The Wings Of Pegasus Part 18

Asitwas,heonlyjustgotoutofstunrange.

Onceclearofthebusyalt.i.tudes,Daffydhovered,callingan"abort"totheCentertransports.Thesituationhadgonebeyondtheircapabilities.He'donlycompletedonecirclebeforehesawthattheLEOcopterswerelayinggas.Itwasalltheycoulddowithsuchamobstartingtorampage.SallywasweepingsoftlyasheveeredeastwardstowardtheCenter.

"Iwasn'thonestlycertain,Daffyd,"Sallysaid,curledinasmallcontriteballonthesuspendedcouchinhisquarters.Shekeptexamininghergla.s.sasiftheamberliqueurwerefascinating.She'dtheappearanceofasmallgirltryingtogetoutofascold.ActuallyherpublicmindwaswideopentoDaffyd's,permittinghimareviewofherinitialimpressionsofthesinger."Imean,whileIcouldn'tthinkwhatelseshemightbe,therewasthepossibilitythat.i.twasallsonicamplification.Youknowwhataskilledoperatorcando."

"Allthemorereasonyoushouldhavereportedit,Sally.Thatkindofmanipulationiswhymechanicalamplificationisstrictlylicensedtoreputableandreliabletechnicians."

"Andnotaclueaboutthegirl?"

"Notyet."ThelicensedownersoftheFactorywereamongthosedrowsilyhelplessinsidetheofficeinthelobbyofthebuilding.

They'dbequestioned,ofcourse,byGillings'smen.PerpetratorsofriotscouldexpectscantmercyfromtheLEOoffice.

"We'vegottogettothegirlfirst,Sally."

"IfonlyI'dtoldyousooner..."Sallywasfloatinginchagrin.

"Ikeeptellingyou,andeveryothermemberofmystaff,Idon'tmindbeingbotheredwithsocalled'trivia."Becauseitisn'talwaysastrivialasyoumightbelieve."

"Iknow.Iknow.Isimplywasn'tthinkingclearly."Thatwaswhatshesaid,butwhatSallywasthinking,alsoforhimtosee,wasthatshehadn'twantedtodisappointhim,orherself,incaseherinitialimpressionaboutthesingerhadbeenwrong.Thegirlhadbeenalmosttoogoodtobetrue.

"Wa.s.sheafraidofthatcrowd,Daffyd?Itwasthreetimesthesizeoftheonetheothernight.Infact,thesizealoneputmeoff."

"Youfirstheardher..."

"Justtwodaysago.Itriedtogetbackstagetoseeher..."Sallyshruggedherfailure.

"Muscleboys?"

"No."Sallywasastonished."Everyoneelsewantedtogetnexttoher.

I'dneverhavehadachancetofindoutforsurewithsomuchinterference,muchlesssuggestshecometotheCenter."

Daffydbegantostrollabout,hisarmscrossedoverhischest,hisheaddown.

"Webothsensedherfright?"

Sallynodded.

"Wearebothagreedthatsheisabroadcastingempath?"

Sallynoddedagain,moreemphatically."Couldshealsoreceive?Imean,thatwouldaccountforthat'echo'phenomenon,wouldn't.i.t?Shethrowstheemotionsoutandthenmagnifiesthemonretrieval""That'soneexplanation."

"Hmm,butyoudon'tsubscribetoitwithanyenthusiasm."

DaffydgrinnedatSally."Itdoesn'tfitallthecirc.u.mstances.

Besides,Roznineusedaplural...'thoseeffingcopouts."

"Sally'seyesroundedwithsurprise."Shelinks.Thatwouldaccountfortheamplificationandtheecho."Daffydnodded."Thenwho'stheotherempath,orempaths?"Daffydshrugged."Doesn'tsherealizewhatsheis?"

"Probablynot.Weshallhavetoinformher."

"Andhowdoyouplantodothat?"

"IthinkweaskforFrankGillings'shelp..."

"But...but...shestartedtheriot.Youknowwhathappenstoriotprovokers."

"Yes,butIalsoknowthatFrankwantsallTalentedpeopleregistered,trainedandcontrollable.Sowhenhe'shadachancetoquestionthesleepingbeauties..."

"WecantraceCinderellaandfitheroutwithgla.s.sslippers..."

Sallygrinnedsaucilya.s.shepickedupthea.n.a.logy.

"BeforePegasusfliesawaywithher."

"Pegasus?He'samyth,notafairytale.That'snotfair,Daffyd!"

"b.u.t.thea.n.a.logyismostapt,"andopOwenwasgrimlyserious."Andwe'vegottoputabridleonherPegasusorshe'llendupwithsingedwings."

AlthoughtheLEOCommissionerandtheDirectoroftheEasternAmericanParapsychicCenterwereongoodworkingterms,theCommissioneravoidedcomingtotheCenter.Respectingthiswhimsy,DaffydcalledthroughtoGillings'sofficethenextmorning,askingforanappointmentandspecifyinghisbusinessastheFactriot.

"Howdidyouhappentobethere,Dave?"Gillingsgreetedhim,risingfromhischairasopOwenwasusheredintohistoweroffice.

Daffydspentamomentadmiringthe360viewofthesprawlinghazedmetropolis.

"TrackingaratheruniqueTalent."

"Thatsinger?"AndGillingssworewhenDaffydnodded."Doyouknowthetollonthatcaper?"

"No,but.i.t'soneh.e.l.luvalotcheaperthanitwouldhavebeenifwehadn'talertedriotcontrol."

Gillingsfrowned."Sheshouldn'tbeallowedapublicperformer'slicense."

"Iwantedtofindoutifshehadone."

Glaring,GillingsicilybangedathisdeskcomsetanddemandedtobeputthroughtoID.Nolicensehadbeenissuedtoanyoneansweringthedescriptionofthesinger,Amalda:norhadtherebeenalicenseissuedtotheFactforsoloentertaining.Therewere,however,specificationsonrecordastowhatmechanicalamplificationwaspermittedthemanagementoftheFact,thefrequencyoftheprogrammingandthenightsonwhichpublicgatheringscouldbeheldandthemaximumnumberofpeoplepermittedtogather.

Lastnight'sperformance,ittranspired,wascompletelyillegal.

Gillingsissuedasummonsfortheowners,brothersnamedd.i.c.kandHarryDitts,whohadtoldanentirelydifferenttalethepreviouseveningwhentheyhadrecoveredfromsleepygas.Fiveminuteslater,Gillingswasinformedthatneitherd.i.c.knorHarryDittscouldbelocatedattheirresidencesonrecord.

"HavetheyanyknownconnectionwithRoznine?"

"Roznine?"GillingsregardedDaffydwithacombinationofdisgustedannoyanceandstartledconcernwhichfadedintodeepreflection."Yousawhimthere?"

"Yes,hewasattheFact.Whenwewerewithdrawingfromthesceneoftheimminentriot,hewasdeepinconversationwithseveraltypesinthelobby.LaterhespottedtheLEOcoptersontheirwayinandmadehiswayout.Funnyhedidn'tsuggesttotheDittsbrothersthattheyleavewithhim."

"Don'tbenaive.RozninelooksafterRoznine,first,lastandalwaysorI'd'vehadhimcooledlongago.ButSectorKisfarfromhisbailiwick..."Gillingsstaredoutacrossthecitywithnarrowedeyes.

"He'sbeengettingtood.a.m.nedpowerfulintheCityandnotjustwiththeSlavs.Amegalomaniaciswhatheisandtheyoperatewithacuriousabilitytoavoidminordisasters...untiltheygetoverconfident.Rozninehasn'tmadethatmistake...yet..

"Ishouldn'twonderthatthere'ssomeTalentinamegalomaniac,apartfromhismadness."

"Talent?"GillingseruptedasDaffydhadknownhewould."Christ,that'sallIneedisaTalentedpanethnicleader.G.o.ddammit,whydon'tyoupeoplegetontheballandroundupalltheseG.o.dd.a.m.nfreakingTalentsbeforetheygohaywire.We'vegotenoughproblemskeepingthat..."andhisbluntfingeredhanddescribedacircleatthepanoramicmetropolisoutsidetheplexigla.s.s,"...fromexplodingasitiswithoutunnaturalhazardslikelatentTalents..."

"...ThenhelpusfindAmalda.Shecanbeimmenselyuseful..."

"She'sariotprovoker..."Gillings'seyesnarrowedwithaflashofvindictiveness.

"Areyougoingtohelpme,orhinderme,Frank?ThegirlisvaluabletobothofusbutnotinyourcoolerasanRP.She'sanintelligentbroadcastingempathoftremendousrangeandpower.Idon'tthinksherealizeswhatsheis...ordidn'tuntilpossiblylastnight.

Somethingfrightenedheroutofherwitshalfwaythroughherthirdsong.Sheran!Idon'tknowwhat.i.twasnordoIknowexactlyhowshecanbroadcastthewayshedoes,but.i.t'simperativethattheCenterfindandprotecther."

Gillings'seyebrowsroseinironicsurprise."YouandIselinwerethere.Whydidn'tyougetherthen?Whathappened?"

"Amongotherthings,ariot.Somepeoples.h.i.+eldautomatically,Frank,andifyoucan'ttracethemind,youcan'tcatchthebody."

"Allright,allright,"Gillingssaid,irritablywavingasideDaffyd'smildreproval."Buthowcomeshedoesn'tknowwhatsheis?Allright,allright.Iknowtheanswertothat,too.Allright,whatdoIdo?"

"Iwantatraceronanyyoungsingerofherdescriptionapplyingforaperformer'slicenseanywhereinthecountry.AndIwanttoknowwheresheha.s.sung,whereshetrained,whereshecamefrom.She'sgonetocoverandshewon'tfindeasy.Inthefirstplace,she'sterrifiedofwhateverhitherlastnight.Andsecondly,she'llhaveagoodideawhathappenedwhentheaudiencefoundoutshewasn'tgoingtosingagain.Shehastwoverygoodreasons...o...b..ingscarce.Ialsodon'twantherfrightenedoutofherwitssoletmehandletheactualsearchwithmypeople.I'llgetmypropagandateamtoaltersomeofthepublicinfobroadcastssubliminally.Wemightgethertoseekusoutspontaneouslywhichwouldbepreferable,"Daffydadded,rising.

"Okay,youhandleit,butIwantthatgirlfoundandtrainedorwhateveritisyoudowiththem.Andquick.I'llshuntthereportonhertoyourcomputer.Shouldn'ttakelongtotraceher."ttooktwodaystotracethegirlknownasAmalda.Andtheprintouthadmanygaps.

She'dbeenbornandrearedinasmallAppalachiancommune:educatedtohersixteenthyearintheCountySchoolsystemwhichshequitto"travel"...anotuncommonpatternforanundirectedorunmotivatedyoungster.Therewasnorecordofformalmusicinstructionbutmusicwasafeatureinherenvironment:noofficialrecordofherforseveralyearsuntilshetookworkinaFloridafoodcontrolcomplex.Twoapplicationsforperformer'slicenseinFloridaweredeniedbytheAuditionBoardthere.Thethirdapplicationwasprovisionallygrantedandlapsedwithoutformalrequestforanextension,butseveralshorttermengagementswereonrecordforherasanunamplified,stringinstrumentedfolksinger.Anewapplicationasapprentice,nonsinger,hadbeenfiledinWas.h.i.+ngton,D.C.fourmonthsbefore:oneengagementwaslistedwithoutaterminationdate.ThenDaffydhadacheckmadeontheplayinwhichshehadappeared.Amalda,whohadstartedasawalkon,hadbeenabruptlypromotedtoanimportantsupportingrole.Theplaywa.s.scheduledforametropolitanopeninginthreeweeks.

AlthoughDaffydhadonlyasuperficialacquaintancewiththemechanicsofthePerformingArts,therewereseveralglaringcontradictionsinthisreport.AndnoexplanationforAmalda'ssuddenappearanceasaselfaccompaniedsoloistinaminorityentertainmenthallofdubiousreputation.

Inthemeantime,heandSallyworkedwiththepropagandadeappealforsomeoneinAmalda'ssituation.Daffydalsogotintouchwiththeplay'sproducer.

"I'vehadenoughtroublewiththatflittingbird,"NormanKabilovtoldopOwen."Ifshedoesshowup,I'lltellherstraight:shegetsnomorecontractsandsheshouldn'teverhopetogetaPPlicenseapproved.NotifIhaveanyconnectionwiththePA."

"WhatkindoftroubledidyouhavewithAmalda?"Daffydasked,injectingplacatorythoughtsattheirritatedlittleman.

"Troubles,plural,nottroublesingular,"andNormanKabilovgloweredatopOwen.

DaffydknewthemanwasconsiderablyperplexedbytheCenter'sinterestinhis.e.xactress.

"First,shelatchesontomystagemanager,RedVaden...goodman,Vaden.Solid.Dependable.Onlythislittletwithas.h.i.+mhoppingtohertunelikehe'dnevertriedtobrushoffastagestrucktailbefore.

Reddoesn'taskmanyfavorssowhenhewantsthisbirdinthecast...

sowhentheshowtravels,he'snotlackingwhathe'sbeenhavingregular...Isay,yes.Whatharm?SuddenlyIgotRedbeggingmetogiveheranauditionforoneofthesecondaryleads.IalreadygotagoodPApickedoutforthepart.

.."Kabilov's.e.xpressiontoldDaffydthathischoicehadbeenpersonalratherthanprofessional."...butIgottakeep'emhappysoIauditionthegirl."Thelittleproducerfrownednow,histhoughtsvividtoDaffyd.ThemanhadbeensurprisedoutofboredomatthequalityoftheauditionandimmediatelysignedAmaldafortherole,despitethefactthathe'dknownhe'dbeinforaheavytimewiththedisappointedcandidate."Mindyou,itwasn'tthatgreatapartuntilthatkidreadsit."Anotherheadshakeofperplexity."IdunnohowshediditbecauseshesurehadnotheatreartscreditsbutIcouldn'tnotgiveherthepart.Andthentheauthorcomestorehearsalandh.e.l.l,he'srewritingtheparttogivehermore.Id.a.m.nnearhaveajeopardyactionfromCarlaJacobswho'sthenameintheplay.OnlyRedgoestoworkonherandshequietsdownlikealily.AndyougottabelievethatJacobsdon'thandlethateasy.She'spus.h.i.+ngfifty,y'see,andanynewbirdisathreat.Funnything,"andKabilovstaredoffaboveDaffyd'shead,hismindtakingupanddiscardingahundreddifferentglimpsesofCarlaJacobsinhightantrum,CarlaJacobssoothedandveryfews.n.a.t.c.hesofAmalda.Themanwasunconsciouslycensoringthoserecollections."OnceLaJacobsgottoworkingwiththekid,thingswereokay.Wantaseethereviewswegot?"

Daffydhastilya.s.sentedbuthewasgivennochancetodomorethanglanceatthecommendatoryheadlinesinthefascsheets.

"AslongaswewereinWas.h.i.+ngton,itwasokay.b.u.t.theminutewegottoJerhattan,troubles!LaJacobsstormsinherewithherlawyersandhercurrentmanandshewon'tplaywiththatcreatureanymore.Infact,shegets...o...b..olutelyviolentwegottatrankher.NowIcan'tloseLaJacobsorIlosethetheatreandtheplaysincethat'sthecontract.SoItellRedtofindhisbirdanothernest.Ican'taffordtrouble.Andtheybothwalk!"Hewasindignant."Justlikethat.Hewalks.AguyI'dswornwas100%dependablewalksoutoftheshowtwoweeksbeforeopening.Onaaccountofascrawnybird!"

IfNormanKabilovlookedthepictureofoutragedinnocence,he"sounded"likeamanreprievedfromanunknownordeal.However,hedidhavepublicityshotsofAmaldaandRedVaden,whichheappearedrelievedtogiveDaffyd:asifbygettingridofeverythingremindinghimofthisunsettlingepisodehecoulderaseitfromhismemory.

DaffydopOwenhadhisbestfindersscanthepictures,hesentcopiestotheLEOofficeand,onanoffchance,gaveafinalprinttohisbestprecog.

"Youbetterfindthatgirl,"GillingstoldopOwen,"orI'llfindherandmakeheranswerofficiallyforthatriot."

"Frank,don'tprovokeanotherMaggieO."

Thoughthecomsetwasnotcolor,DaffydwascertainthatGillings'sfacechangedshade.

"We'redoingallwecan,"hewentonsoothingly,"tofindherb.u.t.there'snowayofforcinghertocometous."

Gillingsgrowledsomethingdireashebroketheconnection.

ThereweredayswhenGillingswasnotDaffyd'sonlycross.HeandSallyhadspentmostofthemorningtryingtofigureoutawaytoattractAmaldatothem.LesterWelchwalkedin,listenedafewminutesandthensnortedindisgust.

"Whydon'tyoujustfindoutwherethisRedVadenlives?Ifhewa.s.sogoneonthegirlhe'dleaveasuccessfulshow,he'sprobablytieduptightwithher.Andifhe'satleisure,"andLestergrinnedasheusedtheperformingarts'euphemism,"he'ssurelycheckedintothePACastingAgency."

OpOwenclosedhiseyesbrieflybeforehethankedLesterwithagoodgrace.

"I'mnotsurewhatwe'deverdowithoutyourcommonsense,Les."

"Oh,someoneelse'dtellyouyournoseisonyourface."AndLesleft.

"ThisisonetimeIwis.h.i.+wereakinetic,"Daffydsaidwithawistfulsigh,thinkingallkindsofdisasters,ofaminorsort,tobefallthedourNewEnglanderonhiswaydowntheaisletohisownoffice.ThenhecaughtSallygrinningathim,hereyessparkling."AndifyourepeatanyofwhatIwasthinking..."

Shecomposedherfaceintosolemnity,raisingonehand."Dai,youknowIcan't'paththataccurately."ButinhermindwasavividpictureofLesterstuffedintooneofhiswastepaperbaskets.

DaffydplacedacalltotheCastingAgency.BruceVadenhadreportedhisavailabilityandanewaddress.However,theAgencyinformedhim,theaddresswasnaturallyrestricted.DaffydexplainedwhohewasandthatheurgentlyneededtogetintouchwithVadenandwasinformedthatPerformingArtistVadenwouldbecontactedandwouldreturnhiscallifhewereinterested.

"'Ifhewereinterested'indeed,"Daffydrepeated,breakingtheconnectionwithuncharacteristicirritability.

"ShallwethinkLesterish,andperhapsdropawordintheomnipotentearofourlocallion?"askedSally.

Hersuggestionelicitedtheneededaddressinfiveminutesandinlessthanhalfanhour,theywereontheirwaybycoptertoanisolatedareaoftheCoast.Thesmallseasilveredcottagewastightlylockedandobviouslyuntenanted.Ratherdepressed,SallyandDaffydreturnedtotheCenter.Lestermetthemattheroofstairs.

"You'recoveredwithcanaryfeathers,"saidSally.

"Ithoughtyoucouldn'treadmymind,"Lesterreplied,startled.

"WithyourexpressionIdon'tneedto."

ButSallyhesitatedatthedoorofDaffyd'soffice.Rathermoreaggravatedwithcirc.u.mstancethanSally,Daffydtookherfirmlybythearmandpushedherintotheroom.Hewasinstantlyoverwhelmedbyseveraldevastatingimpressions:contactwithSallyinforminghimthatheremotionswerehighlyunstable;therewereintenselovehateaura.s.swirlingintheroomandamongthemthesureknowledgethatthechestnuthairedgirlseatedfacingthedoorwasapowerfulandviolentlyagitatedempath;thattheredbeardedmanstandingbythewindowwaslinkedtoherinadesperate,despairingbond.

"I'mDaffydopOwen,"hesaid,"andthisisSallyIselin,headofourClinicRecruitingTeam.We'vebeenlookingforyou."Daffydpouredoutwavesofsympathy/rea.s.surance/overtloveandrespect.

"Wefoundyou,"repliedtheman."I'mBruceVaden."