The Wings Of Pegasus Part 21
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Sallygasped.
"GillingssaidtheattemptandthearrestwerehandledsoquicklythatnooneatthetablewithAmaldaandHaroldknewwhathappened,"Charliewenton."WaitersUnionisscreamingoverthequoteunwarrantedunquotearrestofthreemembers.There'sh.e.l.ltopay."
"Notnecessarily,"saidLesterbuthewasgloweringashewalkedintotheroomandcarefullyclosedthedoorbehindhim."Thisisaclearcaseofprofessionalimmunity."
"Howdoyouconstruethat?"Daffydasked.
Lestersighedasheregardedhisbosswithatolerantexpression.
"AmaldaisaregisteredTalent,right?ShewaspresentattheLuncheoninaprofessionalcapacity.Thereforenoone,notanybody,hastherighttointerfere.Thewaitersdid,bytryingtoremoveherfromthehall.Theybrokethelaw.Amaldahasn't.NeitherhasHarold.Evenifhewasalittleoverzealous,heisnowprotectedfromtheconsequencesofhisTalent."
"Waitaminute,Lester,"Charliesaid,"thatImmunityLawonlymeansthatyoucan'tgetsuedwhen..."
"Italsomeans,"andLesterwaggledabonyfingeratCharlieandDaffydinturn,"accordingtothewaySenatorJoelAndresandourlegaleaglesinterpretedittome,thatanycitizenattemptingtointerferewitharegisteredTalent'sperformanceofhisdutyisviolatingthatlaw."
"Thiswouldbethefirsttimewe'vehadtoinvokethelaw,"Daffydsaid.
Lesterraisedhiseyebrowsinsurprisedalarm."Sowhat'swrongwiththat?Ordidyoubreakyour..."heglancedabruptlyatSallywhostifledherlaugh..."yourbonesarrangingprotectionnottouseit?"
OpOwenmadeacutoffgesturewithonehand.LesterWelchmutteredindisgust.
"Ithoughtbythistimeyou'd'velearnedthecostofidealism,Dave.
WesweatedoutthatBill:itd.a.m.nednearcostusJoelAndres'slife;wehaveaclearcaseofaninfractionandbyG.o.d'slittlechickens,you'regoingtoinvokeit.IfGillingshasn'talready."
ThecomsetonDaffyd'sdesklitup,flas.h.i.+ngred.Hepushedthetoggledown.
"CommissionerGillings,sir,urgently."
Daffydnoddedacceptance.
"OpOwen,we'regettingalotofstaticfromtheWaitersUnion,aboutAmalda,falsearrestandallthatc.r.a.p,"Gillingsstatedwithnopreamble."SofarI'veplayeditthattheirmemberwaspus.h.i.+ngal.u.s.tactandgottoldtobugoff:thattheladyinquestionissufficientlyupsettoinvokefemalecitizen'srights.Thenwegotthehonestemployees,goodunionmenwithcleans.e.xrecordsandshe'sapervertafterthedamagesclaim."Gillingssighedwithheavydisgust.
"Youknow,theusualconventionstatic.Now,wecanclearallthisupbyinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityActbut..."andGillingswaggledathickfingeratDaffyd."I'mnotallthateagertobreaktheteam'scover.BruceVadentoldmymenthatsomethinghadscaredAmaldaandtheonlythingIknowshe'sscaredaboutiswhathappenedattheFact.WastherearepeatattheMorcam?"
"Ihaven'ttalkedtoAmaldayet,Frank,"Daffydsaid."Ia.s.sumeshe'sonherwaybackherewithVaden?"Gillingsnodded."Givemealittletime."
"Don'ttaketoomuch.ThatWaitersUnionpacksquiteawallop."
a.s.soonastheCommissioner'sfacehadfadedfromthescreen,DaffydaskedforTedLewisintheLEOBlock.
"Ted,youheardaboutthes.n.a.t.c.hattemptonAmalda?"
"It'sallovertheplace.Say,whydon'tyoujustinvoketheImmunityAct...No?"TedwasasperplexedasLester.
"IsRoznineinvolvedinanywayintheWaitersUnion?"
"h.e.l.lyes.Thereisn'toneUnionheisn'tinvolvedwithrightnow."
"AnychanceoffindingoutifhewasattheMorcamConventionHotelthisafternoon?"
TedLewisheldupahand,flickedonanotherswitch,hiswordsandthereplyindistinct,beingoffthereceiverlimitofthecomscreen.Helookedmoreconfused.
"We'vehadCronersortofkeepinghimundertheeye/ear.Cronersayshe'sataTRIDonMarketandHall.Huh,how'sthat,Croner?Hey,boss,RozninehasbeenwatchingalotofTRIDlately."
"Thenhesuspectshe'sbeenundersurveillanceandisduckingouttheotherexitoftheTRID.Fine."ThiswasanunsettlingdevelopmentbecauseitcouldmeanthatRozninewasdevelopingasaTalent.Ifhegotpushedtoohard....opOwenshuddered."Let'sgoseeAmalda."
"Itwas.h.i.+m,"AmaldatoldDaffyd.Shelookedwhite,shakenandsmalla.s.shehuddledagainstRedVadenonthecouchinthelivingroomoftheirsuite.
"Howclosetoyou?"
Sheshookherhead."Hewasn'tintheroom.I'd'veseenhim.Buthewasnearenoughtorecognizeme.Mymind,Imean."Shegaveadelicateshudder.Hadherecognizedherbecauseshe'dbeenthinkingthosethoughtsabouthim?ShewantedtoaskDaffydbutshedidn'tdare.She'dlethimdownenoughalready.
"Wereyouawareofanything,Red?"Daffydasked.
"Notatfirst.ThenonlyAmalda'ssurprise.Ilookedupandsawthewaitersgrabbingher.ButbeforeIcouldgetacrosstheroom,Haroldhadacted."TherewasadmirationonVaden'sfaceforthemaneuver."Ishouldapologizetotheguy.Ithinkwegotthingsquieteddownbeforeanyoftheconventioncrowdgotwise."
"Aftertheattempt,wereyouawareofRoznine'smind,Amalda?"
"Notuntilwewereleavingthehall."Sheclosedhereyes."Hesaid'I'llgetyou.ThenexttimeI'llgetyou."
"DaffydlookedquestioninglyatRedwhoshookhishead.
"Hadyoueverreceivedwordsbefore,Amalda?"Daffydasked.
Amaldalookedathimstartledandthenshookherhead,smilingshyly.
"Onlyfromyou.Beforenow."Shewasawareofhisconcern."That'sbad,ain't.i.t?"sheasked,hersoftsoutherninflectionintensifyingherregret.
"Notnecessarily.Wehaveaproblem,"hebegan,choosinghiswordscarefully."WeknowthatRozninewouldliketo...getyou,Amalda,toaccomplishhisownendswhich,knowingyourcapability,mustbeillegalcontrolofmen'semotions.Wehavetoa.s.sumehe'sbeentryingtolocateyou.Wemustalsoa.s.sumethathemaynotrealizethatBruceispartofyourability.Andthat'salinkthatcanandwillprotectyou,Amalda."Daffydreinforcedthatnotionwithasterntelepathicvoice.
"Rozninecouldn'tsucceed.i.n.kidnappingyoutoday,couldhe?Well,hed.a.m.nedwellwon'tbeabletoanywhereelseeither."
"Youcan'tbesureofthat,Daffyd,"shesaidinaverysmallscaredvoice.
"Idon'tintendtoput.i.ttothetest,Amalda,"Daffydcontinuedsmoothly,smilingattheapprehensivegirl,"butkindlyrememberthatyouhavesuccessfullyeludedhimtwicenow.Oncebyrunningawayandhidingsuccessfully.Andtodaybydirectactionagainsthisagents."
Amaldaslowlynoddedherheadinagreement.
"Now,whileRoznineiskeentogethishandsonyou,we...andIincludetheCommissioner...areveryanxioustogetRoznine."ItwasBruceVadenwhostiffenedandlookedwithanintensityclosetohatredatDaffydopOwen.Thetelepathreturnedthatlookcalmly,knowinginthatexchangethatVadenunderstoodtheimplicationevenifAmaldadidn't.
"RoznineisobviouslyalatentTalent.WeknowhefitsmindswithAmalda.Wedon'tknowwhatelsehecando,andheisinapeculiarlysensitivepositionintheethnicsituationofthiscity:inapositiontodoalotofdamageoralotofgood.Wecan'tpushhimtoofarandwecan'tlethimgo.Wedowanthim,preferablyonhisowninitiativeasyoudid,tocometotheCenter.Youknowwhat.i.t'sliketohaveanunmanageableTalent..."
Daffydwa.s.speakingmoretoBruceVadenthanAmaldabut.i.twasthegirlwhoanswered.
"It'sawful...awfullonely,awfulwonderful."ShegaveDaffydasmile,tremulous,andthoughsheheldherchinupinanatt.i.tudeofconfidence,hecouldseetheindecisionandfearofhermind.
"Now,"hewentonbriskly,"inusingtheWaitersUniontosnagyou,Rozninehasputusinadifficultposition:wecaneasilyusetheProfessionalImmunityActtoprotectyoub.u.t.thatwouldnecessitateyourappearanceincourt.Andbelieveme,everyoneinterestedinourcoveragentswouldbetheretoidentifyyou.Yourteamusefulnesswoulddecrease..."
"DoesAmaldahavetoappearincourt?"askedRedsuddenly.
"Well,yes.Oh,Iseewhatyoumean,"andDaffydstartedtogrin.HemanagedtokeephissmilenormaldespitewhathehadreadinBruceVaden'smindunderthecoveroftheconstructivesuggestion."Verygoodpoint.Twoways.Yes,IsupposewecouldmakeAmaldauptolookdifferent...orwecouldhaveastandinforher.Inthatcase,AmaldawouldhavetobephysicallypresentbecauseRozninewouldbethereandhe'dknowifsheweren'tpresent,whichcouldscoreagainstusifanEEGreadingisrequestedbytheprosecution.Hmmm.Goodnotion."
"WhatcanRozninehopetoachievebyforcingusintocourt?"askedRed.HewastryingtocoverhisearlierthoughtsbeforetheycameapparenttoDaffyd.Presentnowwasathreadofhopelessness,apresentimentthattheintensehappinessandrapportthatBruceVadenhadenjoyedwithAmaldawastobesundered:toogoodtolast.Daffydcouldonlyanswerthespokenquestion.
"Nowthathasmestumped,"hesaid,andmeant.i.tonseverallevels.
"Standin?"Gillingsappearedtorejectthestratageminstantlyandjustasabruptly,hefrownedthoughtfully."Why?Youdon'tthinkanyonewouldbecrazyenoughtotryands.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaincourt,doyou?
Although..."heglancedoveratthewindows,"theatmosphereisd.a.m.nedunstable..."
"Iknow,"Daffydagreed.Evenduringtheshortcopterflightto:theLEOBlock,he'dbeenawareofthepervasive"darkness"ofthecity'semotionalaura.Theweatherhadbeenmiserable,whichdidn'thelp;generalemploymentwasdown;there'dbeentheusualcomplaintsaboutthesubsistencelevelfoods;gripesabouttheTRI-Dprogramming;nothingoutoftheordinary...yet.Theremightindeedbethemakingsofamajorblowup.
Itwouldtaketwoweeksforanimprovementinthefoodtohaveaperceptibleeffect:TRIDprogrammingwasundoubtedlybeingalteredbuteventhemostperceptiveTalentscouldbefooledoverwhatthepublicreallywantedontheb.o.o.btubes.Thevarietyof"circuses"availablewasalmostasinfiniteasfoodtastesandyetoneneverknewpreciselywhatwouldsatiatethepublicappet.i.te.OpOwenmadeamentalnotetocheckallprecogrumblings.Strangetherehadn'tbeenanydefiniteIncidentbyanyonewhensuchalargepopulationunitwasinvolved.
"Look,opOwen,"Gillingswa.s.saying,"I'vegottohavetheteamavailableforriotspotting.Particularlyrightnow.AndIcan'thavethemidentifiable."
"ThenwesendAmaldatothehearingmadeup."
Gillings.m.u.tteredunderhisbreathaboutfancydressandsow'searsandthensuddenlyswungroundtofixopOwenwithastartledglare.Daffydhadn'texpectedtokeepGillingsinthedarklong.
"Okay,opOwen,what'sbehindallthisp.u.s.s.yfooting?Whowastryingtos.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaattheMorcamLuncheon?WasitthesameguywhowasattheFact?Becauseifitwas,let'sgethimandcoolhim.Ineedthatteamoperating.Andthere'sthatopenchargeofriotprovocation..."
OpOwentookadeepbreath."Idon'tthinkitwouldbeadvisabletocoolRoznine."
"Roznine?"Gillings.e.xplodedfromhischairwithallthefrustratedastonishedexasperatedimpotenceofthestrongmansuddenlydiscoveringhimselfinanuntenableposition."Roznine!Christ,opOwen,doyouknowwhatwouldhappentothiscity,inthepresentmood,ifIarrestedthePanSlavicleader?"Hefumedon,inmuchthesamevein,formomentsmoreuntileitherDaffyd'splacatorythoughtsorhisownlackofbreathbroughtastoptotheflowofrecriminations.
"Ihaven'tsuggestedyouarrestRoznine.Infact,thatwouldnotonlybeimpoliticbutdangerous."
Gillingsglaredathim,snappingoutoneshortexplosiveword.
"How?"
"BecauseRoznineisalatentTalent.That'swhatscaredAmalda."
Gillingseruptedagain,thoroughlyenraged.Thistimethes.h.i.+eldofhispublicmindslippedsufficientlyforDaffydtoseepasttheangertothepanichisconfessionevoked.
"No!"Daffyd'snegative,forciblementalaswellasaudible,carriedweightoneverylevelandblockedthoseavenuesofactionwhichhecouldperceiveGillingsalreadyplotting."Roznineiscontained...atthemoment.b.u.t.thistimewedon'tforcealatentintoapositionwherehecanbecomedangeroustoanentirecity.IwanttoavoidanotherMaggieOfar,farmorethanyoudo!"
GillingshadnoescapefromDaffyd'smind,soopOwendidnotrelentinthepressureuntilhewascertainofGillings'suneasyandresentfulcooperation.
"Roznineisnothreattous...yet.ButhedoesthreatenAmalda,"Daffydwenton."Thatthreatisreal.Itwouldbestupid,"andhepausedtoletthatwordbeabsorbed,forGillingswasnotastupidman,"togetRozninesofrustratedthatadditionalfacetsofhisTalentwhateveritisarestimulated."
Gillings'sfacewasastudyoffrustration.HegaveventtoastreamofprofanitywhichsodelightedandenlightenedopOwenthathecouldignorethefactthathewasthevictimofthespiel.But,withtheavalanche,Gillingsrecoveredhismentalequilibrium.
"ItoldyouacoupleofmonthsagothatwhatyouguysreallyneedisalawthatmakesitillegaltoconcealTalent."
Daffydlaughedwryly."RozninemaybeunawarethatwhatheusesisTalent!"
"Unaware?Myeffingfoot.WithallthepublicityyouguyshavebeenlardingtheTRIDswith,he'sgottoknowwhatheisespeciallyifhe'sbeenplayingmentalpattycakeswiththatAmalda.OpOwen,Idon'tneedaRoznineinthiscity!YouTalentsputhimwherehebelongsandbridlehimorlobotomizehimorsomething.OrI'llinvokewhateverlawonthebookssuitsmeandcoolhimpermanently.Ican'thavethiscityturnedintoabattlefield.OrhaveyouforgottenBelfast?"
Hisbuzzerwinkedtheurgentred.Gillingsraisedonefistasiftosquashtheunitandthen,swearingviciously,slappedthetoggleopen.
"Well?"
Therewasamoment'shesitation.Daffydcouldalmostseethecallerswallowinghastily,probablywis.h.i.+nghedidn'thavetocontinue.
"Commissioner,thelawyersfortheWUareherewithbailfortheirmembers.Dowereleasethem?"
"Iwanttoscanthem,"Daffydsaidinaswiftundertone.
"Delay'em.Someone'sonthewaydownfromthisoffice.Thenpermitbail."
Gillingstossedanoddlydesignedcoatb.u.t.tontoopOwen.
"This'llgetyouanywhereinthebuilding.Andkeepit."
DaffydthankedtheCommissioner,andleft.ProwlingtheLEOofficeswouldnotbeafrequentpastime:the"neural"noiselevelwasmorethanatelepathofDaffyd'ssensitivitycouldbear.
TheWaitersUnionhadsentabatteryoflawyerstoprocurethereleaseoftheirincarceratedmembers.Theyhadbeenshownintoawaitingroom,justoffthemainadmissionshalloftheretentionsectionoftheLEOComplex.
Daffydsaunteredby,scanningeachman'smindquickly.Whathe"heard"hedidn'tlike,but.i.tconfirmedthefactthatRozninewasorganizingtheproceedings.Noneofthes.e.m.e.nknewmorethanhisowna.s.signment.
Buteachwasmovedbyanintensedesiretocompleteitexpeditiouslyandsuccessfullyor...The"orelse"helddark,direandfearfulconsequences.
Daffydreturnedasquicklyaspossibletothes.h.i.+eldedcalmofGillings'sprivateeyrie.TheCommissionerwasabsent.Daffydusedthefewmoments'respiteforsomesolidthinking.
Thereweretimes,hefinallyconcluded,whenamanhadtooperateonthe"feel"ofthingsalone.Hewasnot,G.o.dforfend,aprecog,b.u.t.therewerealsotimeswhenamansimplyhadtodispensewithrationalthoughtanditsconsequences.ParticularlywhenfacedbyafreeagentlikeRozninewhocouldnotbeexpectedtohavepredictableresponsestostimuliandpressures.
ThesimilaritiesbetweenRoznineandMaggieOwereinescapable,b.u.t.thistimeDaffydhadatoolandaresolve.
"We'vebeenfightingfirewitholdfas.h.i.+onedwater,Frank,"hesaidtotheCommissionerwhenthemanstalkedbackintohisoffice."Fromnowonweusemodernmethods,foamandtranquilizers."
"Whatareyoujibberingabout?"
"Ican'texplain,butw.i.l.l.youtrustme?"
Gillingsglaredbackathim,buthistightnaturals.h.i.+eldleakedconflictingemotionsofdesiretobelieve,distrust,andirritablefrustration.
"IG.o.dd.a.m.nwellhaveto,don'tl?But,G.o.dd.a.m.nit,Dave,ifyouTalentsdon'tcontainRoznine..."
"Wecan,"andDaffydopOwenbegantogrinwithuttermalicefortheunderhanded,immoral,unethicaluseofTalenthewasabouttoinvoke.
Lesterwouldn'tapproveeither,b.u.t.then,hedidn'tplantotellLesterWelch.
ThestratagemdidrequiretheinvocationoftheImmunityAct.WhatDaffyddidn'tcountonwasthehueandcrywhenthenewsofthehearingwasannouncedonthemedia.SuddenlyAaronGreenfieldvociferouslysupportedtheWaiters'UnionintheiroutragedcryagainstTalentabusinguntalentedpeopleandhidingbehindthelaw.TheMorcamConventionCommitteetriedtoevadeanyresponsibilitybyclaimingthattheyhadnothiredaTalentteamfortheirLuncheon...theirdefensebeingthattheirconventionmemberswerelawabidingpeacefulpeoplewithnorecordofviolence,soaLEOteamwasunnecessaryandaninsulttotheirgoodname,etc.Greenfieldmadepoliticalhayofthisaswell.He'dneverbeeninsupportoftheImmunityLawbecause"obviouslyitwasascreenforillegal,immoral,unethicalinvasionofprivacy:onemoreinstanceofestablishmentarianismandtotallyunwarrantedminorityprivilege."
"RepealtheImmunityAct;noextraordinaryprivilegeforminorities!"
The Wings Of Pegasus Part 21
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The Wings Of Pegasus Part 21 summary
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