The Wings Of Pegasus Part 33

Saschareachedtheboybeforeshedid,liftinghimgentlyanddepositinghimonRhyssa'sconformablechair,whichinstantlyalteredtofittheboy'slimpbody.

"Willthemenbeallright?"Peterwantedtoknow,hiswhitefacecontortedwithanguish.Theywerehurtinghad.

"Moretothepoint,youngman,"Saschasaid,frowning,"areyouallright?"Don,getuphereonthedouble!

"ByG.o.d,ma'am,how'dyoudothat?"BobGaskincried.ThePortAuthoritymanagerwasmoppinghisfacewithshakinghands.

"Youhaven'tbeencompletelyabandonedbyTalent,Mr.Gaskin.Wehaveaskeletoncrew"Sascha'simageofPeter'sfrailform,bonystructureemphasized,madeitveryhardforRhyssatokeepherfeaturescomposed"whichwecanthrowintogearforemergenciesofthisnature.

Dopleasenowoverhaulyourequipment.Wedon'thavethemanpowerforunnecessaryaccidents,youknow."SheignoredSascha's.e.xaggeratedgrimacea.s.shesawmedicsrus.h.i.+ngtoa.s.sisttheinjuredmenasaSouthsideheliamblandedneaRby."Goodmorning,Mr.Gaskin.

"We'llcheckinwithSouthsideGeneralHospitallater,Peter,Rhyssaa.s.suredtheboy.

"AfterDon'scheckedyouout,youngman,"Doroteaadded,"thoughyourconcernforthemendoesyoucredit."

Iknowwehadto,Rhyssa,SaschasaidonatightbandtoRhyssa,butshouldwehave?

Rhyssamadeaface.Hobson'schoice,Sascha.Wemaintainanofficialpositionoftheskeletoncrew.Bytheway,don'tdothattomeagainrealsoon,huh?

Sascharolledhiseyes,expressingremorsebutnorea.s.surance.I'mnotsurehowlongwe'llbeabletohangthatlie,sowouldyougetalluptightifItriedtofollowhismind'sthrustwhenhe'slifting?Ididn'trealizebowquicklyhe'semergingtofulluseofhisTalent.

No,afterthis.e.xhibitionofPeter'sability,Iwasabouttoaskyouifyoucouldsparesometimetoworkwithhim.Ineedyourinsight,sinceyou'remoreexpertattraining.Ifwecouldduplicatethegestalt,evenourfeatherweightscouldmovecontainers.

"Okay,who'sdonewhattowhomnow?"DonUsenikdemandedasheenteredtheroom.Helookedaround,thenspottedthewanPeteronRhyssa'schair."Whathaveyoubeendoing?Movingmountains?"

"Whichdoyouwantfirst?Thegoodnews,orthebadnews?"DaveLehardtaskedRhyssaaweeklater.

Shecouldtellnothingfromhis.e.xpressionthelookofhiseyeswascuriouslyintentonherface.HemightnotbeaTalent,buthewasunusuallyastuteatpickingupminutebodylanguagesigns.Shewa.s.sogladtoseehimthatshereallydidnotcarewhatnewshebrought,butshefollowedhiscue.

"Thebad!"

"Barchenkaiscertainyou'vebeenholdingoutonher.She'sheardthatyouhaveateamofkineticTalentsthatarenotonyourofficialregister.She'sabouttocreateastink.AndIhavetotellyouthatI'veheardsomemightypeculiarrumorscirculating.

"Rhyssalaughed."We'renotholdingoutonherTalentscan't.

Telempathsca.n.a.lwaysdetectalie.ShehasRussiantelempathsonherpayroll.Tellhertoaskthem.What'sthegoodnews?"

DaveLehardtraisedoneeyebrowinaskepticalarch."ThepollsareagainfavorabletotheTalented.Whenbusinessesemployingthemhadtocopewitholdfas.h.i.+onedways,TalentpopularityhitafiftyyearlowworseeventhanaftertheHawaiianvolcanodisastereventhougheveryonewasproPadrugoiandeveryone,meaningtheTalents,wasdoingtheirshare.

Seemsthatthisnonexistentteamofyourshasprovidedemergencyservices.OnlynoTalenthasbeen.o.bservedonthescene."

"It'saremotetechniquethatwe'vebeendevelopingforemergencysituations,"Rhyssasaid,schoolingherfacetorevealnothing.ItwasnotthatshedidnottrustDaveLehardt,butshewantedtoprotectPeter."Andit'stheonereasonwefeltwecouldstripallourCentersofkineticstohelpPadrugoi."

"Aremotetechnique?"

"That'swhatIsaid."

"NoTalentI'vespokentoknowsanythingabout.i.t."

"Isaiditwasremote,"Rhyssarepeated,strugglingtokeepamus.e.m.e.ntoutofhervoice."Notsomethingwewanttogopubliconjustyet.

I'msureyoucanappreciatehat!"

"SoLudmillacan'tgetherhandsonit?"

"She'scoercedalmosteverykineticwehaveontoPadrugoi.She'sgotsufficientnumbersandskillsrightnowtofinishherworkonschedule.

Sheshouldn'tgetgreedier!"

"Shewantstocomeinunderschedule,andthewayyourTalentsareworking,shecould."

"Isabonusinvolvedinearlycompletion?"Rhyssawasannoyed.d.a.m.nthewomantoadisintegratingorbit!

"Didn'tyouknow?"DaveLehardtseemedsurprised.

"Iheardagreatdealaboutpenaltiesandacompletionbonus,butstrangelyenough,nothingwa.s.said,orevenhinted,thatearlycompletionwashergoal."

"I'lldowhatIcantosquashtherumorsand,ifImaybesobold,youshouldkeepthatnewteamoutofoperationifatallpossible.Nomorecavalrychargestotherescuewithoutwarningme,huh?Please?"

Thatwasverysoundadvice,whichRhyssaintendedtofollow.Sincetheemergencylift,shehadbeencharyofusingPeter'sskill.Itjusttooktoomuchoutofhisnotsost.u.r.dybody.Hewa.s.strengtheninghimselfdailyexercisingwasbecomingalmostan.o.bsessionwithhim.

Butshewa.s.stillrigorouslyrestrictingtheuseofhisTalenttolifethreateningsituationsintheJerhattanarea,which,fortunately,werefew.Meanwhile,intheongoingtrainingsessions,hewasusingfaxplacementphotostosenditemstootherCenters.

"Icanfollowhisthoughtsalltheway,"SaschatoldRhyssaafteraweekoflinkingmindswithPeterduringthoseexercises."Icanevenfeelthevibrationsofthegeneratorinhiscerebrum,butbowheeffectsthegestaltisstillbeyondme.And,asnearlyasIcantell,he'srelyinglessandlessonthepower.Atleastforlightstuff."

"Ifhekeepsonthisway,maybeLanceisright,"Rhyssaremarked.

"PlughimintoapowerfulenoughsourceandhecouldprobablyobviatetheneedforPadrugoi."

Saschablinked,thenprojectedaseriesofimagesdepictingBarchenka's.e.xpression,theconsternationontheeggsplatteredfacesofthes.p.a.cestation'smajorsupporters,andonesmallboysendingoutstars.h.i.+psthewaychildrenhisagelaunchedpaperplanes.ThelastandlargestimagewasofSaschahimself,elongatedmouthwideopen,chintohischest.

"Couldhe?"

Rhyssalaughed,rollinghereyes."Iwon'tsayhecouldn't.ButyouknowaswellasIdothatallTalenthaslimitations.NowisnotthetimetoputanysortofpressureonPeter.He'ssuchahappyboynow."

"WecanthankG.o.dheis!"Hismentalpicturewasofhimself,patientlycontrollingthelovelornMadlynLuvaro,hugewadsofcottonwoolinhisears.

Rhyssaretortedwithanimageofstrayforkfulsofpotatofestooninghisoffice."Akinetichasfarmoreoptionsthanatelepath!"

"He'seasiertokeephappythanMadlyneverwas,too,"Saschasaid,stretchinghislonglegs."Theoddtrafficsnarlortwoaday,andhefeelshe'sworthhiskeep.Whichremindsme,I'vehadsomeprettypointedremarksfromindustrialVIPslatelyaboutthisremoteteam.o.f.ours.Myansweristhatwe'vemanagedtocombinethetraineeswithanexperiencedfeatherweighttoachievethenecessaryheft,b.u.t.theapplicationislimitedduetotheextremeyouthofthepartic.i.p.ants."

Rhyssasighed."Thatoldtangledwebroutine,huh?"

Saschaquirkedaneyebrow."FavoringShakespeare?ThoughtyourfamilyrantoPopery."

Rhyssalaughed,envisioningherill.u.s.triousgrandsire,DaffydopOwen,a.s.sherememberedhim,tall,silverhaired,slender,withthefaceofapoetandthechinofanItalianprince."SometimestheBardfitsbetter.Whichindustrialistshaveasked?"

"Nailonthehead,girl.EveryoneofthemsuppliessomethingtoPadrugoi!And,asyouknow,there'vebeendelaysingettingmaterieluptothestation,weatherproblemsmainly,withallthosefreakstormsmessinguplaunchwindows."

Rhyssafrownedand,inanuncharacteristicshowofnervousness,flippedastylusendoverend."Lifesaving,yes;andwiththetechniquehe'sbeenshowingoverdistances,IthinkheprobablycouldlaunchadroneuptoPadrugoithroughanysortofweather.b.u.t.there'snowayPeter'sgoingtohelpsecureherbonusorpreventherfines."

Saschagrinned."Iwon'tmentionthepossibilityofsuchfunandgamestohim,youspoilsport."Hethrewheranimageofhimhastilyraisingasolidbarrieragainstthebarbsemergingfromhereyes."Shecouldn'thirehimanyway.He'sonlyfourteen.Underage,evenunderexistingRussianlaw!"

Rhyssaletoutalowwhistle,thengrinned."Yes,heisaminor,isn'the?AndDorotearemindedmethathe'sbeenworkingprettyhardwithyou.Tomorrowhehasadayoff.AndI'vegotallthesefiles"Shegesturedresignedlyatthestacksontheedgeofherdesk."Testingreportstogothrough."

"Whydon'tyoutakeanightoff?"Saschasuggested,grinningdrolly.

"WithDave."

Rhyssasatboltupright,closinghermind.

"Honey,Idon'thavetopeek,"hetoldher.

Rhyssagroaned."He'snotaTalent."

"There'snolawintheCharterthatsaysyouhavetomarryTalent,youknow."

"b.u.t.that'sthewaytoincrease..."

"Yeah,andwheredidPeterReidingercomefrom?Ithinksometimes,mydearfriend,"hesaid,leaningoverthedesktowardher,"wehavetolookwithoureyesinsteadofourheads.JustthoughtIoughttomentionit.Dave'sthebestfriendTalent'sgot."

"It'snotuptome,Sascha,"Rhyssaadded,feelinguncomfortableforthefirsttimeinheroldfriend'spresence.

"Couldbe.Maybenot.Lehardt'scleverenoughtodohisownpromowork."WiththatSaschalefther.

AsTirlaenteredtheMainConcourseofLinearG,shesensedanauraofexcitement,tellingherthatsomethingwasabouttohappentorelievethetediumofLinearliving.Asalways,thereweresomegeneralworkersscurryingtothePlazatoseeiftheWorkBoardwa.s.scrollingoutanyjobsforablebodieds,concernedwithgettingenoughdayworktokeepoutofConscriptiveWorkServices.NoselfrespectingLinearitewantedtobesentonahardlabortouror,worse,s.p.a.cedouttothes.h.i.+pyardsaroundtheBigWheel.FewCWSeverearnedareturnticket.

AndnoweventheTalentswerenotexempt.Somostofthelittleknotsofexcitedpeoplewerecomposedofwomen.

TirlaedgedcloseenoughtoagroupofHispanicstopickupthedrift.

"Helayhandson..."

"Churchisalwayslomismo...Thesingingisbad."

"MyJuannow...whenheisremindedofthepurityoftheVirgin,hedoesn'tbeatmeforadayortwo..."

"ThetruemanofG.o.dprovidesfoodforthesoul..."

Tirlasnortedtoherself.Foodforthesoulwasnothighonherprioritieswhenherbellywasempty.

"Ihaveheard,"ConsuelaLagunawa.s.sayingearnestly,"thatifhelayshandsonthelame,hecures."Consuela'ssonwashandicappedbeyondremedyorrepair,butsheremainedpositivethatsomehow,sometime,herManuelitowouldberestoredtohealthbysomenewmiracletreatment,andshewasalwaysaskingTirlatotranslatethemedicalbulletinsforher.

So,Tirlathought,aReligiousEventhadbeenunexpectedlyscheduledforLinearG.Thatwasodd.ThePublicHealthmeetinghadbeenonlyfourweeksearlier.ItwastruethattherehadnotbeenanREinalongtime,butstillshewa.s.suspicious.Twospecialswithinfourweeks?

Shemovedontothenextgroup,allNeestersfromtheLevantandtheywerebabblingabouthowtheycouldgettheirmentoattendthatnightinsteadofadjourningtoMahmoud'ssquattoseehisnewbellydancer.

ThensheslippedaroundtoanAsiangagglewhowerechatteringexcitedlyaboutcuresandwhethertheREwouldbebadforbusiness.

AsiansprovidedancientremediesforthemanyminorailmentsthatbesetthoseinthewarrenyResidentials.

"Hehascomeaspromised..."shehearda.s.shesliduptoMamaBobchik.Theoldwoman'sblackeyeswerewide;hercheeksamottledglowingredofexcitement."Youcome,too,dushka,"shesaid,catchingTirla'sarm."Youmusttellus.h.i.+swords,exactly.ThelasttimeIcouldnothearwhatwa.s.said,andmysoulisblackwithsin."

"Nakonetz,"Tirlaagreedeasily.MostReligiousInterpreterGroupsgenerallysaidnothing,inthemostornamentedphraseology.Shecouldamuseherselfbyantic.i.p.atingthetritephrasesandflowerywords."Sothea.s.semblyextensionwasgrantedafterall?"sheasked,eagertomaintainherreputationofknowingallthatwentonintheLinear.

"Da,etotak!"MamaBobchikhappilyrea.s.suredher."Mymanwa.s.sentwordtopreparelatelastnight."ArgolBobchikwasoneoftheLinear'ssanitaryengineers."ThewordisthatthisReligiousisallseeing,"Mamababbledon,"withanexcellentbackupgroup.TheywerewellreceivedatLinearP.Earlyasitis,alreadythismorningmanytradershavebookeds.p.a.ce.Itwillbeanoccasion.WehavenothadreligionhereinGforsomemonths.Weareallinneedofguidance.Thesoulsofmanyaredarkwithsinandmustbepurged."Tirlanoddedsolemnly.MamaBobchikwascertainlyoldenoughtobefacingamysticaccountingofthesinsonhersoul.ToobadnoLEOmanwouldbetheretohearit.

ButhowhadTirlamissedsuchajuicyrumor?Maybeithadbeendecidedverylatethepreviousnight.Atanyrate,thepresenceoftraderswouldmakeiteasierforhertowashthetiedcreditsfortheYa.s.simman.Sheshudderedatthethoughtofhim.Shedidnotliketoholdontohismoneytoolong.Notthathehadanyreasontodistrusthershejustwantedtomakecertainheneverdid.Especiallyifhesuspectedshewasclosetosalableage.Shewa.s.smallandthinenoughtopa.s.sforthenineyearssheadmittedto.Somedaysomeonewouldcountfingersonher.FromtimetotimeshethoughtaboutwhatshewoulddothenandtriedtokeepenoughfloatersstuckinsideherblouseatalltimessothatshecouldfleetoanotherLinearifshehadto.Shehadevenmanagedtogetherhandsonahighlyillegalcopyofthecargotrainschedulesandhadfoundherwaytothenearestaccesspointstothesubterraneanconcoursetoeyeballescaperoutes.

DeftlydisengagingherselffromMamaBobchik'sfatfingers,shemovedontothePakis,whowerechatteringaboutbringinginsomerelativesfromLinearEandarguingovertheadvisabilityofsuchamove.Someinsistedthat,sincetheextensionwaslegaltherewouldbenorisk.

ThenMirdaKhanapersonTirlawasalwayscarefultopleasecameupandquicklydismissedsuchstupidgenerosity.

"TheblessingsofsuchaLamawouldbefew,"Mirdamutteredinanintenseandangrytonejustaudibletothosearoundher,"forhecannotwastehisholystrengthonthetrivial.Suchashewouldbegraciousenoughtodispensemustbeforus,here,inLinearG.Forus,"shesaidagain,pokingherthinbreastbonewithabroadflatthumb,"thetruebelievers,hisfaithfulinLinearG."

"TheVeryReveredPonsitProsithasbeenatLinearP,"oneoftheotherwomenmurmuredreverently."Panditheardofthemiraclesheperformed."

Tirlawa.s.skepticalofmiraclesfor,oncloseinspection,therewerealwaysalternateexplanationsforhealingsandsavingsandrevelations.

b.u.t.theywerefuntodelve.

"Thenwesavesuchforourselves!"Mirdarepliedfiercely,defyingcontradiction.Suddenlyshespunaround,somehowawareofbeingtheobjectofscrutinyb.u.t.tirlawasquicker,movingtoflattenherself.a.gainsttheConcoursepillar.Shehadheardenoughanyhowandleft.

SothisReligiousInterpreter,thisRIG,hadareputation?AsTirlawasquiteaware,ittookarealclevertalkertokeepfromviolatingthevarietyofcomplexdoctrinesinaLinear.ThisPonsitPrositmightwellbeworthlisteningtoandwatchingclosely.

Inherprecarioussituation,Tirlawasalwaysopentopointers.

Ifthewholethingwaslegit.Shemulledovertheprobablesa.s.sheduckedintosideaislesbeforecomingoutagainontotheMainConcourse,farenoughawayfromthePakistobescreenedbyothergroups.Thensheglancedupatthenearestpublitextscreen.

Shewatchedthroughtheusualnoticesandannouncementsuntilitscrolleddownto2200hours,wherealegalextensionforuseofthea.s.semblywasposted,withtradinganddrinkingpermitted.

Thefulldetailswerebeingvividlyproclaimed,completewithfanfaresofbra.s.sinstrumentsandsnippetsoftheRespectedVenerableHomilifierPonsitPrositsmilingbeatificallyatvastaudiences.Achoruswaspromised,andashortblastoffivepartharmonyandhighsopranodescantwaspresentedasanenticementtoattendthefullshow.ThisVR& HolyReligiousInterpretationGrouppurportedlyhadonlyrecentlyreturnedfromtheEasternCitiesofFaith,wherePonsitProsithadendured"fastingmeditationsofgreatlengthandillumination."LinearGwasfortunateintheextremethathewasabletofitthatevening'sa.s.semblyintohisbusytour.So,hehadnothadabookinginawhile,Tirlathoughtcynically.Well,ReligiousInterpretationswereverypopularinLinears,betterthanfightssometimesandoftenmoreshowy.

Tirlalikedshowsandlegalextensions.

TherehadbeenaPublicHealthrounduprecently,soasecond,covertonewasunlikelyinherexperience.AndwhileaReligiousEventcouldbestagedtomaskmoreillicitoperationsthanwas.h.i.+ngtiedsinpublic,therestillmightnotbeanyundercoverLEOs.

CrowdControllerswouldbearound,ofcoursethatwa.s.standardprocedureb.u.t.tirlaknewmostofthemdespitethewaytheyalteredtheirappearances.

TheimportantthingwasthatshehadtheYa.s.simtiedstochange.Sheshouldneverhaveagreedtodoit,butBulbarhadbeeninsistentandthe"talker"ahitmanwhomshewouldnotwillinglyoffendhadtoldherthatshewasbeinggiventheopportunityinrewardforservicesalreadyrendered.HavingconsentedtoaprofessionalengagementwithMamaBobchik,whowasnotonlyanotherpersonitwasunwisetooffendbutsomeonewho,havingpresidedoverTirla'sbirth,wouldalwaysdefendthegirl,Tirlawascommittedontwocountstoattend.

Preparedwithseveralcontingencyplans,Tirlabeganherusualmorningroutinebargainingfortheday'smealsandgettingabathandacleanissueofclothing.Buta.s.sheproceeded,shewa.s.stoppedbyvariousfemaleclients,eachwantinghercompanyduringthisReligiousEventbecausethefeaturedLamashamanwasreputedtospeakintonguesandTirlawasabsolutelytheonlypersonwhowouldfaithfullytellthemeverythinghesaid.Therewasalimit,however,tohowmanypeopleTirlacouldadequatelyrepresent.Surroundedbyveryinsistent,vocal,andphysicallyactiveprospectiveclients,noneofwhomshecaredtoantagonize,sheattemptedtoorganizethem.

"Bilala,youandPilaumustcometogether.Anna,youteamupwithMarika.Zaveta,Elpidiacomesaswell.Chishu,Laow.a.n.gwithyou.

Cyoto,Arisanisyourpartner."Andsoshegroupedthem.Tenpairswasasunmanageableasitwasunavoidable.Beforeshegotintoanyfurtherdifficulties,Tirladiscreetlyremovedherselffrompublicview.Shestillhadtogetthetiedcreditsoutoftheirhideyholesandsecretedaboutherforeasyaccess.

"WehaveanIncident,"Sirikitsaid,herlight,crispvoicecarryingeasilytoBudworth,whowasdutyofficerintheParapsychControlRoom.