The Wings Of Pegasus Part 14

"Butnotthecriminal,whoisstillinpossessionofasablecoatwhichyoufoundoncebuthavenowunaccountablylost."

"That'senough,Gillings,"saidPennstrakwhohadrejoinedthem.

"Thankstoyourarrival,thegirlmustknowshe'sbeingsoughtandiss.h.i.+elding."

Pennstrakgesturedtowardthedingywindowsoftheflat,throughwhichthevanesofthebigcopterwerevisible.Agroupofchildren,abandoningtheknown.o.bjectsofthedevelopmentplay-yard,hadgatheredatarespectful,butcuriositysatisfyingdistance.

"Consideringthevarietyofheraccomplishments,"opOwensaid,notaboveusingPennstrak'sirritationwithhisCommissionertoadvantage,"I'msuresheknewofthesearchbeforetheCommissioner'sarrival,Julian.Haveanyoftheseitemsbeenreported,Commissioner?"

"Thatconsolewas.Twodaysago.Itwason'find,'too."

"Shehasbeengrowingsteadilybolder,then,"opOwenwenton,depressedbyGillings'satt.i.tude.AnddepressedthatsuchaTalenthademergedtwisted,perverted,selfish.Why?Why?"Ifyourdepartmentevergetsthechronologyofthevariousthefts,we'dappreciatethecopy."

"Why?"GillingsturnedtostareatopOwen,surprisedandirritated.

"Talenttakestimetodevelopinordinarypersons.Itdoesnot,liketheancientG.o.ddessAthena,springfullgrownfromtheforehead.Thisgirlcouldnot,forinstance,haveliftedthatportablesetthefirsttimesheusedherTalent.Themoredatawehaveon...thelectureisilltimed."

Gillings'sunspoken"yousaidit"didreachopOwenwhoseturnitwastostareinsurprise.

"Well,your'finders'arenotnovices,"theCommissionersaidaloud.

"Iftheytracedthecoatonce,whynotagain?"

"Everyperceptivewehaveissearching,"opOwensaid."But,ifshewasabletoleavethisapartmentafterGilfoundthecoat,takingitwithher,becauseitobviouslyisnothere,shealsoiscapableofs.h.i.+eldingherselfandthatcoat.And,untilsheslipsthatguard,Idoubtwe'llfinditorher."

Thereportonthelaboratoryfindingswas.e.xhaustive.Therewasafullsetofprints,footandfinger.Nonematchedthoseonfileinthecityrecords,orFederalorImmigration.ShehadnotbeentestedattheCenter.Longcoa.r.s.eblackhairhadbeenfound.

a.n.a.lysisofskinflakessuggestedanolivecomplexion.

Thermophotographyplacedherlastappearanceintheroomatapproximatelythetimethefour'finders'fixedonherapartment,thussubstantiatingopOwen'sguess.Thethermalprintsalsorevealedthatshewasofslenderbuild,approximately5'4",weighing105pounds.

StainsonaparingknifeprovedhertopossessbloodtypeO.Nooneelsehadoccupiedtheapartmentwithintheeightdayrangeofthethermographyused.

Fromsuchrecords,thepoliceextrapolatormadearoughsketchof"MaggieO"whichshewascalledforwantofabettername.Thesketchwastakenaroundtheneighborhoodwithnosuccess.PeoplelivinginBlockQ_didn'tbotherpeoplewhodidn'tbotherthem.

ItwasDaffydopOwenwh.o.r.ememberedthechildrencrowdingthepolicecopter.Fromthemheelicitedtheinformationthatshewasnewinthebuilding.(Therecordsindicatedthattheapartmentshouldbevacant.)Shewasalwayssinging,dancingtothewall'caster,andchangingherclothes.Occasionallyshe'dplaywiththemandbringoutrichfoodtoeat,promisingtheycouldhavesuchgoodthingsifthey'dthinkhardaboutthem.Whilethechildrentalked,Daffyd"saw"Maggie'sfacereflectedintheirminds.

Thepoliceextrapolatorhadbeenfarshortofthereality.Shewasnotmucholderthanthechildrenshehadplayedwith.Shehadnotbeenprettybyordinarystandardsbutshehadbeenso"different"thatherimagehadregisteredsharply.Thenarrowface,thebrillianteyes,slightlyslantedabovesharpcheekbones,thethin,smallmouthandthepointedchinwereunusualeveninanareaofethnicvariety.

Thislikenessandaphysicaldescriptionwerecirculatedquicklytobeusedatallexitstothecityandalltransportationfacilities.Itwaslikelyshe'dtrytoslipoutduringthedayendexodus.

Thesouthandwestairstripshadbeenunderaperceptivesurveillancesincethesearchhadbeeninaugurated.Noweveryfacilitywasguarded.

GilGracie"found"thecoatagain.

"Shemusthaveitinasuitcase,"hereportedonthepoliceprovidedhandunitfromhispositioninthemainrailroadconcourse."It'sfoldedandsurroundedbydark.It'smovingupanddown.b.u.t.there'resomanypeople.Somanysuitcases.I'llcirculate.Maybethefind'llfixitself."

GillingsgaveorderstohisteamsonthemasterunitwhichhadbeensetupintheCenter'scontrolroomtocoordinatetheoperations.

"YoubettertestGilforprecog,"CharliemutteredtoopOwenafterthey'dcontactedallthesensitivities."Heaskedforthestation."

"Youshould'vetoldmesooner,Charlie.I'd'veteamedhimwithasensitive."

"Lookatthat,"Charlieexclaimed,pointingtoawildlymovingneedleononeoftheremotes.

LeswasbesideitevenastheaudiofortheIncidentwenton.

"Notthattrack!Oh!Watchout!Baggage.Onthehandcart!Watchout.Move,man.Move!Totheright.Theright!Ahhhh."Thewoman'svoicechokedoffinanagonizedcry.

DaffydpushedCharlieoutoftheway,togettothespeaker.

"Gil,thisisopOwen.Donotpursue.Donotpursuethatgirl!She'sawareofyou.Gil,comein.Answerme,Gil....Charlie,keeptryingtoraisehim.Gillings,contactyourmeninthestation.MakethemstopGilGracie."

"Stophim?Why?"

"Theprecog.Thebaggageonthehandcart,"shoutedDaffyd,signalingfranticallytoLestertoexplainindetail.Heracedfortheemergencystairs,upthetwoflights,andslammedoutontotheroof.Gaspingphysicallyforbreath,heclungtothehighretainingwallandprojectedhismindtoGil's.

Heknewthemansowell,hadtrainedGilwhenanemployeebroughtinthekidwhohadaknackforlocatingthings.OpOwencouldseehimduckinganddodgingthroughthetrainwardcrowds,touchingsuitcases,ignoringirateorastonishedcarriers;everynerve,everyounceofhimreceptivetothe"feel"ofadense,darksablefur.Andsosingle-mindedthatDaffydcouldnot"reach"him.

ButopOwenknewtheinstanttheloadedbaggagecartswervedandcrushedtheblindlyintentTalentagainstanIbeam.Hebowedhishead,toofullycognizantthatadoubletragedyhadoccurred.Gilwaslost...andsonowwasthegirl.

Therewasnopeacefromhisthoughtsevenwhenhereturnedtothes.h.i.+eldedcontrolroom.LesterandCharliepretendedtobeverybusy.

Gillingswas.Hedirectedthesearchoftherailwaystationarguingwiththestationmasterthatthetrainsweretobeheldandthatwasthat.ThedroneofhisvoicebegantopenetrateopOwen'sremorse.

"Allright,then,iftheTalentshavecleareditandthere'snofemaleofthesameheightandweight,releasethattrain.Someonetriedthejohns,didn'tthey?No,Sam,youcandetainanyoneremotelysuspicious.Thatgirlisclever,strong,anddangerous.

There'snotellingwhatelseshecoulddo.Butshed.a.m.nwellcan'tchangeherheight,weightandbloodtype!"

"Daffyd.Daffyd."Lesterhadtotouchhimtogethisattention.HemotionopOwentowardsCharliewhowasholdingoutthehandunit.

"It'sCole's,sir."

Daffydlistenedtotheeffusivelygratefulstoremanager.Hemadetheproperresponsesbut.i.twasn'tuntilhehadrelinquishedthehandunittoCharliethattheman's.e.xcitedmonologuemadesense.

"Thecoat,thedressandthenecklacehavereappearedonthestoredummy,"opOwensaid.Heclearedhisthroatandrepeateditloudenoughtobeheard.

"Returned?"Gillingsechoed."Justlikethat?Why,thelittleb.i.t.c.h!

Sam,checktheladiesroomsinthatstation.Wait,isn'tthereadiscountdressstoreinthatstation?Havethemcheckformissingapparel.Iwantanitemizedlistofwhat'sgone,andanexactduplicatefromtheirstockshowntothesensitives.We'vegotherscaredandrunningnow."

"Scaredandrunningnow."Gillings'ssmuga.s.sessmentrangominouslyinDaffyd'smind.Hehadasuddenflash.SuperimposedoveraprojectionofMaggie'sthinfacewastheimageofthelifelessstoredummy,elegantlyrecladinthepurloinedbluegownanddarkfur."Here,takethemback.Idon'twantthemanymore.Ididn'tmeantokillhim.Ididn'tmeanto.See,Igavebackwhatyouwanted.Nowleavemealone!"

Daffydshookhishead.Wishfulthinking.Justasfutileasthegirl'sbelatedgestureofpenance.Toomuchtoosoon.Toolittletoolate.

"Wedon'twantherscared,"hesaidoutloud."Shewa.s.scaredwhenshetoppledthatbaggagecart."

"Shekilledamanwhenshetoppledthatbaggagecart,opOwen!"

Gillingswasallbutshouting.

"Andifwe'renotverycareful,she'llkillothers."

"IfyouthinkI'mgoingtovelvetgloveahomicidalmaniac..."

AshrilltoneissuingfromtheremoteunitforcedGillingstoanswer.

Hewasabouttoreprimandthecallerb.u.t.themessagegotstunnedattention.

"Wecanforgetthepaternalbit,Owen.SheknockeddowneveryoneofyourpeopleandmineattheOrioleStreetentrance.Yourmenareunconscious.Mineandabouttwentyormoreinnocentcommutersareafflictedwithblindingheadaches.Gotanypracticalideas,Owen,oncatchingthismonsteryoucreated?"

"Oriole?Wa.s.sheheadingeastorwest?"Hehadtostopthatlineoftalk.

"Doesitmatter?"

"Ifwe'retocatchheritdoes.Andwemustcatchher.She'soperatingatapsychichigh.There'snotellingwhatshe'scapableofnow.SuchTalenthasonlybeenatheoreticpossibility..."

Gillingslostallcontrolofhimself.ThefearandhatredburstoutinsuchawavethatCharlieMoorfield,caughtunawares,eruptedoutofhischairtowardsGillingsinaninstinctivedefensereaction.

"Gillings!"

"Charlie!"LesandDaffydshoutedtogether,eachgrabbingthewildcombatants.ButCharlie,hisfacewhitewithshockathisownreaction,hadhimselfinhand.Sinkingweaklybackintohischair,hegaspedoutanapology.

"Youmean,youwanttohavemoremonsterslikeherandhim?"Gillingsdemanded.BetweenhisvoiceandtheviolentemotionsDaffyd'sheadrangwithpainandconfusion.

"Don'tbeafool,"Lestersaid,grabbingtheCommissionerbythearm.

"Youcan'tspewemotionslikethataroundatelepathandnotgetareaction.LookatDaffyd!LookatCharlie!Christman,you'reasbadasthescared,mixedupkid..."andthenLesdroppedGillings'sarmandstaredathiminamazement."Christ,you'reatelepathyourself!"

"Quiet,everybody,"Daffydsaidwithsuchurgencyhehadtheirinstantattention."I'vethesolution.Andthere'snotimetowaste.

Charlie,IwantHaroldOrleyairboundintheClinic'scopterheadingsouthtotheCentralStationinnothingflat.We'llcorrectcourseenroute.Gillings,Iwanttwoofthestrongest,moststablepatrolmenonyourroster.Iwantthemarmedwithfastacting,doublestrengthtrankgunsandairbornetorendezvousnearCentralStation."

"Harold?"Lesechoedinblankastonishment.ThenreliefcoloredhisfaceasheunderstoodDaffyd'sintentions."Ofcourse.NothingcanstopHarold.Andnoonecanreadhimcoming."

"Nothing.Andnoone,"opOwenagreed,bleakly.

Gillingsturnedfromissuinghisorderstoseeanambulancecopterheadingwestacrossthesky.

"We'refollowing?"

DaffydnoddedandgesturedforGillingstoprecedehimtotheroof.Hedidn'tlookbackbutheknewwhatLesandCharliedidnotsay.

ShehadbeenseenrunningeastonOriole.Andshewaseasytofollow.

Sheleftpeopledoubledupwithnauseaandcryingwithheadpains.

Thatis,untilshecrossedBoulevard.

"We'llheadsouth,southeastonanintercept,"Gillingstoldhispilotandhadhimrelaythecorrectiontotheambulance."She'sheadingtothesea?"heaskedrhetoricallyasherummagedforthecorrectairmapofthecity."Here.WecansetdownatSeaman'sPark.Shecan'thavemadeitthatfar...unlessshecanflysuddenly."GillingslookedupatopOwen.

"Sheprobablycouldteleportherself,"Daffydanswered,watchingtheCommissioner'seyesnarrowinadversereactiontotheadmission."Butshehasn'tthoughtofityet.Aslonga.s.shecanbekeptrunning,tooscaredtothink..."ThatnecessityplaguedDaffydopOwen.Theyweregoingtohavetorunheroutofhermind.

Gillingsorderedallpolicehovercrafttocloseinontheareawhereshewaslastseen,blocksofresidencesandsmallbusinessesofalltypes.

BythetimethethreecoptershadmadetheirrendezvousatthesmallPark,therewerenomorevisiblesignsofMaggieO'sretreat.

AsGillingsmadetoleavethecopter,DaffydopOwenstoppedhim.

"Ifyou'renotcompletelyundercontrol,Gillings,Haroldwillbeafteryou."

Gillingslookedatthedirectorforalongmoment,hisjawsetstubbornly.Then,slowly,hesettledintotheseatandhandedopOwenaremotecomunit.

"Thanks,Gillings,"hesaid,andleftthecopter.HesignaledtotheambulancetoreleaseHaroldOrleyandthenstrodeacrossthegra.s.stothewaitingofficers.

Thetwobiggestmenwereasburlyashecouldwish.Beingtrainedlawenforcers,theyoughttobeabletohandleOrley.OpOwen"pushed"gentlyagainsttheirmindsandwa.s.satisfiedwithhisfindings.Theypossessedthenaturals.h.i.+eldingoftheuntemperamentalwhichmadethemlesssusceptibletoemotionalstorms.NeitherWebsternorHeiswerestupid,however,andhadbeenbriefedondevelopments.

"Orleyhasnousefulintelligence.Heisahumanbarometer,measuringtheintensityandtypeofemotionswhichsurroundhimandreactinginstinctively.Hedoes...o...b..oadcast.Heonlyreceives.Thereforehecannotbeharmedoridentifiedby...byMaggieO.

HeistheonlyTalentshecannot'hear'approaching."

"But,ifhereach.e.s.h.er,he'd..."Websterbegan,measuringHaroldwiththediscerningeyeofaboxingenthusiast.ThenheshruggedandturnedpolitelytoopOwen.

"You'vethedoublestrengthtranks?Good.Ihopeyou'llbeabletousethemintime.But.i.tisimperativethatshebeapprehendedbeforeshedoesmoreharm.Shehasalreadykilledoneman...."

"Weunderstand,sir,"HeissaidwhenopOwendidnotcontinue.

"Ifyoucan,shoother.Onceshestopsbroadcasting,he'llsoonreturntoamanageablestate."But,Daffydamendedtohimself,rememberingHaroldsprawledonthegroundinfrontofthebuilding,notsoonenough."ShewaslastseenontheeastsideoftheBoulevard,abouteightblocksfromhere.She'dbetired,lookingforsomeplacetohideandrest.ButsheisalsoprobablyradiatingsufficientemotionforHaroldtopickup.He'llreactbyheadinginastraightlineforthesource.Keephimfromtryingtoplowthroughsolidwalls.Keepyourvoicescalmwhenyouspeaktohim.Usesimplecommands.Iseeyou'vegothandunits.I'llbeairborne;thecopter'ss.h.i.+eldedbutI'llhelpwhenIcan."

FlankingHarold,WebsterandHeismovedwestalongOrioleatabrisk,evenwalk:thetwoofficersinstep,Harold'sheadbobbingabovetheirs,outofstepacruelirony.

DaffydopOwenturnedbacktothecopter.HenoddedtoGillingsasheseatedhimself.Hetriednottothinkatall.

AsthecoptersliftedfromtheParkanddriftedslowlywestamidotherairtraffic,opOwenlookedsadlydownatthepeopleonthestreets.

Atkidsplayingonthesidewalks.Ataflowofmenandwomenwithbriefcasesorshoppingbags,hurryinghome.Atsnubnosedcitycarsandsquattytrucksanglingintoparkingslots.Atthebloatedcrosscityhelibusesjerkingandsettlingtodisgorgetheirpa.s.sengersatthestreetislands.

"He'stwitching,"reportedHeisinadispa.s.sionatevoice.

Daffydflickedonthehandset."That'snormal.He'sbeginningtoregister."

"He'smovingfasternow.Keepswantingtogostraightthroughthebuildings."ReadingHeis'sundertone,opOwenknewthatthemenhadn'tbelievedhiscautionaboutOrleyplowingthroughsolids."He'slettingusguidehim,buthekeepspus.h.i.+ngustotheright.Youtakehisotherarm,Web.Yeah,that'sbetter."

Gillingshadmovedtothevisualequipmentalongonesideofthecopter.Hefocuseddeftlyinonthetrio,magnifieditandthrewtheimageonthepilot'sscreen,too.Thecopteradjusteddirection.

"Easy,Orley.No,don'ttrytostophim,Web.Stopthetraffic!"

Orley'slineofmarchcrossedthebusierwidenorthsouthstreet.