The Wings Of Pegasus Part 26

Saschabentoverhershoulder,studyingthereelsasifhecouldglowertheriddleintotheopen.

Sascha:Righernet.

Madlyngaspedandstaredathim.Sirikitblinked,sighed,andthen,risingfromherstool,wenttothemainboardtoenablethenecessaryprogram.

"SomeearlymorningjoyseekerhastobeoverflyingtheCenter.Seta.n.a.larmthroughhernet,andwecancatchtheb.u.g.g.e.rintheact."

Sascha'svoicewasvindictive.

Madlynshothimaworriedglance.Shecouldfeelthewaveofhighnegativeenergyheexuded.

Chapter3.

Barchenka,Duoml,andHis.h.i.+ghnessManagerPrincePhanibals.h.i.+mazarrivedpromptlyfortheirmeetingwithParapsychicCenterDirectorRhyssaOwenattheJerhattanCityManager'sTower,ama.s.sivestructureinthecenterofCentralPark,thelastvestigeofnineteenthandtwentiethcenturyManhattan.Thetower,risingabovethetallestofthemercantilebuildings,wascrownedbyzigguratsofcommunicationdishes,givingitanappearancefromanydistanceof.a.grotesquebunchofstiffdaisiesrammedintoanimmensegla.s.sbrick.Skycarsofvaryingsizesatthelandinglevelstuckoutlikeafringeofangular,multicoloredleaves.

s.p.a.ceStationConstructionManagerLudmillaBarchenkaenteredfirst,heroddbouncinggaitindicatingthatshewaswearingherantigravboots.Herinfrequentvisitsbacktosurfacegravityweredifficultforherb.u.t.theytendedtobeworseforthosesheconfronted.Thewoman'sappearancedidnothingtomitigateherabrasivepersonality:shewa.s.stocky,bigbonedthoughnotfleshy,withaflat,broadfaceandunexceptionalfeatures.Paleblueeyesandshortcroppedhaironlyaddedtotheimageofatoughpersonacold,inflexibletenacity.Totopthatoff,Ludmillainvariablyworeathinmetalskullcap,as.h.i.+eldingdevicethatwasalmostaninsulttoRhyssainhercapacityasdirectoroftheEasternCenter.RhyssawasnotsureifBarchenkausedthes.h.i.+eldmerelyoutofconcernforsecurityorbecauseshewaspathologicallywaryoftheTalentswhoseservicesshedesperatelyneededevena.s.shedeploredtheirabilities.SaschawasconvincedthatBarchenkahadsomesortofTalent,evenifitcouldnotbescanned,andthatsherefusedtoacknowledgethepossibility.

Despitehertotallackofsocialgraces,theExaltedEngineer'sdedicationcouldnotbefaulted.PadrugoiStationwasduetobecompleted,andonbudget,attheendofthecurrentyear.

Withinterstellarvoyagesnowpossibleandhabitableplanetslocatedintwonearsystems,thepressuretoimplementthecolonizationprogramwasincredible.ButfirstthePadrugoiStation,theessentialspringboardtothestars,hadtobecompleted.TheprojecthadworldwidepriorityandtheenthusiasticsupportofeverypoliticalandeconomicfactiononEarth.

Consideringthatthefirstlaboratorystationhadgoneoverbudgetbytrillionsandhadbeenfiveyearslateincompletion,Barchenka'sachievementssofarwereconsiderable.ButRhyssaknewthetruth:thattheExaltedEngineerwasbeginningtofallbehindscheduledespiteallherefforts.Itwasrumoredthatthewomansleptnomorethanfourhoursanightanddailyaccomplishedaprodigiousamountofworkb.u.t.thatsheexpectedthesamededicationfromeveryoneontheproject.

Unfortunatelyshedidnothavethecharismaorleaders.h.i.+pabilitytogenerateeitherloyaltytoherselfortotheproject.InitiallymanyTalentshadvolunteeredtoa.s.sist,butoneafteranothertheydeclinedtorenewtheircontracts.ThemanyenticementstoreturnwiththeiruniquecapabilitiestoworkonPadrugoiStationhadmetwithfailure.

PersonnelManagerPerDuoml,cominginbehindLudmilla,movedwiththeheavinessofsomeoneaccustomedtolightergravity,buthemanagedwithouttheantigrava.s.sists.AFinn,ascapableanddedicatedasBarchenka,hewa.s.slightlyeasiertodealwith.Andthoughhe,too,tendedtowearametals.h.i.+eld,theTalentshadlikedworkingwithDuoml:hewasfair,competent,andhadsucceededinpersuadingafewTalentstoreturnforspecial,short-terma.s.signments.Butstillmosthaddeclinedtoextendtheiremployment,andtheycouldnotbeconscripted.AndthoughRhyssahaddutifullyaskedthedirectorsofeveryCenterintheworld,shehadnotakerstoofferDuoml.

ProgramManagerPrincePhanibals.h.i.+mazpouncedinbehindPerDuoml,andhispresencewasneitheressentialnorwelcometoRhyssa.Peculiarlyarrogantandimpervioustohercontinued,andlatelyovert,distasteforhiscompany,heusedanyexcuseavailabletopress.h.i.+ssuitonher.

Rhyssaoftenwonderedwhyhehadbotheredtodevelopanimpenetrableminds.h.i.+eldwhenhisfacerevealedallthatmostmenwouldhavehadthecourtesytohide.Theprincewasacomputergeniussomesaidhehadthoughtinbinarycodesinhiscrecheandteethedonchipsandwhenhewasbarelyoutofhisteens,hehadmasteredtheuseoftheJosephsonjunctionsinwhathetermedan"idiotproof"applicationtoregulatewithcompletesafetythevastflowofskycarsanddronesinandoutofmajorLineardepotsandoverdenselypopulatedareas.Hewascurrentlyapplyinghiseffortstocreateasimilarbasicandsafeflowofspatialtraffic.

Rhyssacomposedherfaceandhermind,smilingwithawarmthshedidnotfeelasthethreesettledthemselves.

"Idonot,"Ludmillabeganwithnopreamble,herdeepvoicegutturalwithonlyaslighttraceofhernativelanguage,"havetherequiredpersonnel."HerpaleeyesaccusedRhyssa.

"AsIhavetoldyourepeatedly,Manager,IcannotandwillnotordertheTalentedintos.p.a.ce."

Ludmillabroughtherfistdownwithawincethatrevealedthat,inherfrustration,shehadforgottenthegravitationaldifferences.Shebroughtthebruisedhandupinagesturethatinthes.p.a.cestationwouldhavebeenflamboyantbutwaslessgracefulonEarth.

"Youmustinsist""Icaninsist,b.u.t.theycanresist,"Rhyssarepliedequably.

"HowcanImaintainscheduleswithoutthepersonneltoperformthenecessarytasks?Daybydaywefallminutesbehind:minuteswhichyourdiffidentworkerscouldmakeupinseconds.Iwillnotfallbehindtheschedule.Wewillmakeourcompletiondeadline.

Wemusthavethesuitablepersonnel.Youtoldmethatyouhavethem,andIhaveheretheproof."TriumphantlyLudmillaextractedapencildiskfromhertunicandbrandisheditatRhyssa.

"InthatreplyIsaidthatIwouldcertainlyapproachallCenterswithyourspecificrequirements.Imostcertainlydidnotpromisetofillthevacancies."

Barchenkanarrowedherpaleeyesintoabasiliskstare."Yourecruitconstantly.ItispublicknowledgethatyoufindnewTalents""Itdoesnotfollow,"Rhyssainsertedsmoothly,"thatthosewerecruitarethekineticsthatyouspecificallyrequest.CertainlyIcouldnotaskuntrainedTalentstogointothehazardsofs.p.a.ce."

"Whynot?"Ludmilladismissedthatconsiderationwithabroadwaveofherhand,insertingthepencilfilebackintoitspocketattheendofthegesture."Wewilltrainthemonthejobtobeuseful,tobecareful,tobespecialists.Theywillloves.p.a.ce.Theywillmakemanycreditsandbewealthy."

"TheTalenteddonotacc.u.mulatewealth,Manager,"PerDuomlstatedinhisflat,nearlytonelessvoice,hispatienteyesnevermovingfromRhyssa'sface.

"Nonsense!Everyoneacquireswealth."Ludmillahadmorethantheusualcontemptforaltruists."InthebeginningwehadmanyTalentsworkingforus."

"Wewishedtoa.s.sisttheworldproject,"Rhyssasaid."Butyouwouldnotaccepttheirstipulationswhentheircontractscameupforrenewal."

"Stupidclauses,untenableforus.s.h.i.+ftsofnomorethansixhourswhenweworktwentyfourontheplatform.Specials.h.i.+eldingfornoise.

Thereisnonoiseins.p.a.ce."HerscornfulgazerestedhotlyonRhyssa.

"Nonoisewhichisaudibletoyou,MadameEngineer,butwhichis.e.xtremelyunpleasanttosensitives."

"Bah!Sensitive!"OnceagainBarchenkasummarilydismissedthatconsideration."Spoiled,pampered,cateredto."

"No,MadameBarchenka,notpamperedorspoiled,butyes,cateredto,"Rhyssaflashedback."TheTalentedareskilledpersonnelandrequiresomeminorconsiderationstoenablethemtoperformattheirbestinthehostileenvironmentofs.p.a.ce."

Barchenkaplowedonasifshehadnotheard."Itisincrediblethatsuchaminoritycanexertsomuchinfluenceontheeconomiclifeofourworld.Intheairport,inthes.p.a.ceport,inindustrywhere,whileIordermateriel,IseetheveryTalentsImusthavetocompletethemostimportantprojectoftheworld,aprojectwhichhasuniversalapproval,whichmeansmankindmayreachbeyondthelimitsofthissolarsystemandexploretheverystarsthemselves.YetyouandtheotherCentermanagersdonotpermitmetohirethespecialistsIneed."

"ItisnotthepermissionoftheCenterdirectorsthatisrequired,b.u.t.theconsentoftheemployed,"Rhyssaremindedtheengineer."Centerdirectorsnegotiatetheindividualcontractswiththenecessarysafeguards."

"Icanbuythecontracts."Barchenka'schallengewasalsoathreat.

"Suchcontractscannotbesold,EngineerBarchenka,andifyouwouldacceptthenecessarysafeguards,youmightbemoresuccessfulinattractingTalent!"Rhyssarepliedsternly,beginningtolosepatiencewiththewoman'sdogmaticpursuit.ShecouldignorePerDuoml'smournfulexpressionandevenkeephergazeavertedfromPrincePhanibal'shoteyes,slightlywetlips,andnostrilsthatflaredslightlyfromhisrapidbreathing;butallthreeglaringatherwereanunnervingcombination.Shekeptasmileonherlips,deliberatelyincreasingtheflowofherlimbicsystem.

"Youcaninsist,"Ludmillarepeated."Itisinallyourcontractsthat'itcanbevoidedatthediscretionoftheCenterinemergencies."

"RhyssasuppressedarushofangerthatBarchenkahadbeengivenaccesstoaParapsychicContractandhadtoremindherselfthatsuchcontractswerepublicknowledge."Myfellowdirectorsdonotconsiderthatyouhaveatrueemergency,EngineerBarchenka."ForthefirsttimeBarchenkaflaredangrily."Isaythisisanemergency!IsayImusthavealargerworkforcetocompletethisworldpriorityproject."

"Youhaveunlimitedaccesstotheconscriptablepoolofworkers."

"Bah!Theyareuselesssterile,uneducated,untrainablegrunts!Icannotbuildas.p.a.ceplatformonlywithgrunts.IwillhavethekineticsIneed.Ipromisethat,Director!"Withthatshewheeledand,inadangerousimbalance,madealurchingexit,PrincePhanibalfollowingher.

PerDuomltookonestepforward,bowingslightlyatthewaist."Evenhalfadozenkineticswouldimprovethesituationtremendously."

"AsIhaveexplainedrepeatedly,PerDuoml,insuretheTalentss.h.i.+eldedquartersandasixhourmaximums.h.i.+ftandtheywillbeamenable.Surelyifthere'screditenoughinyourbudgettosupportthenumberoftripsbacktoEarththathavebeenmadeforthepurposeofrecruitingTalents,thefundscanbefoundtosupplytheirbasicneedsonPadrugoi!"

"EngineerBarchenkamustadheretothebudget.Noalterationscanbemadetoexistingstaffaccommodations."

"ThenEngineerBarchenkaisstuckwiththeresult."RhyssaferventlywishedthatPerDuomlwouldrelaxhismentals.h.i.+eldlongenoughforhertoplacedirectlyinhismindtheinformationherwordspatentlydidnotconvey."Yourequirekineticstos.h.i.+ftobjectsofma.s.sproportionsinthea.s.semblyofPadrugoi.Youalsoneedkineticswhocana.s.semblechipsofthemostcomplexdelicacyinthetotalvacuumofs.p.a.ce.Thekineticenergyrequiredbybothtasksisthesameandexhausting.TheyneedquiettorestoretheirstrengththeyaresensitivetothemetallicvibrationsofPadrugoiitself,theinhumanlyclosequartering,thelackofprivacy,andtheappallinglybadrationswhichareinsufficienttoreplenishtheirbodiesandminds."

PerDuomlnoddedimpa.s.sivelyandthenshrugged,unwillingtocommentbeforehe,too,turnedtoleave.

HisdepartureleftRhyssawithanuneasysenseofforeboding.ShedirectedaquerytoSirikitondutyintheControlRoomoftheCenter.

Anyprecogsinjustnow?

Sirikit:None.You'reexpectingone?"

RhyssaprojectedanimageofLudmillaBarchenka'sgrimvisage:Possibly!

Chapter4.

Theboyblinkedthreetimes,andthechannelontheceilingscreenchangedagain.Hesighed.Yetanotheroldiehehadalreadyseenoftenenoughtohavememorizedthegoodparts.Heblinkedtheswitchsignalagain,andrealizedthathehadbeenthroughenoughofthechannelstobesurethattherewasnothingontocatchhisattentionnotevenaneducationalprogramunfamiliartohim.Thefirstfewweekshehadbeeninthewardithadbeenlotsoffun,watchingthetridsallthroughthelongnights.Kepthismindoffthingsafterhisheadacheshadeased.Sometimeshealmostmissedthoseheadaches,becauseatleastthenhehadbeenfeelingsomethinginhisbody.

Hesighed.Hecoulddothat,too,heremindedhimselfthinkingpositivelya.s.sue,thetherapist,saidhemust.Hedidn'tunderstandalotofwhatshetoldhim,likeimagininghimselfwalkingandrunning,thinkinghardofhowheusedtodoitbeforehehadrunalongsidetheruinsandthatbrickwallhadcollapsedonhim.

Why?Theagonizingquestionmadehimgasp.Hehadthoughthehadstoppedthinkingaboutthat.Asking"why"wasdefinitelynegativeandalwaysdepressedhimterribly.Whyhadthatwallcomedownjustashe,PeterReidinger,hadbeenrunningpast.i.t?Hadhekickedastonethathadbeenenoughtotriggerthecollapse?Hadoneoftheboyschasinghimlobbedastoneatthewall?Why,sinceithadbeenstandingforfiftyorahundredyearsallbyitselfwhyhaditpickedthatmomenttocomedown?Threesecondslater,hewouldhavebeensafesafefromboththewallandtheboyschasinghim.Whyhadheturnedintotheforbiddenarea,anyhow?He'dhadachoiceattheendofthealley:overthewall,onlyitseemedveryhightohimandhehadnothingtogivehimalegup;totheright,onlythattookhimbackintotheAlleyCats'territoryandpossibleambush;ortotheleft,weavinghiswaythroughtheruins,makingitmoredifficultforthemtoknowwhichwayhewouldgo.Why?

Negative!Negative!Peterscrewedupallhisfacemusclesandthenmadethemrelax,groupbygroup.Thenhesmiled,slowlyandconsciouslyspreadinghislipsandbringingthecornersofhismouthup,stretchingthemuntilhischeekslifted,hischindropped,andhislipspartedoverhisteeth;willingthenerveimpulsesinhisfacetochangethelimbicsystem.a.s.suehadtaughthim,hepulledhismosthappymomentoutofhismind:hiseleventhbirthday,whenhisfatherhadcomehomeonleavefromthes.p.a.cestationintimefortheparty.

Plantingthatmemoryfirmlyinfrontof"why,"Peterrehea.r.s.edthedetailsofthathappyexperienceuntilhecouldrelivetheentirescenefromthemomentthedoorchimehadannouncedthathisfatherhadmadeithomeuntilDadhadtuckedhimintohisbunk.Hehadgottensohecouldevenfeelthetouchofhisfather'shandonhisforehead.

GoodthingDadhadtouchedhimthereoneoftheonlyplaceshestillhadfeeling.Petersighedagainandrefeltthetouch.Thenheclosedhiseyesand"heard"hisfatherleavetheroom,"heard"themutedsoundsofhisparentstalkingandlaughing.Heexpelledanotherdeepsigh.

Hewaslucky.Hecouldbreatheonhisownnow.Suehadbeensoproudofhimwhenthatautonomicreflexhadreturned.Hefilledhislungs,knowingthathischestwasrising,hisdiaphragmtightening.Hecouldfeeltheairinhiswindpipe.Heheldhisbreathuntilspotscameinfrontofhiseyes;thenheexpelledit.

Immediatelyheheardthestepsofthedutynurse.MizAllendidnotliketobedisturbed,especiallywhenheknewthattheyhadacriticalcaseonPie12.Hecountedtenstepsandthenshewaspeeringdownathim,makingeyecontact.Shethenpeeredatthewallpanelthatdisplayedthereadingsfromhismonitors.

"Whywastherearespiratoryfluctuation,Peter?"

"Aw,Iwasjustdoingmybreathingexercises."

"Youwerenot."MizAllenglaredathimamoment,andthenherlongthinfacerelaxed.Shelaidalighthandonhisforeheadandthendrewonefingerdownhischeektopressitagainsthislips."Youwerefooling.Don'tfoolwithyourbreathing,Peter.Yourbrainneedsoxygen.Anditneedssleep,too.It'squarteroffour.Youshouldsleep.Youknowhowtoachieverelaxation,Peter.Doyourprogressives,there'sagoodboy.

"Theybothheardthesuddenwhimperingoftheburngirlontheothersideofthecircularward.

MizAllen,reprovingsmileandall,disappeared,andPetercountedhersteps,twentyone,togettothecriticalcase.Thenhecountedtothirty,andthewhimperingceasedHeknewburnshurt.Hewishedhefeltsomething,evenburns!

Heimmediatelyputhismindtothefewprogressivesavailabletohim:therelaxationofeverymuscleinhisface,bead,andneck.Hecouldnotmovehishead,buthehadsensationinhisneck.Hereachedtotalslackandthoughtcarefullyofhisplace,feelingthespringofgra.s.sunderhisfeet,hearingthes.h.i.+mmerofleavesasawindsoughedthroughthem,smellingthefragrancesofthegarden,gazingupattheskyabove,thesunwarmonhisback.Hebegantofloatagain.Hebadthesensationofdriftingup,outofthesupinebodyrestingonitscus.h.i.+onofair,amazedandannoyedatthevarioustubingsandwiresshuntedintohimthatheneverfelt.

ThegardenofhisdreamswasmilesawayfromJerhattan.Ithadbeenpartofthevacationfarmtowhichhisparentsbadtakenhimwhenhewaseight.ForsomeoneraisedinLinearJerhattan,surroundedconstantlybythenoiseandsmellofpeopleandmaintenancemachineries,hehadbeentotallyentrancedbythefarm.PeterknewthatthereweresmallgreenbeltsthroughouttheJerhattancomplex;hehadevenbeentoseveral,tryingtorelivethatvacation,butnonebadevokedthesameresponseinhim,beingtoosmallandcrampedtocloseouttheeternalnoiseofthecity.

Hehadfoundaplace,though,wherehecouldfloatwhenhegottotheproperstateofrelaxation.Ithadgra.s.sandtrees,barelyvisibleintheeeriepredawnlight.Andhewa.s.strangelyattractedbyotherinexplicablestrands,comfortingwispsofthought,enticinghimtolinger.Oneinparticularintriguedhim,andhehoveredasclosetoitashecould,tantalizedbyasenseoftranquilfamiliarity.

Allofasuddenhewasnearlyblindedbypowerfullightsthatfloodedthescene.Hefeltamomentofterror.Hecouldnotsuppress.h.i.+sscream,steadyingonlywhenheheardMizAllen'ssteps.Hedidnotopenhiseyesuntilhefeltherbandonhisforeheadandknewhewa.s.safebackinBed7ofPieWard12.

"What'sthematter,Peter?"MizAllenalwaysknewifapatientwa.s.shammingandshedidnottoleratefalsealarms.Hereyesflickedtothewallpanel."Baddream?"

"Yes,baddream."Despitehimselfhisvoicequavered,andherexpressionsoftened.

"Yes,yourendorphinlevelshotup.Ithinkyou'llhavetohavesomesleep."Peternodded,relievedatherdecision."I'vegotMRtomorrow..."Hebegan,b.u.t.thendarknessoverwhelmedhim.

Youscaredhimoff!RhyssaaccusedRagnar,fumingthatsomeonehadtriggeredhernettoalerttheCenter'ssecurityforcesifherpatternspikedduringthenight.Thefieldlightshadblazedup.Momentslatershehadheardthethrumbleoftheskycars,shootingoffinalldirections.Sascha!sheroared.Hewastheonlyoneempoweredtosetsurveillanceonher!

Sascha:We'llcatchtheb.u.g.g.e.r!

Notthatway!Rhyssaforcedcontrolsonherselftodispersethewhitehotfury.Saschahadexceededhisauthorityeventheboundariesoffriends.h.i.+p.

Sascha:Ihavenot!

Sheinhaleddeeply,awarethatshewa.s.stilltremblingwithanger.Sheexpelledthebreathrightdowntohertoes,continuingtopressdownwarduntilherbellymusclesweretaut.TherewasNOthreat!

Therewasintrusion!Hismentalpatternbrokebrieflyasherespondedtosomeexteriorstimulus.That'sb.l.o.o.d.ystrange,hesaidamomentlater.Therewasnointrusion.Notaphysicalone.Notabliponanyscreenthatcan'tbeaccountedfor.Andnothingreadthatnothinginourairs.p.a.ce.

Anemergent!Rhyssacoloredthethoughtwithsatisfaction.Thatis,ifyouhaven'tscaredhimoutofhisTalent!Shesentanimageofherselfturningbackontoherstomach,haulingtheduvetinitspastelprinttightlyaroundherself,anddraggingamatchingpillowfirmlyoverherheadwhichwaswhatshedid.

"Anemergentfromwhere?"wasthequestionthatcirculatedtheControlRoom.

"Who'sawakeatfouro'clockinthemorning?"Saschaasked.

"Icandoaprobabilitycurve,"Madlynsuggested,"eliminatingalltheobviouss.h.i.+ftworkers."

"Whyeliminatethem?"Budworthasked.

"Ifthey'reworking,they'renotdoingo.o.b.,"shereplied.

"Andwhosaysthisisanoutofbodyjob?"Saschaasked,turningonMadlynwithsurprise.

"Whatelsecoulditbe?"

Saschagrinned."Youmayverywellberight,Madlyn,andit's...o...b..iousIwondernoneofusthoughtofitbefore.Okay,whowouldgoo.o.b.?"Itwasaleadingquestiontowhichhealreadyhadananswer.

"Someonewhodoesn'tlikethebodthey'restuckwith,"shereplied.

"Buto.o.b."ingisTalent,"Budworthsaid,"andallof'emareregistered,sotheyhavebetterthingstodothano.o.b."

"Ifthey'reregistered,"Saschapointedout.

"Isee,sowerunacheckonnewones."

"That'sright.Withthehospitals."

Madlyngroaned."D'youknowhowmanyhospitalsthereareinJerhattan?"

"Notintimately,"Saschasaidwithagrin,andpointedanindexfingerather."Thinkofitasasurveyquestioninyourtraining.Askforparalyticcases,teen,preteen,insomniacs..."