The Wings Of Pegasus Part 34

"Who?"Budworthsenthisgimballedchairspinningacrossthetiledfloortoherstation.SeeinghimmaneuversorapidlyaroundtheControlRoommadepeopleforgetthathisspinehadbeencrushedinanaccidentandthathehadonlyminimalmovementofhisheadandtwofingers.

"Auer."Sirikit'ssurprisewasreflectedinhervoice.

"Really!"

"Andhertha!"

"That'sanunusualcombination."

"NotifPonsitProsittheGreatFlimflamisinvolved.Icaughtthep.a.forLinearG."

"Itisverytrueshewouldhavehisgutsforgarters,"Budworthsaid,grinningwryly.herthaZoccolawasgenerallyarelaxedandtolerantindividual,butmentionofthatparticularRIGwasenoughtoenrageher.Budworthsethimselfforherfuryinreportingaprecoginvolvingtheman.

WheneverprecognitiveTalentsrespondedtoanIncident,theywouldflashtheCenter,alertingControltoreceiveaverbaldescriptionofwhattheyhadpreviewed.BudworthpositionedhischairatthefingeRboardnexttoSirikitandscratchedhischinontherimofhisheadsupport,feelingthesurgeofexcitedantic.i.p.ationthathealways.e.xperiencedatsuchmoments.

"C'mon,younetheads,report!"heexclaimed.

Sirikitglancedawayfromherscreentogrinathim.Thenableepsounded,startlingbothofthemeventhoughtheywereexpectinganentry."Auerhere,"theemotionlessvoiceannounced,andtheprecog'sfaceappearedinoneoftheresponsescreens."Arealmessyone.Highpanic,screams,mob,kidstrampled,theusualthing.Whydon'tyougrabPonsitands.p.a.cehimtothes.h.i.+pyards?I'mtiredofprotectingthatscuzfart."

"YousawFlimflamhimself,Auer?"Sirikitaskedencouragingly.AtBudworth'snod,shetookovertheroutinequestions.ShewasoneofthemostdeftatpostIncidentaldebriefing,andAueralwaysrespondedwelltoher.Budworthbusiedhimselfwithtappingoutaqueryforscheduledpublicevents.Morecrowdcontrolwouldhavetobea.s.signedtoLinearG.

Auershruggedwithanindifferencebothobserversknewwasfalse.

"He'sprominent.Allcoloredlightsandglitteringhands.Thenrunningaway.Asusual.Neverstaystocalmtheaudiencesheexcitestoriotpitch."

"Where?"Sirikitencouragedhim.

"YourtypicalResidentiala.s.semblyhall.UsualPonsitbackdrops.

Nothingunusual...except"Auerpaused,frowningdownatsomething.

"Exceptthat'sodd!"

"What'sodd,Auer?"

"Alloverascrawnygirl?"Whenhelookedup,hiseyeswerehaunted.

"Yes?"

"Ifeel...andherdangerisacute.Itdoesn'tendtonight.She'sTalented!"Thatwa.s.saidinasurprisedvoice;thenAuerpa.s.sedahandacross.h.i.+seyes,scrubbingdownward."It'sgonenow.It'sgone."Thescreenblackened.

Anotherscreenbrightened.

"Youshouldn'tallowthatmanapermitatall!"herthaZoccolawasbristlingwithindignation."You'vecaughthimdealingtimeandagain!

Thosepeopledon'thavethecreditstospendonmysticalcuresandmiraclehealings.Hespoutsthemostappallingsortofpantheisttripe.Andintheworstlanguage!"

"Whatdidyousee,hertha?"Budworthaskedtheplumplittlewoman,whostillcherishedaworndeckofTarotcardsthathergreatgrandmotherhadoncereadwithahighenoughdegreeofaccuracytoearnasignificantcreditbalance.

"Ikeeptellingyouthatmanisnothingb.u.t.trouble."Herdoublechinquivered,andherexpressionwasconcerned."Idon'tcareiftheDomesticSatisfactionIndexdoesriseafterhe'splayedaResidential.

WhyshouldweTalentsprotectaquacksalver,afaker,apharisee,ahoaxer,agyp!Anarrantcarnie!"

"We'renotprotectinghim!Now,whatdidyousee,hertha?"

"Halfwaythroughthatthatgibberouseffortofhisyounevercantellwhathe'ssayinginthatmumbojumbleofhisthere'samovement,totheleftoftheplatform..."Shejingledherlefthand,hermanywristbraceletsclackingnoisily."OrdoImeanhisright?"Sheraisedtheotherhand,splayingfingerscrammedwithrings."There'sacommotion.

Ithastodowithalargegroupofwomen."Shewaggledherhandagain,frowning."Theneverythinggoeswild!Aname!They'reallcallinganame!AndIcan'thearwhat.i.tis!Oh,wouldn'tthatcauseasainttoswear!Theonevitaldetail!AndIthoughtIhearditsoclearly..."Shepursedherlipsinconcentrationandthenslowlyshookherhead,sighing."No,it'sgone.I'msosorry."

"Thanks,herthadear.You'vefilledinsomedetails."

"Whoelse?"herthaasked,asalways.

"Auer."

"Him?"herthawasincredulous."Well,what'd'yaknowaboutthat?Dokeepmescreened,Buddy."

"Youbet."BudworthwaspunchingSascha'sofficeasherpicturedissolved."Sascha,wegotanIncident."

"There'sonlyonecrowdcontrollera.s.signedtotheRIG,Budworth,"Sirikitmurmuredtohim."ResidentialLinearGislistedasblue,calm."

"Well,it'sabouttochangecolorunlesswecanneutralize.Sascha,something'sgoingtobustwideatPonsit'smeetingatGtonight."

"LinearG?"ThelargeblueeyesinSascha'sSlaviccastfacewidenedwithsurprise."We'dnothingplannedthere,"hemurmured."Whosawit?"

"BerthaandAuer."

"What?"Sascharaisedhiseyebrows."That'safirst.I'llbebacktoyou,Buddy.I'llorganizeourinfiltrationwiththeBro."Rhyssa,we'vegotanincipientriot.

Thatsortofthing'smoreyourbailiwickthanmine,wasRhyssa'sreply.

GivemyregardstoBoris.

AsthecontactwithSaschafaded,Budworthgrunted,absentlyscratchinghisjaw.Hehopedtherewouldberemotevisualssetupsothathecouldwatchwhatwenton,andifSascha'sLEObrother,Boris,wasinvolved,therewouldbe.Whetherhis.e.xperiencewasvicariousornot,Budworthappreciatedbeinginvolvedintheseunexpectedspectaculars.

OneneverknewwhatwouldhappenduringanIncident.HewashonestenoughinthebackofhismindtheonlysafeplacetothinkintheCentertorealizethathehadnotbeenaphysicallybravepersonevenbeforehisaccident.Stillandall,hefoundthebreathlessantic.i.p.ationandstimulationtobeverypleasantsensationsforonehuskedbyamobilitychair.

Sirikitwasmakingrapidentries,doc.u.mentingtheIncident.AlthoughtheTalentedhadcometohaveimmensecredibility,andthemeticulouslykeptdailyfilesmightgenerallybescannedonlybyResearch,theproceduresoutlinedbytheParapsychicCenter'sfirstadministrator,HenryDarrow,werescrupulouslyfollowed.ThefullspectrumofTalentwasfarfrombeingknownandcertainfacetsofTalentwerenotatallfullydeveloped,asinthecaseofyoungPeterReidinger'sTalentforanelectricalgestalt.AndwhoknewwhatsortofunusualTalentmightyetbediscoveredamongemergents?Budworthsighedasheturnedbacktotaskswhichoncewouldhaveseemedfarfrommundane.

Chapter8.

Tirladidnotdarebelatetothemeeting,butshealsodidnotwanttoarrivetoosoonandriskbeingha.s.sledbyevenmorepeopledemandingherparticula.r.s.ervices.Nomatterwhatbaksheeshwasoffered,shecouldtranslateforonlysomanyatatime,especiallywiththeother,morepressing,mattertocomplete.Thathadtobemanaged.Shechosetoarrivewithenoughtimetodoaquicksurveyandidentifythebestvendors,aswellasanyundercoverLEOsorPHOs.ThefortuitousschedulingoftheReligiousEventstillbotheredher.

Unless...ItoccurredtoTirlathatmaybetherewouldbesomeTreasurypersonsinthecrowd,checkinguponvendors,thatmoneylaunderingitselfwasthetargetofthisoccasion.b.u.t.theTswereeasytospot.

Theywerealways...o...b..iousaboutblendingintothecrowd.

Havingarrangedtomeetthewomenatthemainsoutheastentrance,Tirlaenteredthea.s.semblyatriumfromoneofthesidenorthwestgates.

SomeoneelsehadalreadydisabledtheentranceeyethatreadIdsandcountedattendance,savingherthetrouble.Thepettyvendorshadtheirboothsupandmerchandisedisplayed:mainlytrinketsandsynth-clothes,goodsthatcouldbequicklys.h.i.+fted.b.u.t.therewereaircus.h.i.+oncartsbeingangledthroughthewiderdoorways,provingthatsomeserioustradingwouldbedone.Shefeltsomewhateasierinhermind.Thebigtraderswouldnotriskthemselvesortheirmerchandiseatariskydisky.

Shetooknoteofpricesa.s.shewendedherwaythroughthegatheringcrowd.Shehopedtherewouldbesomefreshproducewell,fres.h.i.+nthat.i.thadbeenrecentlynickedfromtheundergroundwarehousesthatsuppliedJerhattan'smarkets.Shewouldtreatherselftoanicecrisppepper,carrot,orapplefromtheday'searnings,somethingtosinkherteethintoinsteadofthesubsistencemushorcompoundproteinloaf.

Shewantedtogetastickofrealchewinggum,too,tokeephermouthmoistwhenshestartedtranslating.Shesparedonlyaglancefortheactivityontheplatform,wherehandswererus.h.i.+ngabout,drapingcurtainsandswagsandhaulinglightingandsoundequipmentabout.Shewasneverimpressedbypackagingjustthequalityofthecontents.ShefoundgumatFelter'sstallandmadehimlaunderoneofthesmallertiednotes.

Shewasjustsavoringthemintyflavorofhergumwhenshecaughtsightofa.n.a.lltoofamiliarprofileintotallyunfamiliarsynthissueclothing.Ya.s.simwasactuallyhere?Sheduckedbehindalargemaninastainedrobethathadoncebeentheheightoffas.h.i.+on.Hewasholdingupbotharms,wigwaggingatsomeoneonthestage.Thesmellofhimnearlymadeherswallowhergum,buthisoutlinecompletelyobscuredher.

WhatwasYa.s.simdoingere?Tirlawondered.Didn'thetrusther?Ashercamouflagedroppedonearmtocuphishandtohismouthtoshoutadirection,Tirlachancedasecondlook.

Yes,itwas.h.i.+m.Hewasunmistakable.Hehaddonesomethingsubtletohisface,alteringitsshapeprobablypadsinhischeeksandlowerlipbuthehadnot,couldnot,alterthatlongthinhookednoseandtheslopingforehead.Hewalked,asalways,asifheownedtheplace,struttingaboutinalooseoverrobethathadnotsufferedmuchcleaninginitslonglife.Hisheadgearwasalsoappropriatelyworn,torn,andstained.Itwasacreditableattempttoblendin,b.u.t.tirlaknewthemanwasYa.s.sim.Therehewas,saunteringabout,inspectingtrinkets,pausingtoaskquestionsofvendors,appearingtogofromonegroupoffriendstoanother,friendsshequicklyidentifieda.s.someofhismult.i.tudeofladrones,hitters,andsa.s.sins.Wellanddiscreetlyguardedthoughhewas,whywashethere?

Herodorousblockermovedandshemovedwithhim,keepinghimascover.

Whenhestopped,roaringoutinstructions,she,too,didandsawYa.s.simtalkingtothreeNeestermotherswhohadyoungchildrenwiththem.

SuddenlyTirlaknewwhathewasdoingthere.Withequalcertainty,Tirladidnotwanttobeanywhereinhisvicinitywhilechildbuyingwasonhismind.Shedid,however,makeamentalnoteofwhichladronesandsa.s.sinssheknewamonghisfollowers.Therehadtobeoneshecouldtrusttogivehisbossthetiedsshehadexchangedintofloaters.Therewasnowayshecouldavoidthatch.o.r.e.

Subliminalmusichadstarted,andthelightinginthea.s.semblyHallbegantoaltersubtly,heraldingthebeginningoftheReligiousInterpretation.Tirladuckedbehindthenearestvendor'ss.h.i.+llboardandslippedtothesoutheastentrance.

AnagitatedMirdaKhanseemedtohaveeyesinthebackofhermirroradornedheaddress,forsheswungaround,herfacea.s.sharpasapredatorybird's,asTirlaapproached.ShehookedherfingerspainfullyintoTirla'sgraspandhauledthegirltoher.

"Wherewereyou?Wherewereyou?"Mirdashookherangrily,showeringherwithspittleandsourbreathsothatTirlapulledbackasfara.s.shecould.TheotherwomenwhohadcommissionedhertotranslatetheRlG'swordsformedaclosecirclearoundher.Butsincetheirbodiesalsos.h.i.+eldedherfromYa.s.sim'snotice,shedidnotresist.

"Iwaspricingthemerch,"shesaid,unrepentantly.

BilalaandPilauweretryingtoedgearoundMirdaandpullTirlatotheirsegmentofthecircle.MirdajammedTirlatightagainstherangularbodywhileMamaBobchiksomehowgotaholdofTirla'sfreearm,effectivelypinningherbetweenthetwoformidablylargewomen.

"He'shere,"TirlasaidtoMirda,squirmingtogiveherselfalittles.p.a.ce.Sherepeatedthephraseuntilallhercustomersknew.

"He?"Mirdastretchedtopeerovertheheadsoftheirlittleknot.

Shegaveasnort."Ya.s.sim'llroastinh.e.l.lbeforeIsellhimanotherchild."HerfingerstightenedconvulsivelyonTirla'sshoulder."Youstayawayfromhim.Youhearmegood?"

Tirlanoddedenthusiastically.IfMirdaknewYa.s.sim,wasthereachanceshecouldinveiglethewomantopa.s.sonthelaundry?Notwithanysureknowledgethatallofitwouldreachhim.

"Hegivesagoodprice,"Elpidiawhined.Shehadagirlchildoldenoughtospinoff.Shealsohadadrughabittokeep,forwhichsheexchangedtheyearlyfruitsofherwomboncetheywereofanagetobesoldoffprofitably.Shefrettedwhetherornottogobacktohersquatandbringdownthechildforhim.

"Iwouldnotselltosuchas.h.i.+m!"Mirdasnappedinherownlanguage,blackeyesflas.h.i.+ngscornfully."Priceornot.Evensellingtothestationisbetter."

"Whatdidshesay?"ElpidiademandedofTirla.

Tirlashrugged."Iamhiredtotranslatethespeaker,notsettledisputesbetweenclients,andsheisnotonetoannoy."

ElpidiascowledatMirdaKhan,whohauledTirlaaround,nearlywrenchingherleftarmoutofMamaBobchik'shand.

"Come,"Mirdasaid.HerouterrobebillowingitsmustyfoldsacrossTirla'sface,sheledthegroupforward,actingasaspearheadthroughthestillthinlyscatteredgathering.Shehaltedrightunderthestage,wherenoonecouldthrustinfrontofthemtoblocktheirview.

ShewasabouttopushTirlaforwardwhenthegirlwriggledfree.

"Imustbeabletoseehim.Iwillstandhere,whereIcansee,andwhereallofyoucanhear."Sherepeatedthisuntilitwasclearlyunderstoodbyallherclients.

WithinthecircleshefeltsafefromYa.s.sim.Shebegantorelaxandeventoenjoythemusicdespitethepatchysoundoftheshrillreplayasitgroundthroughamultiethnicrepertoire.Wherewerethefamouslivebackupperformers?Thishadbeenpubliclybilledasanoccasion!

Tirlatooknoteofactivityonthestage,thedraperiesbillowingsuddenlyhereandtherefrommovementbehindthem.Shecouldjustcatchaglimpseoftherighthandwingsandpeoplemillingabout,waitingtogoon.So,therewasachorus.Shemuchpreferredlivesinging.

Outofthecornerofhereyeshecaughtaglimpseofabigmantoherright,wanderingwithalltooapparentindifference.Shesensedapenetratinga.s.sessmentofhercompanionsgoingonunderthebrimofabatteredpeakcap,andsheleanedsurrept.i.tiouslyintoMamaBobchik.

Shefeltsomethingelsethen,asoothingbrushacrosshermindwhichcausedthehigh,sharpchatterofthewomentofalloffintoaless.e.xcitedpitch.Shewasnotsurewhattatwasallabout.

ThemanwasnotTreasury.Shefollowedhisprogress,awarethathewasincontactsomehowwithtwowomenwhogaveeveryevidenceofbeingoblivioustohimastheychatteredandlaughedtogether,jostlingthroughtheearlycomerstofindagoodpositionnearthestage.Shepeeredsuspiciouslyatthetwo,theirfacespaintedwithcarelesshands,oneofthemobviouslypregnant,thoughsheworethegearofaprost.i.tute.Theirfaceswereunfamiliar,andTirlawasbeginningtowonderifthemeetingreallyhadbeenstagedbyanauthoritylikeTreasuryorPHwhenathirdwoman,wellknowntoTirla,greetedthemeffusivelyandstayedtogossip.Readingfromtheirlipsthecommonplaceremarkstheyexchangedsoothedthegirl.Itwa.s.seeingYa.s.simherethatmadehersonervous.Shecertainlydidnotowehimsomuchthathewouldcomeafterher.Shewasnotevenoverduewiththelaunderedcredits.Whathadhappenedtohisstock?Hewasnotoftencaughtshortenoughtobraveapublicaffair.Shetouchedthelittlepouchesoftiedsintheclevervestsheworeforthepurposeunderherissuesuitandrea.s.suredherselfthatallwereinplace.

Afanfareblastedforattention,andtheexcitedbabbledieddowntoeagerantic.i.p.ation.Notabadflourish,Tirlathought,quitewillingtobecarriedalongbyagoodshow.

Thenthechoirstalkedoutselfconsciouslyandarrangedthemselveswithsomepokingandpullingononesideofstagecenter.Asclosea.s.shewas,Tirlacouldseethattheircostumeswereneithercleannornew.

Notallofthemmanagedtofindtherightpitchfromthefinalnoteoftherecordedblurtofbra.s.s.Tirlaknewthesongtheyweresinging,areallyoldgoodone,sothefactthattheyweresingingitbadlywasinexcusable.SheonlyhadtotranslateitforCyotoandArieveryoneelsemumbledalongintheirownlanguages.

Thentheemceecameout,falselybright,andstartedthepitch,wafflingonaboutthetrainingandmeritsoftheReveredVenerablePonsitProsit.AshewasmerelyrepeatingalltheclaptrapaboutmysticaltraininginFarAsiafromthepublicannouncement,TirladidnotstarttotranslateituntilBilalahissedathertoearnherfee.

Therewasanothersong,onewhichslippedfromonemusicalethictoanotherwithnorespectfortonalityorrhythm.Perversely,thesingersmanagedtoperformthetravestycompetently.Tirlaidentifiedsixwhoweres.p.a.cedoutonsomething.ThattheycouldsingatallmightindeedbeaminormiracleofthisRIG.

Therewereflourishesofrecordedinstrumentsandrollsofdrums,whichstirredevenTirla'scynicalpulses.Drumscouldbesoexciting!Agreatcras.h.i.+ngofcymbals,apainfullyglaringdisplayofa.s.sortedlightsandnarrowbeams,anearblastingcrescendoofbuglesynthsaccompaniedbyfragrantsmokebombs,andtheReveredVenerableReligiousInterpreterarrived,hisrobesartfullygleaming.

Herclientsweresuitablyimpressedbyhis"magical"appearance,b.u.t.tirlahadcaughtaglimpseofthesquareapertureinthefloorbeforeheshotupthroughthedensestveilofsmoketohoveronhiscolumnabovethestageandtheawedspectators.Shepreferredsomethingmoredramatic;shehadseenthatsortofentrancesofrequentlythat.i.thadlostanyimpact.Butclearlyshewasaminority.EvenMirdapretendedtobeafraid,coveringherfacewithafoldofherheadcloth.

TheReligiousInterpreterwentintohisactimmediately,faceupturnedsoTirla'sbestviewwasofawagglingchinanddarkholesofnostrils.

Thelightshowdazzledastapedmusicsupportedhismouthingsforthatwaswhattheywere,syllablesmeaningabsolutelynothing,withrandomwordsfromeverylanguageshehadeverheardtossedintoconfuse.

"Whatdoeshesay,theholyman?"Mirdademanded.

"Tellmewhathesay?"MamaBobchikpulledTirlatoher.BilalaandPilauwereequallyinsistent:onekickedTirla'ss.h.i.+n,whiletheothertransferredasubstantialamountofherweightontoTirla'sundefendedtoes.

"Nothing,"Tirlareplied,disgusted."Hesaysnothing!"

Shewaspoked,pushed,andpulled.

"He'ssayingsomething."

"Hespeaksmystically."

"Telluswhathesays."