldacando.Shegotthebruntofit,ofcourse,thenIcaught.i.t."
OpOwenwascertainthen,withanawfulinstinct,thatRozninewasthethirdperson.Andtheramificationsofthatpremiseweredecidedlyunsettling.Hemanagedtosmilerea.s.suringlyatBruceVaden.Heswunghischairidlyfromsidetosidewithcounterfeitunconcern.HehadlostSolangeBoshebuthewouldn'tloseAmalda...andVaden...andRoznine.
"That'sveryinteresting,"hetoldVaden."DoesAmaldahaveanyideaoftheman'sident.i.ty?"
"Howcouldshe?"RedVadenaskedscornfully.Hewasmakinganotableefforttocoverhisinnerperturbations.Hecouldn'tbeareventhenotionofsharingAmaldawithanyone."Theminutesherealizedwhatwashappening,howstrongtheguywas,andwhathewantedhertodo,shemadeasifshewastakingashortbreak.Andtoldmetofollow.
Butshewon'teversingagain.Youdon'tknowwhat.i.tdoestoyou..."
"Iprobablymorethananyman,"Daffydsaidwithaslightsmile.
Vadendiscreditedthestatementwithacuttingsweepofhishand.
"You'vegottounderstandthatAmaldamustbeturnedoff."
Therewasanedgeinhisvoicenow:hewas.h.i.+ttinganemotionalhigh,too.Daffydreachedsurrept.i.tiouslyforthetrankgun.
"Don'tyoudare!"VadenmovedwithsurprisingspeedandgrabbedopOwen'shand.
"Ithoughtyou'dunderstand,opOwen.Whoeverthatguyisis...o...b..edangerous!"
"You'llhaveeverybitofprotectiontheCenterandeveryotherCenterintheworldcanofferyou,Vaden,"Daffydreplied,allowinghisvoicetotakeonstrengthwithoutvolume."Whichisnotinconsiderable,Ia.s.sureyou.Whatyoudon'tunderstand,Vaden,isthatAmalda'smainproblemissimplylackofcontrolofherratherbreathtakingability."
"Youdon'tunderstand."Vadenwasdesperate."Shecancontrolma.s.sesofpeople.ThosesubbiesintheFact...shecouldhavemadethemdoanything.That'swhat'sterrifyingher.Andme.Andthatotherfreakedoutmind...hewantedtousehertocontrolthatkindofadangerousmob.G.o.d,man,Iknowwhatriotis.I'veseenthem.I'vebeencaughtinthem.Iknowwhathappens.Shecouldcauseone.Sheevenstartedonebynotbeingthere.ShecouldincitetheentireG.o.dd.a.m.nedJerhattancomplex..."
"How?"askedDaffydblandly.
"By...by...doingwhatthatmindwantedhertodotheothernight."
"But,"andDaffydmatchedRedVaden'surgencywithhisown,"shedidn't!Andshecouldn't!Andnothingonthisworld,notevensomefreakedoutmindwithamegalomaniacalbentcouldmakeher.Andonceshe'slearnedtocontrolthis...wingedhorseofhers,Ithinkyou'llallfindthisnotsocursedaTalent."
"Idon'tbelieveyou."
"HowoldisAmalda?"
"What?Whathasthatgottodo?"
"Howold?"
"She'stwentytwo...."
"Twentytwo.Andratheryoungfortwentytwo,Ishouldimagine.That'sstillatenderage."Daffydcould'vewishedforsomeofAmalda'sempathicstrengthbuthewasgettingthroughtoVaden'sbasicreasonableness."Andshehasbecomeemotionallyinvolvedwithyou...
Nooffense,please,Mr.Vaden.Fromaratherhumdrumfrustratingexistence,shehaseruptedontothestage,intoprominence...Evenamaturepersonalitycouldbedazzled.ThensheisthrownintoahighlychargedsituationtheconcertattheFact.i.twasunnervingformeasan.o.bserver,andI'mwellincommandofmyemotionalresponses.Sheisfrightenedandruns!ForwhichIdon'tblameheratall.Inshort,Amaldahasbeenoperatingonhighforsometime.Wearestillfrailmastersofourpowers,Mr.Vaden.Andthatreceiver/broadcasterunitwhichisAmaldaisovercharged.
"No,Mr.Vaden,wecan'tturnheroff.Wedon'twantto.ButwecanteachherhowtochannelherTalent,howtodisciplineitsoitwon'trunawaywithherasithasjustdone.Weca.n.a.lsoshowyouhowtohelpherputonthebrakes.On,yes,youcanapplywhat,toallintentsandpurposes,arecircuitbreakers.Shewillneedyourstrengthandaggression,Mr.Vaden.Infact,andthisisbetweenus,Amaldaisnotasimportantasbothofyou.SoIwillconsideryouateam,becausethat'swhatyouare."
"Thenyoucanhelp?"askedVaden.Hedidn'tquitebelieveopOwenb.u.t.theauraofbelligerentdesperationwasfading.
"Ijustsaidso."
"No,"andVadenshookhisheadangrilyasifhe'dthoughtDaffydwould"know"his.e.xactreferents.
"Emotionisasmuchatoolasapenorapneumaticdrill..."
Vadenstaredathim,andthenunexpectedlychuckled."AndAmalda'sbeenswingingthedrill?"
InwardlyopOwencheered.ThankG.o.dthemanhadasenseofhumor.
"Exactly.Amaldahasallthefinesseofatyro.Ifyouhadbeenthefocusinsteadofthisratherimpressionableandpreviouslyfrustratedyoungwoman,Ithinkmattersmighthaveprogressedmorecirc.u.mspectly.
Asitwas..."
"Idon'tthinkAmalda'sgoingtobelieveyou,opOwen,"Vadensaid,lookingsadlydownattheunconsciousgirl.
"Idon'tthinkshe'llhaveanyalternative,"Daffydrepliedseverely.
Vadenfrowned,hiseyesnarrowing,butopOwenreturnedthelook,addingamentalreinforcement."Sheis.e.xhaustedfromthelookofher,whichiswhathappenswhenyourunanengineonfullpowerforanylengthoftime.We'llsedatehersufficientlytoletherbodyandmindrest.Andwe'llkeephersedateduntilshebeginstorealizethatshecannotcontroleverythingaroundherwiththegripofatyrant...forthatseemstobehermainfear.Rathercommendable,actually."
"And?"Vadensaidinaflat,noargumentvoice.
"And,inthemeantime,youwillhavetolearnhowtoaidher.You'vebeenmoreorlesspa.s.sive.Shallwesay,"andDaffydsmiledslightlyashebowedtoVaden,"youarebothengagedforalong-termcontractwithnooptions."
ThedoorburstopentoadmitJerryFrames,theCenter'sphysicianandSallyIselin,whoglaredherwaybackintotheoffice.DaffydsmiledashesteppedasidetoletthemthroughtoAmalda.
"Whattookyousolong?"heaskedSally.
"Whatd'youthinkIam?AlousypopTalent?"
Shesabletocovercompletelynow,Daffyd,"Sallysaidwithunderstandablepride.
TheywerewatchingthroughtheonewaymirrorasAmaldafedHaroldOrley.Thewitlessempathwasneatlyeating,withappet.i.te,andoftenasmallsmileofpleasureonhischildlikefeatures.
"Neverthoughtwe'duseHaroldasaninstructor,"saidopOwen.Sallygrinnedathim,hereyessparkling."Harold'sausefuloldtool."
DaffydthoughtfleetinglyofSolangeBoshe.
"Don't,Dai!"Sally'sonewordwasreinforcedbyhermentalcommandbehindwhichDaffydsensedsympathy,pityand,oddlyenough,annoyance.
"She'soffalltranksnow?"heasked,gratefultoher.
"Heavensyes.She'sgottoconcentrateonHarold,youknow."
"Thenlet'sstartthemmovingaboutoutside."
"IwouldifIwereyou.TheRedBear'sabouttogostircrazy."
"RedBear?"
