The Wings Of Pegasus Part 1

TheWingsOfPegasus.

By:AnneMcCaffrey.

Synopsis:

WhenHenryDarrowandMollyMahoneyteamuptofoundaclinicforpparanormalhealerstheyembarkonalongandwondrousjourneyintowhatmightbeandwhatis.Inthisbookwemeetthemandthepeopletheyrecruittotheircause.Fast-paced,amongMcCaffrey'sbest.

THEWINGSOFPEGASUS(ContainsbothTORIDEPEGASUSandPEGASUSINFLIGHT)

ThisBookisrespectfullydedicatedtoBettyBallantine,awomanofmanytalents.

PARTONE

TORIDEPEGASUS.

Theslickpavement,oilywithrainandmotorlubricantsthathaddrippedfromthehundredsofillrepairedvehiclesutilizingthemajornorthsoutharteryintoJerhattan,causedtheaccident.HenryDarrowhadnotbeenexceedingthespeedlimitwhenhepa.s.sedtheoldtwoseater.Buthehadadatewithdestiny.Andkept.i.tontime.

Hadtherebeennorainthatday,orhadthelanebeencloseda.s.scheduledforresurfacing,orhadtheoldtwoseatermaintainedtheminimumspeedinthelefthandlane,HenryDarrowwouldnothavebeenexasperatedenoughtopa.s.s,wouldnothaveskiddedontheslickpaving,wouldnothavecrashedintotheguardrail,wouldnothavefracturedhisskullsothatabonefragmentpressedagainstthebrainpan;hadtheaccidentoccurredevenhalfamilefurtherupthearterialroad,HenryDarrowwouldnothavebeensenttotheonehospitalintheareaequippedwithaspecialelectroencephalograph.

Asthingscametopa.s.s,thiswashowhisaccidentwastooccur:exactlyhow.Infact,hehadjotteddowntheexacttimeinhisastralnotebook:10:02:50postmeridian.HehadalsoremindedhimselfthatdaynottotakethearterialroutebackintoJerhattanbuthehadnotforeseenoneslightdelayatthegasolinestationwhichcausedhimtochangehismindandtakethefatefulroute,forgetfulofhisownprognostication.

Ofcourse,sinceitwasamajorturningforhimaswellasmillionsofotherpeople,hecouldneverhaveavoidedtheaccident.Whichiswhyhissubconsciousorsoitismaintainedpreventedhimfromrememberinghisforecastatthecriticalmoment.

HenryDarrowwasthereforeinjured,seriously,withminorfracturesintheleftlegaswellasthedepressedfragmentofskullbone.HadHenrybeenfullyconsciousduringsurgery,hewouldhavea.s.suredthesurgeonsthat,despitetheseverityofthewound,hewouldlive.Theywouldhavebeendubious.HenryDarrowkneWwhenhewasgoingtodiefrommyocardialinfarction,somefifteenyears,fourmonths,andninedaysinthefuture.

Hecouldn'ttellthemsincethecranialpressureaffectedhisspeechcenterandhewasmercifullyunawareofhissurroundings.Brainsurgerycanbeaharrowingexperience.

TheoperationwastechnicallysuccessfulandHenrywasa.s.signedabedintheintensivecareward,cardiacandencephalographicmonitorskeepingclosetrackofhisvitalsystems.TheSouthsideGeneralHospitalboastedtheverylatesttechnology,includingoneoftheultrasensitiveelectroencephalographs,familiarlyknownas"Gooseggs."

TheGooseggequipmentwasdevelopedduringtheApolloflightsinthe70s,tomonitortheeffectsofthemysterious"lights,"whichperiodicallyafflictedtheastronauts,andtorecordanysuspecteddamagebycosmicradiationtothebraintissue.Theultrasensitiveequipmentwasprimarilyusednowinhospitalstodetectbraindamagetonewborninfantssufferingoxygenstarvationduringbirth,or,asinHenryDarrow'scase,braininjurieswheresimilaroxygendeprivation,bleeding,andpressuremustbeascertained.

TheintensivecarenurseondutywhenDarrowregainedhissenseaftersurgerywas,asDestinypreordained,MollyMahony,a.ratherplaingirlwhogoodnaturedlyborealotofteasingfromhercolleaguesforheravoweddedicationtonursing.Shewasinvariablya.s.signedthecriticalcasesbecauseshehadaknackofpullingthemthroughthecrises.

i"Dr.Scherman,wouldyoulookattheprintoutonMr.Darrow'sEEG?"shesaidwhentheresidentcheckedinatherstation.

"Thealphasareunusuallystrongforamanascriticallyinjuredashe,aren'tthey?"

;Schermanlookedobedientlyatthegraphs,noddedsagelyandthengaveherawink."Hebeenconsciousatall?Givingyouatime?"

Mollyshookherhead,veryseriousthoughsheknewhewasteasingher.

Scherma.n.a.lwaysdid."He'snotregainedconsciousness,Dr.Scherman.

I'mtonotifyDr.Wahlmanwhenhedoes.ButshouldIgivehimaringaboutthesereadings?"

"Ah,don'tbother,Molly.Thatone'sluckyhecanprintanythingoutontheGoosegg.You'd'vethoughthe'd'veknownbetter."

"Better?Aboutwhat?Hewasanaccidentcasualty,wasn'the?"

"Betteraboutgoingoutatall.He'sHenryDarrow,theastrologer.

Christ,itcostsafortunetoconsulthimaboutyourfuture."Schermansnorted."Andhecouldn'tcasthisownproperly."

Schermanleftafteracursoryglanceattheotheri.c.patients.MollyMahonylookedwithrenewedinterestatthebraininjury.SheknewofHenryDarrow,thoughshewouldn'thaveadmittedittomany.Nomorethanshewouldhaveadmittedtoanyonethatshefeltshehadthegiftofhealing.Unlikehergrandmotherwho'dhadnomedicalbackgroundandranintoproblemswithher"healinghands,"Mollyhadprofessionalcachetandknewbesthowandwhentoapplyher"whammy."

Havingauniquetalent,Mollywaskeenlyinterestedinalltheparanormalmanifestations.Inherlexicon,theastrologistmerelyusedthesignsofthezodiactofocusaprecognitivegift,onefortunatelymorescientificallybasedthantealeafreadingorcardtelling.Justasthenursingprofessionallowedhertofocusherhealingtalentonascientificbasis.SosheknewofHenryDarrowandnowtiptoed,likeanawedsycophant,tothebedsideandstareddownatafaceshehadn'tnoticedbefore.

Hisfacehadcharactereveninlaxjawedabnormalcoma.Theeyesocketswereblackandbluepits,andhereandthereatraceofbloodhadescapedtheemergencycleanup.Itwasunfairofhertolookathiminsuchacondition.Shelaidthebackofherhandgentlyagainsthischeek,notlikingthecolorofhisskin.Sheflickedbackth.e.s.h.eet,tookafoldofthepectoralskin,andgaveitabrutaltwist.Well,atleasthehadreactions.Shepattedth.e.s.h.eetintoplaceandstrokedhischeekagain.

Thecardiographpulseds...o...b..tregular,thoughthereweretracesinthereadingthatspelledthebeginningsofarteriosclerosis.Nomorethanwouldbeapparentinanyreadingofafortytwo-yearoldheartwhichhadlivedwellandhard.

Nowsheplacedstrong,slenderfingersonhistemples,pressinglightly,tryingto"feel"wheretherealinjurywas.Notthatwhichthesurgeonshadcorrectedwhentheyremovedthesplinterandreleasedthepressureonthebrain.b.u.t.thepsychicinjury,theessentialblowtothevitalitiesoftheman,whichhadbeenshockedbytheproximityofdeath,bytheexigencyoftheoperationthatultimateviolationofpersonalintegrity.

Soofteninherreadingofcasehistories,she'dseenthesimpleterm"heartfailure,"orthemorecomplexmedicalannotationofheartstoppageforavarietyofphysicallyinexplicableandunnecessaryreasons.Shock,theywouldtermitforlackofbetterexplanation,"thepatientdiedofshock."Fright,Mollycalledit.Whenapatientofhersretreatedfromrealityinthissortoffright,MollywoulddrawthatviolatedintegritybackagainwithherTalent.

TheresponsetoherhealingtouchonHenryDarrow'sbrowwasdifferentandpuzzling.Thecardiogrametchedbolder,strongerpeaksandtheGooseggmadefranticpa.s.sesonallfourrecordingbands.

HenryDarrow'seyelidsflickered,opened,andafaintsmilecrossedhislips.

"Whattheh.e.l.lhitme?"heasked.

"Youhityou,"Mollyreplied,"onthecenterpostofyourcarwhenyoucrashedintotheguardrails,Mr.Darrow.Headache?"

"Christyes!"Hemoanedandtriedtoreachupward.

"Don't.You'vesufferedasevereconcussion,headlacerationsyourleftlegisfractured..."

TherewasmischiefinthecleargreeneyesthatmetMolly's."You'renotsupposedtotellmesuchthings,areyou?"

Mollysmiled."Youknowanyhow.Andyoureallyoughttopaymoreattentiontoyourownpredictions,Mr.Darrow."

TheGooseggchatteredcrazilyandMollywhirledtoseewhatwashappening.ButHenryDarrowwasgrabbingherarm,hiseyeswideningwithbewilderedsurpriseandincredulity.

"You'reaGemini.What'syourname?You'regoingtomarryme."

Loveatfirstsightisarareenoughincident,particularlyinahospitalsetting,despitewhattheromancessay.Butfarrarerwasthescientificaccidentthatprovedalongsuspectedtruth.ForwhathadregisteredontheGoosegg'schartwasindisputableproofthattheparapsychictalentexists.HenryDarrowhadaprecognitiveexperiencewhenhelookedatMollyMahonyasaperson,notjustthenurseinattendance,and"knew"shewouldbehiswife.

Theydidmarry,a.s.soonas.h.i.+slegwasoutofthecast.MarriagewasnottheonlythingHenryforesawforMolly:heknew,too,herdateofdeath,afactheneverdisclosedtoher.Talents,helearnedveryshortly,hadtodiscountsuchprecogsintheirownlivesiftheyweretooperateefficientlyforothers.Mollywastreasured,lovedandcherishedallthedaysofherlifebyherhusbandbecauseheknewhowlittleofhertimehewouldenjoy.

ThesignificanceoftheGoosegg'sremarkableactivitydidnotimmediatelyimpingeonHenry'sawareness.ToMollyMahonybelongsallthecredit,therefore,forliftingtheparapsychicfunctionfromtherealmofchicanerytoscience.

Forstarters,MollywasfascinatedwiththeunusualstrengthandpatternofHenry'sEEGcharts.Shecouldn'tdismiss,asDr.Schermanhad,thevariations.InherfavorwasanaturalinclinationtoplaceHenryDarrow'smindintoanexceptionalcategory.Addedtothat,sheknewHenry'dhadtheprecognitionoftheirmarriageattheprecisemomenttheGooseggwentwild.Attheveryfirstopportunityshetriedanempiricexperiment.Sheattachedtheelectrodestoherownskullthenexttimeshehadoccasiontoexertherownabilityintheintensivecareward.Asimilarvariationoccurredinherreading;notasintenseasHenry's,butsignificant.Shetookseveralmoreofherself,andcopiedthoseportionsofHenry'srecordswhichshowedthiscurious.e.xcitation.

ShewasrathersurprisedthatDr.Wahlman,Henry'ssurgeon,didnotcanceltheGooseggmonitoringwhenHenryappearedtohaverecoveredfromtheworstoftheconcussion.ShewonderedifWahlmanwasasinterestedintheEEGvariationa.s.shewas.

HenryhadtwomoreprecognitiveincidentsbeforeshefeltshecouldapproachDr.Wahlmanwithherprivateconclusions.

"Formyowninformation,Dr.Wahlman,whatisthesignificanceofthisactivityinanEEG?"

"Well,now,"saidWahlman,takingthegraphsdiffidentlyandstudyingtheminamannerwhichtoldMollythathehadn'taclue."Tobefrank,Mahony,Idon'tknow.Thisparticularsortofprintoutusuallyoccursjustpriortodeath.AndDarrow'sverymuchalive."ThesurgeonlookedtowardsHenry'scloseddoorwithsomeirritation.Henryhadinsistedonpursuinghisavocationofchartinghoroscopes,hadevenimportedhiscomputer,embarkingonacerebralactivitywhichapparentlyhadnodeleteriouseffectsonhisrapidrecoverybutdidnotstrikeWahlmanas.e.xactlythesortofoccupationsuitabletoamanrecoveringfromanearfatalheadinjury.

"Andthese?"Mollyshowedhimherowngraphs.

"Whosearethese?Aterminalreading?No,couldn'tbe.Thealpha'stoointense.Whatareyouupto,Mahony?"

"I'mnotcertain,doctor,butIdoknowthatwhenMr.Darrowis!

hardestatwork,that'swhenthissortofvariationoccurs."

"Jasushelpus,thed.a.m.nedGoosegg'squeerforastrology?"

Mollysmiledandapologizedforbotheringthesurgeonwithanomalies.

"Mahony,ifyouweren'tthebestpostoperativenursewehave,I'dtellyoutobugoff.Butifyouhaveanyidea,anyunreasonableidea,whythatkindofreadingoccurs,wouldyoupleaseletmeinonthesecret?"

SheletHenryinfirst.

"ThemomentyouwokeupafteryouraccidentandaskedwasIGeminiandthensaidIwasgoingtomarryyou,wasthataprecog?"

"Fact,mylovefact!"

"No,Henry,stopthatnow.Later.Answerme.Wasyourprecognitivefacultyatwork?"

"Violently."Themodifiedbandageonhisheadgavehimaslightlyrakishlookbuthestoppedcaressingher,respondingtoherseriousmood.

"And,forinstance,whenMrs.Rellahanwashere,youtoldmethatyouhadanintenseprevision..."

"Hmmmm."Henry'smouthtightenedslightlywithdislike.

"ThisiswhattheGooseggprintedout.See,heretherapidneedle,strongstrokes,thelengthofthepattern...And,inthese..."

"That'snotmypattern,too,isit?Quiteadifference."

"No,that'smybrainwaves.AndthisiswhathappenswhenI'mhealing.

"HenrylookedslowlyupatMolly,anincredulous...o...b..ighteninghiseyes,alightsuffusinghisfacethatrewardedMollyforhereffortsandintuition.

"Molly,myownheart'sdarling,doyouknowwhatwehavehere?"

Theworldingeneralremainedskeptical.FortunatelyHenryDarrowcaredverylittlefortheworld'sthoughtsbuthewasabletoproduceprooftoapowerful,wealthyfewthattheparapsychicfacultyexistedincertainindividualsandcouldbemanifestedatwill.

Awholenewlineofresearchwasinstigatedbythoseprivatepersonsandconcernswhichhadlonghopedforscientificrecognitionoftheparanormalabilities.

"I'vealwayshadapresentimentofDestiny,ofbeingonthethresholdofsomevastimportantbreakthrough,"HenrytoldMollyduringtheearlyhecticdaysshortlybeforetheyformedthefirstParapsychicCenter.

"Mostmegalomaniacsdo,too,andyourpsychoticparanoidslikeNero,Napoleon,HitlerandKyudu.That'swhyIhadthatteamofpsychiatrists.e.xaminemymentalhealthwithfineFreudiantongs.

Nonethelessit'saprejudicialadmission.D'youknow,I'vebeenafraidtoforecastmyownfuturetoofarinadvancenow?Somedetailsareunwiseforanymantoknow..."Helookedwithunfocusedeyesattheblankwallinfrontofthemforamomentbeforehesmiledrea.s.suringlyather."I'vebeenadilettanteuptillnowandmycriticscansayeitherthatIgainedmywitsinthataccident,orlostthefewIhad,b.u.t.thateventwasthethresholdofmy...ofourdestiny."

"d.a.m.nthetorpedoesandfullsteamahead,"Mollyreplied,gesturingtheatrically.

"Andtorpedoestherewillbe,"Henryagreedgrimly.

"Ithoughtyousaidyoudidn'tseefarinadvance..."

"Formyself,Imeant.Notforwhatwemustdo."Hewa.s.silentagainforamoment."G.o.d,it'sgoingtobefun."

Mollylookedattheamus.e.m.e.ntinhiseyes,theantic.i.p.atorygleamofmalice."Forwhom?"sheasked.

Hiseyessparkledasheturnedhisgazebacktoher.

"Forus,"hesaid,huggingheraffectionately,"forallofus,"andhemeantthenewlyrecruitedTalents."Wemayperceivetheoutcome,buthalfthefun,mostofthefuninlife,isgettingthere.AndI'vegotjustenoughtime."

a.s.soonashewa.s.sufficientlyrecoveredtoarguewithhissurgeons(andbecauseMollya.s.suredWahlmanthatHenrycouldn'tgetaroundhervigilance),hewasallowedtogobacktoworkfulltime.Not,aspreviously,inhiscapacityasadilettanteastrologer,butasthemanager,organizer,fundraiser,andrecruiterparexcellencefortheParapsychicCenter.

"MaryMollyluv,it'sgoingtobeaccomplishedinsteps,thisestablishmentoftheTalentedintheschemeofthings.Notsociety,mindyou,forwe'retheoriginalnonconformists,"andhetappedhisforeheadjustbelowthepinkfleshofthenewlyhealedheadwound.

"AndSocietywillneverpermitustointegrate.That'sokay!"HeconsignedSocietytoinsignificancewithaflickofhisfingers."TheTalentedformtheirownsocietyandthat'sasitshouldbe:birdsofafeather.No,notbirds.Wingedhorses!Ha!

Yes,indeed.Pegasus...thepoeticwingedhorseofflightsoffancy.Ab.l.o.o.d.ygoodsymbolforus.You'dseealotfromthebackofawingedhorse..."

"Yes,anairplanehasblindspots.Wherewouldyouputasaddle?"

Mollyhadherpracticalside.

Helaughedandhuggedher.Henry'sfrequentdemonstrationsofaffectionwereasourceofgreatdelighttoMolly,whoseownstrengthwasintactilecontacts.

"Don'tknow.Lord,howwouldyoubridleawingedhorse?"

"Withtheheart?"

"Indubitably!"Thenotionpleasedhim."Yes,withtheheartandtheheadbecausePegasusistoostrongasteedtocontrolorsubduebyanyordinarymethod."

"Youcouldn'tbreakoursortofPegasusanyhow,"Mollysaidfirmly.