The Wings Of Pegasus Part 35

"Ah,Iunderstandthatwordformyself!Iwillpayyounothing,b.i.t.c.h."

Tirlawasfuriousatthatthreat.FuriousattheRIG.Shewouldtranslatewhenhesaidsomethingtranslatable.Shewaspinchedandtweakedandslapped.Inselfdefenseshecaughtthepatternofhisbabbleand,involuntarilymimickinghisstanceanddelivery,rattledoffthenonsensicalsoundsinanundertone,translatingtheoccasionalrealwordintoasmanylanguagesa.s.shecouldbeforepickingupthegibberis.h.a.gain.

Thenthemanstoppedtalkingandspreadhisarms,hisbeatificsmileradiantinthefloodoflightpickinghimout,seeminglyafloatintheairabovethestage.ThenTirlarealizedthathewa.s.staringinherdirection.

Inagesturethatstartledheraswellasherclients,helungedforward,eyesflas.h.i.+ng,facecontorted,hisaccusingfingerpointingstraightather.

"Unbelievers,profaningasacredmomentwithchatter.Hear,learn,obey,repentyoureviluncaringways.Betakenintothelightoftheworld.Beadmittedintotheholysepulcher.Beonewithhumanityandallloving,caringcreatures.Bepurified.Besaved!Be!"Hisaccusinghandliftedandspreadopenasabeamoflightcaughthisfingersandspilleddownhisraisedarm.

Tirla,translatingasrapidlyaspossibleinthedramaticpause,wasthankfulforsomecoherentphrases.Herclientsmightbelisteningtoher,b.u.t.theireyeswereonhim.Hehadthecrowd'sraptattentionnow.Tirlawasfairlysurethatnooneoutsidethecirclecouldseeher,butdarednotstoptalking.Shekeptspewingoutthegibberish,worryingthatsuchnonsensewouldnotbeworththemoneypromisedher.

Theymightnotpayheratall.Shewasalreadyregrettingthatshewouldmissthetasteofthecrispgreenpeppershehadhopedtopurchasewithherfee.JTheLamashamana.s.sumedanotherdramaticpose,armsout,1palmsupturnedinentreaty.;"Bringmeyoursick,yourweary,yourwretchedsouls.Letmehealthem.Atouchwilleasethetorturedmind,thefeveredbody,thetwistedlimb,theblurredsight.

Approach!Benotafeared.Allthingscometothosewhodeserve.AllcreaturesdeserveLove.ForitisLove,Love,Lovethatheals!"

Tirlarattleditalloffeasily,tryingtopeerthroughthes.h.i.+eldingbodiestoseewhowouldbeworkingthescam.Barneywithhislizardeyelidsoneblink,andhiseyesweremilkywhiteblind;another,andhecould"seeclearonceagain,hallelujah!"MaybeMahmoudwithhis...o...b..ejointsalltwistedoutofshapeonetouchoftheLamashaman'shealingtouchandtheywouldstraighten.OrwoulditbeMariawithherweepingsores?

TheLamashamanthrewbackhishead,hishandsturnedgoldinthenarrows...o...b..ams,glitteringfromsomesortofpainthemusthaveused.Herclientsinhaledwithaweatthesight,theirfacesraptashemademysticpa.s.seswithhismagicalhands.Glisteningstrandsandbitswhirledfromhisfingertips,disappearinginbriefsparksastheyleftthelightbeams.Thatwasanewtrick,Tirlathought.Notbad.Pilautriedtocatchastrand,but.i.tdisintegrated,leavingnotraceinhergrubbyfingers.

Justthenanotherstrand,stronger,shotfromthestageandfellontheheadofabemusedman.Hewaslessbemusedwhen,withanothergrandflourish,theLamashamanbegantoreelhimin.

"Youhavebeenchosen,brother.Cometome!Embraceme!"Arampextrudedfromthestage,straighttowardthechosenone,whoglancedaboutwithapprehensionashewaspushedontotherampbythosebehindhimandpropelledforwardbythoseoneitherside.

"Kneel,brother,"theLamashamanintoned,andappearedtoglidedowntheair.

Tirlacouldfeelthefaintvibrationofthestagemechanismthatsuppliedtheeffect,butshedidnotpauseinhertranslations.Itwasaprettygoodgimmick.Shewonderedwherethecontrolwas.Themarkappearedgenuinelystunnedatbeingchosen.Hekneltobediently,adazedexpressiononhisface.

"RallamadamothuriasticalligomahnozimithioapodociamoturialistashadioalisymquepodialOmathurtodispasionatusimperadomusigenalliszweigenpolastonuchevaliskyrielisonandia.Mosspirialistusquandoruulabetodomoarigatoimustendiationallamegrachiatus..."theReveredVenerableintoned,holdinghishandabovethemark'shead.

MoresyllablesandalmostwordsthatTirlacouldnotantic.i.p.ateenoughtomimic.ShecouldappreciateandadmiretheVenerable'strulyrespectablebreathcontrol.Why,hesoundedasifhecouldgoonforever!

"Whatdoeshesay?"Mi,dapinchedhersharply.

"HowcanIhearwhenyoubabbleatme?"Tirlarepliedandmadeupsuitablephrases,whichshethentranslated."Woops!"

Strangethingswerehappeningabovethechosenone'shead.HowdidtheLamashamandothatwithsleevessotightathiswrists?Tirlawondered.Hair,face,andthroatofthemarkweres.h.i.+mmeringwithgold;theman's.e.xpressionwasfirstludicrousandthenecstatic.

TirlawonderedwhattheVenerablePraymancouldbeusing.Shewasbeginningtoenjoythespectacle.

TheReveredslowlyturnedbacktotheaudience,hisfacealsogoldenhued,thewhitesofhiseyesvisible."Thepoweriswithme.

Whomelsewillittouch?"

Raisinghisarmsagainandextendinghishandsforward,hegavetheaudiencesufficienttimetoseetheeffectthe"power"hadhadonthefirst"chosen."Withatwistofhiswrists,hispalmsturnedoverandstrandsshotoutinalldirections.BeforeTirlacouldduck,oneofthefilamentslandedonherhead.Whateveritwa.s.stucktightlyinherhairdespitequickeffortsonherparttogetridofit.Herhandswerecaughtbytheadhesive,boundtoherheadnow.Shebegantopanic.Therewasnowayshewishedtobehauledupinpublic.NotwithYa.s.siminthehall.Notwithtiedsonher,creditsshehadnorighttopossessunderanycirc.u.mstances.

Thechoirbegantochantforthechosentocomeforward,toreceivepower.Theaudiencecaughtuptherefrain,andTirlacouldheartheominousovertoneofenvyfromthosewhofeltthemselvesmoreworthyofsuchanhonor.

"She'sbeenchosen!"BilalaandPilaushrieked,burstingintoanululationthatshotpanicthroughTirla'sheartastheytriedtopushherforwardtowardtherampnearestthem.

"No,she'sgottostay.She'sgottotellus!"MamaBobchikandMirdaKhanwerenottobecheated.TheypulledTirlaback.

"Breakit,Cyoto.Helpme,Laow.a.n.g.Elpidia!Zaveta!"Tirlabeganstrugglinginearnest,terrorstartingtochillherguts.

Alltheothernewlychosenweremakingtheirwayuptothestage.Thestrandtightened,pullingatherhair.Shetwisted.Thensuddenlyshewa.s.snappedfree.Shecaughttheglintofaknifebladea.s.shefellbackagainstthesolidMamaBobchik.ZavetaandMirdalockedwiththescreamingBilalaandPilau,whowereattemptingtoregaincontrolofTirla.

a.s.shehaddonebeforeinsuchsituations,Tirladroppedtothefloorandplungedtooneside,trippingsomeone,whofellheavilyonherleftfoot.Sheignoredthestabofpainandcrawledon,herbreathcominginsobs.Sherolledfreeofherencirclingclientsandscrambledtoherfeet,plowingthroughthechanters.Someonesawthedanglinggoldenstrandandgrabbedit,nearlyjerkingheroffherfeet.Tofreeherselfshewrenchedthetangledhairfromherhead,leavingthebitofscalpdanglingintheman'shand.

"Grabher!"Thechantwasinterruptedtosetupthecry.Shesqueezedpastseveralgraspinghands,frantictogettothelobbyandthenearestemergencyexit.

"Here,Igotcha!"Shewasencircledbyma.s.siveforearms.Sheliftedherarmsandslithereddown;akickwasaimedatherbelly,butdespitebeingwinded,sherolled,tooaccustomedtosuchdirtytacticsnottohaveselfpreservinginstincts.ShehadaglimpseofoneofYa.s.sim'ssa.s.sins,facewreathedinawitlessgrinofsuccess,beforeshelandedagainstthefarwall,andsuddenlytwopairsoftrouseredlegss.h.i.+eldedher.

Shewashelpedtoherfeetbykindhandsandmadeconsciousofsoothingthoughtsofa.s.sistance,understanding,andsympathy.Sherecognizedtheaurajustashersplayedfingersfeltthedoorframe.Managingtoeludethehands,shewhippedoutthedoorandspedacrossthefoyer,payingnoheedtopleastostop.Anincrediblemult.i.tonedbellowrosebehindher,anangryfrustratednoisethatgaveimpetustoherpumpinglegs.a.s.shepoundeddowntheaccessaisle,sheheardafamiliarthumpingthudintheairabove.

LEOs!Hadtheybeenonhand?Orhadtheybeencalled?But.i.ttooktimeforLEOs.h.i.+pstoa.s.semble.Shefoundthesmallsquareductsheneeded,whippedoffthecover,crawledinside,and,withsomedifficultyintherestricteds.p.a.ce,snappeditbackintoplace.Shecrouchedinthedirtandgrime,tiltingherfaceawayfromthelightasherlungsfoughttorepayherheartforthestrain.

Sheheardpeopleracingby,heardtheirexclamationsastheyreachedthedeadend,heardthemturnandcomeback,andheardtheirstepscontinueonpastherrefuge.Despitethenoise,Tirlafellasleep.

Rhyssa!"Thealarmedvoiceofthedutyofficerwasaccompaniedbyanimpulsethroughherheadnetthatrousedherinstantly.

"Yes?"

"Majordisasterprecog,"Budworthsaid.

Great!Rhyssathoughtsleepily.TwomajortroubleprecogsinnotquitetwodaysandnotatrembleaboutmatterswhichurgentlyconcernedallTalents.

"RecordedallacrossAsia,"Budworthwenton."LookslikeKayankira'sgoingtogetanothermonsoonoverload.Theyhaven'trepairedtherestrainingdamsfromthelastone.How'rewegoingtocope,withallthestrongkineticsonthestation?"

"Istheretimetobringanydown?"

"That'sthepanic!There'stimeenough,butweatherconditionsallacrosstheworldarefreaky.EvenifaPadrugoishuttlelaunched,thenearestclearlandingsiteisWoomera.Thekineticshavetobeonsitetobeeffective."WhatBudworthdidnotsay"ifBarchenkawouldallow'emtoleavethestation"flashedlikeaneonsigninRhyssa'smind.

"GetSaschaupforme,w.i.l.l.you,Buddy?"

Hedid,Saschaa.s.suredher.AreyouconsideringPeter?Hismentaltonemixedeagernesstotryandawarenessofthemultiplerisksinvolved.

ImustconsiderPeter'suniquecapabilitiesinasituationascriticalasthis,shetoldhim.

How?WithoutcompromisingPeter'ssecurity?

Theybothslappedupinternals.h.i.+eldsastheyfeltthearrivalofotherthoughts.

Kayankira:Rhyssa,I'vegottohaveallthekineticsyouhaveleft.Iunderstandthere'snochanceofgettinganyofthemdownfromPadrugoi?

Rhyssa:That'smyunderstanding.

VsevolodGebrowski:Ishallinsist!IshalltakethistotheWorldCouncil.TheyhavedeploredthesituationinIndia.Letthemputwordsintoaction.ReducingthedensityofpopulationinthatareaofBangladeshalsodiminishedtheavailableworkforce,andthenecessaryworkhas...o...b..encompletedontime.Nowwepayforthat.

MiklosHorvath:NotifwedraftthekineticsonPadrugoidowntohelp.

Andthecleanupeffortwillbereducedbykinesisnow!

Rhyssa:Ifwecanforcetheweathertogiveusabreak!

BessieDundallatCanberra:TheprecogsallindicatetheworstfloodingeverinBangladesh.Thenewleveeshaven'tbeencompletelyrestored,sofloodwaterswilldrownthisyear'sharvest.Thebarrierswon'tworkforsomereasonIsuspecttheirerectionwillprovethatonceagaincorruptionandbriberyhavebeenwidespread.Wehavetodosomething!

Alparacin:Rhyssa,whataboutthatteamofyoursIhearabout?

Rhyssa:They'renotwellenoughtrainedforadisasterofthismagnitude,dearfriend.They'dbeburnedout.

Peter:No,Iwouldn't.

Quiet!Sascha,Rhyssa,andDoroteaorderedasone.

Peter:Iwas,thatwasjusttoyou.

Rhyssaheldherbreath.ButnoTalentqueriedtheunknownvoice.

NaturallyEasternwilldowhateverwecan,shetoldtheothers.Maywehavecopiesoftheprecogs?ButIa.s.sureyouthathighlyskilledkineticsaregoingtohavetroublecopingwiththissortofthing,andallIhaveareahandfuloffourteenyearoldtraineekinetics.

Madlynhere...

Sascha:Honey,you'reonevoicethatneverhastoidentify.Whathaveyouheard?HeimagedtoRhyssaavisionofMadlynLuvaro,handstohermouthtomakeamegaphone,leaningoutofanairlockandshoutingdowntoawincingEarth.

Madlyn:LancehasbeenarguingwithBarchenkasincehegottheprecog.

Sheabsolutelyrefusestoriskashuttleorapilot.Yougottaadmittheweather'sprettyfreakyalloverrightnow.Icanseeitclearasday:lotsofturbulence,andnotjustovertheIndiancontinent.LancesaystherehastobeonesafeplaceonEarththeycanland,andthey'vegottohelp.He'scitingherforcontractualviolation.Shesaysit'stoodangeroustorisksomanyTalentsnowshe'sdoingthematriarchal,protectingyou-againstyourownaltruism.Ha!

Andthereisn'tapilotwe'vetalkedtowho'llriskadropintothesoupkettledownthere,shewenton.Wait!LancesaysMadlyn'smentaltonealteredtoaroterecitallevelnow'sthetimetotry.Hesaysyou'llknowwhathemeans.Heacceptsthat.i.tcouldbearisk,butifevertoput.i.ttothetest,now'sthetime.Haveyougotallthat?

Shesoundedmystified.

Sascha:You'vecomethroughloudandclear,Madlyn,andwecopy.

Lancesaysthattheprecogindicatesevenmorehorrendousdamagethanthelastmonsoonfloodcaused,soTalenthasgottogivekineticsupport.He'sdragoonedapilotintocoming,b.u.t.theguy'sscaredofattemptingtolandanywhere.Lancehasa.s.suredhimthatallthekineticsonboardwilldothelandingokay.IsLancegones.p.a.cecrazy?

Allright,I'mtellingthem.Hesayshe,andacontingentoftheheavydutykineticsenoughtoeffectfloodcontrolwillbeontheshuttleErasmusinHangarGat0800.They'reokayins.p.a.ce,b.u.t.they'llneedthehelplanding.Thatdoesn'tmakesensetome,b.u.t.that'swhatI'msupposedtotellyou.

SaschacamestormingintoRhyssa'sroom.Hehadpulledhispantsonbutwascarryinghiss.h.i.+rtinhishand.HereallydidhaveasupeRbbody,Rhyssathoughtprivately.Whyisn'ttherethenecessarychemistrybetweenus?We'dmakebeautifulchildren.Helookedsomagnificentangry.

"LanceisoutofhiswigifhethinksPeter'suptoacontrolledlandinginDaccaweather,"heannounced."Landingpalletsinawarehouseisaconsiderablydifferentcanofwormstoashuttlefulloflivefolkwecan'taffordtosmearacrossagalestruckconcreterunway."

RhyssafedadirectrepeatofLance'searlierconversationonPeter'spotentialandasimilarsituationintoSascha'smind."Hewasonlyjokingatthetime,"shesaidruefully."Quitealegitimateextrapolation."

"Wejustcan'triskit,"Saschasaid,pacingupanddowntheroomwhileRhyssauntangledherselffromherpastelcoveredduvetandstarteddressing."Asneatasolutiontothelackofkineticsasitis."

Rhyssa,withineffablesadness:Saschabear,you'rehalfwaytofiguringoutjusthowhecandoit!

Theywerebothstartledbyatimoroustaponherdoor.

"Yes?"SheandSaschaexchangedglances.

"It'sPeter.CanIcomein?"

Saschathrewhisarmsupdramatically.

"Yes,yes,"Rhyssasaid,shootingacomprehensivewarningatSascha.

Inhisdistress,Peterfloatedratherthanwalkedintotheroom.

"Noonebotheredtochanneltheirthoughts,"hesaid,bothapprehensiveanddefensive."Icouldn'thelphearing."

"No,ofcourseyoucouldn't,Peter,"Rhyssasaid.

IsPeterthere?Dorotea'sanxioustonestartledthem.

I'mhere!

Youngman,ifyoueverleavemeagaininthatabruptfas.h.i.+on,I'lltanyourbottom!

RhyssaandSaschahadneverheardthatparticularnoteinthetelepath'svoicebefore.

Iwastryingtoexplaintheproblemtohimwhenhezippedoutofheresofastlthoughthe'dactuallyteleportedhimself:Iknowtheproblem,Dorotea,Petersaidinaverypatienttone.TolandtheshuttlesafelyatDacca.And,withenoughpower,it'dbenomoredifficultthanthatcontainerwas,orthesteelIsenttoSanFrancisco.

"Theturbulenceofamonsoonistotallyunpredictable,"Saschabegan.

Peter's.e.xpressionwasoneofabusedpatience."It'dbethesameprincipleinspiteofturbulence.Andbetter,becausetheshuttlewon'tbepowered,sothatwon'tthrowoffthes.n.a.t.c.handgrabofmygestalt."

"Simplewhenexplainedinthatfas.h.i.+on,"Saschasaidathisdriest.

ThenheflunguphishandsinexasperationandturnedtoRhyssa.

Shetookareasonablestance."Thedistance,thema.s.sinvolvedeventheturbulencearenotfactorsyou'vedealtwithbefore.Wecan't,andwon't,riskburningyouout."

Petergrinned."Youwouldn't.ThoughI'dneedmuchmorethanfourpointfivekpm.Tobesafe,I'dneedsomerealpowerlikethecity'sturbos.TheymightseizeupbutIwouldn't."

"Wedon'tknowthat,Peter,"Rhyssasaidgently,permittinghimtosenseheranxiety.

"ButIknowthataboutme,"Petersaid,andlevitatedtothebed,whereheperchedbesideher,uprightenough,butwithhisarmsandlegsdrapedinunnaturalpositions.HemadeadjustmentswhenhecaughtRhyssa'slook."Instinctively!"

Thenshehuggedhim,feelingtearsofprideforthes.h.i.+ningself-confidencethathademergedinthepastfewweeks.Sheheldhislaxnarrowbodyforalongmoment;then,sensinghisembarra.s.sment,sheruffledhishairandreleasedhim.

"Peter,"Saschasaid,hunkeringdownbytheboy,"thisisdifferentfromtheexerciseswe'vehadyoudo.Andthisgestaltabilityofyoursisunique!Wejustcan'triskit."

"DoroteasaidIshouldtrustmyinstincts,"PetersaidsofirmlythatbothSaschaandRhyssaregardedhimforalongmoment."Ialsoreadtheprecogreport.Iftherearen'tenoughkinetics,manypeoplewilllosetheirlives,aswellaseverythingthey'vebeenstrugglingtobuildoverthepasttwoyears.There'llbema.s.siveecologicaldamage,moreplague,starvation.YoukeepfeedingmeallthisstuffabouttheresponsibilityweTalentshavetotherestoftheworld,howwe'resupposedtoreducedeathanddamage.IfI'mwillingtotakealittlerisk,I'dbearealTalent.

"IalsoheardwhatMadlynsaidtoyou."Petergrinnedingenuously,wincingasifavoidingaloudnoise."Mr.Badenmeansme,doesn'the?

That.i.t'stimetoreallytryme."