The Wings Of Pegasus - LightNovelsOnl.com
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SaschasatdownonthebedonPeter'sothersideandlookedhelplesslyatRhyssa.
"AsIseeit,"Peterwenton,clearlymoreinchargeofthesituationthanhisadultmentors,"weTalentsdon'thaveanyoption.WeneedtheoneswithMr.BadenintheErasmusSascha,whenIs.h.i.+ftedthatsteeltheotherday,yousaidIhadgraduatedintoareallyusefulcategoryofkinesis.Withenoughpowerinthegestalt,IknowIcanlandtheshuttle."
Saschaslowlyshookhishead."There'sanothermajorconsideration,son..."
"I'vebeenstudyingschematicsonpowergeneration,"Petercontinuedblithely."TuRbosinparticular,asthey'remorereliable."
"Youhave?"RhyssawasconstantlybeingsurprisedbytheturnsofPeter'savidstudying.
"Well,IthoughtIoughttogetsomesortofbasicconceptsfromwhichtowork..."Hesawtheirexpressionsandgavethemalittlesmile.
"Iusedtowatchalotofcollegelevelvidcourses.Theywerealotmoreinterestingthanmostofthelatenightrecreationalgarbage.
Havingtothinkhardtookmymindoffmyselfforawhile.Engineeringwasagoodthink."
SaschaandRhyssawerereducedtonoddinginbelatedcomprehension.
"Especially,"Peteradded,hiseyestwinkling,"asnoonereallyseemedtoknowwhattomakeofmygestalting.Andthat'stheotherconsideration,isn't.i.t,Sascha?Keepinggestaltkinesisunderwraps?"
"He'sgotusthere,Rhyssa,"Saschasaidwithachagrinedexpression.
"That'swhatyou'rereallyworriedabout,butlook,ifthepilotbringstheshuttledownfarenough,IknowIcanget.i.tsafelythroughtheturbulenceandlandit.Andeventhepilotdoesn'tneedtoknowitwasn'tMr.Badenandtheotherkineticswhosteadiedtheshuttle."
Whenhesawthattheywereseriouslyconsideringhissuggestion,headded,"Itisn'tasifI'dbebringingtheshuttleallthewaydownfromPadrugoibymyself,youknow."
"Andyouthinkthecity'spowersystemwillsupplythenecessarygestaltforyou?"Saschaaskedinawrytone.
"TheEastSideJerhattanpowerstation'sturbosshouldbeenough."
Peter'seyesglowedattheprospectofallthatpowerathisdisposal.
RhyssaandSaschabegantolaughatth.e.s.h.eerimpudence.
"Youknow,Ireallythinkthat'llwork,"Doroteasaid,enteringtheroom.Shewa.s.stillinhernightclothes,afetchingpalelilacthatsetoffherlovelywhitehairandporcelaincomplexion."Sinceeavesdroppingisingeneralordertoday,I'vebeenfollowingtheconversationswithgreatinterest.Therewon'tbetimetotalkthatidiotofapowerresourcescommissionerintoagreeingtoanythingofsuchanexperimental,andhighlyconfidential,nature.Thefewerpeoplewhoknowwhatwe'redoingthebetter."
Herfacetookonanexceedinglyslylook,totallyuncharacteristic.
"Let'sinvokeaGandH!"Shechortled,lookingexceedinglypleasedwithherself."AllwehavetodotheniscallBorisgethimtoclearthepowerstationandusehisofficialcapacitytogetusin."
"InvokeaGandH?"Rhyssastaredattheelderlytelepathasifshehadneverseenherbefore.
"What'saGandH?"Peteraskedjusta.s.saschabegantoguffaw.
"Whydidn't.i.thinkofthat?"Rhyssaexclaimedinexasperation.TothemystifiedPeter,sheexplained,"That'sourmaydaycode,forGeorgethat'sGeorgeHenner,whoonceownedthishouseandHenrymeaningHenryDarrow,whoestablishedTalentasaverifiableparanormalskill.
IfaTalentinvokesaGandH,hegetsimmediateandunquestionedcooperationfromeveryotherTalent."
Sascharubbedhishandstogether."Youknow,I'vealwayswantedtheexcusetoinvokethatmaydaycode."Brother,hecalled.It'saGandH:weneedescorttotheEastSidepowerstation,andit'stobecleared!Shouldn'tbedifficultwithonlyaminimalnightcrewoncall.
Boris:AGandH?Fascinating.I'mcleaningupafteramajorriotandyouelectthismomentintimetocallaGeorgeandHenry?
Sascha:AllweneedisyouandaLEOheli.
Justme?Borisrespondedsarcastically.
Saschaagreeably:Youtogetusthecooperationweneed.
AndIcanexpectreturncooperationfromyou?Boris,slyly.
Sascha:It'saGeorgeHenrymayday,Bro.Youcan'trefuse.
Boris:Quidproquo,Bro.Iwasabouttorequestyourpresence!
Sascha:Forariot?
Boris:Icouldcertainlyuseyourhelponthisone,Bro.SomeodditieshavecroppedupthatrequireyourparticularlyacutetelepathicTalent.
SascharaisedhiseyebrowsinquiringlyatRhyssa,wh.o.r.eluctantlygaveana.s.sentingnod.
"Didyoufollowthat,Peter?"Rhyssaasked,noticingthattheboy'sfacewa.s.stillregisteringsurprise.
"Yes,"hesaidtentatively.
"Youdon'treallyneedme,Peter,"Saschasaidencouragingly."You'vegotRhyssa..."
"AndDorotea,"theladyaddedstoutly.
"Tobufferyourmind,"Saschacontinued.Don,aswell,Ithink,headdedtoRhyssa.WhydoesBorishavetoneedmeatthismomentintime?
Dorotea:Borisalwaysdidhaveanawkwardstreakinhim.ComesfrombeingaLEObytemperament.
RhyssaturnedbrisklytoPeter."Now,you'dbettergetdressed.Fetchyourcloth.e.s.h.ere.Andwhatshouldhegetforyou,Dorotea?Youcanchangeinmybathroom."
"I'llgetdowntoBudworthforthevitalstatisticsweneed,"Saschasaid."Theweightoftheshuttle,aradarlinkwiththeshuttle,reprosofDaccaingoodweatherweatherreports."IfIreallythinkaboutthisinanydetail,I'llgocrackers!headdedonaveryfinethreadtothetwowomen.
RhyssaandDorotearepliedwithequalfervor:You'llhavecompany!
yPeterthinksbecandoit,Iprefertothinkhecan,Rhyssaadded.
Afterall,it'sthethoughtthatcounts.
Dorotea:That'swhatdoesthetrick.
Thenecessaryequations,basedonPeter'sestablisheduseofthegestaltplusdistance,weight,andoptimumspeedoftheshuttle,atmosphericconditions,andturbulenceatthelandingsite,wereallcompletedbythetimetheLEOheliarrivedtotransportthem.
"Ithoughtyouwerehavingariotofatimeandwe'dgetadeputy,"Saschasaid,buthewas.e.xceedinglyrelievedtohavehisbrother'ssupport.
"Iam,butI'mthebestauthorityyouhaveforwhatever'sgoingon."
Borissmiledwithwhitetoothedmalice."You'llwanttobeinonthisone,Bro.We'vegotaleadonthekidnappings."
Saschasworewithgreatingenuity.
That'sasimportantasthis,Sascha,Rhyssaconceded.WithDoroteaandDontohelpmebufferhim,he'llbefine.
Iwouldn'tinterferewithamaydayifIdidn'thaveto,theLEOcommissionersaid,evenashereacheddowntoa.s.sistDoroteaintotheheli.
Sascha,thekidnappersmustbestopped,Doroteasaidsosternlythathertonestartledallthetelepaths.There!That'ssettled!
"AndthisisPeterReidinger?"Borisasked,asPeterreachedthestepsinhistreadingwatergait."Hi!"
FromthestunnedlookonPeter'sface,RhyssasuddenlyrealizedthatnoonehadthoughttomentiontotheboythattheLEOcommissionerwa.s.sascha'stwinbrother.
"No,you'renotseeingdouble.I'molderbyfiveminutes,"Boriswentonamiably,deftlytakingPeterunderthearmsandhoistinghimaboard.
We'llbothseethemsafelytherebeforeIabductyou,Bro,formylessnefariouspurposes.Theboy'stheGandH?
Saschawaggledhisfingerathisbrother.Naughty,naughty!HeswungaboardandstartedstowingthemedicalequipmentDonUsenikhandedup,ignoringBoris'sgrumbling.WhenDonclimbedin,Saschaslidthedoorshut,andthebighelibusglidedupwardandsoutheast.
BorishadstrappedPeterintoawindowseat,andutterlyentranced,theboygazeddowntheblackcanyonoftheHudsontothema.s.soflightsthatglowedfromeveryzigguratandribbonwayofJerhattan.
"Ratherbreathtakingnomatterhowoftenyouseeit,"RhyssasaidtoPeter,whonoddedwithouttakinghiseyesfromtheview.Bythetimetheylandedontheroofofthefacility,alltheTalentsweresubtlyawareoftheemptinessofthema.s.sivestructure.
"Welldone,Boris,"Doroteasaid."Thisway,Peter!"
"Ihopeyouknowwhatyou'redoing,"Borisremarkedwryly.'Myofficeisonthelineinthis!"
"Thanks,Boris,"Rhyssasaid."Canyouretrieveuswhenweshout?"
"IfIcan'tspareSascha,I'llsendsomeoneyoucantrust,"theLEOcommissionersaidashehandedDonhismonitors.Thenthebigheliliftedawayfromthehelipad.
RhyssatookoneequipmentcasefromDonashehauledopentheroofdoor.a.s.soonasPeterglidedinside,hebegantoemanateexcitement,hiseyessparklingwithantic.i.p.ationwhilehemaneuvereddownthestairs.Theyenteredabovethehugeturbines,whichwerehummingslightlyastheyservedtheneedsofthegreatmetropolis.Theyturnedintothecontrolroomthatoverlookedtheturbinefloor,aroomlinedwiththeequipmentthatregisteredtheflowofelectricitytothevarioussubstations.Withanineffableair,Petera.s.sumedtheconformablechairofthedutyengineer,swingingitidlyfromsidetosideuntiltheadultsorganizedthemonitorsandstartedhookinghimup.
AbovethewindowsoverlookingtheturbinesweresufficientvidscreenstodisplaywhatPeterneededtosee.Rhyssabeganenteringtheappropriateprograms,bringingupononescreenahighresolutionfaxprintoftheErasmus;onanother,adisplayofitsspecifications;thenweathersimulations;andfinallylinkingthestation'scommunicationsgridtothemainNASAboardtofollowtheshuttle'sdescent.TheErasmuswasalreadyinflight,havingbegunitsdescentpromptlyat0800stationtime,0130Earthtime.Thepowerstationclockread0550asthedeepradarnetbegantoshowtheshuttle'sspiralingdescent.ThefinalscreenpicturedtheDaccaairport,lashedwithrainandwhippedbyfiercegustsofwindsthats.h.i.+ftedtreetrunks,partsofcars,crates,andallsortsofdebrisacrosstheconcreterunwaywherePeterwastobringtheErasmussafelydown.
WhenDonUsenikhadcompletedhischeckoftheequipmentmonitoringPeter,RhyssaandDoroteatookseatsbehindthem,themindofeachlightlytouchingtheboy's.Heseemednottonotice,sointentwasheontheErasmus'scourse.Justasithittheatmosphere,thegeneratorsbegantowhine.
Rhyssashookherhead,asunableastheotherstoreachthatpartofPeter'smindthathadlinkedwiththeenormouspoweroftheturbinesbelowthem.Thewhinebuilt,thedecibelsincreasingtoa.n.a.lmostunbearablepitch.Doroteascrunchedherfeaturesup,unashamedlycoveringherearswithherhands.Rhyssawa.s.staringindisbeliefatthewildlyalteredreadingsonthecontrolconsole.DonUsenikkepthiseyesonhismedicalmonitors.Peterremainedoutwardlycomposed.
Rhyssanoticedtheslightlycondescendingsmileonhisfaceandjusthopedhewasnotabouttooverreachhimself.
SimultaneouslybothsheandDonnoticedtheperspirationontheboy'sforehead,b.u.t.thesmileremainedinplace.Thegeneratorsreachedafrenziedpeakandmaintainedit.AndthetouchofPeter'smindaltered!Itbecameharda.s.stone.Peterhadnotlockedmentalcontactout,buthehadsuddenlyrestrictedthecontactarea,indicatingintenseconcentration.RhyssacaughtDorotea'seyes,b.u.t.theolderwomanmerelypointedtoDon'spatientandunalarmedwatchofthemonitors.ThedescentoftheErasmusvisiblysteadiedandslowed.
He'sdoneit!Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexclaimedinmutedcongratulatorytones.
RhyssahopedsomeonewasrecordingforposteritywhatwasunquestionablythemostdramaticmomentforTalentsinceaGooseggregisteredHenryDarrow'sdeltawavepatternduringthatfirstrecordedprecognitiveIncident.HermindstillincontactwiththatpartofPeter'swhichwasaccessibletoherselfandDorotea,shewatchedtheErasmuslanding,comingtoagentlestopatthepa.s.sengerterminal,seeminglyuntouchedbythebatteringwind.Petergavealittlechuckle,andsuddenlytheturbulencebetweenshuttleandterminalabated,aneeriestormeyeofabsolutecalm.Pa.s.sengershastilydisembarked,pausinginastonishmentastheybecameawareofthesurroundinglull.One,hisfaceindistinctonthesmallscreen,liftedclaspedhandsabovehisheadinavictorysignandthenhurriedintothedubioussafetyofthewindbatteredterminal.
"WhereshouldIsendtheshuttle,Rhyssa?OnceIletgo,thatturbulencewilljustflipflopitallovertheplace."
Ihadn'tthoughtthatfarahead,RhyssaadmittedonthequiettoDorotea.
"TheweatherchartssuggestthatWoomerawouldbethesafestplace,Peter,but..."Doroteaquicklyscannedtheworldwidemeteorologicalreport.
OnlyaslightincreaseinthegeneratorsindicatedtheeffortinvolvedastheErasmusslowlyturnedandstartedbacktothemainrunway.
"Ithinkwe'dbetterwarnthepilotwherehe'sgoing,"Rhyssasaid,andspokeurgentlytoSirikitattheControlCenter.
We'vehadthemostunusualbrown-outhere,Sirikittoldher.
GetMainAirControltowarntheErasmuspilotASAPthathe'sbeingdivertedtoWoomera.
Erasmus?Diverted?ForoncetheThaiwoman'stranquillityslippedintoastonishment.Ofcourse!Immediately!
Preferablybeforebewets.h.i.+sbritches,Donaddedasanaside,makingbothRhyssaandDoroteagrin.
Noneofthethreeadultscouldfeelanystressinthemindoftheboy,whowastotallywrappedinthecuriousprocessofgestalt.Physicallyhelookedmorefrailthanever,andthebonesofhisskullseemedtoexpandunderthethinskinofhishead.Theycouldallfeelthetremendouspowersurgingthroughhim,b.u.t.theycouldnotdeducehowheeffectedthecontrol.
Slowly,againstallthetenetsofaerodynamicsandinspiteoftheprevailingturbulence,theErasmusspeddowntherunwayandachievedaperfecttakeoff.
"Idon'tbelievethis,"Rhyssamutteredsoftly."Whotaughthimtoyplanes?"
"Everyboyinthisgenerationunderstandsshuttlecraft,"Donremarked,buthis.e.xpressionwasnolessbemusedthantheirs.HewatchedastheErasmusclimbedslowlyupintotheswirlingrainandcloudsandoutofsight.Theyfollowedituptothesupersoniclevel.
Thegeneratorswounddownfromtheirbusypitch.
"There!"Petersaidsuddenlywithanoteofcompletesatisfactioninhisvoice."He'sfiringhisengines,andheshouldknowwhattodonow.ItoldhimtolandinWoomera.Thatwasfun!"headdedwithlessvigor.Hewas.e.xtremelypaleandstillperspiringheavily."Thatwasalotoffun!"Hiseyesgleamed,andhegrinnedatDonUsenik,whoshookhisheadwithincredulityashepointedtoa.n.a.lmostnormalpatternonthebioscanscreen.
"Fun?Youcalledthatfun,Peter?"Rhyssaexclaimedalmostangrily,realizingthatshehadbeenunderatremendousstrainofworryevenifPeterhadnot.
"Withpowerlikethis,Icouldlofttheshuttlemucheasierthanthepilotcould,"Petersaidinavoicethatwa.s.suddenlyhoa.r.s.ewithfatigue.
Dorotea,veryprivatelytoRhyssa:"How'reyougoingtokeep'emdownonthefarm,afterthey'veseenParee?"Sherolledhereyes.e.xpressively.
"Markedfatigue,lowenergylevel,buteventhat'swithinwhatI'dcallthenormalrangeforaTalent,"Donannouncedinabaffledtone."Youdidgreat,Peter,"headdedproudly.
Clearingherthroat,Rhyssasaidwearily,"Idon'tthinkLudmilla'sgoingtobelievethatonboardTalentsalso'portedtheshuttleoutagain."
"Well,Icouldn'tleaveitontherunway,Rhyssa,nowcouldI?"Peteraskedwithwearyirritation."Thoseshuttlescostbillions."
Suddenlyallthetelepathswereawareofothertouches,vyingtoreachtheirminds.
Kayankira:Ob,thankyou,thankyou.Howdidyoumanage?
Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexchangedglances.
No,Rhyssa,Doroteasaidonaverythinthreadtotheothertwo,wedidn'tthinkthiswholethingthroughverycarefully.
RhyssagulpedandrepliedwithanevennessinhermentaltonethatDoroteaapplauded,Lanceisrightthere.Itwasallhisidea.ArealGandH.Wasn't.i.t,Lance?
