The Wings Of Pegasus Part 29

Gordie'sworkingonit!Rhyssadidnotbothertolightenthegrimnessshefelt.

DaveLehardtswungintoRhyssa'stowerofficeattheHennerestatewithinanhouroftheTalents'reluctantacceptanceoftheinevitable.

"MyG.o.d,doyouhavewings?"RhyssacommentedastheenergeticLehardtshookherhand.Hewasafulltwometerstall,athleticinbuild,andheemanatedacompetenceandgenialitythatcouldonlycomefromasecure,welladjustedpersonality.Hewashandsomeenough,withmidbrownhair,blueeyes,andregularbutnotremarkablefeatures,andhedressedwithconservativeelegance.

"Notwings!Vanes!Morereliable,"hesaidwithacharminggrin.

Hebegansortingthroughthepapersinhisattachecase."Gordiesaiditwasurgent,andIwatchthenews."Hestoppedwhenhenoticedherbaffledexpression."What'sthematter?DidIbreakoutinspots?"

"No,butyouhaven'tanounceofTalent,andyououghtto."

"Why?"DaveLehardtshrugged."I'veneverneededit.Astutestudentofhumanpsychologyandkeen.o.bserverofbodylanguage."

Healsohadanimpenetrablenaturals.h.i.+eld.Withallherskill,shecouldnotreadhismind.

"Now,"hesaid,haulingasparechairupbesidehersandspreadingouthardcopyofadvertis.e.m.e.ntsandgraphics,"wegetintherebeforeBarchenkaeventhinksofcrowingintriumph,sothepublicwillseethatTalentsaregraciouslymobilizingallavailablepersonneltobesurePadrugoiPlatformisfinishedonschedulewithphrasesthatimplyshecan'tmakeitonherownwithoutTalentedhelp."

"That'strueenough,"Rhyssasaidgrimly.

"Ah,b.u.t.therearewaysandwaysofsayingthesamething,"DaveLehardtsaidwithatrulymalicioussmile."ItangledbrieflywiththeBarchenkaStonewallforanotherclient,andbelieveme,I'monyourside!"

Rhyssasmiledtoherself.DaveLehardtdidhavesomethinglikeaTalentaselfconfidencethatradiatedfromhimlikeanaura.Shehadnevermetsomeonelikehimbefore:someonewhos.e.m.e.ntalityshecouldnotdelveinto,howeverdiscreetly.Itwasanewexperience,andshefoundherselfwatchinghis.e.xpressiveface,notingthewayhishandsemphasizedpointsandhowheoccasionallyaddedashouldermovementthatreinforcedwhathesaid.Healsokeptglancingather,meetinghereyesasfewnonTalentswould.ClearlyhewasnottheleastbitinaweofbeinginthepresenceofoneofthetoptelepathicTalents.

Oblivioustoherreactions,hewenton."I'vebeenyearningtoscoreonourgracious'Milla."Aflickerofsomequicklysuppressedemotionshotacross.h.i.+sface,butRhyssacouldnotdecipherit."AlloutTalenta.s.sistance,evenattheexpenseoflongestablishedlinkswiththepublicsector,atconsiderablepersonalsacrifice'Milladoesn'tpaythegoingrates,sincehersisaprioritycontractandhasworldwidebacking."

"Shewillnotbelievethatmoneyisnotaconsideration..."

"Areyouawareofthesizeofherbonusifshegetsthestationfullyoperationalontime?"

Rhyssagrinned."OneofthebestkeptsecretsoftheTalents.Wealsoknowthepercentageshehastocoughupifshedoesn't."

"Youarewellinformed!"Hepausedwithahopefulexpressionandthensigheda.s.shemerelysmiled."No,Ididn'tthinkyou'dtellme."Hesnaggedthecornerof.a.graphicsheetfromthepileandspreaditout.

"Toaddressyourtwopoints:sixhours.h.i.+ftsands.h.i.+eldingveryalliterative.I'mgoingtobeabletousethatasaslogan,youknow...Haveyoudemonstratedtheproblem?"

"Howdoyoumean'demonstrated'?"

"Timeandmotionstudies,energyexpendituresthatsortofrecordabledata.Remember,I'veseenyourkineticsinaction,butIdoubtthatLudmillaorevenPerDuomlhavetakenthetroubletowatchthemwork.

They'vebeentoobusyb.i.t.c.hingaboutweightlessnessandthesilenceofs.p.a.cetoappreciatetheeffortkinesisactuallytakes.Ithoughtyoumightnothavethoughtofthatgimmick.SoIhadachatwithaTalentIknowwhowasupontheplatform,andhegavemesomeremarkableinsightsintotheactuals.h.i.+ftmechanics.Theday'smaterielwasproperlyorganized,thekineticcouldputeverythinginplaceforthegruntstolockonandweld.

"Then,thenoiseelement.Samjanransomeofthe'noises'pastme"Hegrimacedandcrossedhiseyesinsympathy."andIthinkifwedidatapesimulationofwhatasensitivehearsinuns.h.i.+eldedquartersandplayeditback..."

"NottoLudmilla.Sheinsiststhereisnonoiseins.p.a.ce."

"She'smoreofaMutethanIam."

"But.i.takeyourpoint.Ihadn'tthoughtofatricklikethat."

"Notrick,mydear,justpresentationandthat'swhereI'mtheexpert."

Hisgrinwasamixtureofimpudenceandmalice.

ForthefirsttimeinherTalentedlife,RhyssafoundherselffascinatedbyaMute,andhalfofthatfascinationwasduetothefactthatshecouldnotpredictwhathewoulddoorsaynext.Itwasfunmatchingwitswithhimduringsubsequentinterviews,givingtheoneroustaskanunexpectedexhilaration.

DaveLehardtwasathersidefortheinitialmeetingwithaBarchenkawhooozedsmugsatisfactionthatshemadenoattempttodisguise.

Rhyssawashardputtoremaincivil.DaveLehardttalkedsofastthattheengineerhadtolistenattentivelytocatchhispoints.PerDuomlwas,asusual,withher,butRhyssahadbeensparedanotherconfrontationwithPrincePhanibal.

"Allwehavehadistalk,emptytalk,"LudmillaBarchenkasaidwhenDavehadexplainedthedualproblemsofshorts.h.i.+ftsands.h.i.+elding.

"Eventhephysicallyimpairedareabletoworkpropers.h.i.+ftsins.p.a.ce:nogravity,nosound!"SheshotanaccusatorylookatRhyssa.

"Ah,but.i.tisnotgravitywhichisaproblem,northevacuum.

LudmillaIvanova,Ihavearrangedademonstration..."

"Ihavenotimefordemonstrations,"theExaltedEngineerstateddismissively."Imustreturntotheplatform.Alreadytherearedelayswhichmustberectified."

"Understood,EngineerBarchenka,"Davesaidsoothingly,withjusttherightamountofrespectandunderstanding."PerhapsPerDuomlwillattend.Thisdemonstrationislikelytoputthebasicproblemsintoproperperspective,andthushelpusallresolvethemainproblemswiththemaximumbenefittoyourproject."

Duomlwouldbemucheasiertodealwithhismindwasnottotallyclosed,althoughhewasasdedicatedtotheprojectasBarchenka.Iftheycouldprovetheirpointstohim,theywouldbehalfwaytovictory.

"Ithinkshe'sdisappointedshedidn'thavetoinvokethatwretchedstatute,"RhyssatoldSaschalater.

"D'youthinkwegaveintooeasily?"heasked."ThenewsquotesBarchenkacallingitthe'cowardlycapitulationoftheeffete."""Lether.IfwecanjustswingDuomltoourside."Rhyssafrowned."Idon'tseewhatelsewecouldhavedone.DaveLehardtisrunningpublicopinionpolls.Onepointisclear:EveryonewantsPadrugoitobefinished,everyonewantssomeoneelsetoworkupthere,andeveryonethinkspeoplewhovolunteerforanythingarecrazy."

Thenextday,DaveLehardtandRhyssaOwentookPersonnelManagerPerDuomltothemostprestigious.e.xercisecomplexinJerhattan,afacilitythatoccupiedthefirstninefloorsofaResidentialzigguratnearCentralPark.Thelargestgymnasiumwa.s.setupwiththreesetsofstressmonitoringparaphernaliaandtechnicians,threepyramidsofstandardsizepackages,aforklift,abevyofimpartialobservers,andtheComplexdirector,MenasheratibnMalik,whohadbeenamultipleOlympicgoldmedalistforfourtimesrunning.

PerDuomlwa.s.suitablyimpressedbyibnMalik.SowasRhyssa,forthemanexudedphysicalvitalityandcompetence.HealsohadnomoreTalentthanDaveLehardt,whoappearedwellacquaintedwithhim.Davestoodby,aslightsmileonhisface,whileibnMalikacceptedPerDuoml'shomageandconversedamiablywithhim.

"Now,ManagerDuoml,"theComplexdirectorsaid,gesturingtothethreemenwhoenteredfromtheside.Strippeddowntotheirshorts,theywereallfestoonedwithwires,whichwereinturnhookeduptothemachines."LetmeintroduceyoutoPavelKorl,bronzemedalistinheavyweightboxing;ChasHuntley,aforkliftoperatorwithInternationalCanning;andRickHobson,thekinetic."

RhyssawasalmostasbemusedasPerDuomlasibnMalikmadetheintroductions.KorlandHuntleywerebigmen,toweringoverDuomlandcertainlymakingRickHobson,whowasaverageinheightandbuild,lookinsignificant.

"Now,ifyouwouldcaretocheckthemovablesineachpile,ManagerDuoml,toa.s.sureyourselfthattheyareequalinweight..."

Duomlcomplied,anditwasclearthathehadtostruggletoliftanyofthem.

"Thenonceourguineapigs'wiresaredoublechecked,wecanstartthetestwhichisrathersimple.Bymuscle,bymachine,andbymind,oursubjectswilltransfertheirpilesacrossthefloor.Theenergylevelsrequired,thestressfactors,andcaloriesconsumedwillbedisplayedonthemonitors.Now,"ibnMaliksaid,movingtothebigscreensetinthewallforuseatsportingevents,"onPadrugoi,threemenwillbedoingexactlythesameinQhangar."Hespokeintohiscollarmike.

"Ifyou'rereadyupatPadrugoi?"Thebigscreenlitupwithascenenotdissimilartotheonearoundthem,exceptthatallthemenwores.p.a.cesuits."Ins.p.a.ce,ourhands.h.i.+fterisJesusManrique,thelifterisoperatedbyGinnyStanley,andthekineticisKevinClark.Areyouallready?Onyourmarks"Thegoldmedalistraisedhisarm."Getsetgo!"Hisarmcamedown,andtheactivityonthegymfloorandin(_hangarcommenced."Thistestwilllastanhour,"heinformedPerDuoml,gesturingfortheobserverstotakeseatstooneside.

Afterthefirstfewminutes,PerDuomlstoppedwatchingtheburlyfigureofKorlmanhandlingthepackagesdownthefloor,orHuntleyzippingbackandforthontheloader.HekepthiseyeseitheronRick,whohadseatedhimselfatatableand,withnovisibleeffort,keptasteadystreamofpackagesflowing,orontheplatformkinetic,whowasdoinghisworkwhileleaningagainstastanchion.OccasionallyDuomlflickedalookatthemonitorschatteringouttheirhardcopy.

BothTalentsworkedtheirwaythroughtheirpilesinhalfthetimeittooktheothers.Theinstrumentationprovedthattheyhadexpendedhalf.a.gainasmuchenergyanduseduptwiceasmanycalories.

Whenthetesthadbeencompleted,DaveLehardtstrippedthehardcopysheetsfromallsixprinters.Neatlyfoldingthem,hehandedth.e.s.h.eaftoPerDuoml,whotookitwithoutaword.Thetestsubjectswereallthankedandleftthegym,RickHobsonthrowingRhyssaanimpudentwinkashewalkedby.

"Youwill,ofcourse,wishtoa.n.a.lyzetheresultsofthistestwithyourownmotionexperts,ManagerDuoml,"DaveLehardtsaid,"butI'msureyourecognizedthefactthatweightlessnessgrantsn.o.bonusestothekinetic.Astothenoisefactor..."Thepublicisttookacompactrecorderfromhis.h.i.+ppocketandthumbediton.

Atthebabelandsqueaksandmetallicgroans,PerDuomlcoveredhisearsindefenseandstaredinshockatRhyssa.

"Thatiswhatasensitive'hears'onthestation,"Davesaid,raisinghisvoiceandinsertinghiswordsinbetweentheworstofthenoise.

Itwasafairselection,representingthestreamsofconsciousnessofeightymentalities:resentments,complaints,shouts,pains,angers,andmyriadmetallicnoisesthatsomeofthekineticsendured."Withtenthousandpeoplelivinguptherealready,thementalnoiseisneverending.Soallthatgarbageisaconstantsecondarydrainontheirnerves,reducingtheirefficiencyiftheyhavenorespitefromitins.h.i.+eldedquarters."

Havingsetthedecibelrateherself,RhyssaknewthatcoveringhisearsgaveDuomlfrailprotection,butshedidnotreducethevolumeuntilDavehadfinishedhislittlespeech.

"Iseethatyouhadn'trealizedjustwhatwemeantbynoise,"shesaidfinally."b.u.t.thecostofs.h.i.+eldingpersonnelquartersforthekineticsisgoingtobelessthanthecostofmateriellostordamagedduetotiredminds."

"Youhavemadeyourpoints,"PerDuomlsaidwithagrimexpression."IshallpresentthemtoLudmillaBarchenka."

"Presentthemandinsuretheirimplementation,PerDuoml,andyouwillhavethekinetica.s.sistanceyourequire.Oh,andoneotherminorpoint,"sheadded,smilingtotakethestingout."Barchenkaistorelayallorderstothekineticsthroughtheregularchannels.WewillhavenomoreofherroustingTalentsoutoftheirquartersatinappropriatehoursandinsistingon'extraduty'becauseherscheduleistwominutesoutofline!HaveImademyselfclearonthatpoint?"

Henodded,his.e.xpressionsolemn.

RhyssahopedhecouldconvinceBarchenka.

Chapter6.

"No,please!"PeterReidingercriedastheelectricianwasabouttodisconnectthetridintheward.Hiscrywasechoedbytheotherchildren.

"Look,kids,there'ssomekindoffreakydrainonthehospital'spowersupply,andwe'vefinallytracedittothisward.Igottafixit,orsomeofyoursupportsystemswillG.o.downwhentheyshouldn't,"theelectriciansaidwithahintofexasperationinhistone.

"No,wait,please,"Petersaid."Theprogram'sallaboutthes.p.a.ceplatformandtheTalents."

"Huh?"Theelectriciantookabetterlookatthemonitor.

"It'llonlybeafewminutes!Justthenewscast!"Peterpleaded.

"Wal,Iguess""Shhhh,"Peterinterrupted,strainingtohearthecommentator.NotthathereallyneededthevoiceovertoidentifythesceneastheestateofthelateGeorgeHenner,oneoftheearliestsupportersoftheparapsychics.Asthecamerapannedacrossthetreesandlawns,theboywa.s.startledbytheplace'seeriefamiliarity.Thiswastheplacehehadsoughtaplaceoftranquilgreeneryandhugeoldtreesandvinecoveredbuildings.Theplacethathadscaredhimaway.

Andnowheknewwhy.Theywouldnotwanttohavetheirprecinctinvaded.Theyneededtheirprivacytodoallthewonderfulthingstheydid.LikehelptofinishthelastthreespokesofthePadrugoiPlatformsothatmankindcould,atlast,reachforthestars.

"It'snotonlytheTalentedwh.o.a.remakingasacrifice,"thecommentatorwenton,stillstandinginthatmarvelousoasis,"forIndustryandCommercehavegrantedleaveofabsencetotheirTalentedemployeestoa.s.sistwiththisfinalpushouttos.p.a.ce.PlatformManagerLudmillaBarchenkaannouncesthatthemostambitiousworldprojectyetundertakenwillbecompletedonschedule.AndnowtoothernewsintheJerhattandistrict..."

"Okay,mister,"Petersaid,relaxingagainsthisframe."That'swhatwewantedtosee."

"You'renotlookingforacareerins.p.a.ce,areyou?"theelectricianasked,halfteasing.Hewasalwaysalittlenervousaroundkidswhoweresobadlyinjured.

Peterc.o.c.kedhisheadathim."Whynot?Withnogravity,Iwouldn'tbestuckinthisframe,andapushofmytoeormylittlefinger"Hewaggledthetwoextremities,whichwere,aftermonthsoftherapy,allhecouldmove."Icouldfloatabout."

"Yeah,Iguessyoucould.Now,nurse,canIstartwiththisframe?"

theelectricianasked,gesturingtothemultipletaskingdevicethatgavePeterwhatindependencehehadinhiscondition.

"Yes,it'stimeforPeter'sbodybracesessionanyway,"SueRomerosaid.

"C'mon,Peter."

"Aw,doIhaveto?Couldn'tIwatchwhathedoes?"

"No,themomentforpositivethinkinghascome.Letmeseethatlimbicsystemsmileonyourface."

Peterhatedthebodybraceandthemorning's"torturesession,"ashementallycategorizedthetherapy.Hefeltheavyintheframe,hisbodymorelifelessthanever."Butsee,Icanmovemybigtoeandmylittlefinger.Please..."

"Hey,whatthe?"theelectricianexclaimed.Thediagnosticreaderhehadjusthookeduphadunexpectedlyregisteredablip.

WhilePetergamelyconcentratedonhisbodybracedrills,theelectriciancheckedoutthebed'swiring,butexceptforthatonebriefblip,hecouldfindnoshort,nodysfunctioninanyofthecircuitry.

BythetimeanexhaustedPeterwasbackinhisbed,theelectricianhaddoneathoroughtestofallthespecializedtreatmentelectronicsintheward.Baffledbythecontinualsurgesontheward'scircuits,themanleftasmallmonitorattachedtotheonepieceofequipmentthathadregisteredanabnormality,slightthoughithadbeen,andleft.

PeterknewbyherfacethatSueRomerowasdisappointedinhim.Hedidtrytomakehisbodyrememberhowtomove.Theframesentelectricalimpulsesintohisatrophiedmuscles,thetheorybeingthatthelittlejoltswouldrestimulateneuralandmuscularactivity.Hehatedthatintrusionintohisbodyevenmorethanhehatedbeingparalyzed.

"Peter,ifyouwouldonlystopresistingthemechanism,"Suesaidreproachfully."Ifyouwouldonlygowithit,insteadofdenyingthehelpitcouldgiveyou.Youcould,youknow,evengettotheplatform.

Yourschoolworkwas.e.xcellentthere'dbenoproblemwiththeeducationalend..."Shetrailedoff,fightingherowndispiritedness.

Sometimeswiththeverybadlydamagedchildren,shefeltshewaspoundingatthewellknownimmovableobjectgenerally,asinPeter'scase,thechilditself.

Theboywas.e.xhausted,eyesclosed,armsandlegssprawledjustashehadbeenrolledoutofthebodybrace.SueRomerocouldnotaffordtopityhimitwasunprofessionalandhelpedneitheroftheminhisrehabilitationbutshedid.a.s.sheturnedaway,shethoughthewa.s.sleeping.ShewouldhavebeenamazedtolearnthathewasreviewingthatvisionoftheCenter,withitstreesandlawnsand...RhyssaOwen.

Thatnight,Rhyssawaswakeful,goingoverandoverthattelecast.Shehadfeltgoodabout.i.tduringfilming.DaveLehardthaddonehisjobwell.Theywould,ofcourse,havetowaituntilopinionshadbeensampled,butRhyssafeltthatBarchenkawascomingoutapoorsecondatthemoment,despiteherapparenttriumphatthecowardlycapitulationoftheeffeteTalents.RhyssafrettedthatshehadsomehowweakenedtheconsolidatedstrengthofTalentsandwonderedhowshecouldrectifywhatwa.s.still,inthemindsofmostTalented,anuntenablepositionwithBarchenkagettingherway.

Shefeltthenthegossamertouchenvious,yearning,wistfulandsoterriblysadthatasobcloggedherthroat.

Wait,littlefriend,shemurmuredinthesoftestoftones.

Saywhat?Withthevoicecamemixedimpressionsofstartlement,senseofapologydenialrejection,andanastringentsmell.Andthenthetouchtimorousandreluctantwasgone.

Rhyssatriedtofollow,hertouchfeathersoft,b.u.t.theretreathadbeentooswift,likeaflickerofshadowacrossthemoonlightoutsideherwindow.Shemadeaquicknoteofthetime:3:43.Thenshelaytheresavoringthattouch,examiningit,lettingherperceptiona.n.a.lyzeit.

Suchswiftnesssuggestedayoungmindnooldthoughtsorexperiencestoslowtheinstantaneityofaction.Aboyonaprank...Aboy?Doinganoutofbodymaneuver?Aboyinahospitalyes,ahospitalwouldaccountfortheastringentodorhismovementconstrainedsothatonlyhismindcouldtravel?

ThatfitthepiecestogethersoperfectlythatRhyssagotoutofbedandpacedovertotheconsole.

"Bud,IwantacallouttoallhospitalTalents,"shesaid,unabletokeeptheelationoutofhervoice.

"Thepeepercaughtyouagain?"

"That'sright.Anadolescentboy,quitelikelycrippledorparalyzed.