The Wings Of Pegasus Part 49

"Christonacrutch!HowcouldwebesoarrogantastobelievewecouldprotectthemwithanIDbracelet!"Saschademandedexplosively,stalkingaroundwhatfreefloors.p.a.cetherewas."WhyonEarthdidn'twethinktostrandthem?"Hepoundedonefistintotheotherhand.

"We'vewalltowallTalents,"hesaid,gesturingalmostscornfullyatthevariousteamscl.u.s.teredaboutmonitorsorswiftlyfeedingprogramsintothemainframe."Wherecouldtheyhavegotto?Thatmanybodiesaretoohardtohide.Thekidshavetobefed.Theycan'thavebeenwhiskedofftotheir"Saschacouldnotfindtheappropriatenounandgrimaced."Wherever.Borisinitiatedtransportsurveillancewithinminutes.Dammit,thesubwaysandcargorouteshavebeenwiredsincetheincidentinG."

Sascha,easeup,Doroteatoldhim,herwarningaverynarrowquietthought.Rhyssa'sfeelingguiltyenoughasitis...

Sascha:AndyouthinkIfeelnonefornotstrandingTirla,forencouraginghertogototheb.l.o.o.d.ymall?Tothatunmentionableb.l.o.o.d.yconfectioneryparlor?Sascha'sresponsewasloadedwithderision.

She'd'vebeenb.l.o.o.d.ysaferifIhadletBorisuseherforbait!

Dorotea:StopcastigatingyourselfSascha.Tirla'sbeensafelyinandoutofthemallandtheparlorforweeksnow.

Rhyssa,brokenly:Peter'sworkedsobard...Whatcouldhavepossessedhimtotakesucharisk?

Dorotea:Heisjustaboy,forallhispower.Don'tworry,we'llhear.

Theleastwhisper,andwe'llhearthem.Dorotea'smindcastrestlesslyforatraceofTirla's.Afternearlyfiveweeksofproximitywiththegirl,sheshouldbeabletospotherconsciousness.

MAYALLYOURORIFICESBECLOGGEDWITHCAMELDUNG,YOURBELLYETERNALLYFULLOFVOMIT!MAYYOURTONGUEROTANDYOURTEETHFALLOUTANDYOURGUMSSWELLWITHBOILS!MAYYOURLIVERROTANDYOURBLADDERDRYUPANDYOURGLANDSSHRIVELANDPUTREFY!.

"GoodG.o.d!"Doroteawasjoltedtoherfeet."Didyouallhearthat?

Itwasloudenough!"

"Peterdoesn'tknowthatkindoflanguage!"Rhyssasaid,withaslightgrin.

"Tirlawould,"Saschareplied,beamingfromeartoear."Pungent,isn'tshe?d.a.m.n,where'sshegotto?Ican'thearheranymore."

"Well,Ican,andshe'sstillinfineform,"Doroteasaid."Neitherofyouhearhernow?Shecancertainlybroadcastwhenshe'sofamindto."Sheheldupherhand,listening,everymuscletaut.Doroteahere,Tirla.Canyoubearme?Dorotea'smentaltonewastranquilandrea.s.suring.

Tirla:Dorotea?Whereareyou?

Dorotea:Moretothepoint,whereareyou?"Canyouhearhernow,Sascha,Rhyssa?"sheasked.TwobriefheadshakesconfirmedDoroteaastheprimarycontact.Shefeltthelight,firmmentaltouchesofRhyssaandSascha,listeningin.

Tirla,savagely:Youtellme.Ican'tseeathing.Ican'tfeelathing.Icansmell,andthestenchisworsethanthebottomlevelofafactorybilge.Couldn'tyouguystrackme?

No,wecouldn't,Tirla.YourbraceletswerediscardedrightatthemallwhenyouandPeterweretaken.IsPeternearby?SaschahadmotionedCarmenover,butCarmenkeptshakingherheadathercontinuedinabilitytofindTirla.Canyourememberwhathappened?Doroteawenton.

Tirla'sdisgustwasobvious.Ican'trememberanything.PeterandIfinishedthenewspectaculartheyjustaddedtothemenu.HepaidforithimselfSaiditwas.h.i.+streatthistime'causehe'djusthadavacation.WelefttheParlorandwerewalkingtowardthesubwaywhensomethingcoveredmyface,andIdon'trememberathingmore.Awfulstuff.Sweetickysmell.HowcomeIcantalktoyouallofasudden?

Sometimesit'sacaseofneedto,Tirla,Doroteasaid,puttingasmileofapprovalintohermentaltone.

Youneededmeto?Tirlaasked.OrIneededyoutobearme?Peter?

Peter,answerme!DoroteacaughttheconflictingemotionsinTirla'squestion,butsuchcompet.i.tivenesswasnotabadsign.

YouandPeterwerenottheonlytwotakentoday.Ca.s.sandSuzreportedthatanumbermusthavebeentakenfromE,aswell.Averywellorganizedaffair.That'swhyanythingyoucantelluswillhelp,Tirla.Anything,nomatterbowtrivial.

Peter'snotansweringmeinhere.Maybebe'sjustnotawakeyet.Mystomach'ssour.Ishouldn't'vebadthatspectacular.Peter?

Peeeeter!

Doroteaspokegently.Don'tpanic,Tirla.Peterwillwakeupsoonenoughifbewasga.s.sedthesametimeasyouwere.We'reveryrelievedtohearfromyou,believeme.

Tirla,mildlysurprised:Idobelieveyou.Youcan'tlieinyourmind,canyou?

Nottome,youcan't,Doroteareplied,gesturingimperiouslyforRhyssaandSaschatostoptryingtoinsinuatequestionsintoherhead.

Tirla'svoicewasclearbut,afterthefirstburstofpsychicoutrage,neithera.s.strongnorasloud.Shecouldnotrisklosingthelink.

Now,tellmewhatyoucanaboutyoursurroundings.

Theystink!

We'vealreadyestablishedthat.Whatof?Besides,Ia.s.sume,theunpleasantbodilydischargesoffrightenedchildren.Whatcanyouhear?

Tirla,disgusted:Alotofcrying.

Eventhattellsmesomething,Tirla.Canyouisolatetheindividualcryingenoughtoestimatehowmanychildrenarearoundyou?

DoroteacouldsenseTirla'sconcentrationanddidnotinterrupt.

Tirla:Ithinkthere'salotofkids.There'ssurealotofcryingandmoaning,andsomeone's.h.i.+ccuping.Allaroundme,allsides,above,butnonebelow.Why'dtheyblindfoldusandtieusdownlikethis?Mostofthesekidswouldn'teventrytoescape.

Dorotea:Ya.s.simlostalltheGchildren,didn'tbe?Ithinkthat,unfortunately,thatcausedhimtochangehistactics.He'snowemployingadisorientationtechnique,sensorydeprivation,toreducethechildrentocompliancewhentheyarereleased.You'renotafraid,areyou?

Tirla,candidly:Idon'tlikeit,butI'mnotscared.I'mmadHertonestrengthened.Imissedmymathcla.s.s.

Doroteabrokeintorelievedlaughter.AnangryTirlawouldbefarmoreusefulthanafrightenedone.Saschamanagedarelievedchuckle,andthetensioninRhyssa'sstanceeased.

Dorotea:Staymad,Tirla.Angercanbeavaluablea.s.set.NowwhatIwantyoutodoistryandcalmthechildren.Getthemtotellyoutheirnamesand,ifpossible,wheretheycamefrom.EandRwerenottheonlyLinearsbit.Weestimatethatupwardofahundredchildrenweretaken.

IncludingPeterandme?

Ahundredandtwo.Look,Tirla,we'regoingtohavetorelyheavilyonyoutohelpusfindyou,Peter,andtheothers.DoroteagaveRhyssaaraisedeyebrowathersmotheredprotest."Candidly,thatchildis...o...b..tterabletotakecareofherself."

Relyonme?How?I'mblindandstrappedinlikecargo!Hey,youlot!

Shutup!Quityourgrizzling,stupidNeesters.TirlathendroppedintolanguagesthatDoroteacouldnotunderstand.Theyprefercryingfortheirmommies!Mommieswhosold'em!Tirlasaid,suddenlydroppingintoBasicagain.SomehalfdozenarefromE,sevenarefromW,andtwofromC.Howtheybleat!Noneof'em'sPeter.

Dorotea:Askthemtheirnames.

Tirlacouldgivetennamesoftheestimatedfifteenchildreninwithher.ThesewereinstantlyforwardedtoBoris.

"WherecanPeterbe?"Rhyssamurmuredsoftly.AtsomepointwhileshehadbeenconcentratingonDorotea'sconversations,DaveLehardthadjoinedtheanxiousgroupintheControlRoom.Helinkedhisfingersinhers,andthephysicalcontactwasalmostmorerea.s.suringthantheauraofencouragementthatemanatedfromallthetelepathsabouther.

"Askheragainaboutthevarioussmells,"SaschapromptedDorotea.

"Theremaybesomethingthat'llgiveusacluetowhere."

Well,there'sasortofmetalstink,TirlarepliedwhenDorotearelayedthequestion.Andthere'samoldymildewingrottenstinkthat'sstronger.There'sanothersmellIcan'tidentify.Oily.I'mstuffedintosomethingfeelslikeplasticfoam.Evenmyfingersareseparatedintoslots.I'mboundatthewrists,ankles,waist,andacrossmychest.Ifitwa.s.shorter,I'dbechoking.Oh,cutthecaterwauling!

Noone'shurtingyou!Sheroaredoutrepet.i.tionsinotherdialects,continuingtobroadcastmentallya.s.sheshoutedattheotherchildren.

"Herpredicamentisbeginningtogettoher,"Doroteasaidgrimly.

Tirla,I'mwithyou.Evenifyoucan'thearthem,Rhyssa,Sascha,Boris,Sirikit,Budworth,Davewe'reallhere.We'llgetyououtofthere,Ipromise.

Tirla:Soon,please.IfIhavetolistentoallthiscryingandmoaningmuchlonger,I'lls.p.a.ceout.Whataboutthatwomanwhoworemyhair?Whydon'tyouaskherwhereIam?

Carmenisrighthereandremindsyouthatsheneedslighttofndyou!

Remember?That'swhyshecouldn'tlocateyouintheLinearyouwereinthedark.

Tirla,wryly:I'malotmoreinthedarknowthanIwasthen.Whatiftheydon'tturnanylightson?Forthefirsttime,hervoicewastingedmorewithfearthanwithoutrage.

Dorotea:Itmaybenoconsolationtoyourightnow,Tirla,b.u.t.they'11wantyoutobeingoodcondition.They'llalsohavetofeedyouandkeepyouclean.

Tirla:Yeah?When?Nextweeksometime?

Youweretakenatapproximatelythree.It'stenthirtynow.Youcan'tbeleftwithoutfoodandwatermuchlonger.

Tirla:You'reright.That'snotmuchconsolation.Dorotea,don'tstoptalkingtome,w.i.l.l.you?Idon'tcarewhatyousay.Justdon'tstoptalking.

I'mtotallyatyourcommand,Tirla.Doroteaprojectedanimageofaflourishandacurtsy.Shewasrewardedbyalittlechuckle.Shallwestartwiththemathlessonyoumissed?

Tirla,surprised:Inmybead?

Dorotea:Writeitontheboardinmymind.I'llrememberforyou.

"Andalsoincreasehertelepathicfacility,"Rhyssasaidwithagenuinesmile."Youareincorrigible,Dorotea."

"AlsoverygoodatwhatIdo,"theoldwomanrepliedsmugly.

Rhyssa?Rhyssa?

Rhyssagaspedwithincredulity,strickenbythefaintnessofPeter'scall.Davewrappedanarmabouthershoulders,supportinghera.s.sheheldupherhandtostopallnoiseintheroomastheweakvoicereachedhermind.Yes,Peter.I'vebeenlisteningforyou.

Peter:Ican'tseeanything.Theyga.s.sedme.I'mgoingtobesick.

Rhyssakepthermentaltonecalmandfirma.s.sheclungtoDave'shands.

Easy,Peter.Rememberourdrills.Reducethenausea.

It'sneverbeenthishardbefore,Rhyssa.Therewasanedgeofdespairinhisvoice.Rhyssaknewsowellhowhehatedanesthetics.Hehadreactionstomostofthecommonones.Itwasgoingtotaketimewhichshedidnotthinktheyhadforhimtoshakeofftheresidualdisorientationandnauseainordertobringhiskinesisintouse.

Rhyssa:Focusyourmind,Peter,justasyouusedtodointhehospital.

Focusyourthoughts;ignoretheextraneous.

Peter:There'reotherkidsinherewithme.Someof'emareprettyscared.Rhyssa:CalloutforTirla.She'ssomewheremaybeverynearby.

Dorotea,urgently:Tirla,Peter'sawake.Callhisname.

Neitherheardtheother.

"Christ!FineteamofTalentswearewhenourkidsarevulnerable!"

Sascharemarkedcaustically.

Tirla,echoingSascha'sfrustration:Whydoesn'tPeterjustglideoutofthiscontraption,Dorotea?Tirlaasked,unconsciouslyechoingSascha'sfrustration.He'sthekinetic!WhenDoroteaexplainedPeter'sproblemwiththeanesthesia,Tirlagaveabarkoflaughter.Soit'suptomeagain,Iguess.Don'tforgettheanswerstomyequations,w.i.l.l.you,Dorotea?

Dorotea:Tirla,whatareyouplanningtodo?

Tirla:Getoutofthiscoffin.

Dorotea:How?

Tirla:Theymadeonemistakewhentheystrappedmeinhere.Theystrappedmyfingersdown,notupwhereIcouldn'treachanything.Ishouldbeabletodigoutenoughplastictofreemyhands.

DoroteafelttheeffortinTirla'smind,effortandfringesofpain.

"Couldshedothat?"sheaskedSascha.

"AccordingtotheBro,thekidsretrievedinManhattanhadbeenwrappedinfoamedplasticcoc.o.o.ns.Shemightbeabletoscratchat.i.twithherfingers."

YouhavemadecontactwithTirlaandPeter?Boris'svoicewas.e.xcited.

Contact,Bro,butnotrelease.Bothkidsarecoc.o.o.ned.AndPeter'shavingabadreactiontowhatevergastheyused.Saschamadeanotherface,mimickingtheaggravationhisbrotherwasmentallyexpressing.

He'llneedalittletimebeforeherecoverscompletely.

Boris:Istheretime?I'vegotthecitymanager,andallherdeputiesonmybackforaction.Someoftheotherkidswerelegal,too.

RhyssawasconcentratingonstrengtheningherlinkwithPeter,helpinghimtodissipatetheresidueoftheanesthetic.Herfacemirroredhisdesperationandsenseoffailure,andsheleanedheavilyagainstDave.

There!ThetriumphinTirla'svoicewasevidenttoDorotea,andsheheldupherhand,repeatingthegirl'swordsfortheothers.

Camelguttedtripe!Miserabledungeaters!Descendantsofsnakeoffal.

Scuzfarts!Maggots!

Goodheavens!Howpungent.Tirla,howhaveyouhurtyourself?

Doroteademanded,sensingpain.

Tirla:Neveryoumind.I'moutofthiscoc.o.o.n.Therearenineteenotherkidsstuckin'emhere,someof'emstillknockedout.Peter'snotoneof'em.TellCarmennottofractureherskullfindingme.

Thisplaceisblackasthebottomofanelevatorpit.