The Wings Of Pegasus Part 24

AfterwardsSallytoldhimherfeethadtouchedthestepsonlythreetimes.

AmaldaandBruceVadenhadexitedthroughoneofthesidegatesinthegrounds.They'dcomeuponthepicketlinefromoneside,minglingwiththeonlookersuntiltheyweredirectlyoppositethemaingates.Thepicketersweredutifullychantingthesloganstheycarried,thefourLEOmenroutinelya.s.signedapicket,werealmostasboredwiththeproceedings.Apa.s.sengerconveyancesettledtothepubliclandingsomehundredyardsfromthegatesandtheoccupants,carryingcollapsedsigns,descendedinanorderlyfas.h.i.+on.

"Thosearebullyboys,notbonafidepicketers,"BrucetoldAmaldainaquietvoice.

Shenoddedforshe'dunerringlysightedtheonemanwhowasimportant.

"He'swiththem."

"Well,thisisthelastplacehe'dbelookingforus.Areyous.h.i.+eldingtightly?"

Amaldanoddedagainbutshedidn'ttakehereyesfromRoznine.

Hereallywasattractive,shethought.Therewa.s.somethingproudandfierceinhismanner.Brucewasright:shehadn'treallyseenhimbefore.She'sbeenjustsoscaredofhismind...

ShestoppedthinkingbecauseRozninewa.s.suddenlyglancingoverhisshoulder,atthecrowd,frowningslightly.Hestoodnearthecopter,toonesideofthenews.h.i.+ftofpickets.Theyweremillingabout...

"WarnDave,Amalda,andgetset.Seehowthey'remaneuvering?"Evenashespoke,Bruceglidedtoamoreadvantageouspositionforteamwork.

Thenewarrivals,foralltheiraimlessmovement,couldnowbeseenaimingforLEOmenandtheCenter'stwoguards,mildappearinggentlemenwhowereinfacttopkineticistsandcouldholdagrownmanimmobileonthegroundwithoutliftingaphysicalfinger.

Theolds.h.i.+ftbrokefromtheircircuit,groundingandcollapsingtheirsigns,preparatorytoleaving.Someelementsofthecrowdwhichhadwatchedpacificallyfromthefootpathbegantomovetowardthegrounds.

Amaldabegantobroadcast,gentlyatfirst,thefeelingofimmensefatigue,utterboredomandadislikeofthisactivity.

Brucemovedfurtheracrossthestreet,pickingupandincreasingtheintensityofherbroadcast.ButhewatchedRoznine,sawthemanstiffen,hisheadturnslowly,unerringlytowardsAmalda.Thegroupinwhichshehadbeenstandings.h.i.+ftedandshewasbyherself.

Thesettingoftheconfrontationwa.s.superb,BruceVadentoldhimselfwithacuriousobjectivity.Asifbymagicorcommonconsent,everyonemeltedfromthetwoprinc.i.p.als,leavingaclearpathbetweenthem.

"Don'tgetscared,honeybaby,"Brucetoldherunderhisbreath,fightinginhismindtoholdthebroadcastanddisguisetheinnerreluctanceofsharingAmaldawithanyoneatall.

Suddenlyhefeltbuoyedup,felttheindescribablementalsupportandtouchofDaffydopOwen,speakingthroughhimtoAmalda.Anditwasn'tjustDave,butsomething...no,someoneelse.

TheareawasblanketedwithsilencebyAmalda'sprojectionwhichbegantowaverslightly.Bruceintensifiedit,imaginingashe'dbeentaught,thattheemotionwa.s.somethingvisiblewhichhewasmanipulatingtangibly,asvisibleandtangibleaswaterfallingoveraspecificarea,drenchingeverythingwithitscascade.

Everythingwentathalfspeed.Rozninepulledfirstoneheavylegforward,thentheother,likeamantreadingthroughmola.s.ses,sticky,cloying.Theman'sfacewascontortedwitheffortandconcentration.

Amaldajuststood,herchinslightlyraised,lookingasregalandpoiseda.s.shehadontheE;actstage,sosureofherselfthatshealmostfooledVaden.

Theactionwasallslowmotion:thepicketers,realandbogus,discardingtheiralltooheavysigns,inexorablysinkingtotheground,sprawlinginposesofutterexhaustion.ItaffectedtheLEOmenthoughtheytriedhardtoresistthepressure,fallingtotheirkneesandhands,facesdownontheground.

Thenonlyshe,BruceandRozninewerestanding.ShetookadeepbreathandlookedstraightatRoznine'seyes:thefirsttimeshehaddoneso.

AndBrucewasrightthatVascha(shefoundhisnicknameeasily:thoughhethoughtofhimself,selfimportantly,onlyasVsevolodRoznine,theVaschapersonalitywasthere,too)wasnicelooking,withastrongbodyandsensitivehands.Shelikedlong,wellshapedfingersonamanshelikedtohavesuchhandsonherbody.

"Allright,hereIam,"shesaidoutloudanddaredhiminhermindtooverpowerher.

Hiseyesseemedtoeatherfleshhungrily,asifstarvedfortheessencebeneaththecoveringtissue.

"You'remine.1,VsevolodRoznine,sayyoaremine."Thatwas.h.i.+sthought,beatingawayather.Shewantedtolaugh,tosingoutbecausehisthoughtcouldn'tgoanyfurtherthanhermind.Itcouldn'treachBruce,standingnotmorethanfivefeetaway.Notunlessshewantedittogofurther!

"Well,whatareyouwaitingfor?"sheaskedgentlybecausetheknowledgeofsuchtotalpoweroveranotherhumanbeinghumbledher.

Someofhisbullyboysweregettingtotheirfeetforshe'dturnedoffsomeofherblanketingprojectiontodealwithVascha.ThroughVsevolodRoznineshesentafleetingthoughtofnauseathatinstantlyreducedthemtoretchingbodiesonthegra.s.s.Andasabruptly,shedeflectedtheactualillness.Thensheturnedofftheempatheticalbroadcastcompletely,knowingitscessationwouldleavethevictimsdisorientedenoughtocausenofurthertrouble.

"Ithinkyou'dbettercomewithus,Vsevolod,"shesaidtoRoznineandtookhishand,turningandleadinghimtowardtheCenterasifhehadnootherchoice.Hedidn'tbecauseBrucefellinontheotherside,theirstridesmatching.

Rozninewasdazed,hislipscompressedintoathinline.HeglareddownatAmaldaa.s.sheledhim,atarm'slength,likeamotherdragginganerrantchildhome.

Thegatemannoddedtothetrioastheypa.s.sedintotheCenter'sGrounds.

"What'n'h.e.l.lhashappenedtoyourcommonsense,opOwen?"FrankGillingsdemanded."LettingnotonlyAmaldaandVadenbutRoznineintotheCityCouncil?ForChrissakethat'swhathewantedAmaldafor..."

"Easy,Frank.Theteam'sona.s.signment,completelylegitimate."

"Councilisn'tariotsituation..."

Daffydraisedhiseyebrowsinpolitesurprise."No?AccordingtoRoznine,thetempersgetsohotnoconstructiveworkiseverdone.

Eachethnicgroupinsiststhat.i.tsmembersarebeingdiscriminatedagainstwithaccusationsandcounteraccusationsuntilthemediatoradjournsthehearingwithnothingaccomplishedexceptexhibitionsofparliamentarybadmanners.Sorry.Theteamisgoingtocoolthingslongenoughforcommonsensetoprevail.Roznine'sreasonforwantingAmalda'sTalentinCityHallwasvalid."

Daffydalsoneglectedtoaddthatthatwasthebargainhe'dstruckwithRozninetojointheCenter.Allthemanwantedwastobecertaintheemploymentallotmentswereimpartiallya.s.signed.Well,notall,Daffydamendedtohimself,butRozninehadgoneabout.i.tthewrongway.

Daffydgrinnedrea.s.suringlyatGillings'simageinthecomset."He'spartoftheteamnowandshefollowsorders."

"ButdoesRoznine?"askedGillingssarcastically.

"AsI'veexplainedtoyou,Frank,Roznineisparaphysicallydeadtoanyoneelse.Oh,BruceVadenempathizeswithhimtosomeextentnowthey'vebothhadtraining,butRoznine'sisaonewayTalent,righttoAmalda.She'sthefocusofthegestalt.Youmightsay,he'sbeencheckreined."

FrankGillingsgrunted,somewhatmollified.Then,juttingouthischin,heglaredattheDirector."YougoingtostartlobbyingforarideronthatTalentImmunityLaw?"

"Immediately.Infact,"andDaffyd'ssmilebroadenedwithsheermalice,"SenatorGreenfieldishelpingusgetaninterimriderthroughtheStateSenateonaBillhehascomingupontheAgendanextsession."

"Greenfield?"

"Yes.RoznineinvitedhimhereattheCenterforachat.TheSenatorwasmostamenabletothesuggestion."

TheLEOCommissioner'sfrownwaspartiallyperplexity."What'dyouguysdotoGreenfield?Blankethimwithlovingkindness?"

"Goodheavens,no.ItwasmerelypointedouttohimthattheCenterisnotaminority,butacollectionofminoritiessinceallethnicgroupsarerepresented.Hetookatourofthegroundsandinstantlyperceivedthatthehousingwasbynomeansasluxuriousashe'dbeenpreviouslyledtobelieve,withswimmingpoolsorwasteds.p.a.cethatmighthouseadditionalfamilies.Infact,hecomplimentedusonourplanningandthriftyuseoffacilities."

FrankGillingswasbynomeanstakeninbyDaffydopOwen'sblandmanner.Hegrowledsomethingunderhisbreath.

"WhatdidRozninehaveonhim,Dave?"

"Idon'tknowwhatyoumean,Frank."

TheLEOmanmadeagestureofdisgust.

"Dave,don'tgivemeanymoreproblemsforawhile,w.i.l.l.you?"

"Nothing'scomingupintheforeseeablefuture."

ThescreenwentblankonGillings'sincredulous.e.xpression.

"Daffyd,thatwas.h.i.+ghlyimmoral,unethicalanddownrightdirty,"saidSally,halfscoldinga.s.sherosefromthecouchwhereshe'dbeensittingoutoflineofvisionofthecomset.Shewalkedinunderhisarm,linkinghimaroundthewaist.Henuzzledhercurlsandkissedherforehead.

"Probably.Lesisalwaysremindingmethat.i.t'sbadpolicytotellall."

"It'sashameaboutVaschathough."Sallysighed.

"Why?"

"Oh,it'srathersad,hisbeingapsychicmule,herPegasus."

"ThankG.o.dheis,"Daffydsaidsoferventlyshelookedup,startled.

"Withtheambitionanddrivethatyoungmanhas,he'druletheworldinhalfayearifAmaldaandBruceweren'ttheretostophim."

PEGASUSINFLIGHT.

ThisBookisrespectfullyandgratefullydedicatedtoDianaTylerandDianePearson.

PROLOGUE.

Duringthelatetwentiethcentury's.e.xplorationofs.p.a.ce,amajorbreakthroughoccurredinthevalidationandrecordingofextrasensoryperceptions,thesocalledparanormal,psionicabilitieslongheldtobespurious.a.n.a.lternateapplicationoftheGoosegg,anextremelysensitiveencephalographdevelopedtoscanbrainpatternsoftheastronautswhosufferedfromsporadic"brightspots,"temporarilydiagnosedascerebralorretinalmalfunction,wasinadvertentlydiscoveredwhenthedevicewasusedtomonitoraheadinjuryinanintensivecareunitofJerhattan.Thepatient,HenryDarrow,wasaselfstyledclairvoyantwithanastonis.h.i.+ngpercentageofaccurate"guesses."Inhiscase,asthedevicemonitoredhisbrainpatterns,italsoregisteredthedischargeofunusualelectricalenergyasheexperiencedaclairvoyantepisode.Forthefirsttimetherewa.s.scientificproofofextrasensoryperception.

HenryDarrowrecoveredfromhisconcussiontofoundthefirstCenterforParapsychicsinJerhattanandtoformulatetheethicalandmoralpremisesthatwouldgrantthosewithvalid,anddemonstrable,psionictalentscertainprivilegesandresponsibilitiesinasocietybasicallyskeptical,hostile,orovertlyparanoidaboutsuchabilities.

ExtrasensoryperceptionorTalent,asitcametobecalledcameinvaryingstrengthsandforms.Simple,shortrangetelepathywasfairlycommon,onceinhibitionswerediscarded.b.u.t.therewerealsoonewaytelepaths,peoplewhocouldsendtheirthoughtsbutnotreceivethoseofothers,andpeoplewhocouldreceivethoughtsbutnotsend.Otherswereempaths,abletoadjustimmediatelytothemoodsofthosearoundthem,sometimesquiteunconsciously.Telempathscouldsenseandreacttoextremeormoredistantemotions;someofthesewereabletoredirectemotion,bybroadcastingotheremotionsorbyneutralizingthenegativesuchTalentsprovedtobeinvaluableincrowdcontrol,fortheycouldkeepathrongfromturningintoasenselessmob.b.u.t.themostvaluableofthetelepathswerethosewhocouldbothreceiveandbroadcastthought,speakingtoothermindsanywhereintheworld.

TelekineticsTalentswhocouldmovephysicalobjectsbysheermentalpowerwerealsoinvaluable,theirabilitiesrangingfromliftingheavymachinerytomanipulatingonmicrolevels.

Clairvoyantsorprecogscouldseefutureevents,eithercloseathand,oratsomeremovefromtheirpresent.Veryoftentheirvisionsallowedthefuturetobealteredanddisasterstoheaverted.Someclairvoyantshadspecialaffinities:somesensedeventsrevolvingaroundfire,water,orwind;othersweremoreapttoperceivechildren,orviolence,orcriminalintentions.

Findersalsohadaffinitiessomecouldlocatepeopleoranimals,whileotherswereabletosenseinanimateobjectsandtheirabilitiescouldvarygreatlyinrange.

Talentcameinmanyformsandguises,andnotalloftheviabletypeshad,asyet,beenrecognized.Thevariouscenters,worldwide,constantlysearchedforthelessdramaticgiftsbecausetheneedhadnowfaroutstrippedthesupply.Forthosepotentialfew,thetrainingwasarduous,andtherewardsdidnotalwayscompensatefortheunswervingdedicationrequiredbytheirtaxingpositions.

AndyettobefoundTalentedbecametheaspirationofmanyandthetriumphoffew.

Theyhavebeenatagreatfeastoflanguages,andstolenthesc.r.a.ps.

WilliamShakespeare.

Chapter1.

TirlatookaquicklookfromthealleyintotheMainConcourseofResidentialLinearG,thenpulledbackinstantly,flatteningherthintwelveyearoldbodyagainstthepla.s.slabwall.PublicHealthofficialswereswarmingallover,roundinguptheearlymorningcrowdofablebodiedworkerswhohadbeenscanningtheemploymentboardforaday'swork,themotherswiththeirhandicappedkidsmakingtheirwaytotheRehabcenters,andthelegalchildrenontheirwaytotheLinear'sphysical-trainingfacility.

Cautiouslyshetookanotherlook,toseewhatthePHOsweresettingupontheirtables:vialsandthebigcompressedairbottlesthatoperatedthehyposprays.Shewithdrew,havingseenenoughtorecognizeanotherwholesalevaccinationeffort.Strange,shehadn'theardofanynew'muneplagues.Togivethemtheirdue,PHOwa.s.swifterthanrumortoavertdisaster.

RapidlyTirlaranthroughherheadhercurrentlistofthosemothersofillegalchildrenwhomsheshouldinform:first,becausetheywouldpayherforwarningthemtohidethekids;second,becausethosewhocouldaffordtowouldpayherforstealingwhatevervaccinewasbeingadministered.Shecountedonherfingers:Elpidia,certainly;theoldbouzma,Pilau;Bilala,andZaveta,Arisan,andCyotoandshehadbetteraskMamaBobchikiftherewerenewborns,fortheywouldneedtheFiveshotter.Shewouldwantoneforherself,aswell,andcouldpossiblyfinagleabox,dependingonhowthecurrentstuffwas.p.a.ckaged.Italldepended.MirdaKhan,yesshehadbesttellthatoldwagonrightaftershewarnedMama.

Shewouldhavetochangeintocleanclothingissueshehadwashed,b.u.t.thisweek'sissuewasfivedaysoldandlookedeight.PublicHealthwerequicktonoticedetailslikethat.MamaBobchikwasalwaysgoodforfreshwear,especiallyifTirlawenttoherfirstwithhernews.

Thiscouldbeaverygoodday,Tirlathoughtwithariseofspiritsa.s.sheslippedbackdownthealleyforthecentershaftemergencystairsonherwaydowntoMamaBobchik'spad.

MostofTirla'stwelveyearshadbeenspentinscroungingatotallyunofficiallivinginthemultiethnicthirtystoriedcommunityoftheLinears.Shecouldnotaffordtomissasingletrick,liketoday'sunexpectedPublicHealthroundup,toescapethestringentcontrols,cleverobstacles,andlittletrapsingeniouslysetupbytheJerhattanComplexAdministrationCouncilandtheLawEnforcementandOrderOrganizationtoidentifyandcontroleachmemberoftherestlesspopulation.

OfficiallytherehadneverbeenarecordofTirla'sbirth.Shewashowever,thefifthchildborntoDikkaonlythefirst,Tirla'sbrother,Kail,waslegal.Thegovernmenttiedawomanoffwhenshegavebirthtoasecondchild.ConsequentlyFirza,Lenny,Ahmed,andTirlahadallbeenborninDikka'ssingleparentsquatwiththeaidofMamaBobchik,whohadhadanillegalchildeveryyearuntilherwombhaddriedup.KailhadbeenofficialuntilDikkahadsoldhimatten.

FirzahadhadtheuseofKail'swristIDfortwoyearsuntilshewasprofitablydisposedof.Inthenextyear,Dikka,Lenny,andAhmeddiedofoneoftheimmuneplaguesthatsporadicallyflareduptodecimatetheLinears.Inthehasteandconfusionofbodydisposal,Dikka'sdeathhadnotbeenofficiallynoted.SoTirlahadbeenleftwithtwoIDbraceletsafinelegacy.Selfsufficientandresourceful,shehadmanagedtoretainthesquat,drawingtwosubsistencerations,untilDikka'sIDwascanceledafterherfailuretoappearforaroutinemedicalexamination.

Wiseinthewaysofhersociety,Tirlahadnotbeencaughtshortbythelockout.SheknewTenancyArticles,Paragraphs,andSubsectionsbyheart,sofiguringoutthecancellationdatehadbeennoproblem.Twodayspriortotheeviction,shemovedherfewpossessionshotterunit,thebestofthesleepsacks,the'corder,andtheprettiesDikka'smenhadgivenherfromtimetotimeintonewquartersfivelevelsbelowtheMainConcourse,inthemaintenancesegmentofLinearG,rightbesidethechargedsecuritygrillethatprotectedtheengineeringsectionfromunauthorizedentry.OnlyaslightandagilepersonlikeTirlacouldreachtheeyrie,wherema.s.siveductsformedabroadplatformbeforebendinguptheinnerwall.Shepatchedherhotterand'corderwiresintotheoverheadcables,certainthathersmalluseofelectricitywasunlikelytobediscovered,andsettledin.Shedidmisstheallnightinformationalprogramsonthesquat'strid.ThebigpublictridsontheConcoursestopped'castingatthemidnightcurfew.

Tirla,withherclever,shrewd,andorganizedmind,wasthirstyforknowledge.SheevenusedKail'sIDtologintoschool.OneofDikka'smenhadsaidthatonehadtoknowtherulesbeforeonecouldbreakthem.Tirlahadneverforgotten.

Foranothertwoyears,Kail'sbraceletsuppliedhissmallsisterwithdailysubsistence,weeklyclothingissue,andotheramenitiesuntil"Kail"failedtoappearatEvaluationCenterwithinthreeweeksofhissixteenthbirthday.ThecancellationcausedTirlanoproblem,forbythenshewaswellestablished,almostindispensabletomostoftheResidentialclientsandgangbossesintheneighborhoodindustrialcomplexes.HerabilitytotranslateanyofthenearlyninetydialectsandlanguagesusedinthesubsistencelevelResidentialLinearssavedclientshoursatofficialtrans-speechcenters,orworse,misunderstanding.Sheknewwhentobeingratiatingorstandfirm.Sheknewwhatcourtesieswereduewhomandneverfailedinperformingthem.

Everyonewhoknewherknewverywellthatshewasillegal.Becauseshewa.s.sousefultotheresidentsofLinearG,a.s.shewouldbetodaywithherwarningaboutthePublicHealthers,andbecauseofficiallyshedidnotexistanyway,therewasnoprofityetinreportingherillicitexistence.

Thevariouserrandsshedidandshewa.s.scrupulouslysilentaboutthemoftenbroughtin"floating"creditchips.FloaterswerelegaltenderPaytoBearer,untraceablechipsthatchangedhandsfrequently.

JerhattanTreasuryandallthemerchantandbankinghouseswiselyignoredthecirculationofminoramountsoffloaters,justastheyignoredthepettysmalltradersaslongastheymadenotroubleandtheirmerchandisewasharmless.Tirla,andotherslikeher,reliedonfloaterstosupporttheirillegalexistencesintheLinears.

LinearGthrustthirtyma.s.sivelevelsabovethesquat,featurelessFandHcommercialblockswhereresidentsofLinea.r.s.e,G,andIworked.

Once,onaFreeDay,whileTirlastillhadherbrother'sID,shehadgonewithMamaBobchiktotheGreatPalisadesPromenade,wherethousandsuponthousandsofpeoplehadswarmedtoenjoyabrilliantspringday,tooverlooktheexclusivehives,platforms,andgreatconecomplexesofManhattanIsland,andtooohandaahatthemonorailcars,largeandsmall,thatzippedalongthetrackswhichgarlandedthebuildingslikecoloredtinselstrands.ThatwasthefirsttimeTirlahadseens.h.i.+psfloatingonwaterorthegreatpleasureskycars.Therehadevenbeenaspecialissueofholidayfood,yardsabovethestandardfare,atdispensingbanks.Buril,Mama'sson,hadatripperkeythatheusedonthedispers,sotheyhadmanagedtostuffthemselvesbeforethemechanism'smalfunctionalarmwastriggered.IthadbeenasuperdayforTirla.Shehadneverdreamedthattheworldwasthatbig.

ThatwasthesamedaythatBurilexplainedtoherallaboutthes.p.a.ceplatformthatwasbeingbuilt,whichneededsomanyworkers.Whenitwascompleted,hesaid,allthepeoplelivingonManhattanwhohadenoughcreditandwerethe"rightkind"wouldbeabletogooffintos.p.a.ceandfindotherworldstoliveon.Thenallthosebeautifulbuildingswouldbeemptyandtherewouldbeenoughs.p.a.ceforeveryonecrammedintoLinearsquatstoliveinproperbigapartmentswithabedroomforeachfamilymemberandnomorePublicHealthorLEOmenandwomentyingmenandwomenoff,shamingavirileman.

Thismorning,asTirlascratchedonMamaBobchik'sdoortotellherofthePHpresenceintheLinear,sheheardtheoldwomangaspingandgroaninga.s.shestruggledoffthebedshelf.

"Ktostuchitsya?Perestan'teudaryat'sya.Okh,kakbolitgoloua!"