The Wings Of Pegasus Part 22

"MakethemPayTheirOwnWay!Taxationforallonanequalbasis."

PrecogsbegantohavetroubledIncidents.Toaltercirc.u.mstances,theteambeganwearingdisguises,withAmaldaandBruceVadenbothpairedtocombattrainedLEOmen.Theywerealsoontwentyfourhourcall,hoppingfromonegatheringtoanother,tryingtoforestallexplosionsusuallyatralliesdesignedtobringtheirowndownfall.

TwiceAmaldafeltRoznine'smindsearchingforhers.She'dbreakoffallbroadcastingandtheteamwouldleavethatareainstantly.

Theweatherremainedunseasonablyhotandhumid.Therewereunprecedentedfoulupsinthefoodsupplyandaheavydrainonthepowersourcesnecessitatedcutsoftheentertainmentcircuits.Moretrouble.

Roznine'sstrategemalsosufferedfromhiszealousness.Onthedayofthehearing,thereweresomanypeoplewantingtoattendthistestoftheImmunityActthathecouldn'tpossiblyhaveattemptedakidnapping.

ThepressofhopefulattendeesprovidedtheLEOofficialswithanexcusetobeselectiveand,naturally,theaudiencewasconvenientlypackedwithoutoftownTalentswhomDaffydhadinvited.SensitivesattheCourtBlockentrancetippedtheLEOmenoffwhomtoexcludeandthePanSlaviccontingentwasdecimated.Inthewakeoftheprosecutingforce,RozninewasadmittedinhiscapacityasPanSlavicleadersinceoneofthewaiterswas.h.i.+sethnic.ItwasthefirstopportunityDaffydopOwenhadhadtogetagoodlookatthemanandhewa.s.somewhatsurprisedbyRoznine'sphysicalappearance.Daffydwouldhavelikedto"scan"himb.u.t.theemotionalauraofthecourtroommadethatmentallyandphysicallyimpossible.Thetelepathponderedonthesubconsciousimpressionshe'dbeenreceivingfromGillingsandAmalda,forRozninewasaperfectlypresentable,personablelookingchap,quietlydressedinamoderatelyexpensivetunic,hisheavyheadofblackhaircuttohisshouldersandhisthickblackmoustachetrimmedtojointhesideburns,leavingtherestofthestrongfacebare.

Rozninetookaseatbythewallandturnedforacarefulsurveyofthosealreadyseated.

OpOwensincerelyregrettedtheimpossibilityofprobingtheman'smind.Hemusthaveplannedsomething.Hehada"waiting"abouthim,calmlycomposedinthemidstofahecticscene.

b.u.t.therehadbeennoprecogsonthesituation.There'dbeenincidentalauguriesbutoftoovariedanaturetobeusefulorindicativeofthetrendoftheday'sevents.Daffydcouldonlyconclude,astheCorrelationStaffhad,that.i.tdidn'tmatterhowthehearingwenttoday.Thatinitselfwasunsettling.However,planshadbeenmadeforsuchcontingenciesascommonsenseindicated.DaffydhadwarnedVaden,amongotherthings,andthen"conditioned"Amaldawithstrongconfidences.TherewereTalentsunknowntothegirlintheaudienceandtheyhadtheirinstructions.

BruceVadenentered,slippingintoanaisleseatattherear.He,too,glancedaround,hiseyesslidingpastDaffyd's.He'slookingforRoznine,Daffydthought,asVaden'seyeslingeredonceonsomebullchestedmanbutnotonRoznine'smustachioedface.Roznine'sattentionwasheldbyawirylittlemaninsloppytweedsofancientmanufacturewhoprancedconspicuouslydowntheaisletoaseatreservedforhimbytheprosecution'stable.

So,thoughtDaffyd,AaronGreenfieldhadasmallman'spus.h.!.+

Greenfieldleanedover,tappingoneoftheprosecutingattorneysontheshoulderandengagedhiminaguardedconversation,allthetimeglancingaroundtheaudience,pointingatlasttotheveryemptyseatsonthedefendant'sside.

Thehearinglightswentonandthe"judge"soundedhiselectronicgavelforthecourttocometoorder.Oneoftheprosecutionteamrosetoprotesttheabsenceofthedefendantandcounselb.u.t.thatwasAmalda'scueandshe,andherescort,madetheirentrance.

Therewas,ofcourse,theantic.i.p.atedcryofprotestfromtheprosecutingattorneys.Thedefendantarrivedgarbedinvoluminousrobes,bewiggedandmadeupalaj.a.ponaise,escortedbytwowomenexactlythesametothelasthairandmeasurement.Evenastheprosecutionleapttoitscollectivefeet,thethreefiguress.h.i.+ftedinacomplicatedpattern,makingitimpossibleforanyuntalentedpersontoknowwhichonewaswhich.

However,asthiswasapreliminaryhearing,necessarilyconductedinfrontofthelegalcomputer,the"hearingjudge"hadnodirectivesaboutthedressorescortofthedefendantsand/orattorneyssolongastheyappearedcladandreasonablyclean.Prosecutionrepliedthatthedefendantwasdeliberatelyobstructingjusticebyappearingwithlookalikeescorts.OneoftheAmaldasrose,presentedtwosetsofcredentialsaslegalcounselorsforthedefendantandaskedthe"hearingjudge"ifitwasprogrammedtorefusedefendant'scounselonthebasisofsimilarityinshapeandappearancetodefendant.Theobjectionwasoverruled.

ProsecutioninstantlydemandedEEGreadingstoprovethatthewomensoattiredwereinfacttheaforesaidattorneysandthedefendant.

DefensehadnoobjectionandEEGreadingswerepromptlytaken,establis.h.i.+ngbeyondcontroversywhoweretheattorneysandwhothedefendant.Atwhichpoint,thethreewomenrepeatedtheirrapid"sh.e.l.lact."DaffydopOwenwatchedfuriousangersuffusethefacesattheprosecutiontable,evidencethattherusewa.s.successful.Theaudiencemurmured,halfinamus.e.m.e.nt,theotherhalftotallyconfusedbytheantics.

Thehearingproceededwiththechargebeingmadeofillegalarrestandrestraint,counteredbythedefenseinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityAct,requiringthatthecomplaintagainstAmalda,RegisteredTalent,bedropped.

Rathersmug,DaffydmissedthefirsttwingeofAmalda'salarm.

"Daffyd,"shesaid,hermindtoneanxious,"he'safterme."

"Makeeveryonelaugh,"Daffydsaidandsoquicklydidshereact,withsuchforcefulness,thatDaffyddidn'tneedtocallinthereserveempathstohelp.

ForamomentDaffydwonderediffearpromptedheroutrageousstrength,foreveryoneintheaudience,himselfandtheplantedTalents,werestruckbyanepidemicofgiggles.Itwouldappearthattheaudiencewasattemptingtolaughthecomplaintoutofcourt.

DaffydsuppressedAmalda'sprojectionsufficientlysothathewasn'tdoubledwithuncontrollablemirth.Rozninehadarictus-likegrinacross.h.i.+sface:he'dleanedbackagainstthewallinanefforttocontrolhisbodyandhewasforcinghisheadtomovesohecouldscantheaudience.Daffydbentoverslightly,counterfeitingexcessivemirth,andnoticedthatRedVadenandtheotherTalentsweredoingthesamething.

Grand!LetRozninethinkonlyAmaldawasresponsible!ButcouldAmaldaevenwithRedhelpingbroadcastsostrongly?CouldsheactuallyuseRozninewithouthisconsent?Ifso...

The"hearingjudge"mechanicallysoundedthegavelandcalledfororder,itsvoicegettinglouderandlouderasthegigglescontinued.

Itorderedthecourtroomclearedof"obstructionists."Theparoxysmswhichhadafflictedeveryoneabruptlyceasedandpeopleweaklywipedtheireyesandorderedtheirclothing.AaronGreenfieldlookedanxiouslyaround,hisfaceflushedwithanger.Themanwasnofool,Daffydrealized.He'dknowthatTalenthadbeenresponsibleand,withhisp.r.i.c.klydignityoffended,he'dredoublehiseffortstogettheTalentedtaxed.Oh,well,youcouldn'tmakeanomelettewithoutbreakingeggs,thoughtDaffydphilosophically.HenoddedapprovinglyatAmaldawho,withhertwins,hadsneakedaglanceathim.

ProsecutionthenannouncedpossessionofaswornstatementfromtheMorcamConventionCommitteethat.i.thadrequestednoLEOsurveillance.

DefenserepliedthatallconventionsituationsfellundertheRiotPreventionActandtheLEOCommissionwasquitewithinitsjurisdictiontousesuchriotpreventiontechniquesa.s.seemedadvisable.Theuncertainclimateofthecitywascitedtobeinthe"unsettled"percentilewhichpermittedtheLEOCommissiontotakesuchprecautionsasitdeemednecessarytoensurelawenforcementandorder.Thedefensecounselremindedthe"judge"thatanygatheringof200ormorepersons(andtheMorcamLuncheonhadhad525paidandconsumedcovers)wasliabletoauxiliarysurveillancewhetherrequestedornotwhentheclimateofthecityregisteredinthe"uneasy"percentiles.ProsecutiondemandedtoknowexactlywhatriotpreventiontechniquewasemployedbyAmalda.Defenserespondedthatshewasaregisteredempathofa+15sensitivityandaperceptiveratingof+12,andofferedtoproducepositivetestimonialsfromorganizationswhichhademployedAmaldainhercapacityasaTalentforriotprevention.ProsecutionrepeateditsdemandforanexplicitdescriptionofhercrowdcontroltechniqueanddefenseinvokedtheprovisionsoftheLawEnforcementandOrderCommission.

Daffydwasn'tcertainwhethertheprosecutionwantedtoseparateAmaldafromherlookalikesordiscovertheexactproceduresheused.

Defenseagainrequestedthatthechargebedropped:shedidn'twishtowastetheCourt'stimeandpublicmoneywhentheevidenceclearlypointedtoanolleprosequisituation.

Prosecutioninsistedvehementlythatthiswasaclearcaseofpersonalinfringementandmisuseofprivilegejustasthetime-limitlightcameon.Therewastherumbleasthe"hearingjudge"searcheditsprogrammingforprecedents.Thatdidn'ttakelong.Momentslaterthedateforatrialappearedonthescreen:adatesevenweekshence.

Notbad,thoughtDaffyd,althoughhe'dhalfwishedthatthecomputerwouldthrowthecaseout.Withnoprecedents,there'dbeenslimchanceofthat.

Amalda'sfearwaslikeaknifeinhisownguts.HetriedtogetthroughtoRoznine,tofathomwhatthemanwasdoing.BruceVadenjumpedtohisfeet,starteddowntheaisle,hisprogressblockedbyotherswhowerebeginningtoleavethecourtroom.

DaffydhadthesensethateveryTalentintheaudiencestiffenedsuddenlyandthenRoznine,halfrisingfromhisseat,stunnedamazementonhisface,begantotoppleslowlyoverontothepeopleintherowinfrontofhim.

"Hey,thisguy'spa.s.sedout,"someonecried."Isthereamedicaround?"

BruceVadenkepttryingtoreachRoznine.DaffydsignalledtotwootherTalentstoa.s.sist.IftheycouldbringRozninetotheCenterthisway...

"I'maphysician,"awomansaidinafirmloudvoice,threerowsaway,holdingupheremergencypouch.TherewasaslightscuffleasBrucetriedtointercepther,butsuddenlythePanSlavsmoved,jumpingoverseats,knockingpeopleasideinanefforttoprotecttheirfallenleader.

DaffydcaughtVadenback,calledofftheothers.

Thebailiffscurriedfromthecourt,yellingforanambicopter,asthewomanmedicandthreeSlavsliftedthestrickenmanandcarriedhimtotheprosecution'stable.The"hearingjudge"begantocallfororder,forthenextcase,fortheobstructioniststoberemovedfromthecourtroom.Itsvoicegotlouderandlouderuntilitfinallycalledarecessuntilthecourtcouldbehumanlycleared.

"Allright,allright,we'vegothimunderheavysedationintheCourtBlockinfirmary,"FrankGillingstoldDaffyd,"b.u.t.thattookdoing.

TheplaceiscrawlingwithPanSlavs.Wecan'tarrestamanforcollapsingincourt...andhowdidyoudoit?"

"Oneoftheteleportsgavehima'punch,'"Daffydsaidwitharuefulgrimace.

Gillingsstaredathimwithaweandrespect.

"Onehastobeverycareful,"Daffydexplainedalmostapologetically,"pressingagainstthecarotid.ButhewaspressuringAmalda."

"Youexpectedthat!ButIexpectedyouguystograbhimthere.AndthatG.o.dd.a.m.nedhearingisaffectingtheentirecity.Nowdon'ttellmeyouexpectedthat!"

DaffydlookedatGillingsand,foramicrosecond,hesitated.

"No,notexactly,butwe'redoingourverybest."

"What?Whatinh.e.l.ldoyoumeanbythat?"

"Imean,we'vesetthetrapandbaiteditandwesimplyhavetohavepatience."

"Patience?Withthiscityabouttoerupt?"

"Curiouslyenough,Gillings,Idon'tthinkthecityisgoingtoerupt.

Oh,we'verecordedsomeIncidents,minorones,involvingTalents..."

andDaffydfrownedbecausetheIncidentsweredistressingandsovaguethatonlyageneralallTalentwarningcouldbeissued.

Gillingsgaveoneofhisdisgustedgrowls."Youguysmakemesick.

Youcan'tevenprotectyourselves."

"We'lldowhatwecan,"andDaffyd'svoiceturnedsteelyenoughtoreprimandGillings."Whatconcernsyou,Commissioner,isthefactthatourprecogshavepredictednomajorIncidents.Yourcityisgoingtobesafe!"

"Proveit!"demandedGillingsbutDaffydopOwenmadenoreplyashelefttheCommissioner'soffice.

IttookthetelepaththeentiretripbacktotheCentertogetcontrolofhisinnerperturbation.Ofcourse,Gillingshadtoberuthlessandconsideronlythelargeraspect,thesafetyoftheCity,but.i.tgalledDaffydtothinkthatGillingscouldsooffhandedlydismissthepersonaltrialsoftheTalented.ItgrievedDaffydthattherewouldbemoreprecedentsonthenewlyprogrammedImmunityLawafterthenextfewdays.ThefactthatTalentswouldnowhaveredressfortheprecoggedpersonala.s.saultsonthemwasnosatisfaction.He'dreallyhavepreferrednevertohavehadtoinvokethatLaw.

ItwouldserveGillingspropernoticeifRozninedidburstoutofbounds...Andhowinh.e.l.lweretheytopromulgatealawthatmadeitillegaltoconcealTalent?LatentTalentswerealwayscroppingupwhentherightconnectionsweremade...

AndnotasingleIncidentconnectedwithAmaldaorRedorVsevolodRoznine.Andhe'dhadeveryprecogintheCentersensitizedtothatunholytrio.Howcouldthatpossiblybe?

Daffyd'sstateofmindwasgrimashelandedthecopterontheroofofthemainadministrationbuildingoftheCenter.Hetriedtodrainthepoisonsofbitternessandangerfromhismindashedescendedthestairs.Hepausedathisofficedoorbutswungaway.Hehadtocalmhimself.This.e.xcessivereactionwa.s.selfdefeating.GillingsmightbealatentTalenthimselfbutheremainedobduratelyimpervioustotheproblemsoftheTalented,especiallywhentheyinterferedwiththelawenforcementandorderofhispreciouscity.

WhileRozninewasunconsciousintheCourtBlockinfirmary,DaffydhadmanagedtoimplantasuggestionthatRoznineseekAmaldaoutattheCenter.Itwastheonlyfeasiblepracticablemethod...makethemountaincometoMahomet.Andthemountainmustapparentlycomeofitsownvolition.Now,ifhecouldjustgetMahomettodoaLorelei...itwouldspeedmattersup,andmaybesomanyTalentswouldn'tgethurt.

ThatbroughtDaffydbacktothepointofangerhe'dreachedinGillings'sofficeandthewholethoughtsequencestartedagain.

Hispathledhimpasttheplayyardwherehecouldhearthechildrenyellingandscreaming,arguingoversomeviolentlyimportanttriviality.Triviality?Tohim,perhaps,yettheywereasdevotedtotheirseparatesidesoftheargumentashewasto...

"Well?"SallyIselinstoodinhisway,herfistsplantedonherhips,amockferocious.e.xpressiononherpertprettyface."Aren'tyoupleasedwiththeoutcomeofthehearing?"Shefrowned,sensinghisuncertainty."ButyouwereabletoplantasuggestioninRoznine'smind?Oh,thatGillings.Whatisitaboutacopthatsourstheman?"

ItwasDaffyd'sturntobesurprised."That'sprettygoodreading,Sally."

a.s.suddenlyhefelthermindtightenandthecontactthathadbeguntolifthisdepressionwastakenaway.

"WhatdoesGillings.e.xpectofusanyway?"sheasked.

"Ahappyending!"

Sallyeyedhimspeculativelyandthenfellinstepwithhim,grinning.

"Therehastobeahappyendingtoeveryfairytale,afterall.ThoughIshouldn'thaveexpecteditofGillings,fergawd'ssake."

Herswitchofmood,whileitobscuredherthoughtsfromhim,liftedhisspirits.Nonetheless,hesaidrathergloomilythattherehadn'tbeenaprecogofanyhappyendingforCinderella.

"Oh,you...honestly!"Sallysoundedpeevedandhereyesflashedathimirritably."Yourtrouble,DaffydopOwen,isthatyoudon'treallybelieveinTalent."

"Ibegyourpardon?"Daffydstoppedandstareddownather.

"Justbecausenoonehasprecoggedadisasterofsomemonumentalproportionresultingfromthisfairytaleaffair,you'redowninthedoldrums.DoeseverythingTalentedhavetoendindisaster?Areyougoingtobecommittedtogrieffortherestofyourborndays?Orareyouwillingtoadmitthattherehasn'tbeenadisasterprecogbecausethereisn'tgoingtobeadisaster?Thatthingswillworkoutright?

Allthesensitivesareedgy,butnotmiserablyso.GoodG.o.d,dowehavetowallowinsorrowallthetime?Dowehavetorunaroundwonderingifwehavearighttobehappy?"

DaffydthoughtheknewSallyIselinfairlywellb.u.t.thisfromagirlcharacteristicallyfullofpuppyishgoodnatureandexuberance?

Sheturnedonhim,herbrowneyesflas.h.i.+ngwithangera.s.shestampedherfoot."AndIamnotagoodnaturedpuppy!Icanbejustasmuchofab.i.t.c.hasanyotherwoman!"

Inthatoutragedmood,sheforgottos.h.i.+eldherinnerthoughts.Itwasallthere,whatproprietyhadkeptDaffydfrom"perceiving"andhersenseofhonorhadpreventedherfromshowinghimmoreopenly.

AbruptlyDaffydreachedoutanddrewherintohisarms,savoringthemiraculousdisclosure.UnaccountablySallystruggled,andcourtesydisregarded,Daffydprobeddeeplyintohermind,pastthebarriersshehadcarefullyerected,pastthepertverbositywithwhichshemaskedthoseinnerfeelings.Withastrangledsob,sherelaxedagainsthimandlethimperceivethewholeofherconflict.Theolderman/muchyoungerwoman,heryearningtobetall/elegant,anappropriatespouseforamanofhisstatus/abilities,thepuppyimageofherselffromhismind,herfeelingofinadequacybecauseshecouldn'tlocatemoreandmoreTalentstorelievetheburdensonhim...allthesmallsinsandgreatvanitiesthatinhabitthesoulofanyhumanbeing.Andwhathesawinthatinstantofperceptiononlyendearedhertohimmore.

Withonehandhetiltedherheadback,forcinghertomeethiseyes,amusedthatatelepathrequiredalook.Hermouthliftedslightlyinasmilea.s.shesharedhisthought.Hefeltapressingneedtoarticulatethethoughtshewastransferringtohermindbutallhecouldsaywashernamebeforehekissedher.Nomorewasneeded.

ThenextmorningthenebulousanxietiesofthesensitivesweretranslatedintoattacksontheTalented.OneofthefindersattachedtotheLEOBlockwasbeatenuponhiswaytotheCenter.ATalentmechanicatthebigMidTownParkingComplexwa.s.seriouslymauledandshovedintothebootofthecarhe'dbeenservicing.TwohealersintheGeneralHospitalwererapedandshornoftheirhairb.u.t.theira.s.sailantswerecaughtbecausethegirlshadtheabilityto"call"forhelp.

Intheclearlightofthatmorning,Daffydbitterlywonderedifindeedhehadarighttoanypersonalhappiness.

"Andifthatisn'tapieceofoutrightantediluvianpuritanicalnonsense,Idon'tknowwhatis,"Sallysaid,poppingoutofthebathroomwithallthesavageryofaminiature..."...Iamnotaminiatureanything,DaiopOwen."

Butshewascomicalenoughinherundressedstate,mentallybristlingathisthoughtsandaggravatedbyhispessimisticruminationtoputthemorning'sdisastersintheirproperperspective.

"I'mnotsurewhatgoodit'lldotohaveRozninemarchinginherenow,"shewenton,pouringoutcoffee.

"I'dhopedhe'dcomea.s.soonasheregainedconsciousness."

Sally'seyebrowsflickedup."You'veneverfailedofyourmarkbefore.

Unless..."Shepursedherlips,frowning.

"Amalda'sinhibitinghim?"Daffydcaughtthehalfsuppressednotion.

"Youknowshe'sscaredofhim.Imean,scaredasawomanisofaverydomineeringman...s.e.xually,Imean.Oh,youknowwhatImeanandthenthere'sBruceVadenandallthat."

"AmaldahadproofpositiveyesterdaythatRozninecouldn'tdominateher."

"Perhaps...Imean,intellectually,Talentwise,yes.But.i.t'sBrucethat'sholdingherback.He'salreadyatthetopoftheGla.s.smountainandAmaldadoesn'tdarerolltheotherapple."

DaffydcaughttheunarticulatedramificationsofSally'sthinking.

PartofAmalda'sreluctancetoadmitRoznine'sattractivenesstoherstemmedfromafearoflosingBruceVaden,towhomshewasequallyattractedbutfordifferentreasons.

"She'snotonetodroptheboneshe'sgotinhermouthfortheonesheseesinthewater,"Sallysaid.

"Nowit'sfables?"

"Whynot?Youaddedmythstomyfairytalessoit'smyshot."

"Thatonlyleavesmeproverbs."

"So?"