The Wings Of Pegasus Part 32

"I'llhelpasmuchasIcan,"DoroteatoldRhyssa,alookofresigneddisappointmentonherface,"butIameightyfour,andI'vesloweddownalot."Thenshesmiledwithbrightmischief."Ofcourse,I'vealwayslikedcookingforamaleappet.i.te.Andhe'llbeabletodomostthingsforhimselfinshortorder.I'msureofit.IknowastrongTalentwhenIb.u.mpmindswithit."

SoRhyssa,Dorotea,andSaschamadealittleceremonyofaddingPeterReidinger'snametotheRegistryofTalentsattheEasternCenter.

Peterwa.s.stillnotquitecertainofhisgreatgoodfortune.RickHobson,whowasempathicaswellaskinetic,monitoredthekineticaspects;DonUsenik,theCenter'sversatilemedic,keptaclosecheckontheboy'sphysicalcondition;andtheboyresidedinDorotea'shouse.

"Icanstillhandlethemotheringbits,"theoldwomansaidstaunchly,"especiallysinceRhyssahasenoughtoadminister."

Bytheendofthefirstweek,Peterwasabletohandleallhisintimateproblems,asuccessofimmeasurableproportionforasensitiveboy.

Themorninghemanagedtotakeashowerallbyhimselfwascelebratedbyhismentorsastheachievement.i.twas.Thefirsttimehehadattemptedashower,hehadnearlyscaldedhimselfandthenover-controlledandhadtoberescuedfromicywaterbyDorotea.

Italsotooktime,andfinesse,todescendfromhisbedwithouthittingthefloorinaheap.Ortokeepfromcollidingwithfurnitureashereeledaroundthehouse.Graduallyheachieveddelicatecontrolofthegestaltandmanagedtoimitatewalking;onlythereallyobservantwouldnoticethathisfeetneverquitetouchedthegroundandthatthebendofhiskneesonlyapproximatedanormalwalk.Hecouldnotgraspthings,buthearrangedhishandsinappropriatepositionssothatheappearedtobecarryingobjects.Withsuchaccomplishments,hewasadifferentboyaltogether,andthechangeastonishedhismotheronhernextvisit.

"There'sneverbeenanyTalentinourfamily,oneitherside,"sheconfidedinDoroteaatonepoint."Ijustcan'timaginewherehegot.i.tfrom."

"Necessity,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteasaidathermostgrandmotherly.

"Theaccidenthasforcedhimtotransfermotorfunctionstoanotherpartofhisbrain.Eventhebestofusonlyutilizeabouttwofifthsofourbrainpotential."

IlsaReidingerdidnotreallyunderstandDorotea's.e.xplanation,butsheaccepteditbecauseDoroteaspokewithsuchauthority.

"Thehumanbodylearnstocompensate,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteawentonsoothingly."AllPeterneededwasachancetotraininnewways.

Which,Imustsay,hehasdoneextraordinarilywell.We'reverypleasedwithhisprogress."Shebeamedplacidlyatherguest.

"Yes,butwhatwillhedo?"IlsaReidingeraskedplaintively.

"Why,PeterwilldoverywellhereattheCenter,helpingotheryoungstersandadults,toowhohavetolearntocompensatefordrastichandicaps."Sensingthewoman'sreservationsonthatscore,Doroteaadded,"Oh,theworkpaysverywell.He'sonatrainingscholars.h.i.+prightnow,ofcourse,buthisprofessionpaysverywellindeed.He'sallsetforafinecareerattheCenter.You'regoingtobeveryproudofhim."

DoroteachosetoignoreIlsaReidinger'sotherdominantthought:thatifPeterwasTalented,Katyamustbe,too.Thegirlwasbeingeversodifficult,wantingtoknowwhyPetergotalltheluckandshewa.s.stuckinaboringschool,doingboringstudieswhilePeterwasgettingeverythinghiswayjustbecausehehadgottenlucky.

"Canhereadminds?"iswhatIlsaReidingeraskedoutloud.Theideamadeheruncomfortable.

"Peterhasaverylimitedrange,"Dorotearepliedmendaciously,intimatingregret."Hecanhearverystrongthoughts,buthisprojectionsareshortrange.HisTalentliesinkinetics.Doyouunderstandthatword?"

"Yes,itmeanspeoplecanpushthingsaboutwithouthavingtotouchthem.LiketheonesgoinguptoPadrugoiStationtohelpget.i.ta.s.sembledsowecancolonizethestars."TheglibphrasingcamefromDaveLehardt'scleverpublicitycampaignonthetrid.ThenIlsaaskedmoretimorously,"WouldPeteygointos.p.a.ce?"Inherveryaudiblepublicmind,Ilsadecidedthatwhatevertheanswer,shewouldnotmentionthattoKatya.

"Quiteunlikely.TheplatformwillbefinishedbeforePeter'sreceivedallhisnecessarytraining."TheverythoughtofBarchenkaconscriptingPeterReidingermadeDoroteaqueasy.IlsaReidingerwasdisappointed,however,sufferingfromtheusualmaternalsyndromeofwantinghersontobeunique,whichhewas;famous,whichtheCenterwouldnotwishonhim;andperhapsrich,whichPeterwouldalsobe,inthat,asaTalent,hecouldpurchasethroughtheCenteranythinghereallydesired."HeshowsatrulyuniqueTalent."Letthatbeasoptoherpride.

"Yes,butwhatexactlydoesPeteydo?"

"Well,yousawhimwalkandserveusteaquitebyhimself.ThatisallaccomplishedbyhiskineticTalent.Soyousee,heisnolongerdependentonmechanicalorprostheticdevicestoconductnormalactivities.Whenhe'ssurerofhisabilities,we'lladdmorecomplicatedtasks."

"He'llbeabletoholddownajob?"

IlsaReidingerreallyhadnotevengraspedthebasics,Doroteathought,orcomprehendedtheobviousachievements.ShehadbarelygraspedthefactthatPeterwouldnolongerbeafinancialoranemotionalburdentohisfamily.ShewasjustanicewomanwhohadcertainlybeendevotedtoPeterduringhisconvalescence,b.u.t.thestrainhadtakenatollonher,too.DoroteaventuredtowamoreenthusiasticaboutPeter'spotential.

ItsuddenlyoccurredtoDoroteatowonderifthetestingroutines,establishedbyDaffydopOwen,neededtobeupdatedormademoresensitive.HospitalswereusuallywellstaffedwithTalentsofalldescriptions.Whyhadn'tsomeonespottedPeter?ShereallyoughttodiscussthatnotionwithRhyssawhenthemesswithBarchenkawa.s.smoothedout.

"Ishouldn'tthinkthere'dbemuchyoungPetercan'tdoifhesets.h.i.+smindtoit."

"Beingakinetic,youmean?"

"Aratherspecialone,atthat,sincehe'shadtoovercomeseverephysicallimitations."

StillslightlypuzzledbythefussbeingmadeoverherPeterbutimmenselyrelievedbyhisfutureprospects,ilsaReidingerdeparted.

ItneveroccurredtoDoroteathatherremarks,meanttoallayamother'snaturalconcern,wouldhaveunexpectedrepercussions.

CertainlysheandRhyssawerebeginningtorealizetheboy'simmensepotential,buteventocolleaguestheyhadbeendiscreet.

"It'sacaseofmakespeedslowly,Lance,"RhyssatoldtheAustraliandirector,whoseemedtospendmoretimeonas.p.a.cehotolandintheJerhattanareathanarrangingmattersinCanberraforhisleaveofabsenceonPadrugoi.HehaddroppedintoseeheronhiswayfromyetanotherlongschemingsessionwithDaveLehardtandSamjan.

"I'veseensomefaird.i.n.k.u.ms,dealingwiththeAboriginesandtheMaoris,Rhyssa,"Lancerepliedinhisdistinctivedrawlasheslouchedonachairinhertoweroffice,"b.u.t.thisladtakesthepeach.Ifhe'scomeonthisfastwithonlyali'lfourpointfivekpmgeneratorforhimtoplaywith,thinkwhathecoulddowithrealpower."

"Allthemorereasontomakespeedslowly.Controlisthemostvitalpartofhistraining."SheprojectedanimageofPeter,headfirst,zippingaroundJerhattanonawhirlwindtour,withatailofdetritus,people,smallvehicles,andoddmentscaughtupinthewakeofhispa.s.sage.

Lancegrinned,histeethverywhiteagainsthisperpetualtan,hisseagreeneyesglittering."Tooright,mate.Igetthedrift.ButwithaTalentlikehisandapropergenerator,wecouldbleedingnears.h.i.+ftdronesallthewaytothenearestplanet."

Thinkthatinyourmostprivatemind,Lance,shetoldhimsharply.

Don'tletawhisperofitescapeyours.h.i.+eld.

Lanceproppedhisangularbodyupright,his.e.xpressioncompletelyserious.Iwasfunning!

Rhyssanoddedslowly,andheletoutalongwhistle.

Yeah,butjustimaginethelookonBarchenka'sfaceifwecouldtellherthatpreciousPadrugoiprojecthadjustturnedobsolete.

"Notquite,"Rhyssasaidwithavindictivegrin.Shehadentertainedafewverysatisfyingfantasiesonthatverythemeherself!"AfacilitylikePadrugoiisrequiredforanynumberofvalidreasonsapartfromajumpingoffpointtothestars."

HowmanyknowaboutPeteyboy?

Abouthispotential?Mainstaffknowhe'sunusual.IwastooexcitedwhenIrealizedthepossibilitiesinherentinhisgestalt,b.u.t.theyonlyknowIwas.e.xcitedabouttheboy.TherearejustthreeofusmyselfDorotea,andSaschawh.o.r.ealizethattheboymightbeunusual.

Idon'tthinkSascha'shadthechancetoappreciatethepotentialthatDoroteaandIarejustbeginningtograsp.RickHobsonthinkstheboyisinordinatelyquick,butwehadtohaveakineticinonhisinitialtraining.Likeyou,Rick'sgottogotoPadrugoi,sowe'recrammingasmuchtechniqueinaspossible.HeandPetermeshwell.Youaremychoiceforhismoreadvancedtraining,sodon'tdoanythingstupiduponPadrugoi,w.i.l.l.you?

Noway!That'sameancarrottodangleinfrontofmeforsixlongmonths!Lancerose."PureshamethatDaveLehardt'snotarealTalent.He'swizardathandlingtheFinnandthatslimylittleNeesterbloke."

RhyssagavealittleconvulsiveshudderatthemerementionofPrincePhanibal.

"Youdon'tlikehimeither,doyou?"Lanceasked.

"No!"

Lancechuckled."Alwaysknewyouwereawomanofgoodsense,ducks."

RhyssadidworryaboutPeterhelookedsofrailaftersolonginahospitalbed.SodidDorotea,bothkeepingtheirconcernsfromPeter,whosetelempathywa.s.steadilyimprovingalongwithhiskinesis.Hewasnotlimitedmerelytoreceivingorsendingemotions,butwasdevelopingatruetelepathy,theabilitytosendandreceivebothabstractandlingualmessages.NordidRhyssaorDoroteacallattentiontothosemomentswhen,insheerebullience,Peerdidnotdrawonthegeneratorinkineticexercises.

Doroteaenjoyedcookingforhiseagerappet.i.te,andoncePeterwasabletoperformroutinetasks,shefinetunedhiskinesiswithfoodpreparationexercises.Hecouldpareapplesandpotatoes,sc.r.a.pecarrots,andcutupvegetables,allkinetically.Heateanythingandeverything,andhisbodybegantofilloutwithgoodfirmflesh;Rickshowedhimexercisesformuscletone,andhoursspentinDorotea'sgardentannedhisskintoahealthyglow.Peternolongerlookedthewastedparalyticwithatrophiedmuscles.Still,extremecarewasneededinallhisactivities,sincehecontinuedtohavenofeelinginhis.e.xtremitiesorlowertorsoandwouldbeunawareofcuttingorburningorbruisinghimselfinsomeofhisperambulations.

WhenRickfinallyhadtoleaveforhistouratPadrugoi,Petertookithard,mopingaboutthenextday.

"Rickwillbeback,Peter,"Rhyssasaidwhenshejoinedthemthateveningatdinner."He'staughtyouaboutallheknows.Now,youhavetoteachyourself,which'llbehard."

"Teachmyself?"Peterwa.s.soshockedthathisgoodmannersbrieflydesertedhim.Hisforkhoveredabovehisplate.HeandDoroteahadanagreementhecouldgetthefoodtohismouthhoweverhechoseifhewasalone,buthewas...o...b..erveproperetiquettewithanyoneelse.

"Yes,teachyourself,"Dorotearepliedblandly.

"Rickhasgivenyouthebasics,"Rhyssaaddedwithawarmsmile.

"Certainlyyou'renowabletodoeverythingforyourselfandhelpoutinthehouseandthegarden.Nowyoubeginthenextsteptestingyourself.Don'tworry.Rickleftalonglistforyoutocompletebythetimehistourofdutyisover."

"Buthedidn'ttellmehow..."Peterwasclearlyfloundering.

"Youknowhow,"Rhyssasaid,actingsurprisedathisreaction."AllparanormalTalentscomefromaninstinctivelevel.Sharpenyourinstinct."Shesmiledathim,pattinghisarmsoothingly."ThatinstinctledyourighttotheCenter,didn't.i.t?Don'tworryaboutthe'how'!Relyonyourinstinct.Useitbysendingdifferenttypesofinertobjectstodestinationsfartherandfartheraway.Firsttoplacesyouarefamiliarwith.Thenbymemorizingtridvisualsandmaybeevenusingmathematicalcoordinates.Forexample,thatforkfulofmashedpotato.Wherewouldyouliketoput.i.t?"

Thefork'sburdenofmashedpotatodisappeared.

Sascha:Whatisgoingondownthere?

Rhyssa:Doesitconcernaportionofmashedpotato?

Sascha,somewhatdisgusted:Itdoes!Hesentheranimageofawhiteglobinthemiddleofhisdesk.

"Andwheredidyousendit,Peter?"Doroteaaskednoncommittally.

"Sascha'sdesk.Butonthewood,notonanythingimportant,"Petera.s.suredher.

"Iwon'trequireyoutoeat.i.t,butdobringitback!"

ThewelltraveledforkfulreappearedontheedgeofPeter'splate.

Sascha,sarcastically:Thankyou!

You'rewelcome!Petergiggledlikeanyyoungstersucceedingwithapracticaljoke.

SaschatoRhyssaandDorotea:WejustgetMadlynhousetrainedandnowwehavePeter!Sometimes...Isuppose,ifhe'suptotricks,he'sadjustingtoRick'sdeparture.

Peterwasalsouptoworkthenextday,usingthegestaltwiththegeneratortos.h.i.+ftvariousitemsabouttheCenter.Doroteastartedhimoffmovingsmallobjectsfromoneroomtoanother,emphasizingaccuracyofplacementandpickinglocationswithwhichPeterwasfamiliar.Bytheendofthemorninghewa.s.s.h.i.+ftingheavybalesofcomputerpaperfromstoragetotheControlRoom,gettinghisplacementsfromsquarescrayonedontotheflooruntilBudworthfinallysignaledthathisaimwasperfect.

"Weightseemstobenoobject,"Saschasaid,reviewingtheachievementsatlunchwithRhyssa."Howmuchdidhehavetorelyonthegestalt?"

"Notmuch.We'vegotagraphonitsusage,"Rhyssareplied."Hisneedisvergingonthepsychological."

"Ah,b.u.t.thatdoesn'talterthefactthathedoesuseit,"Saschasaidthoughtfully."Cananddoes.Byd.a.m.n,Rhyssa,he's.e.xtraordinary!

Oncehecanreallyleanongeneratorpower,thereisn'tanythinghecan'ts.h.i.+ft,isthere?"Hiseyesweres.h.i.+ningwithexcitement."Ifonlywecouldfigureoutjusthowheachievesthegestalt."

Rhyssashookherhead,witharuefulsmile.

"CouldRick?"heasked.

Rhyssasighed."Rickdidjustthebasickinetictrainingexerciseswithhim.Hedidn'thavemoretime.d.a.m.nBarchenka.Wouldn'tyoujustknowthatwe'dhaveapromisingemergentwho'dbenefitfromtrainingwiththeverykineticsthatshe'syankedoutofourreach.

Whydidn'twehaveanearlierprecogofthis?"

Saschaleanedbackinhischair,regardinghisgoodfriendanddirectorwithanuncharacteristicallysolemnexpression."Rhyssa,hon,couldyoufollowhismind?"

Shegaveashortlaugh."I'manadeptattelepathy,butPeter'sgoingwherenomanhasgonebefore.Maybeanotherstrongkineticcouldfollow.I'mgoingtodragoonLanceBadenas.h.i.+sadvancedtrainera.s.soonasthatwretchedPadrugoiisfinished."Shebluedthementalairwitha.s.sortedimagesofherfrustration.

Saschanoddedsympathetically."Thenwe'lljusthavetocontinuedoingkindergartenstuffwithhimuntilLanceisfree.Andbuildhimupphysically.DoesDonUsenikseeanychanceofexerciserestimulatingthosedamagednerves?Nowthat""Trouble!"Budworth'svoicerangthroughthespecialalarmspeakerinRhyssa'soffice.

Whatkind?sheaskedimmediately.

"G.o.ddammit,IwanttospeaktoDirectorOwennow!"saidavoiceontheroomaddresssystemasBudworthpatchedthecallthrough.

"Youare,"Rhyssarepliedcoolly."Pleaseidentifyyourself."

"Dammit,didn'ttheytellyou?BobGaskin,JerhattanPortAuthority.

Youtookourkineticawayfromus,andnowwe'veacontainerpinningthreemendownandn.o.b.l.o.o.d.ywaytolift.i.tquickenoughtosavetheirlives.Rightnowonlythesafetybarontheforkliftis""Doyouhavetheareaonvideo?"

"Idothewholeyard."

"Relayittothisscreenimmediately,"sheordered.Dorotea,bringPetertomyofice.We'vegottotrytohelp.They'repatchingthroughtheimage.

Dorotea:Darewe?

Rhyssa:We'llneverknowunlesswedo.Livesareatstake.He'sgotthepotential,andhe'sdonewellenoughalreadywithbulky,heavythings.

Dorotea:That'shalfwayacrossthecity.But...allright.I'llhavePeterthereinadash.

SaschaandRhyssakepttheireyesonthescreen,whichwa.s.showingthecontainer,thehoistcablesatoneendofitstillwhippinginbacklash.Ithadcomedownaskewacrossasmallforkliftthest.u.r.dyframeofwhichwaskeepingitfromcrus.h.i.+ngthedriverandtwomenwhohadbeenworkingnearhim.TheTalentscouldseethedanglingarm.o.f.onemanpinnedatoneside,thefeetofasecondprotrudingunderonecornerandnothingatallofthedriver.

"Whydidthathoistcablepart,Mr.Gaskin?"Rhyssaaskedcalmly.

"Surelyyoucheckedallyourequipmentbeforeyouput.i.tinuseagain."

Shedeliberatelymadeherselfsoundcensorious.

TheofficedooropenedandDoroteaandPeterentered;Peter'seyeswentimmediatelytothescreen.

"IfyourG.o.dd.a.m.nedCenterhadn'tpulledourkinetic,"Gaskinexploded,"thiswouldn'thaveHolyh.e.l.l!How'dyougetsomeoneherethisquick?"

Rhyssa,Dorotea,andSaschaheldtheirbreathastheywatchedthelongunwieldyma.s.softhecontainerslowlyriseoffthecrumbledforklift,revealingthedriverslumpedacross.h.i.+scontrolsandanothermansprawledflatonthegroundwhilethethirdstaggeredtohisfeet,holdinghisinjuredarm.TheywerealsoawareofahummingthattheycouldfeelthroughtheflooRboardsofRhyssa'soffice.Thehumpeakedoffasthecontainerwasloweredcarefullytothewaitingtruckloadbed.

"Bravo,Peter,beautifullydone!Magnificent!"Rhyssasaidandthenshesawhimcrumpledonthefloor."Oh,Lord!Didyoustrainyourself,love?"