The Wings Of Pegasus Part 50

Ugh.Islippedinjunk.Ugh!I'vereachedonewall.Faugh!It'sslimyandgritty.Toosmoothandcoldformetal.Ah,anopening.Awindow.Plasticcoated.Ican'tevenscratchasliveroffLook,I'mgoingtotrysomething,Tirlawenton.Theyalwaysforgetaboutceilings.There'saircominginherefromsomeplace.Shewa.s.silentforalongwhile,thoughDoroteawasawareofstrenuousphysicalactivity.Iamnothurtingyou.Justusingyouasastepladder.AndIwon'tletyougo,crybaby.You'renousetome.Quityourgrizzling.Anotherperiodofsilencefollowed,andDoroteareportedmorephysicaleffort,punctuatedbyinadvertentgruntsofpain.

Tirla:Well,Iwasright.Thereisaceilinghatch.AndIcansee,alittle.Well,whaddyaknow?I'minashuntingyardTherearerowsandrowsoftraincars,oldones.Can'thavebeenmovedinyears.

Andsomeplacedowntomyrightthere'slight.Sortofaroundanedge,likeofawindoworadoor.AnyideawhereIcouldbe?

FromthemomentTirlamentionedashuntingyard,thedescriptionwasforwardedtoeveryoneconcerned.

Tirla:I'mgoingalongthetopsofcarstowardthelight,thegirlreported.Ican'thearanyone,andnoonewouldbestupidenoughtowalkaroundthisplacewithoutalight.

Tellushowmanycarshavechildren,Tirla,Doroteaurged.

Tirla:Peter!Peter!Answerme!Peter!It'sTirla!Answerme!

Wow!Inearlyfellofftheedgeofthecar.Slipperysurface,moist.

Wholeplaceisdamp!

"Tryforyardsbytheriver,bythesea.AlongtheSound,"Saschasaid,prowlingupanddownthebankofmonitors,checkingpatterns.

Tirla!Petercriedexultantly.HisvoiceechoedfromTirla'smindtoDoroteaandliftedtheanxietiesofeveryTalentintheroom.RhyssasankintoachairthatDavepulledoverforher.Thenhehandedherastimulantdrink,gesturinghertotossitdownquickly.

Tirla:Sohere'swheretheystashedyou,huh?Now,I'lljustdropinbesideyou.There!Thetape'llstingcomingoffoh,Iforgot.

Sorry.

Peter:Iwon'tfeelitanywaydoyourworst.Justdon'ttakealltheskinoffmywrists!Isn'tthereanylightinthisplace?

Tirla:Iguessnot.Thereyou'refree.OnlythetancameoffHere!

Don'tgofaint.Lieback.Stayeasy.GetyourbreathNowlook,you'dbetterrestsomemore.DoroteacouldhearthenervousconcerninTirla'svoice,amattershedidnotimparttoRhyssa.I'mgoingtolookaroundthisplace,Peter,Tirlawenton.Yougetyourkineticsworkingagain,'causethere'snowayIcanhaulyouupbymyselfPeter:I'llbeokay,Tirla.I'llbeokay.Justjustcomeback.

Tirla:Oho!Aircar!Bigb.u.g.g.e.r.Expensive!Nolights!Therewasalongmomentofsilence.Thatwastooclose.

"Askherifshesawanumber,adescription,anything!"SaschapromptedDorotea.

Tirla:I'dsaythat.i.t'sametallicbluejetter,twelveseater,nolights.ButIgotaglimpseathree,adash,andRlGIthink.CouldhavebeenaB,b.u.t.theIandtheGwereclearenough.

WhenDorotearepeatedwhatTirlahadsaid,Saschaexplodedtohisfeet.

"RIG!Wecouldn'tbesolucky!"Heslappedhisrightpalmagainsthisforehead."Budworth,getthroughtoAuerandBerthaandseeiftheyhaveanyticklesaboutFlimflam."

"Flimflam?"RhyssaandDoroteasaidtogether,bothreachingintoSascha'smindforconfirmation,buthewasinvolvedinatightconversationwithBorisandwouldnotletthemin.

"Borisisdoingasearchontheregistration,"Saschasaidaloud,holdinguponehand,his.e.xpressionintentandeager."Dorotea,tellTirlashe'sastar!"

Tirla,surprised:Wasthatenoughforyou?Oops.There'sanotheronecomingin,fromanotherdirection.Alsorunningdark.I'llseeifIcangetabetterreading.

Tirla,Dorotearepliedhastily,don'triskdiscovery.AndRhyssasaysshe'dratherhaveyoustaywithPeter.

Tirla,blithely:Peter'sokay.Workingonit.I'mgoingtofndoutwhotheotherdarkflieris!

Tirla!Doroteawasmomentarilystunnedbytheindependence.Tirla!

SheturnedtoRhyssa,handsoutstretchedinappeal."Thelittlewitchhascutmeoff!Oh,justwaittillIgetmyhandsonthatchild!Theimpudenceofher."

Rhyssawasalsoirritated.Peter,stopher!

Peteronhisdignity:Idon'tneedaminder,Rhyssa.Ireallydon't.

Justenoughtimetocatchmybreath.'Sides,noonecouldstopTirla.

"Ratheradmirableofthechild,Ithink,"Saschareplied.ForapalpablemomentheandRhyssalockedwills.Thenhecontinuedinagentlertone."Idorealize,Rhyssa,thatPeter'sinhibitedbythega.s.singhetook.IfTirlacanmanageanIDonthesecondcar,too,we'llmaybecatchmorethanjustthewelldeservingReveredPonsitProsit."

"HasBorisconfirmedtheownerofthatjetcar?"Rhyssaasked,onlymarginallyappeased.

"RegisteredtoPonsitProsit,a.k.a.Flimflam,"Saschasaidwithagrin."CompletewithvanityplateVRPP/2403/RIGataRiversideaddressthatismorepalatialthanreverential.Borisissendingoutsurveillanceandstandbyteams.I'dliketheCentertomusterTalentasofrightnow!"SaschawaitedlongenoughforRhyssa'sa.s.sentandthenpointedafingeratBudworthtopunchtheAlertb.u.t.ton."Wecanmoveoncewe'vegotadefinitefix."

"NeitherAuerorBerthahaveanythingforus,"Sirikittoldthem.

"That'sodd,"Rhyssasaidwithafrown."Thereshouldbesomething!"

"Ifindaprecogsilencerea.s.suring,"Sascharemarked,bucklingonhisutilitybeltandcheckinghistrankgun."Flimflamisatleastnotgoingtotriggerpanicintheimmediatefuture,sowehaveaverygoodchanceofcatchinghiminflagrantedelicto.Dorotea,isTirlaavailableagain?"

Doroteashookherhead,herlipspursedinanaggrievedmoue.

"Wretchedlittlesnipofathing!"shesaidwithacertainamountofreluctantadmirationinhertone.

"Got.i.t!"Carmencriedsuddenly,jumpingoutofherchair,rus.h.i.+ngtothemapterminal,andpunchingcoordinatesthatbroughtuptheSouthSh.o.r.earea."Tirla'scomethroughagain.Theresimplycan'tbetwosuchsimilarsituations.She'sheadingtowardanoldrailwayswitchhouse.Icanjustmakeitout.There'sacrackoflightcomingthroughawindowthatopensontoaplatform.Thereseemtobehundredsofcarsofoldrollingstockrustingthere.Hereweare!"Shepointedtothemarkedareaonthemap."Here'retracks.Acresofthem.Andobsoleterailcarswaitingtoberecycled."Theothersallconvergedtolookattheareamagnifiedonthescreen.

"Itcouldn'tbebetter,couldit,"Doroteasaidslowly,"asaplacetohideterrifiedkids!"Tirla!Answerme!Weknowwhereyouarenow.

WhenTirladidnotreply,SaschagaveRhyssaalonglookandthen,DaveLehardtattheirheels,thetelepathslefttheControlRoom,joggingtothestairsthatwouldtakethemtotheaircarsandteamswaitingonthelandingroof.

Chapter16.

Tirla'snightvisionhadadjustedtothegloompartmistandpartlightlessnessdespitetheangryredorangeglowofJerhattanthatlittherimofthehorizononallsides.TheupperlevelsofdistantLinears,majesticinthenight,punctuatedthehaloofthecitywiththeirlongsilhouettes.Fromtopstories,withaerialsandstacks,aircraftwarningsignalsblinkedtheirlightpatterns.Shemovedforwardcarefullyalongthecurvedtopsoftherailcars.Ifsheslipped,therewouldbenothingforhertocatchonto.Thesurfacewasgrittywithdirtandslipperyinthemoistair.Sheheadedtowardthatthinbandoflightandthedarkbulkofthebuildingthatframedit.

Shehadsafelytraversedfivecars,twomorewithchildrenmoaningandweepinginsidethem,whenshefeltapressureinhermindthatsherecognizedasDoroteatryingtocontacther.

Go'way.I'vegottoconcentrate.

Shecursedsoftlya.s.sheslitheredforapanickymomentbetweencars,thenwaiteduntilherhearthadstoppedthudding,andshewasfairlysurethatherscramblinghadnotbeenheard.Hersharpearshadcaughtthesoundofmutedvoicesfromthebuilding.Thelineofcarscontinuedpastalongplatform,andshedebatedslippingdownandgettingcloseenoughtothebuildingtooverheartheconversations.

Butconversationswereuselesstender;theregistrationnumberofanaircarwasundeniableproof.Shecrawledforwardonherbelly,consciousofeverynoiseshemade,thedrynessofhermouth,andtheincreasinglypainfulstiffnessofherfingers.

Therewasasuddenbreakinthemurkandthere,parkedbesidethelessdistinctbluejetter,wasanexpensivesportsjetcar,itshullacrispwhite,itstailIDequallyvisible.Thetwocarswerebalancedontheonejunctionofrailthatwasfreeofrollingstock.

Tirla:Peter,Igotthesecondone.ThenumberisCD08MAL,clearasday.Andtheothercarisrightbeyondit.Peter?

Peter:Iheardyou,Tirla.Itoldthem.Youcomebackhere.They'remadatyouforclosingDoroteaout.You'regoingtohavetoapologizetoher.Petersoundedfierce.

Apologize?Why?Tirlawa.s.sosurprisedthatsheslipped,bangingdownontherailcar.Nowyou'vedoneit!Sheflattenedherselfonthefarsideofthecaraslightfloodedoutofthebuilding,illuminatingtheplatformandtheslightlybulgingsideofthecaronwhichshelay.

"ItellyouIheardsomething!"saidthemansilhouettedinthedoorway.Hepeeredaroundthedoorframe,andTirlahadagoodviewofthescenebehindhim:twomen,oneofwhomidlyswungashortstick,clippingitagainsthisbootwithanairofindolentdiffidence.

"Shutthedoor,youcretin!"Thedoorabruptlyclosedandthenopenedinamuchthinnercrack."...agoodlookaround.Up,over,under,in.Messuponcemore,maggotyoucanbeeagle-spread,too."

Thedoorclosedasecondtime,butnotbeforeTirlarecognizedtheangryvoice.Hergutsfroze.Sheheardtheladronemoving,hisshoescrunchingthegritontheplatform.Sheheardhimhaulbackoneofthewarpedcarriagedoors,theplasticcreakingashelookedinthecarriage.Hemovedondowntheplatform,cursingsoftlyunderhisbreathashedroppeddowntoflashhislightbeneaththecar.Tirlacouldtakenochances.Quicklyshemovedatacrouchandjumpedtothenextcar.Shewasjustintimetheredpinpointofafilteredhandlightshonebrieflywhereshehadjustbeen.Sheheldherbreath,hopingagainsthopethatthesearcherwouldnotnoticeheroutlineonthedustytop.

Ashecautiouslyopenedthedoorofthebuilding,shewatched.Thestickswingerwasnearestthedoorshegotanothergoodlookathishaughtyface,withitsbeakednoseandthinpluckedbrows.Andshesawatablepiledwithcreditswhichtwoothermenwerecountingfloaters,bythesizeofthem.Oneofthecounterslookedvaguelyfamiliar,butherattentionwascaughtbythefaceoftheothermanasheturnedhishead;hehadacruelface,andahungryone.Hewasidlytappinghisblackbootwiththestick;shecaughtthegleamofgoldaroundthehandle.Onlythendidthesignificanceofthepileoffloatersdawnonher.

Tirla:Dorotea!Thepayoff'sbeingmade!Floaters.MorethanI'veeverseeninmylife!

Dorotea,hervoicehardedged:Tirla,don'tyoueverdarecutmeoutagain.Tirlawasmomentarilydismayed.Wasn'tshedoingwhattheyneededdone?Howcouldsuchasweetoldladycomeonsotoughandhard?

Tirla:Well,ifyoucrazyTalentsdon'tmoveyoura.s.ses,you'regoingtomesseverythingupandI'llhavenothingmoretodowithyou.

Peter!HelpPeternow!Doroteadidnotsoundapologetic,butshedidsoundanxious.

TirlaknewverywellthatPeternottomentionalltheotherkidsneededhelp.Asquicklya.s.shecould,shemovedbackalongthelineofcars.

Ifthepayoffhadbeenmade,someofthekidsmightbes.h.i.+ftedsoon.

ShehadtogetPeteroutandfreeasmanyoftheothersa.s.shecould.

Iftheyallscatteredandhid,itwouldtakeallnighttorecapturethemifshecouldstopthemfromcryinglongenoughtohelpthemselves.

Tirlaslippedandthistimecouldnotrecoverherbalance,slidingdownthedirtencrustedsideofthecarandlandingpainfullyonstonesandcindersthatbruisedandcutherfeet.Cursingherclumsinessandhopingthatshehadgottenfarenoughawaysothatthenoiseofherfallhadnotbeenheard,shemadeherwayalongtheground,cursingtheb.a.s.t.a.r.dswhohadremovedthebeautifulpurplebootsthatshehadboughtonherfirsttriptothemall.

Cryinghadbeenreducedtowhimperinginthefirsttwocars.Tirlawinced.HowmuchtimedidshehavetogetPeteroutifthepayoffhadbeenmade?CouldhemakeuseofthatspecialTalentofhisnow?

Yes,Ican,Petersaid,appearingoutofthedarknessbetweentwocars.

Hetouchedherhand.AndIknowexactlyhow.C'mon.Heledheralongthetrackuntilshenearlystumbledoverabighandleattachedtoonesideofthetrack.We'regoingtodoaswitcheroo.Helaughedsoftlyoutloud.Muchfasterthanlettingallthosekidsloose.

There'sahundredofthem.

Theyheardam.u.f.fledthrummingandsawthewhitenessoftheaircarliftingslowlyfrombehindthebuilding.

C'mon,Peterurged.I'vegottogettothattransformerboxormyideawon'twork!Ineedthegestaltforthis.Youknowhowtouncouplecars?

SuddenlytheprocesswasdrivenintoTirla'smindandshestaggeredabit,stunnedbythevividintrusion.Thengobackanduncouplethelastcarwithkidsinit.Staythereandwarnmeifanyone'scoming.

"Youmeanlike,upstairs?"Tirlaaskedinahoa.r.s.ewhisper,pointingtothesky.

No,them!Peterpointedatthebuilding.

"Whenarewegettingsomehelp?"Tirlademandedinanacidwhisper,refusingtotalkinhermindwhenshewasnosetonosewithPeter."Myfeethurt!"

"Soon,"Peterhissedandthengaveherashovetohelpheronherway.

"Trywalkingmyway!"

Shecouldn'tbutwishedshecould.Herfeethurtandherhandsached.

Shedidnotquiteunderstandhowhecouldpossiblydowhatshethoughthewasgoingtodo.Railcarsthathadnotmovedinyearsweregoingtomakethemostawfulracket.Peterwa.s.stupid!Shehurried,hopingthatthesoundoftheaircarmightcoversomeofthenoisetherailcarsweresuretomake.

Sheidentifiedthelastcarfromthemoaninginsideitandstruggledwithcouplingsencrustedwithcakedoilanddirt.Peter,it'sSuddenlythestiffcouplingreleaseditselfandshewasknockedoffbalance,staggeringbackintotheendofthecar.Well,thanks!Awailarosefromwithin.Shutyourfaces,youstupidgits,sheordered,forgettingthattheotherchildrencouldnothearher.I'mdoingmybesttosaveyourinnardsandyourvirtue.Shebangedherfistonceagainstthesideofthecarandfeltthepainworthitwhenthewarningachievedaninstantdropinthemewling.Thatdidmuchtosootheheraggravations.

Nervouslysheglanceduptoseetheaircar'sslowupwardprogress.

Runningdarklikethat,thepilothadtobecarefulnottogettangledinthewiresthatfestoonedtheareaaroundthebuilding.IfPetercouldjustgetmoving...Hewas!Sheheardthesqueal,rattle,andclankingaswheelslonglockedonrailsreluctantlybegantoturn.Sheswunguptositonthetongueofthecoupling,watchingthebuildingforanysignthatsomeonewithinhadheardthemetallicprotest.b.u.t.thebuildingwastwohundredmetersorsoaway,andtheaircarwaswhoos.h.i.+ngandthrumming.

Shepeeredattheskyline,yearningtoseesomesubtlemovementthathintedoftheapproachofhelp.ThoseTalentsweresoslow.Howsoonwas"soon"?Hercarmovedalltoojerkilywithrattlingsandclankings,but.i.twasmakingprogressalongthetrack.Thedarkbuildingwiththetelltalebandoflightwa.s.slowlyreceding.Shefeltthecarclackacrossthejunction,veeringright,andexperiencedpartialrelief.Ifthatladronelookedoutsideandsawhalfthetrammissing...

ShesawthewhiteblurofPeter'sfaceasthecarinchedpastthetransformerbox;therewasnodisguiseinthedarknightfortheaudiblehumemanatingfromit.WhatwasPeterdoing?

Shejumpeddownfromthecoupling,wincingashercutfeethit thestony,cinderyground.Thecarscontinuedtomoveobliquelyawayfromdanger,downanemptytrack._"Youcan'tleavejustemptytrack.

They'llknow..."Tirlaputanurgenthandonhisarmandthencouldnotreleaseit.Shecouldfeelhimshakingfromtheefforthehadalreadymade,shakingandmoreandshewasaffectedbyhisshakingandwhateverelseitwasthatracedthroughhim.

"I'mtrying,"hesaidtensely."Agestalt'shardwithallthatanesthesiastillslowingmedown.Helpme!"

"Gestalt?"Tirlastutteredovertheunfamiliarword,andthenPeterputtheexplanationinhermind.Beforeshecouldaskhowshecouldpossiblyhelpwiththat,shewas.Herbodyseemedalivewiththecurrentracingthroughher,likethetimeshehadcaughtajoltfromanexposedwire.Onlythiswasnotaspainfulasthatshockhadbeen.

But.i.twas...whatwasit?

Themetallicprotestwa.s.startlinglyloudonthestillair.Thewhitejethadmovedbeyondvisibilityintotheswirlingmist.Tirlafeltbothstrongerandweaker,clutchingatPeterwithbothhands,wantingtohelphimmakethegestaltandneedinghissupport.Suddenlyshewasawareofmovementbehindherascaraftercarbegantoslidepastthemontothetrackclicketyclick,clicketyclickfartooloudly.

Suddenly,witharesoundingclank,thenewcarsbouncedagainstthoseneartheplatform,andTirla'sheartclenchedwhensheheardtheshoutsofalarmasmenpiledouttoinvestigate.

"Tellme!Didyouletallthoseotherkidsloose?"Flimflamasked,hisnoseinchesfromTirla'sface.Shewishedhewouldbendjustalittleclosersoshecouldbitehim.Buthewouldprobablypoisonher,thegreasy,coa.r.s.e,evilscuz.

Unfortunately,beforeTirlacouldhelpPetertohide,twoofthefasterladroneshadcaughtthem.TheyhadbeenroughlyhauledbacktothebuildingandintothepresenceofaseethingFlimflam,soenragedthatflecksoffoamhadgatheredatthecornersofhismouth.Screamingwithexasperation,TirlahadbeenshovedinfrontoftheragingmanasPetercollapsedonthefloor,groaning.

"Wedidn'tseenoothers,"oneoftheladronessaidanxiously."Therewasn'tasignofthem,northosecoc.o.o.nsinthecarsneither."

"Tellmewherethechildrenare!"FlimflamrepeatedinoneofthemorecommonNeesterdialects,squeezinghardonherswollenfingers."Didyouletthemloose?"

Despiteherself,Tirlaletoutahowlofpain,tryingtopullherhandoutofhisgrasp.Ithurtsomuchthatshecouldnoteventhinkofasuitablemaledictiontoflingathim.Helethergobutscoopedastickoffthetableandbegantoslas.h.i.+tacrossherback.

"Hey,boss,themerch!Don'tmarkthemerch!"