The Wings Of Pegasus Part 36

SaschasatdownonthebedonPeter'sothersideandlookedhelplesslyatRhyssa.

"AsIseeit,"Peterwenton,clearlymoreinchargeofthesituationthanhisadultmentors,"weTalentsdon'thaveanyoption.WeneedtheoneswithMr.BadenintheErasmusSascha,whenIs.h.i.+ftedthatsteeltheotherday,yousaidIhadgraduatedintoareallyusefulcategoryofkinesis.Withenoughpowerinthegestalt,IknowIcanlandtheshuttle."

Saschaslowlyshookhishead."There'sanothermajorconsideration,son..."

"I'vebeenstudyingschematicsonpowergeneration,"Petercontinuedblithely."TuRbosinparticular,asthey'remorereliable."

"Youhave?"RhyssawasconstantlybeingsurprisedbytheturnsofPeter'savidstudying.

"Well,IthoughtIoughttogetsomesortofbasicconceptsfromwhichtowork..."Hesawtheirexpressionsandgavethemalittlesmile.

"Iusedtowatchalotofcollegelevelvidcourses.Theywerealotmoreinterestingthanmostofthelatenightrecreationalgarbage.

Havingtothinkhardtookmymindoffmyselfforawhile.Engineeringwasagoodthink."

SaschaandRhyssawerereducedtonoddinginbelatedcomprehension.

"Especially,"Peteradded,hiseyestwinkling,"asnoonereallyseemedtoknowwhattomakeofmygestalting.Andthat'stheotherconsideration,isn't.i.t,Sascha?Keepinggestaltkinesisunderwraps?"

"He'sgotusthere,Rhyssa,"Saschasaidwithachagrinedexpression.

"That'swhatyou'rereallyworriedabout,butlook,ifthepilotbringstheshuttledownfarenough,IknowIcanget.i.tsafelythroughtheturbulenceandlandit.Andeventhepilotdoesn'tneedtoknowitwasn'tMr.Badenandtheotherkineticswhosteadiedtheshuttle."

Whenhesawthattheywereseriouslyconsideringhissuggestion,headded,"Itisn'tasifI'dbebringingtheshuttleallthewaydownfromPadrugoibymyself,youknow."

"Andyouthinkthecity'spowersystemwillsupplythenecessarygestaltforyou?"Saschaaskedinawrytone.

"TheEastSideJerhattanpowerstation'sturbosshouldbeenough."

Peter'seyesglowedattheprospectofallthatpowerathisdisposal.

RhyssaandSaschabegantolaughatth.e.s.h.eerimpudence.

"Youknow,Ireallythinkthat'llwork,"Doroteasaid,enteringtheroom.Shewa.s.stillinhernightclothes,afetchingpalelilacthatsetoffherlovelywhitehairandporcelaincomplexion."Sinceeavesdroppingisingeneralordertoday,I'vebeenfollowingtheconversationswithgreatinterest.Therewon'tbetimetotalkthatidiotofapowerresourcescommissionerintoagreeingtoanythingofsuchanexperimental,andhighlyconfidential,nature.Thefewerpeoplewhoknowwhatwe'redoingthebetter."

Herfacetookonanexceedinglyslylook,totallyuncharacteristic.

"Let'sinvokeaGandH!"Shechortled,lookingexceedinglypleasedwithherself."AllwehavetodotheniscallBorisgethimtoclearthepowerstationandusehisofficialcapacitytogetusin."

"InvokeaGandH?"Rhyssastaredattheelderlytelepathasifshehadneverseenherbefore.

"What'saGandH?"Peteraskedjusta.s.saschabegantoguffaw.

"Whydidn't.i.thinkofthat?"Rhyssaexclaimedinexasperation.TothemystifiedPeter,sheexplained,"That'sourmaydaycode,forGeorgethat'sGeorgeHenner,whoonceownedthishouseandHenrymeaningHenryDarrow,whoestablishedTalentasaverifiableparanormalskill.

IfaTalentinvokesaGandH,hegetsimmediateandunquestionedcooperationfromeveryotherTalent."

Sascharubbedhishandstogether."Youknow,I'vealwayswantedtheexcusetoinvokethatmaydaycode."Brother,hecalled.It'saGandH:weneedescorttotheEastSidepowerstation,andit'stobecleared!Shouldn'tbedifficultwithonlyaminimalnightcrewoncall.

Boris:AGandH?Fascinating.I'mcleaningupafteramajorriotandyouelectthismomentintimetocallaGeorgeandHenry?

Sascha:AllweneedisyouandaLEOheli.

Justme?Borisrespondedsarcastically.

Saschaagreeably:Youtogetusthecooperationweneed.

AndIcanexpectreturncooperationfromyou?Boris,slyly.

Sascha:It'saGeorgeHenrymayday,Bro.Youcan'trefuse.

Boris:Quidproquo,Bro.Iwasabouttorequestyourpresence!

Sascha:Forariot?

Boris:Icouldcertainlyuseyourhelponthisone,Bro.SomeodditieshavecroppedupthatrequireyourparticularlyacutetelepathicTalent.

SascharaisedhiseyebrowsinquiringlyatRhyssa,wh.o.r.eluctantlygaveana.s.sentingnod.

"Didyoufollowthat,Peter?"Rhyssaasked,noticingthattheboy'sfacewa.s.stillregisteringsurprise.

"Yes,"hesaidtentatively.

"Youdon'treallyneedme,Peter,"Saschasaidencouragingly."You'vegotRhyssa..."

"AndDorotea,"theladyaddedstoutly.

"Tobufferyourmind,"Saschacontinued.Don,aswell,Ithink,headdedtoRhyssa.WhydoesBorishavetoneedmeatthismomentintime?

Dorotea:Borisalwaysdidhaveanawkwardstreakinhim.ComesfrombeingaLEObytemperament.

RhyssaturnedbrisklytoPeter."Now,you'dbettergetdressed.Fetchyourcloth.e.s.h.ere.Andwhatshouldhegetforyou,Dorotea?Youcanchangeinmybathroom."

"I'llgetdowntoBudworthforthevitalstatisticsweneed,"Saschasaid."Theweightoftheshuttle,aradarlinkwiththeshuttle,reprosofDaccaingoodweatherweatherreports."IfIreallythinkaboutthisinanydetail,I'llgocrackers!headdedonaveryfinethreadtothetwowomen.

RhyssaandDorotearepliedwithequalfervor:You'llhavecompany!

yPeterthinksbecandoit,Iprefertothinkhecan,Rhyssaadded.

Afterall,it'sthethoughtthatcounts.

Dorotea:That'swhatdoesthetrick.

Thenecessaryequations,basedonPeter'sestablisheduseofthegestaltplusdistance,weight,andoptimumspeedoftheshuttle,atmosphericconditions,andturbulenceatthelandingsite,wereallcompletedbythetimetheLEOheliarrivedtotransportthem.

"Ithoughtyouwerehavingariotofatimeandwe'dgetadeputy,"Saschasaid,buthewas.e.xceedinglyrelievedtohavehisbrother'ssupport.

"Iam,butI'mthebestauthorityyouhaveforwhatever'sgoingon."

Borissmiledwithwhitetoothedmalice."You'llwanttobeinonthisone,Bro.We'vegotaleadonthekidnappings."

Saschasworewithgreatingenuity.

That'sasimportantasthis,Sascha,Rhyssaconceded.WithDoroteaandDontohelpmebufferhim,he'llbefine.

Iwouldn'tinterferewithamaydayifIdidn'thaveto,theLEOcommissionersaid,evenashereacheddowntoa.s.sistDoroteaintotheheli.

Sascha,thekidnappersmustbestopped,Doroteasaidsosternlythathertonestartledallthetelepaths.There!That'ssettled!

"AndthisisPeterReidinger?"Borisasked,asPeterreachedthestepsinhistreadingwatergait."Hi!"

FromthestunnedlookonPeter'sface,RhyssasuddenlyrealizedthatnoonehadthoughttomentiontotheboythattheLEOcommissionerwa.s.sascha'stwinbrother.

"No,you'renotseeingdouble.I'molderbyfiveminutes,"Boriswentonamiably,deftlytakingPeterunderthearmsandhoistinghimaboard.

We'llbothseethemsafelytherebeforeIabductyou,Bro,formylessnefariouspurposes.Theboy'stheGandH?

Saschawaggledhisfingerathisbrother.Naughty,naughty!HeswungaboardandstartedstowingthemedicalequipmentDonUsenikhandedup,ignoringBoris'sgrumbling.WhenDonclimbedin,Saschaslidthedoorshut,andthebighelibusglidedupwardandsoutheast.

BorishadstrappedPeterintoawindowseat,andutterlyentranced,theboygazeddowntheblackcanyonoftheHudsontothema.s.soflightsthatglowedfromeveryzigguratandribbonwayofJerhattan.

"Ratherbreathtakingnomatterhowoftenyouseeit,"RhyssasaidtoPeter,whonoddedwithouttakinghiseyesfromtheview.Bythetimetheylandedontheroofofthefacility,alltheTalentsweresubtlyawareoftheemptinessofthema.s.sivestructure.

"Welldone,Boris,"Doroteasaid."Thisway,Peter!"

"Ihopeyouknowwhatyou'redoing,"Borisremarkedwryly.'Myofficeisonthelineinthis!"

"Thanks,Boris,"Rhyssasaid."Canyouretrieveuswhenweshout?"

"IfIcan'tspareSascha,I'llsendsomeoneyoucantrust,"theLEOcommissionersaidashehandedDonhismonitors.Thenthebigheliliftedawayfromthehelipad.

RhyssatookoneequipmentcasefromDonashehauledopentheroofdoor.a.s.soonasPeterglidedinside,hebegantoemanateexcitement,hiseyessparklingwithantic.i.p.ationwhilehemaneuvereddownthestairs.Theyenteredabovethehugeturbines,whichwerehummingslightlyastheyservedtheneedsofthegreatmetropolis.Theyturnedintothecontrolroomthatoverlookedtheturbinefloor,aroomlinedwiththeequipmentthatregisteredtheflowofelectricitytothevarioussubstations.Withanineffableair,Petera.s.sumedtheconformablechairofthedutyengineer,swingingitidlyfromsidetosideuntiltheadultsorganizedthemonitorsandstartedhookinghimup.

AbovethewindowsoverlookingtheturbinesweresufficientvidscreenstodisplaywhatPeterneededtosee.Rhyssabeganenteringtheappropriateprograms,bringingupononescreenahighresolutionfaxprintoftheErasmus;onanother,adisplayofitsspecifications;thenweathersimulations;andfinallylinkingthestation'scommunicationsgridtothemainNASAboardtofollowtheshuttle'sdescent.TheErasmuswasalreadyinflight,havingbegunitsdescentpromptlyat0800stationtime,0130Earthtime.Thepowerstationclockread0550asthedeepradarnetbegantoshowtheshuttle'sspiralingdescent.ThefinalscreenpicturedtheDaccaairport,lashedwithrainandwhippedbyfiercegustsofwindsthats.h.i.+ftedtreetrunks,partsofcars,crates,andallsortsofdebrisacrosstheconcreterunwaywherePeterwastobringtheErasmussafelydown.

WhenDonUsenikhadcompletedhischeckoftheequipmentmonitoringPeter,RhyssaandDoroteatookseatsbehindthem,themindofeachlightlytouchingtheboy's.Heseemednottonotice,sointentwasheontheErasmus'scourse.Justasithittheatmosphere,thegeneratorsbegantowhine.

Rhyssashookherhead,asunableastheotherstoreachthatpartofPeter'smindthathadlinkedwiththeenormouspoweroftheturbinesbelowthem.Thewhinebuilt,thedecibelsincreasingtoa.n.a.lmostunbearablepitch.Doroteascrunchedherfeaturesup,unashamedlycoveringherearswithherhands.Rhyssawa.s.staringindisbeliefatthewildlyalteredreadingsonthecontrolconsole.DonUsenikkepthiseyesonhismedicalmonitors.Peterremainedoutwardlycomposed.

Rhyssanoticedtheslightlycondescendingsmileonhisfaceandjusthopedhewasnotabouttooverreachhimself.

SimultaneouslybothsheandDonnoticedtheperspirationontheboy'sforehead,b.u.t.thesmileremainedinplace.Thegeneratorsreachedafrenziedpeakandmaintainedit.AndthetouchofPeter'smindaltered!Itbecameharda.s.stone.Peterhadnotlockedmentalcontactout,buthehadsuddenlyrestrictedthecontactarea,indicatingintenseconcentration.RhyssacaughtDorotea'seyes,b.u.t.theolderwomanmerelypointedtoDon'spatientandunalarmedwatchofthemonitors.ThedescentoftheErasmusvisiblysteadiedandslowed.

He'sdoneit!Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexclaimedinmutedcongratulatorytones.

RhyssahopedsomeonewasrecordingforposteritywhatwasunquestionablythemostdramaticmomentforTalentsinceaGooseggregisteredHenryDarrow'sdeltawavepatternduringthatfirstrecordedprecognitiveIncident.HermindstillincontactwiththatpartofPeter'swhichwasaccessibletoherselfandDorotea,shewatchedtheErasmuslanding,comingtoagentlestopatthepa.s.sengerterminal,seeminglyuntouchedbythebatteringwind.Petergavealittlechuckle,andsuddenlytheturbulencebetweenshuttleandterminalabated,aneeriestormeyeofabsolutecalm.Pa.s.sengershastilydisembarked,pausinginastonishmentastheybecameawareofthesurroundinglull.One,hisfaceindistinctonthesmallscreen,liftedclaspedhandsabovehisheadinavictorysignandthenhurriedintothedubioussafetyofthewindbatteredterminal.

"WhereshouldIsendtheshuttle,Rhyssa?OnceIletgo,thatturbulencewilljustflipflopitallovertheplace."

Ihadn'tthoughtthatfarahead,RhyssaadmittedonthequiettoDorotea.

"TheweatherchartssuggestthatWoomerawouldbethesafestplace,Peter,but..."Doroteaquicklyscannedtheworldwidemeteorologicalreport.

OnlyaslightincreaseinthegeneratorsindicatedtheeffortinvolvedastheErasmusslowlyturnedandstartedbacktothemainrunway.

"Ithinkwe'dbetterwarnthepilotwherehe'sgoing,"Rhyssasaid,andspokeurgentlytoSirikitattheControlCenter.

We'vehadthemostunusualbrown-outhere,Sirikittoldher.

GetMainAirControltowarntheErasmuspilotASAPthathe'sbeingdivertedtoWoomera.

Erasmus?Diverted?ForoncetheThaiwoman'stranquillityslippedintoastonishment.Ofcourse!Immediately!

Preferablybeforebewets.h.i.+sbritches,Donaddedasanaside,makingbothRhyssaandDoroteagrin.

Noneofthethreeadultscouldfeelanystressinthemindoftheboy,whowastotallywrappedinthecuriousprocessofgestalt.Physicallyhelookedmorefrailthanever,andthebonesofhisskullseemedtoexpandunderthethinskinofhishead.Theycouldallfeelthetremendouspowersurgingthroughhim,b.u.t.theycouldnotdeducehowheeffectedthecontrol.

Slowly,againstallthetenetsofaerodynamicsandinspiteoftheprevailingturbulence,theErasmusspeddowntherunwayandachievedaperfecttakeoff.

"Idon'tbelievethis,"Rhyssamutteredsoftly."Whotaughthimtoyplanes?"

"Everyboyinthisgenerationunderstandsshuttlecraft,"Donremarked,buthis.e.xpressionwasnolessbemusedthantheirs.HewatchedastheErasmusclimbedslowlyupintotheswirlingrainandcloudsandoutofsight.Theyfollowedituptothesupersoniclevel.

Thegeneratorswounddownfromtheirbusypitch.

"There!"Petersaidsuddenlywithanoteofcompletesatisfactioninhisvoice."He'sfiringhisengines,andheshouldknowwhattodonow.ItoldhimtolandinWoomera.Thatwasfun!"headdedwithlessvigor.Hewas.e.xtremelypaleandstillperspiringheavily."Thatwasalotoffun!"Hiseyesgleamed,andhegrinnedatDonUsenik,whoshookhisheadwithincredulityashepointedtoa.n.a.lmostnormalpatternonthebioscanscreen.

"Fun?Youcalledthatfun,Peter?"Rhyssaexclaimedalmostangrily,realizingthatshehadbeenunderatremendousstrainofworryevenifPeterhadnot.

"Withpowerlikethis,Icouldlofttheshuttlemucheasierthanthepilotcould,"Petersaidinavoicethatwa.s.suddenlyhoa.r.s.ewithfatigue.

Dorotea,veryprivatelytoRhyssa:"How'reyougoingtokeep'emdownonthefarm,afterthey'veseenParee?"Sherolledhereyes.e.xpressively.

"Markedfatigue,lowenergylevel,buteventhat'swithinwhatI'dcallthenormalrangeforaTalent,"Donannouncedinabaffledtone."Youdidgreat,Peter,"headdedproudly.

Clearingherthroat,Rhyssasaidwearily,"Idon'tthinkLudmilla'sgoingtobelievethatonboardTalentsalso'portedtheshuttleoutagain."

"Well,Icouldn'tleaveitontherunway,Rhyssa,nowcouldI?"Peteraskedwithwearyirritation."Thoseshuttlescostbillions."

Suddenlyallthetelepathswereawareofothertouches,vyingtoreachtheirminds.

Kayankira:Ob,thankyou,thankyou.Howdidyoumanage?

Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexchangedglances.

No,Rhyssa,Doroteasaidonaverythinthreadtotheothertwo,wedidn'tthinkthiswholethingthroughverycarefully.

RhyssagulpedandrepliedwithanevennessinhermentaltonethatDoroteaapplauded,Lanceisrightthere.Itwasallhisidea.ArealGandH.Wasn't.i.t,Lance?