The Wings Of Pegasus - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"MakethemPayTheirOwnWay!Taxationforallonanequalbasis."
PrecogsbegantohavetroubledIncidents.Toaltercirc.u.mstances,theteambeganwearingdisguises,withAmaldaandBruceVadenbothpairedtocombattrainedLEOmen.Theywerealsoontwentyfourhourcall,hoppingfromonegatheringtoanother,tryingtoforestallexplosionsusuallyatralliesdesignedtobringtheirowndownfall.
TwiceAmaldafeltRoznine'smindsearchingforhers.She'dbreakoffallbroadcastingandtheteamwouldleavethatareainstantly.
Theweatherremainedunseasonablyhotandhumid.Therewereunprecedentedfoulupsinthefoodsupplyandaheavydrainonthepowersourcesnecessitatedcutsoftheentertainmentcircuits.Moretrouble.
Roznine'sstrategemalsosufferedfromhiszealousness.Onthedayofthehearing,thereweresomanypeoplewantingtoattendthistestoftheImmunityActthathecouldn'tpossiblyhaveattemptedakidnapping.
ThepressofhopefulattendeesprovidedtheLEOofficialswithanexcusetobeselectiveand,naturally,theaudiencewasconvenientlypackedwithoutoftownTalentswhomDaffydhadinvited.SensitivesattheCourtBlockentrancetippedtheLEOmenoffwhomtoexcludeandthePanSlaviccontingentwasdecimated.Inthewakeoftheprosecutingforce,RozninewasadmittedinhiscapacityasPanSlavicleadersinceoneofthewaiterswas.h.i.+sethnic.ItwasthefirstopportunityDaffydopOwenhadhadtogetagoodlookatthemanandhewa.s.somewhatsurprisedbyRoznine'sphysicalappearance.Daffydwouldhavelikedto"scan"himb.u.t.theemotionalauraofthecourtroommadethatmentallyandphysicallyimpossible.Thetelepathponderedonthesubconsciousimpressionshe'dbeenreceivingfromGillingsandAmalda,forRozninewasaperfectlypresentable,personablelookingchap,quietlydressedinamoderatelyexpensivetunic,hisheavyheadofblackhaircuttohisshouldersandhisthickblackmoustachetrimmedtojointhesideburns,leavingtherestofthestrongfacebare.
Rozninetookaseatbythewallandturnedforacarefulsurveyofthosealreadyseated.
OpOwensincerelyregrettedtheimpossibilityofprobingtheman'smind.Hemusthaveplannedsomething.Hehada"waiting"abouthim,calmlycomposedinthemidstofahecticscene.
b.u.t.therehadbeennoprecogsonthesituation.There'dbeenincidentalauguriesbutoftoovariedanaturetobeusefulorindicativeofthetrendoftheday'sevents.Daffydcouldonlyconclude,astheCorrelationStaffhad,that.i.tdidn'tmatterhowthehearingwenttoday.Thatinitselfwasunsettling.However,planshadbeenmadeforsuchcontingenciesascommonsenseindicated.DaffydhadwarnedVaden,amongotherthings,andthen"conditioned"Amaldawithstrongconfidences.TherewereTalentsunknowntothegirlintheaudienceandtheyhadtheirinstructions.
BruceVadenentered,slippingintoanaisleseatattherear.He,too,glancedaround,hiseyesslidingpastDaffyd's.He'slookingforRoznine,Daffydthought,asVaden'seyeslingeredonceonsomebullchestedmanbutnotonRoznine'smustachioedface.Roznine'sattentionwasheldbyawirylittlemaninsloppytweedsofancientmanufacturewhoprancedconspicuouslydowntheaisletoaseatreservedforhimbytheprosecution'stable.
So,thoughtDaffyd,AaronGreenfieldhadasmallman'spus.h.!.+
Greenfieldleanedover,tappingoneoftheprosecutingattorneysontheshoulderandengagedhiminaguardedconversation,allthetimeglancingaroundtheaudience,pointingatlasttotheveryemptyseatsonthedefendant'sside.
Thehearinglightswentonandthe"judge"soundedhiselectronicgavelforthecourttocometoorder.Oneoftheprosecutionteamrosetoprotesttheabsenceofthedefendantandcounselb.u.t.thatwasAmalda'scueandshe,andherescort,madetheirentrance.
Therewas,ofcourse,theantic.i.p.atedcryofprotestfromtheprosecutingattorneys.Thedefendantarrivedgarbedinvoluminousrobes,bewiggedandmadeupalaj.a.ponaise,escortedbytwowomenexactlythesametothelasthairandmeasurement.Evenastheprosecutionleapttoitscollectivefeet,thethreefiguress.h.i.+ftedinacomplicatedpattern,makingitimpossibleforanyuntalentedpersontoknowwhichonewaswhich.
However,asthiswasapreliminaryhearing,necessarilyconductedinfrontofthelegalcomputer,the"hearingjudge"hadnodirectivesaboutthedressorescortofthedefendantsand/orattorneyssolongastheyappearedcladandreasonablyclean.Prosecutionrepliedthatthedefendantwasdeliberatelyobstructingjusticebyappearingwithlookalikeescorts.OneoftheAmaldasrose,presentedtwosetsofcredentialsaslegalcounselorsforthedefendantandaskedthe"hearingjudge"ifitwasprogrammedtorefusedefendant'scounselonthebasisofsimilarityinshapeandappearancetodefendant.Theobjectionwasoverruled.
ProsecutioninstantlydemandedEEGreadingstoprovethatthewomensoattiredwereinfacttheaforesaidattorneysandthedefendant.
DefensehadnoobjectionandEEGreadingswerepromptlytaken,establis.h.i.+ngbeyondcontroversywhoweretheattorneysandwhothedefendant.Atwhichpoint,thethreewomenrepeatedtheirrapid"sh.e.l.lact."DaffydopOwenwatchedfuriousangersuffusethefacesattheprosecutiontable,evidencethattherusewa.s.successful.Theaudiencemurmured,halfinamus.e.m.e.nt,theotherhalftotallyconfusedbytheantics.
Thehearingproceededwiththechargebeingmadeofillegalarrestandrestraint,counteredbythedefenseinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityAct,requiringthatthecomplaintagainstAmalda,RegisteredTalent,bedropped.
Rathersmug,DaffydmissedthefirsttwingeofAmalda'salarm.
"Daffyd,"shesaid,hermindtoneanxious,"he'safterme."
"Makeeveryonelaugh,"Daffydsaidandsoquicklydidshereact,withsuchforcefulness,thatDaffyddidn'tneedtocallinthereserveempathstohelp.
ForamomentDaffydwonderediffearpromptedheroutrageousstrength,foreveryoneintheaudience,himselfandtheplantedTalents,werestruckbyanepidemicofgiggles.Itwouldappearthattheaudiencewasattemptingtolaughthecomplaintoutofcourt.
DaffydsuppressedAmalda'sprojectionsufficientlysothathewasn'tdoubledwithuncontrollablemirth.Rozninehadarictus-likegrinacross.h.i.+sface:he'dleanedbackagainstthewallinanefforttocontrolhisbodyandhewasforcinghisheadtomovesohecouldscantheaudience.Daffydbentoverslightly,counterfeitingexcessivemirth,andnoticedthatRedVadenandtheotherTalentsweredoingthesamething.
Grand!LetRozninethinkonlyAmaldawasresponsible!ButcouldAmaldaevenwithRedhelpingbroadcastsostrongly?CouldsheactuallyuseRozninewithouthisconsent?Ifso...
The"hearingjudge"mechanicallysoundedthegavelandcalledfororder,itsvoicegettinglouderandlouderasthegigglescontinued.
Itorderedthecourtroomclearedof"obstructionists."Theparoxysmswhichhadafflictedeveryoneabruptlyceasedandpeopleweaklywipedtheireyesandorderedtheirclothing.AaronGreenfieldlookedanxiouslyaround,hisfaceflushedwithanger.Themanwasnofool,Daffydrealized.He'dknowthatTalenthadbeenresponsibleand,withhisp.r.i.c.klydignityoffended,he'dredoublehiseffortstogettheTalentedtaxed.Oh,well,youcouldn'tmakeanomelettewithoutbreakingeggs,thoughtDaffydphilosophically.HenoddedapprovinglyatAmaldawho,withhertwins,hadsneakedaglanceathim.
ProsecutionthenannouncedpossessionofaswornstatementfromtheMorcamConventionCommitteethat.i.thadrequestednoLEOsurveillance.
DefenserepliedthatallconventionsituationsfellundertheRiotPreventionActandtheLEOCommissionwasquitewithinitsjurisdictiontousesuchriotpreventiontechniquesa.s.seemedadvisable.Theuncertainclimateofthecitywascitedtobeinthe"unsettled"percentilewhichpermittedtheLEOCommissiontotakesuchprecautionsasitdeemednecessarytoensurelawenforcementandorder.Thedefensecounselremindedthe"judge"thatanygatheringof200ormorepersons(andtheMorcamLuncheonhadhad525paidandconsumedcovers)wasliabletoauxiliarysurveillancewhetherrequestedornotwhentheclimateofthecityregisteredinthe"uneasy"percentiles.ProsecutiondemandedtoknowexactlywhatriotpreventiontechniquewasemployedbyAmalda.Defenserespondedthatshewasaregisteredempathofa+15sensitivityandaperceptiveratingof+12,andofferedtoproducepositivetestimonialsfromorganizationswhichhademployedAmaldainhercapacityasaTalentforriotprevention.ProsecutionrepeateditsdemandforanexplicitdescriptionofhercrowdcontroltechniqueanddefenseinvokedtheprovisionsoftheLawEnforcementandOrderCommission.
Daffydwasn'tcertainwhethertheprosecutionwantedtoseparateAmaldafromherlookalikesordiscovertheexactproceduresheused.
Defenseagainrequestedthatthechargebedropped:shedidn'twishtowastetheCourt'stimeandpublicmoneywhentheevidenceclearlypointedtoanolleprosequisituation.
Prosecutioninsistedvehementlythatthiswasaclearcaseofpersonalinfringementandmisuseofprivilegejustasthetime-limitlightcameon.Therewastherumbleasthe"hearingjudge"searcheditsprogrammingforprecedents.Thatdidn'ttakelong.Momentslaterthedateforatrialappearedonthescreen:adatesevenweekshence.
Notbad,thoughtDaffyd,althoughhe'dhalfwishedthatthecomputerwouldthrowthecaseout.Withnoprecedents,there'dbeenslimchanceofthat.
Amalda'sfearwaslikeaknifeinhisownguts.HetriedtogetthroughtoRoznine,tofathomwhatthemanwasdoing.BruceVadenjumpedtohisfeet,starteddowntheaisle,hisprogressblockedbyotherswhowerebeginningtoleavethecourtroom.
DaffydhadthesensethateveryTalentintheaudiencestiffenedsuddenlyandthenRoznine,halfrisingfromhisseat,stunnedamazementonhisface,begantotoppleslowlyoverontothepeopleintherowinfrontofhim.
"Hey,thisguy'spa.s.sedout,"someonecried."Isthereamedicaround?"
BruceVadenkepttryingtoreachRoznine.DaffydsignalledtotwootherTalentstoa.s.sist.IftheycouldbringRozninetotheCenterthisway...
"I'maphysician,"awomansaidinafirmloudvoice,threerowsaway,holdingupheremergencypouch.TherewasaslightscuffleasBrucetriedtointercepther,butsuddenlythePanSlavsmoved,jumpingoverseats,knockingpeopleasideinanefforttoprotecttheirfallenleader.
DaffydcaughtVadenback,calledofftheothers.
Thebailiffscurriedfromthecourt,yellingforanambicopter,asthewomanmedicandthreeSlavsliftedthestrickenmanandcarriedhimtotheprosecution'stable.The"hearingjudge"begantocallfororder,forthenextcase,fortheobstructioniststoberemovedfromthecourtroom.Itsvoicegotlouderandlouderuntilitfinallycalledarecessuntilthecourtcouldbehumanlycleared.
"Allright,allright,we'vegothimunderheavysedationintheCourtBlockinfirmary,"FrankGillingstoldDaffyd,"b.u.t.thattookdoing.
TheplaceiscrawlingwithPanSlavs.Wecan'tarrestamanforcollapsingincourt...andhowdidyoudoit?"
"Oneoftheteleportsgavehima'punch,'"Daffydsaidwitharuefulgrimace.
Gillingsstaredathimwithaweandrespect.
"Onehastobeverycareful,"Daffydexplainedalmostapologetically,"pressingagainstthecarotid.ButhewaspressuringAmalda."
"Youexpectedthat!ButIexpectedyouguystograbhimthere.AndthatG.o.dd.a.m.nedhearingisaffectingtheentirecity.Nowdon'ttellmeyouexpectedthat!"
DaffydlookedatGillingsand,foramicrosecond,hesitated.
"No,notexactly,butwe'redoingourverybest."
"What?Whatinh.e.l.ldoyoumeanbythat?"
"Imean,we'vesetthetrapandbaiteditandwesimplyhavetohavepatience."
"Patience?Withthiscityabouttoerupt?"
"Curiouslyenough,Gillings,Idon'tthinkthecityisgoingtoerupt.
Oh,we'verecordedsomeIncidents,minorones,involvingTalents..."
andDaffydfrownedbecausetheIncidentsweredistressingandsovaguethatonlyageneralallTalentwarningcouldbeissued.
Gillingsgaveoneofhisdisgustedgrowls."Youguysmakemesick.
Youcan'tevenprotectyourselves."
"We'lldowhatwecan,"andDaffyd'svoiceturnedsteelyenoughtoreprimandGillings."Whatconcernsyou,Commissioner,isthefactthatourprecogshavepredictednomajorIncidents.Yourcityisgoingtobesafe!"
"Proveit!"demandedGillingsbutDaffydopOwenmadenoreplyashelefttheCommissioner'soffice.
IttookthetelepaththeentiretripbacktotheCentertogetcontrolofhisinnerperturbation.Ofcourse,Gillingshadtoberuthlessandconsideronlythelargeraspect,thesafetyoftheCity,but.i.tgalledDaffydtothinkthatGillingscouldsooffhandedlydismissthepersonaltrialsoftheTalented.ItgrievedDaffydthattherewouldbemoreprecedentsonthenewlyprogrammedImmunityLawafterthenextfewdays.ThefactthatTalentswouldnowhaveredressfortheprecoggedpersonala.s.saultsonthemwasnosatisfaction.He'dreallyhavepreferrednevertohavehadtoinvokethatLaw.
ItwouldserveGillingspropernoticeifRozninedidburstoutofbounds...Andhowinh.e.l.lweretheytopromulgatealawthatmadeitillegaltoconcealTalent?LatentTalentswerealwayscroppingupwhentherightconnectionsweremade...
AndnotasingleIncidentconnectedwithAmaldaorRedorVsevolodRoznine.Andhe'dhadeveryprecogintheCentersensitizedtothatunholytrio.Howcouldthatpossiblybe?
Daffyd'sstateofmindwasgrimashelandedthecopterontheroofofthemainadministrationbuildingoftheCenter.Hetriedtodrainthepoisonsofbitternessandangerfromhismindashedescendedthestairs.Hepausedathisofficedoorbutswungaway.Hehadtocalmhimself.This.e.xcessivereactionwa.s.selfdefeating.GillingsmightbealatentTalenthimselfbutheremainedobduratelyimpervioustotheproblemsoftheTalented,especiallywhentheyinterferedwiththelawenforcementandorderofhispreciouscity.
WhileRozninewasunconsciousintheCourtBlockinfirmary,DaffydhadmanagedtoimplantasuggestionthatRoznineseekAmaldaoutattheCenter.Itwastheonlyfeasiblepracticablemethod...makethemountaincometoMahomet.Andthemountainmustapparentlycomeofitsownvolition.Now,ifhecouldjustgetMahomettodoaLorelei...itwouldspeedmattersup,andmaybesomanyTalentswouldn'tgethurt.
ThatbroughtDaffydbacktothepointofangerhe'dreachedinGillings'sofficeandthewholethoughtsequencestartedagain.
Hispathledhimpasttheplayyardwherehecouldhearthechildrenyellingandscreaming,arguingoversomeviolentlyimportanttriviality.Triviality?Tohim,perhaps,yettheywereasdevotedtotheirseparatesidesoftheargumentashewasto...
"Well?"SallyIselinstoodinhisway,herfistsplantedonherhips,amockferocious.e.xpressiononherpertprettyface."Aren'tyoupleasedwiththeoutcomeofthehearing?"Shefrowned,sensinghisuncertainty."ButyouwereabletoplantasuggestioninRoznine'smind?Oh,thatGillings.Whatisitaboutacopthatsourstheman?"
ItwasDaffyd'sturntobesurprised."That'sprettygoodreading,Sally."
a.s.suddenlyhefelthermindtightenandthecontactthathadbeguntolifthisdepressionwastakenaway.
"WhatdoesGillings.e.xpectofusanyway?"sheasked.
"Ahappyending!"
Sallyeyedhimspeculativelyandthenfellinstepwithhim,grinning.
"Therehastobeahappyendingtoeveryfairytale,afterall.ThoughIshouldn'thaveexpecteditofGillings,fergawd'ssake."
Herswitchofmood,whileitobscuredherthoughtsfromhim,liftedhisspirits.Nonetheless,hesaidrathergloomilythattherehadn'tbeenaprecogofanyhappyendingforCinderella.
"Oh,you...honestly!"Sallysoundedpeevedandhereyesflashedathimirritably."Yourtrouble,DaffydopOwen,isthatyoudon'treallybelieveinTalent."
"Ibegyourpardon?"Daffydstoppedandstareddownather.
"Justbecausenoonehasprecoggedadisasterofsomemonumentalproportionresultingfromthisfairytaleaffair,you'redowninthedoldrums.DoeseverythingTalentedhavetoendindisaster?Areyougoingtobecommittedtogrieffortherestofyourborndays?Orareyouwillingtoadmitthattherehasn'tbeenadisasterprecogbecausethereisn'tgoingtobeadisaster?Thatthingswillworkoutright?
Allthesensitivesareedgy,butnotmiserablyso.GoodG.o.d,dowehavetowallowinsorrowallthetime?Dowehavetorunaroundwonderingifwehavearighttobehappy?"
DaffydthoughtheknewSallyIselinfairlywellb.u.t.thisfromagirlcharacteristicallyfullofpuppyishgoodnatureandexuberance?
Sheturnedonhim,herbrowneyesflas.h.i.+ngwithangera.s.shestampedherfoot."AndIamnotagoodnaturedpuppy!Icanbejustasmuchofab.i.t.c.hasanyotherwoman!"
Inthatoutragedmood,sheforgottos.h.i.+eldherinnerthoughts.Itwasallthere,whatproprietyhadkeptDaffydfrom"perceiving"andhersenseofhonorhadpreventedherfromshowinghimmoreopenly.
AbruptlyDaffydreachedoutanddrewherintohisarms,savoringthemiraculousdisclosure.UnaccountablySallystruggled,andcourtesydisregarded,Daffydprobeddeeplyintohermind,pastthebarriersshehadcarefullyerected,pastthepertverbositywithwhichshemaskedthoseinnerfeelings.Withastrangledsob,sherelaxedagainsthimandlethimperceivethewholeofherconflict.Theolderman/muchyoungerwoman,heryearningtobetall/elegant,anappropriatespouseforamanofhisstatus/abilities,thepuppyimageofherselffromhismind,herfeelingofinadequacybecauseshecouldn'tlocatemoreandmoreTalentstorelievetheburdensonhim...allthesmallsinsandgreatvanitiesthatinhabitthesoulofanyhumanbeing.Andwhathesawinthatinstantofperceptiononlyendearedhertohimmore.
Withonehandhetiltedherheadback,forcinghertomeethiseyes,amusedthatatelepathrequiredalook.Hermouthliftedslightlyinasmilea.s.shesharedhisthought.Hefeltapressingneedtoarticulatethethoughtshewastransferringtohermindbutallhecouldsaywashernamebeforehekissedher.Nomorewasneeded.
ThenextmorningthenebulousanxietiesofthesensitivesweretranslatedintoattacksontheTalented.OneofthefindersattachedtotheLEOBlockwasbeatenuponhiswaytotheCenter.ATalentmechanicatthebigMidTownParkingComplexwa.s.seriouslymauledandshovedintothebootofthecarhe'dbeenservicing.TwohealersintheGeneralHospitalwererapedandshornoftheirhairb.u.t.theira.s.sailantswerecaughtbecausethegirlshadtheabilityto"call"forhelp.
Intheclearlightofthatmorning,Daffydbitterlywonderedifindeedhehadarighttoanypersonalhappiness.
"Andifthatisn'tapieceofoutrightantediluvianpuritanicalnonsense,Idon'tknowwhatis,"Sallysaid,poppingoutofthebathroomwithallthesavageryofaminiature..."...Iamnotaminiatureanything,DaiopOwen."
Butshewascomicalenoughinherundressedstate,mentallybristlingathisthoughtsandaggravatedbyhispessimisticruminationtoputthemorning'sdisastersintheirproperperspective.
"I'mnotsurewhatgoodit'lldotohaveRozninemarchinginherenow,"shewenton,pouringoutcoffee.
"I'dhopedhe'dcomea.s.soonasheregainedconsciousness."
Sally'seyebrowsflickedup."You'veneverfailedofyourmarkbefore.
Unless..."Shepursedherlips,frowning.
"Amalda'sinhibitinghim?"Daffydcaughtthehalfsuppressednotion.
"Youknowshe'sscaredofhim.Imean,scaredasawomanisofaverydomineeringman...s.e.xually,Imean.Oh,youknowwhatImeanandthenthere'sBruceVadenandallthat."
"AmaldahadproofpositiveyesterdaythatRozninecouldn'tdominateher."
"Perhaps...Imean,intellectually,Talentwise,yes.But.i.t'sBrucethat'sholdingherback.He'salreadyatthetopoftheGla.s.smountainandAmaldadoesn'tdarerolltheotherapple."
DaffydcaughttheunarticulatedramificationsofSally'sthinking.
PartofAmalda'sreluctancetoadmitRoznine'sattractivenesstoherstemmedfromafearoflosingBruceVaden,towhomshewasequallyattractedbutfordifferentreasons.
"She'snotonetodroptheboneshe'sgotinhermouthfortheonesheseesinthewater,"Sallysaid.
"Nowit'sfables?"
"Whynot?Youaddedmythstomyfairytalessoit'smyshot."
"Thatonlyleavesmeproverbs."
"So?"
