The Wings Of Pegasus Part 25

Tirlagrinned.SoMamahadabigheadthismorning,causedbythevodkashehadmadefromthepotatoesTirlahadnickedforher..Inthatstate,shewouldbeeasytowheedleoutofacredit.

"It'sTirla,andthePublicHealtharealreadyontheConcourse."

"Bojemoi!Etotak?HaveInotenoughpaininmylife?"b.u.t.thedoorwaspushedopenwideenoughforTirlatoslipinside."Whathaveyousaid?ThePublicHealthagain?Sosoon?Why?"

"Anothervaccinationbythelooksofit.They'regrabbingeveryone,ablebodies,students,handiesandtheirmothers."

"Ah,wemusthurry.Elpidia,Zaveta..."MamaBobchikbeganrecitingthenamesofherusualmaternitypatients.

Tirlatuggedherarm.

"Nu,whatdoyouwantfromme?"

"IcannothelpunlessIhavecleanissue,"Tirlasaid,managingtolookpiteousandsoundefficientatthesametime.

Burilhadfixedtheclothingissueslotinhismother'ssquatsothat.i.tcouldbecoaxedtoextrudemorethanitought.HistakingwayshadbeenveryusefuluntilYa.s.simTirlamadethewardingsignatjustthethoughtofthatmanhadpaidMamaahugesumforhim.Buril'sunusualtalentfor"fixing"officialequipmentmadehimquitevaluablehehadnotgonetheusualrouteofYa.s.sim'spurchases,andMamahadbeenpaidenoughfloaterstokeephercomfortableinheroldage.

MamaBobchikblinkedherreddenedandblearyeyesandlookedatthetinygirl."Da,thatisso!"ShepattedTirla'sheadbeforeshewenttotheclothingslotanddidsomethingthatherheavyframeobscuredfromthegirl'ssight.Whensheturnedback,shehadapacketinherhand.

"Iwashedthismorning,"Tirlasaid,immediatelyunfasteningandsteppingoutoftheoldsuit.Shehadtorollupthesleevesandlegsofthefres.h.i.+ssue,butwhenshehadneatlyfoldedeachrolloverwristandankleandpressedtheedgestosealthem,sleeveandlegblousedoutnicelytogiveherapparelmorestyle.Sheretiedtheprettybraidedropebeltthatshehadinheritedfromhermotherandtuckedtheexcessmaterialneatlyback."Now,I'lltellMirdaKhan,dothislevel,andthenupanddown.That'llbeallIthinkIhavetimefor.

What'llIdoforanID?They'llgrabmeifmywrist'sbare."

WhatTirlawantedmostinherlifewasagenuine,validIDbraceletthatwouldallowherasquatright,theuseofatrid,threemealsaday,andafreshweeklyissueofclothing.AnIDthatwasallherownandhadneverbeenanyoneelse's!Onethatwouldallowherintotheschoolprogramsthatsofewofthekidssheknewseemedtocareaboutatall.

Nowshec.o.c.kedherheadatMamaBobchik,knowingperfectlywellthatanIDwasessentialwhenthePHOswereswarmingtheLinear.MamaBobchikpretendedtoconsider,givingTirlajustafewmomentsofanxiety.

"Etotak!ForPHOs,weuseone."Withaflounceofherskirts,forMamawouldnotwearthesinglepiececoverallwithoutproperskirtstoconcealherlimbs,sheturnedherbackonTirlaagain.NomatterhowhardTirlalistened,shecouldnottellwhereMamasecretedthosepreciouscounterfeitIdsthatBurilhadalsocontrived.Theyweregoodforoneday'suseonlyoneday,becausewhilethebandwouldbeacceptedbyaportablereadersuchasthePHOwouldhavetorecordvaccinations,itwouldshowupasafraudlater,whentheday'sentrieswerechecked.

MamaBobchikturnedaround,danglingthepreciousIDband."Yousplitthetakeforthewarningwithme.Asusual."

Tirlanoddedsolemnagreementtotheterms,hereyeswatchingtheswingoftheband.

"Andifyoucanstealenoughvaccine,Iwillgiveyouthirtypercentofthattake,"Mamaadded.

Tirlagaveanincreduloussnort."Sixty.Icouldgetcaughtstealing."

"Forty,then.Noonehascaughtyouyet.Afterall,IgaveyoutheIDatnocosttoyouandhavetheexpenseofthespraygun."

"Fortyfive!"

Thetwohagglerseyedeachother,andthenMama'sbroadfacebeameddownatTirla'sunyieldingexpression.ShespitinherpalmandengulfedTirla'sdelicatehandinherowntosealthearrangement.

"Youareacleverone.Youmusthurrynow."

Thegirlwasalreadyslippingthroughthehalfopeneddooranddownthehalltospreadthewarning.

Despiteherspeed,TirlabarelyfinishedherroutebeforethePHofficersbegantopenetratethelevels,checkingtheIdsofeachsquat'soccupantsandherdingthemoutanddowntolineupfortheirhypospray.Shesoonlearnedthatthehealththreatwasnota'muneplaguebutavirulentintestinaldiseasethathadstartedinLinearBwithdevastatingresults.AllLinearswerebeingvaccinatedinanattempttostemthespreadoftheailment.ThePHpublicaddresssystemdronedonconstantlygivingashortexplanationinallthelanguagesregisteredinLinearG;Tirladidsomerapidtranslationsofherownwhenrequestedbynervousmothers.

"It'sonlyanotherfoodcontamination,"shea.s.suredtheskeptical.

"They'veisolatedthesource,whohavebeenheavilyfinedandlosttheirlicense."

"Huh!"MirdaKhansaid,herdarkeyesglisteningwithskepticism.

"Thatwillbegoneaslongasittakestosendinenoughcredittoreissueit.Howlongwilltheprotectionlastus?"

"Oh,thisone'lldousforayear!"

"Ayear?Theyareimproving."

Trudgingforwardstepbystepinthelongline,TirlaandMamaBobchikfinallyreachedthePH,droppedtheirwristsacrossthereader,andreceivedtheirshots.ImmediatelyMamapretendedtobecomefaintandstaggeredagainstthetable.WhilethePHwomanwascopingwiththat,TirlasweptanentiretrayofthevaccineampoulesintotheshoppingsackMirdaKhanhadreadya.s.she,too,cametoMama'sa.s.sistance.

"Okh,kakbolitgolova!"Mamasaidinanappropriatelywispytone,thebackofherfathandagainstherhead.Thepaininhervoicewasnotentirelyfaked,consideringthehangoverheadache.

"What'sshesaying?"thePHofficerasked,hoveringbetweenconcernandannoyance.

"Herheadhurts,"Tirlareplied.

"Notfromthisinjection,"wasthecallousresponseofthePHer."Nowmovealong!"

SolicitouslyMirdaKhanandTirlaproppedupMamaBobchika.s.shemadeherwayslowlytowardthenearestsideaisle.Oncesafelyoutofsight,MamaimmediatelyreachedforMirda'ssackandpeeredinsideit.

"Onewholetray?Miraculous,Tirla,trulymiraculous.Therearemorethanenough.Runaheadandtellthemtocomeinsmallgroups.ThePHOshavealreadycheckedourthreelevels.Itwillbesafe."

Inthecourseofhererrands,TirlatriedherIDbraceletonasmanypublicdispensersa.s.shepa.s.sed,nomatterwhatcommodityemergedfromtheslot.Shetuckedeachpurloineditemintotheextramaterialatthebackofhercoverall,orintoasleeveoratrouserleg.Itbecamehardertomovequickly,butshemanaged.Byevening,shehadenoughsmallfloatersandillegallyacquireditemstokeepherwellfedandcontentforthenextmonth.Ifshestretchedabit,itmightevenbesixweeksbeforesheneedbotheraboutworkingagain.

Chapter2.

"Therewasnoauraofmenaceorthreat,"RhyssaOwentoldSaschaRoznineashestoodglaringdownather.Toreducehisthreateningglowertoamoreproductive,thoughtfulmood,shetouchedhisarm,reinforcingherstatementwithamentalSee?Curiosity.Animpingement,notathreat.

Saschasubsided,buthecontinuedtoglareatthegraphrecordingofRhyssa'searlymorningsleeppattern,wherethewideblackmarkofthespokeshowedthatshehadbeenrousedfromanREMdreamsequencetofullalertnessbyamentalintruder.

AsthedirectoroftheCenterforParapsychicTalentsontheNorthAmericanEastCoast,RhyssaOwenlivedonwhathadbeentheHennerestate,areserveoftrees,lawn,andmaturegardensabovetheHudsonRiveronthePalisades.ThisarchaicremainderofthetwentiethcenturyresidentialsuburbsinterruptedtheflowofLinearstructuresthathousedthemillionswholivedandworkedinthema.s.siveJerhattancomplex.Rhyssa'squarterswereundistinguishedfromanyoftheotherthreestoryapartmentblockssetamongthegardensandtrees.

AswithalldwellingsfortheTalented,theseweresecuredands.h.i.+eldedfromunannouncedentry.Infact,eventhosewhotenantedtheLinearconstructionsrunningonthelongsidesoftheCenter's.e.xtensivegroundsdidnotknowofits.e.xistence,soartfulwereitsscreens.NooneshouldhavebeenabletointrudeonRhyssa,muchlessinhersleep.

"Awkward,rousingyousothoroughly.Youneedalltherestyoucanget."SaschaprojectedavisionofhimselfandRhyssacurledtogetherinherbed,thedoublethickduvettuckedaroundtheirspoonedbodies.

Yes,yes,Rhyssareplied.Sherespondedwithavisionofafirmfootpus.h.i.+ngtheSaschabodyoutofthebed.Butevenifyouhadbeentherephysically,youcouldn't'vehelped,Saschabear.Itwasallinmymind,inmydreams.Andthat'syourduvet,notmine.Ineveruseplaids.

Rhyssasmiledupathim,flutteringhereyelashestomockhisprojection.Heraisedhisbrowsinresignation.Theybothenjoyedthisgame.Theyhadbeenplayingitforyears.

Picky,picky.Don'tavoidtheissue,Saschasaid."Who,I'dliketoknow,couldknockinonyourmind?Andwhy?"

"Indeed!"RhyssacrossedherarmsandstaredoffintoaviewoftheloweringcloudsanddismalrainthatobscuredausuallybreathtakingviewofJerhattan.That'swhatperplexesme.

Don'trange,Streaky.Sendingyourmindoutsearchingforhimtakestoomuchoutofyou.You'regoingtoneedallyourenergytodealwiththeZealots.HeprojectedthevisionofthreepersonswithlimbssoentangledtheyresembledanOrientalfetish,eachcaricaturedfacewearinganexpressionofmixedintransigenceandskepticism.

Oh,don't!Shelaughedasherreturnimageuntangledarmsandlegsandseteachpersonupright,awhiskbroomsmoothingtunicandtrouserswhileemblemsofrankwerestraightened.Ican'trememberthatwhenIhavetodealsoberlywiththeirurgentrequestsforTalentsIdon'thave.They'relaughableenoughasitis.

"Good.That'salltheydeserve.ShallIhaveSirikitcheckbackandseewhenthisphenomenonfirstregistered?"Sheerimpudence!Saschasnortedhisannoyance.

"That'sanidea."Rhyssasmiledruefullya.s.shepulledclothesfromdrawerandcloset.Shecontinuedtotalka.s.shedressedinthebathroom."Ionlythoughtofcheckingmygraphthismorning.Ireallydoneedmysleep."

"ProbablysomeemergentTalentwhodoesn'tunderstandprotocol.Idowishtheydidn'talwaysfeelrequiredtooverreacttotheirnewfoundmindpowers."

"d.a.m.nedstrongone!"Maliciously,RhyssaprojectedanimageofaveryyoungMadlynLuvaro,mouthwideopen,andthecircleofpeoplecringingawayfromthewavesofsoundemanatingfromher.

Saschagrimaced.MadlynLuvarohadamentalshoutthatcouldpenetratetothes.p.a.cestationandanyofitsperipheraldockyards.IthadbeenSascha'stask,ashewasnominallyinchargeofTrainingandDevelopment,toteachherhowtofocusandmoderatehermentalvoice.

Madlynadoredhimpa.s.sionatelyandwasembarra.s.singlypossessiveofhim,anadulationhewasfindingincreasinglydifficulttodiscount.i.twasthereasonthathea.s.siduouslycultivatedthenotionthatheandRhyssawereonthebrinkofatotalpartners.h.i.+p.Kindly,Rhyssadidnotdisclaimtherumor.

"I'llhaveSirikitrunacheckonpossibleemergents,"hetoldher,thensenttherequesttoSirikitintheControlRoom,alsoaskinghertocheckRhyssa'sencephalographchartsforthepreviousmonths.

Emergingwashedanddressed,RhyssabeckonedSaschatofollowherthroughtoheroffice,whichadjoinedherlivingsuite.Sheyawneda.s.shesatdownatherdesk,kineticallypullingsomepencilfilesintoherreach,fanningthemout,andturningeachuntiltheindexcodesidewasvisible.Sheselectedtheoneshewantedandneatlypiledtheothersinfrontofher,codesideoutward,asherfirstselectioninserteditselfinthereplyslot.Simultaneouslythereadernetcameoffitshookandsettledlightlyonherhead.Withonefinger,shepokedtheleftcontactpadagainsthertempleinafinaladjustment.

"Wewon'tfindhimthere,"shesaid,andwasa.s.startleda.s.saschawasthatsheusedagender."Well,IknowatriflemorethanIthoughtIdidfromthatfleetingnudge."

"Asecretlover?"

"Couldbe,"Rhyssamurmured,projectinganimageofaslygrinandacomehitherexpressiondirectedatanamorphousshadow.Althoughhertonewaslight,Saschaperceivedthathersurpriseatmakinganykindofanidentificationwentdeep.

"I'llfollowthrough,"Saschasaid,andleftheroffice.Ashetooktheantigravshaftdownfromhertowertothevastbas.e.m.e.ntcomplexwheremostoftheCenter'strainingandresearchwasconducted,hecarriedwithhimavividmentalpictureofRhyssaOwenatherdesk,thereadernetcoveringherblackhair,aspiderwebbingacrossthewidesilverlockthatshehadhadsinceherearlyteens.Thatstreakgrewbroadereveryyear,andbyherlatethirtiesherhairwouldbeallCelticsilver.Rhyssawouldalwayshaveayoungface,Saschathought,asbothherfatherandherill.u.s.triousgrandfather,DaffydopOwen,hadhad:young,vibrant,withdarkblueeyesthatsparkledandgleamedwithintelligence,humor,anduna.s.sailableenergy.Rhyssawasnearlyastallasthemalesinherfamilyandashadetoothin,sheclothedherlongbonesinelegant,ifoftenbizarrestyles:generallylongflowinggarmentsthatsetheroffinasocietywhichhadstrippedappareltotheminimum.

Shewasnotprettyherfeatures,thoughsmall,weretoounevenandmismatched,herrighteyesocketcantedabovethecheekbone,givingheragamineexpressionthatnoonewhoknewherwouldmisjudge.Hernosehadaslightb.u.mp,makingherprofilelookhaughty,andhermouthwastoogenerousaboveastrongjawline.Still,oneforgotsuchdetailswithinmomentsofmeetingher.Shehadinheritedthefullmeasureofcharismaticpersonality,aswellasthestrongpsionictalents,ofherparentsandofthegrandfatherwhohadbattledtosecurethepositionofTalentsinthepresentsocioeconomicpoliticalatmosphere.

SaschaRoznine,himselfathirdgenerationTalentandyoungerthanRhyssabythreemonths,preferredhiscurrentroleaschieftrainerandrecruiterintheCenter.NotforhimthepettypowerploysthatRhyssacopedwithadmirably,forhehadstruggledallhislifetomanageaquixotictemper.ThenerverackingsessionswithJerhattan'smanagersandallthepicayunedetailsshehadtodealwithwouldhavesethimraginginfiveminutes.Sascha,ontheotherhand,hadimmensepatiencewithemergentTalents,coaxing,cosseting,andcurbing,gentlyallayingtheirdoubtsandbuildingtheirconfidence.WhenRhyssahadoncepointedoutthat,intheirownway,emergentTalentswereasobnoxiousasmanagers,SaschahadrepliedthatatleastTalentslearnedfromtheirmistakes.

ThereweresomanystrengthsandvarietiesofTalent.Oftheprecogs,therewerethosewhocouldforeseeevents,generallythosewhichwouldhaveamajoreffectonalargenumberofotherpeople;thosewhosepresciencewaslimitedtopeopletheykneworwerea.s.signedtowatch;andthosewhoseprecognitionshadaffinitieswithfire,water,malesorfemales,childrentherewasaswideana.s.sortmentoffocuspointsastherewerestrengthsofperception.

TelepathywasthemostcommonTalent,thoughsomepeoplecouldonlyreceivethought,andothersonlysendit.Telempathsfeltemotionsandrespondedtothepervadingones.Atrainedtelempathcouldeitherdampennegativeaurasorreinforcepositiveones,aTalentusefulforalteringthetensioninacrowd,preventingrampagingemotionsfromturninggroupsofpeopleintodisorderlymobs.

FinderswerethoseTalentswhocouldlocatethings,usingonlyafacsimileofthedesireditem,or,inthecaseofamissinghumanoranimal,agarmentorsomeotherpersonalobject.

Telekineticscouldworkonthelargestobjects,orthemostminuteparticlesthatcouldnotbeseenwiththenakedeyeorevenamicroscope,thoughtherehadonlybeenoneknowngeneticmanipulator,RuthHorvath.TelekineticswereinvaluableinsomanywalksoflifethatthosewiththisTalentwereencouragedtohaveasmanychildrenaspossible.

TherarestoftheTalentswerethepureanddoubletelepathslikeRhyssa,whocouldsendandreceivecommunicationsacrosstheworldaslonga.s.shehadmetthepersonshewishedtocontactShecouldpenetrateanymindnots.h.i.+eldedbythethinmetalcapsthenervousworeorbythenaturalmentals.h.i.+eldthatsomenormalpeoplewerebornwith.

Sascha,alsoastrongdoubletelepath,lackedthephenomenalrangethatRhyssapossessed,butheneverresentedherforitOnceherstrengthhadbeenestablishedbyhergrandfather,RhyssahadbeencommittedtoaCenterdirectors.h.i.+pandallitsresponsibilitiesresponsibilitiesthatSaschawouldneverwanttotakeon.Asfarashewasconcerned,RhyssawaswelcometoherTalentHeheardMadlynLuvarobeforehelandedontheshaftcus.h.i.+onatthebas.e.m.e.ntlevel.Shewastryingtobequiet,butshewasa.s.successfulasifshehadbeentapdancingacrossasoundresonantsurface.

Untilyoulearntodampdownyouraura,itwon'twork,Madlyn,hetoldher.Improperflow!Lowpositiveenergyiswhatyouneedtobe"silent."

Dammit,Ithoughtthat'swhatIhad!Hermentalresponsewascontritelydiscouraged.

Saschapushedoutoftheshaftandthereshewas,flattenedagainstthewall.

"Idid'hear'youcoming,"shesaidaloud.

Sasha:Giantstepforward!Madlynwasapowerfulsender,butgenerallyshecould"hear"onlythoseinherimmediatevicinity.

Hetuggedastrandofhertangledmaneofblackhairashepa.s.sed,andshefellintostepbehindhim,herlargeandexpressiveeyesrueful.

Madlynwasavoluptuouseighteenyearoldwithasensualnaturetomatchherappearance.She,andherTalent,hadmaturedatfourteen,andsincethenSaschahadbeenstrugglingtoteachherthenecessarydisciplinethatanyTalenthadtomaster,andthatshewouldcertainlyrequirebeforeherpenetratingmentalshoutcouldbeutilized.

Sirikit'salreadycheckingRhyssa'sGooseggreadings.Saschahadnottriedtodampenhisimmediateconcern.Withsomanytelepathsawareofthealarm,keepingtheinvestigationunderwrapshadbeenimpossible.

SomeoneactuallyintrudedonRhyssa?Madlynprojectedanimageofherselfthrottlingalarge,amorphousintruderandsquas.h.i.+ngitintoalittleballwhichshethenflusheddownthetoilet.

Saschasnorted.MadlynwasquitecapableofattackinganythingthatthreatenedRhyssa.WhointheCenterwasn't?

TheyfoundSirikitalreadyscanningRhyssa'sGooseggencephalographsforthepreviousmonth.Severalwerepausedatthespokingthatindicatedintrusivewakenings.TheGoosegg,initiallydevelopedtomonitortheoddlightflashes.e.xperiencedbyastronauts,wasespeciallysensitiveinregisteringdeltabrainwaves,whichhadbeendiscoveredtobetheseatofparanormalorextrasensoryperceptions.ATalent,trainedtorecognizehisorherownslightmentalalterationpriortoparanormalactivity,slippedonanetthatcouldreadbrainactivity.

ManyTalents,particularlytheprecognitivesandclairvoyants,worethemnightandday.Theywerelightweight,ofastrongfinemeshmatchingthewearer'shaircolor.ThenettransmittedtotheCenter'smainbanks,sothatIncidentsofparanormalactivitycouldbeofficiallyrecorded,studied,andconsulted.Itwasproofpositivetoanyskepticsthattheextrasensoryperceptionsdidoccur.

"LookatRhyssa'srecordings,Sascha.There'snoquestionthattheIncidentshavebeenincreasing,"Sirikitsaida.s.saschastrodetothebankofhorizontalspindlesusedinsuchcomparisons."Firstonethreeweeksago,secondfourdayslater,thenthree,andthispastweekonceanightaboutfourish."

Sasha:Oddtimeforavoyeur!

Sirikit:Withthreequartersofthepopulationasleepinbed.

Madlyn:Insomniac?

Saschasmiled,fornotonlywashermentaltoneappropriatelysoftbutshehadcaughtthequickexchanges.

Sasha:Anadolescentgenerallyhastobepriedfromhissleep.Rhyssathinksit'sanemergentTalent.

Madlyn:YoukeeptellingmethatemergentTalentsfollownorule.

"Anystatisticsoninsomniacs?"Sirikitasked.

"I'llprogramit,"Madlynsaid,flippingherhairbacka.s.sheseatedherselfatamonitor,keyingindirectoriesthatcouldaccessanycomputerbankintheworldunderthespecialconcessionsgrantedtheCenters.Shewasclearedfornormaluse,althoughpa.s.swordswereneededforanysensitivefiles.Madlynmighthavebeenblatantinhers.e.xuality,buthermind,opentoinspectionatalltimes,wasastransparentlyguilelessasachild's."Well,thiswon'tbeproductive.

Anyonecanhaveinsomniacphases.Anxietyisthebiggestcause.

Therearesomepeople,theelderlyinparticular,whocangetalongononlyfourhoursofsleepanight!"Hermentalpicturewasofahorrifiedgrimacesuperimposedonatossingbodyinarumpledbed.

"I'mwreckedwithouteighthours!"

Sirikitleanedbackfromthespools,whichhadallpausedtodisplaythetelltalespokeofintrusion.

Sirikit:Threethirtytofour,predawn,tooearlyformosts.h.i.+ftworkers,evenairandroadhaulers.