The Wings Of Pegasus Part 30

Iwanttoseewhowasawakeonthewardsatthreeforty-threethismorning."

"Thelastthingyouneedtonightissomepimplefacednerdrousingyou."

"Onthecontrary,Bud,Ithinkthat's.e.xactlywhatIdidneed.Ayoungsterabletogooutofbody?He'sgottohavefantasticpotential."

"Forwhat?"Budworthwantedtoknow.

"That,"Rhyssasaidwithasurgeofhope,"iswhatwe'llhavetofindout."

a.s.sheclimbedbackintobed,shehadalottothinkaboutbeforeshecouldcomposeherselfforsleep.HowlonghaditbeensinceanewTalentthatstronghadbeenidentified?AndwhatsortofaTalentwasit?Evenstrongtelepathydidnotleaveanimage,howevertransparent.

Anewtypeofkinesis?Veryfewkineticscouldmovethemselves!

Inanimateobjects,yes,butanimateones,no.Mostoutofbodyexperiencesweretheresultsoftraumasanduselessinacommercialsenseandtheoristsstillarguedoverwhethertheoutofbodyphenomenonwasakineticmanifestationorastrongtelepathicprojection.

Justremember,shetoldherselfthat.i.twasthecommercialapplicationsofTalentsthatprovideduswithlegalimmunities,goodjobs,andspecialstatusforthepastfourscoreyears...andletusgetmarvelouslycomplacent.Maybeitwasn'treally"noise"thatevenkineticsheardins.p.a.cebutsomeotherformofinterstellarcommunication,amultilingualgarblethattheywerepickingup.Openyourmindup,gal.Lookaroundyou.LookatDaveLehardt.HehastobeTalented,evenifitwon'tregisteronaGoosegggraph.

Why,RhyssaOwen,sheaskedherself,doesDaveLehardthavetobeTalented?

Andthatwasthequandaryshefussedovera.s.shefinallyslippedintoanuneasysleep.

"Idiscoveredsomeinterestingnewfacetsofemploymentontheplatform,"DaveLehardttoldRhyssainherofficetwodayslater.

"Cameoutinfurthertalkswithmyplatformcontact,Samjan,andafewjudiciousinquiries."Hegaveherahumorlessgrin."Thecasualties.

""Yes,thetotalishorrific."Rhyssashuddered."Butworkingins.p.a.cetherewereboundtobesome."

"Some?"Daveraisedhiseyebrows."Some,yes,butwhenIcheckedwithJohnnyGreeneinAltenbach'soffice,wefoundseveraldifferentsetsoffiguresonthecasualtyrate."

Rhyssastraightened.WhenDavehadarrivedunexpectedly,shehadbeenbusyreshufflingtherotasoftheCenter'skinetics,steelingherselftoenduretheirunderstandablereproachesandarguments.Anyinterruptionwaswelcome.

"ThenIgotJGandSamjantogether,andtheybothdidabitofresearch,"hewenton,"and,usingtheirsecurityclearances,theycameupwithwhatwethinkaretherealstatistics."His.e.xpressionwasbleak,andtherewasastillnessabouthisbodythatforewarnedher.

"YouknowhowtheunemployedareterrifiedtobeconscriptedtoPadrugoi?TheymaynotbeTalented,b.u.t.they'vegotaninstinctaboutbaaaaaadsituations.Theyhavegoodreasonnottowanttogetconscripted.Shelosesgruntsatafrighteningratefarbeyondtheallowable.ThemajorreasonisbecauseBarchenka'ssob.l.o.o.d.ymindedaboutkeepingherSacredSchedules,shewon'tinterruptas.h.i.+fttoretrievedrifters!"

Tobesuresheunderstoodhismeaning,Rhyssaunconsciouslytriedtoreadhismind.Itwaslikestubbinghertoeonastairriserandsheblinked."Runthatpastmeagain,please,Dave,"sheasked,strugglingwithconfusionatherinabilitytoreadhimthewayshewasusedtoreadingmostofherfriends.

"Surelyyou'veseenthepromotionalfootage,"hesaid,"withthegruntssuitedupandpus.h.i.+ngginormoussectionsofaspokewiththetipsoftheirfingersorasparefoot?"

"Yes..."

"Intherealworkingsituation,notthatmockuptheydidforrecruitment,aworker'llpushtoohard,andwitheveryactioncausingareactionins.p.a.ce,thepoorsodgoesspinningoffintothedarkdeeps."

"Yes..."

"Well,Barchenkadoesn'tstopworktorescuethem.Oh,no,anyonethatstupidhastowaituntilthes.h.i.+ftisoverbeforehisbuddiesareallowedtogoafterhim.Thatis,ifaskiffisavailable,andifthebod'sbeentracked."

Appalledatthevividscenehiswordsevoked,Rhyssastaredathim.

"Isthispublicknowledge?"

Hegaveheracynicallook."Whydoyouthinkthegruntsnevertakesurfaceleave?It'snotthefactthatthey'repaidsolittlethattheycan'taffordsurfaceleave,orthatthere'snoavailables.p.a.ceonshuttlesformeregrunts,orthatthey'reunlikelytohaveanyfamilytovisitonEarth.It'sthatthey'replainnotallowedbackdowntotellanyonewhat'shappening.Thegruntsarealsosegregatedsothateventheobservantamongthemoreeliteemployeesdon'tknowexactlywhat'sgoingon.IttookbothJGandSamjanandsomelongprograma.n.a.lysestopiecefactoutofthepubliclyavailablefictions."

"Butalltherecruitmentfilmsshowsafetylinesand..."PartofRhyssacrowedwithdelightatdiscoveringBarchenkaresortingtoveryquestionabletactics,whileanotherpartbalkedattheenormityofthecrime.

"That'sprom.o.f.ootage,mydeardirector.Thetheoryisgreat.Inpractice,Barchenkadispensedwithsafetylinestheykeptgettingtangledinequipment,slowingdownherpreciousworkschedule.Sosafetylinesareas.p.a.cemyth.

"AndBarchenkaha.s.suchsavingways."DaveLehardtperchedhisleanframeontheedgeofherdesk."Forinstance,wediscoveredbyana.n.a.lysisofrecordsthatasuitedgruntisgivenonlyenoughairinhistanksforthats.h.i.+ftandmaybeasniffortwoleftover.Oh,there'splentyofsafetyregsfortheengineersandsupervisorsandskilledtechniciansbutnotthegrunts.Shedoesn'tcarewhathappenstothem.

There'replentymorewheretheycamefrom."

Rhyssawasoutraged."Youjustvalidatedmyinstinctsaboutthatwoman.Lawbed.a.m.ned,Iwon'taskmykineticstofacesuchrisks!"

Davegaveasnort."They'refartoovaluabletoberisked.There'dbetoomuchofastinkkickedupifadriftingTalentwasn'tretrievedrightthen.Overworked,yes.Samjanconfirmedthenotionthateighthours.h.i.+ftsareanotherplatformfallacy.

"Ontopofthatconspicuoussavingsofconsumables,Iuncoveredseveralotherlittleanomalies:gruntsuitshavelimitedrangecomunits.Theycan'tbeheardshriekingforhelp!Mightdisturbtheirfellowworkers."

Rhyssastaredathimaghast.

"There'salsoahighincidenceof.a.goraphobiaamongthegruntsandgenuines.p.a.cecafard.Butailinggruntsarenevertransferreddown.

Theyjustdisappear!Accidentaldeath!Neversuicide!Alwaysaccidental.Afterall,"hesaid,takingonamockRussianaccent,"everyoneknowshowdangerousitistoignoresafetywarningsandprocedures.AndthenthereappearstobeaneatlittlesystemwhichcausesunexpectedcasualtiesduringtheroutinedrillstheysoconspicuouslyholdfromtimetotimeonPadrugoi."Davepausedagain.

"Checkingthroughmedicalrecords,itbecomesapparentthattheunfortunatevictimsofthosedrill'accidents'arealwayseithertheinjuredortheheadcases."

"Oh,myG.o.d,Dave!"Rhyssapropelledherselffromherchairtopaceagitatedlyupanddownthetowerroom."Whyhaven'tanyoftheprecogscaughtthis?"

"AccordingtoyourbriefsummaryonTalents'capabilities,precogsusuallylatchontolargenumbers,Rhyssa.Thereareneverenough""Numericsisnoexcuse!"Rhyssawa.s.surprisedbyavehemencethatansweredthedespairinhisvoice.Shewonderedifhismind,too,wasfilledwithfacelessforms,twistingandturningins.p.a.ce,driftingfartherandfartherfromthenetworkoflightsthatwastheoasisofairandwarmthintheblackness,andaviolentshudderseizedher.

Awarmhandcuppedhershoulder."Easy!Talentspreadsitselfthinenoughasitis.You'renotG.o.d,orG.o.ds,tomarkeachsparrow'sfall."

Sheblinkedandlookedupathim.Thoughhismindwasasclosedtoherasever,thesympathyandunderstandinginhiswarmblueeyeswasobvious.ShewouldnottellhimthatTalentsgenerallydislikedtactilecontactsurprisinglyenough,shehaddiscoveredthatshelikedhimtouchingher.

"Armedwiththisinformation,however,youcanspreadBarchenkaoverabarrel."Hisvoicewa.s.softandteasing."IfyouseewhatImean.

Or,maybeyouTalentsaretoosimonpuretoloweryourselvestooutrightblackmail."

"NotwhenthelivesandsafetyofmyTalentsareatrisk,I'mnot,"Rhyssadeclaredstoutly."Nottomentionthosepoorsodswho'venotevenbeengivenhalfachancetosurvive.I'llinsistonshorts.h.i.+ftsands.h.i.+elds,andwe'llincreasethatantetosafetylinesforeveryoneworkingontheplatformandthedeploymentofrescueskiffs.Ordoskiffshavelimitedpowerandaironthem,too,soastosavecosts?"

Hecrossedhisarmsonhischest,grinningather."YourTalentswouldn'tbeatriskanyway,unlessI'vemisunderstoodtheircapabilities.There'snowayBarchenkacanpullthesametricksonhemthatshedoeswiththepoorgrunts.Andunlessyourresponseisuniqueamongyourilk,Ican'tseeyourfolkstandingbyforsomeofhertricks,oncetheyknowwhattolookfor.Someofthekineticsaretelepaths,aren'tthey?"

"Quiteafew."Rhyssagaveasardonicchuckle."Afactwehaven'tactuallymentionedtoBarchenka,whoseunderstandingofTalentisseverelylimited."

Daveletoutabarkoflaugh."Notthewholetruthnorevenhalfthetruth,huh?Goodgirl,Rhyssa!"Heplayfullyknuckledherchin."Isdistanceaproblem?Orthevacuumofs.p.a.ce?"WhenRhyssashookherhead,hewenton."Well,youguyscouldsurebepopularwiththegruntsbecauseyou"hewaggledhisfingerather"couldbetheirinsurance.ATalentcouldhaulbackadrifter,couldn'the?Withoutaskingforpermissionduringhiss.h.i.+ft,orwaitingforaskiff?"Hegaveherabroadsmile."That'llhelpalotofways.d.a.m.nedgoodPR,too.Thebest,becauseitprovesthattheTalentswillhelptheordinarygruntwhereBarchenkajustsimplyhasn't!"

Rhyssasuddenlyturnedaway,notwantingDavetoseeherexpression.

Sascha?shecalled.I'vejustfoundtheperfectjobforMadlyn!Tellyoulater!

Icanreadyourevilmind,Saschasaid,andshe'snotevenonthelistfortheplatform.

Sheis,asofrightnow,Rhyssareplied.HowoftenhaveyousaidthatMadlyncouldbeheardatthes.p.a.ceplatform?We'lljustput.i.ttothetest!

ShesmoothedherexpressionandlookedupatDaveLehardt,whowaseyeingherkeenly.

"Whowereyoutalkingtojustthen?Anddon'tholdoutonme.I'mgettingusedtoyourways,woman!"Hisvoicerippledwithanoddemotion,andThegleaminhiseyesintensified.

Rhyssa'sgrinwashalfembarra.s.smentathisscrutinyandhalfdelightwithherinspiration."We'vegotatelepathwithanextraordinarilyloudvoice.We'llsendherupinanadministrativecapacity.Putheronaradarscope,andshe'lllocateandrea.s.sureanydriftersforthenearestkinetictohaulbacktosafety."

"Lady,youdon'trealizewhatadifferencethatcouldmaketomoraleupattheplatform."Dave'sgrinwa.s.soinfectiousthatRhyssahadtogrinback."NotonlyisBarchenkaunawarethatshe'sherownworstenemy,butherignoranceaboutTalentingeneralwillpreventherfromrealizingthatshe'sjusthiredabattalionofundercoveragents."

"That'sthebeautypart!"Rhyssasaid,grinningmorebroadly."DoesDuoml?OrPrincePhanibal?"

DaveLehardtconsideredbriefly."PrincePhanibalmight,buthe'snotontheplatformasmuchlatelysomecrisisinMalaysiathatoccupiesalotofhistime.Besides,Ireadhimasbeingjustorneryenoughnottotellhersomethingascrucialatthistimeforth.e.s.h.eerpleasureofwatchinghersquirm.Nowwhat'sthisemergencyclauseLanceBadenwantsaddedtothecontracts?"

"Incaseofamajoremergency,wemustbeabletobringTalentsbackdown.YourememberthefloodslastmonsoonontheIndiancontinentandthatmajorshakeinAzerbaijan?Weknewabouteachofthemtendaysbefore,sowewereabletomusterhelpandreducetheeffectofthecatastrophe.Sendingherahundredandfortyfourkineticshaswipedoutourdisastersquadorganization.WewantatwentyfourhourclausetobringkeypersonnelbacktoEarthintimetocopehere."

"Can'tyouteleport'emdown?"

Rhyssalaughed."No,more'sthepity.OurTalentsarefinite,definite,andnowherenearsuchafantasyapplicationasinstantaneoustransmissions.Thattakesmorepowerthanahumanbraincangenerate."

"IthoughttheMoralCodeonlegitimatebioengineeringpermitted""Holditrightthere,Dave."Rhyssaheldupawardinghand.

"ReadtheCode:congenitaldefects,yesmanipulations,no.AndIdoubtanygeneticengineerwouldmonkeywiththebrainyet-evenamonkey'sbrain."

"Ifyoucanfindone.Thoughdon'tyouthinkit'slikelythatsomeonehasbeendoingillicitexperimentation,theworldbeingwhat.i.tisthesedays?"

"That'scynicalofyou,Dave."

"Sometimessayingnoisregisteringachallenge,"herepliedwithashrug."Iwouldn'truleoutthepossibility."

"Meanwhile,"Rhyssasaid,bringingthediscussionfirmlybacktorelevantmatters,"I'dverymuchliketoseeafullreportonwhatJGandSamjanhavebeendiscoveringaboutplatformpersonnelproblems."

Davegrinned,takingthreediskettesfromabreastpocket."Ithoughtyoumight.Givesyouastrongerbargainingpositionfors.h.i.+elds,shorts.h.i.+ft""Safetylinesandskiffs,"Rhyssafinished,takingthediskettesbutlettingherfingerslingeronhisalittlelongerthanthetransactionsrequired."Ithankyou,sir."WhatonearthwashappeningtoherinDaveLehardt'spresence?ShefeltasgiddyasasMadlyncouldbeinSascha'scompany.

WhenPerDuoml,PrincePhanibals.h.i.+maz,andtwootherminorofficials,oneofthemtheaccommodationsofficer,arrivedtosettletheminordetails,DaveLehardthadanotherpresentationthatalteredtheproceedings.Rhyssa,sittingwithMaxPerigeaux,GordieHavers,andLanceBaden,foundthemeetingeminentlysatisfying.

ShowingtheaccuratefatalitystatisticsfiguresthatbleachedallcolorfromthefacesofDuomlandtheprinceDaveLehardttalkedknowledgeablyofsomeofthe"minor"problemsthattheTalentswouldbewillingtoundertake,suchastheretrievalofanysuitedworkers.e.xperiencing"malfunctionofsuitjets,"andtelepathiccontact"withthoseusingshortrangecomunits,"plusmonitoringsystems;theywouldalsoincludeamongtheTalentstwowithbroaddiagnosticcapabilities.Davepointedoutthatthesavingsonskifffuelandmanhoursrequiredforretrievalwouldmorethancompensateforthecostofs.h.i.+eldingrequiredinTalentaccommodations.

Norwasthereanydiscussionabouttheemergencyclause.LanceBadenannouncedthathewastobeTalentliaisonwiththeengineeringstaffandthatwasthat.

Andwhatweretheysayingaboutcowardlycapitulations?Lancecommented.

Rhyssawa.s.sowearyfromacc.u.mulatedstressesthatsheexperiencednoelationathavingforcedeverysingleconcessionoutofthePadrugoiofficials.Shewantednothingmorethanaquietsupperandsomementalpeace.PerDuomlhadanaturals.h.i.+eldb.u.t.theotherprojectrepresentativesatthemeetinghadnot,andwhentheirinitialeuphoriaatcoercingTalentsontotheworkforcewasburstbyhardfactsandfiguresandcompromises,theiremotionalresponsesofanger,horror,andembarra.s.smenthadbeenhardtodeflect.

Sascha:I'veclearedeveryoneoutofthefirstfloor.Relax!

Rhyssa:Oh,youareapet!

Sascha:Lotofgooditdoesme!ButsheknewhewasonlyteasingRhyssaenteredtheHennerhouse,appreciativeofthedeepsilenceintheelegantlyappointedrooms.VerylittlehadbeenalteredfromthedaysofGeorgeHenner,theparapsychics'firstbenefactor:allhadbeenlovinglypreservedinhismemory.Thesubterraneanoffices,theannexes,andhertowerweremodern,withstateofthearttechnology,b.u.t.themainreceptionroomswereremindersofmoreleisurelytimes.Thekitchen,wheremodernappointmentswerehiddenbehindoldfas.h.i.+onedcupboards,exudedanauraofcomfort.i.twa.s.s.p.a.cious,withanarchaicbutworkingfireplace,ahugetable,andcomfortablechairs.Thediningportionfacedontothegardensattherearofthemainhouse,brightwithbloomsandbushes.

Somethoughtfulkinetichadactivatedthekettle.Shemadeherselfacupoftea,foundsandwichesinthecrisper,andkickingoffhershoes,curledupinoneofthewingchairs.

Therewa.s.somethingamazinglyrestorativeaboutlookingoutontothegarden,watchingtheflowersmoveinthelightbreeze.Shesethermindadrift,savoringthequiet,despitethedeepseatednaggingpresentiment.

"I'mnotaprecog,"shetoldherselfandsippedhertea."WhatIamfeelingisjustreactiontothelastfewhecticdays.Aquitenaturaldepression."

Thenshefeltthetouch,onceagaincoloredwithwistfulnessandadeepsadnessthatpiercedhertotheheart,makingherownmalaiseseeminsignificant.

Shedarednotreachoutforfearofstartlingtheboy.Boyhewas,anddespairing.Hadhertransitoryuneasetriggeredaresponsefromhimmidday?Orwasithisneedseekingconsolation?Whatcouldsodesolateayoungperson?Onecouldenduredetachedmiserytragedyhappeningatadistancetopeopleonehadnevermetb.u.t.tofeelthepalpitatingmiseryofanotherpersonwasanintenseexperience.

Delicatelysheimpingedontheboy'smind,hopingtogainsomecluetohiswhereabouts.Hewasdreadingsomething,andtheyearningfortreesandlawnandflowersandsomeplacethatwasnothospitalhadprecipitatedthenebulouscontact.Andhermind,lesscontrolledtha.n.u.sualinitsweariness,hadattractedhis.Dreadingwhat?Sheinsertedthequestion.

Thebodybrace!

Rhyssahadnotexpectedananswer.Shetriedtokeepthelightestofcontacts,though,oddlyenough,hefeltverycloseatthatmoment.

Isn't.i.tmeanttohelp?sheaskedcautiously.

Itdoesn't.Ithurts.It'sartificial,it'sawful.It'sacage.Thebedisbadenough.Idon'twantto.Idon't--wantto!

Awailfromthedepthofaforlornandcomfortlessmindreachedherthenitwasabruptlycutoff.

Wegotanotheroneofthosesurgesthisafternoonusuallyweget'ematnight,"thehospital'smaintenancemansaidashehelduptheprintouttotheconsultantengineerwhomtheconcernedhospitaladministrationhadfinallycalledin.

Theengineerpeeredatthepeak,asuddensharpdeviationlastingseventytwoseconds.Heaskedfortheotheranomaliesandwaspresentedwithfurtherexamples."Shouldn'tbeanydrainonthesystemsatthreefortythree,threeohthree,threefiftytwo,orthreethirteen.

You'vecheckedalltheequipment?"

"Iputmetersonseveralfloors.GotabliponPedOrthWardTwelvewhenIwasinstallingit.SoItookeverythingapartonthatwardandtherewasn'tnothingmalfunctioning.CraziestthingI'veeverseen.

AndyouknowhowAdminiswhenyougotoutagesandanomalieswithallthemlifesupportsystemshookedup.Funnythough,nothingintheICUs."

"Okay,screenmeyourschematicsforalltheequipmentonPedOrthandseewhat'sbeingusedthere."Theengineersighedheavilyhecouldseeitwasgoingtobeoneofthosedays.

AstiraroundthebedsinthecircularwardalertedPeterReidinger,andheblinkedawaythescreenthatblockedhisview.Averyoldladystoodinthedoorway,MizAllenhoveringwithher"you'dbetterbehave"lookonherfacea.s.sheglancedaroundthewardtobesureeverythingwasinorderforthevisitor.

InstantlyPeter'sattentionwasrivetedonthelady.Shewasdifferent.ThatbecamemoreapparenttohimasMizAllenbegantointroducehertothekidsintheward.Cecilyevensmiledandansweredthelady.Cecilywasaspinabifidacasewho"ought"tohavebeencorrectedinuterobuthadnotbeen.Osteomyelitishadcausedhertohaveonelegamputated,andherrecoveryfromthatoperationwasveryslow.Sherarelyopeneduptootherpeopleandparticularlynottostrangerssoherresponsetotheoldladywasaminormiracle.Peterwasinasweatofantic.i.p.ationbythetimetheladyreachedhim.

"ThisisPeterReidinger,Ms.Horvath."ThewayMizAllenc.o.c.kedherrighteyebrowtoldPeterthathehadbetterbehavehimself.

Ms.Horvathjustsmileddownathim,hereyestwinkling,andtheywerenotatallold,orrheumy,orhard.Hewonderedsheletherselflooksoold.

IpromisedmyhusbandthatIwouldgrowoldgracefully,shestartledhimbysaying.ThatwayIwouldn'tsurprisepeoplesomuchwhenIdon'tactmyage.

Petergoggledather.Shehadnotmovedherlipsandyethehadheardhervoiceclearlyinhismind.

"Peter..."MizAllenpromptedhim.