The Wings Of Pegasus Part 4
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Inmoments,HenryandMollyarrivedintimeforPatsy'sphonecallofsuchdetailsa.s.she'd"seen."
"I'monthewateragain,"shesaid,breathlessinanattempttoverbalizebeforedetailsescapedher."Andthere'reboats.Four.
Sun'satalateafternoonangle,onmyleftsoImustbelookingnorth.
There'slandbeyondtheboats,pines,abluff.Andoilonthewater.
Icanseeitallrainbowy.Theoilscaresme.It'sgoingtoignite,andthenthewater'scoveredwithflamesandtheboatsareeatenupand...oh,it'sgoingtobewicked,Ben.Canyoulocate?HaveIgivenyouenough?Ican'trememberanymoreandtheflamescoveranydetails."
"Itisasooner?"
"Awfulsoon.Today.I'msureofit.But.i.t'smorning,andIsawlateafternoon...istheretimeenough?"
"Sure.Plentyoftime.I'mfeedingthecomputerwiththedatarightnow.Olddidacticwillpintheplacedown,Pat.Buthaveyouanotionaboutthesizeoftheboatsinvolved?"
"Oh,yes,ofcourse.Howstupidofme.Iforgetyouhaven'tseen.
One'ssmall,apleasurecraft...apowerboat...nosails.That'stheonethatgoesonfire.Twolonglowboats...Iguessthey'dbetankers.Andahigherboat...Imean,onehigherabovethewater...
Andthey'reallmuchtooclosetogether.That'stheproblembecausethey'llallcatchfire."
"Apleasureboat,twotankersandafreighterinthelateafternoon.
That'sfine,Pat.Andthepinesandbluffandbeingclosetogetherindicateachannelofsomedescription.Now...thinkhardagain,Pat.
Didyouseeanymarkingsontheboats,funnelmarkings,ensigns,names?"
AfterasilencePatmournfullyadmitted"seeing"nothingbecausethefireandsmokeoccluded.
"Getoneofthepyrosonit,"HenrytoldBen."Patsy,Henryhere.
That'sagoodjob,la.s.s.Nowtakeiteasy.We'llbuzzyoubackwithconfirmation.Grandwork,Pat."Henrydisconnectedherline,shakinghishead,knowinghowworriedthegirlwouldbeuntilsheheardthey'dpreventedthecollision.Ifonlythere'dbeenmarkingstospeedupidentification,andthenifthepartic.i.p.antscouldbedissuadedfromarrivingonthepreviewedscene....Hemoveddeliberatelytothecomputerpanelandbegantappingoutqueries."Undoubtedlyaseaway.
CouldbeSheepsheadBayarea,EastRiver...no,notthere.Oroneoftheca.n.a.ls..."
"St.Lawrence,withtankersandfreighters..."suggestedBen.
"OrtheGreatLakes..."saidMolly.
Beforethere'dbeenaprintoutonpossiblelocationsorwhattrafficwasalreadyintheSt.LawrenceSeaway,asecondgraphbegantochatter.
"Rightontime,"saidBen."Here'sTerry,ourlocalfriendlyreliablepyro."
"Howcomeyoudon'tknow,Hank?"GeorgeHennerasked,settlinghimselfonastoolinthecorner.
"Notenoughpeopleinvolved,George,andtooclosearangeforme.
That'sPatsy'sspecialtycliffhangers.Besides,don'tyouagreethatthegoodexecutivemakesallthelongrangedecisionsandleavesthepicayunenittygrittydetailstokeephisstaffoccupied?"
Georgegrinnedbuthesaidnothingmore,listeningasintentlyastheotherstoTerryCle'sverbalizationofhis"sight."ThebroadoutlinecorrelatedwithPatsy'salthoughhe"saw"theeventfromadifferentperspective.HehadsufficientdetailononetankerandthesmallcrafttoresultinexactIds...o...b..thfroms.h.i.+pRegistration.AndtherewasatankeroftheIricoilLineproceedingdowntheSeawayenrouteforToronto,ETA7:48PMatthatport.Thesmallcraft,theAitchBee,wasregisteredtoanA.Frascati,andwasatthatmomentmooredinasmallboatbasinontheAmericansideoftheSeaway.
ProbabilityfiguresthecostofthecollisionandfireatseveralmillionsandathirtysixhourtieupofSeawaytraffic,plusdelayedcargoeswhichwouldcomplicateschedulesandroutinesforninety-twocompanies,involvingworklossofsomeeighteenthousandpeople.
"Okay,Ben,getouttheusualwarningformat.SeeifIricoilwilllistentous."
"AndifIricoildoesn'twanttobelieve?"
"WegetafterthisFrascati.Infact,he'dbeeasiertobullythanIricoilbutwe'vegottowarnthem,too."
Iricoilwa.s.suspiciousanduncooperativeand,inphrasesjustshortofinsult,refusedtoconsiderdivertingthetanker.ItssupplieswereurgentlyrequiredinTorontobylateevening.Frascatiwasnotathishomenorinhisbusinessoffice.UrgentmessageswereleftforthemantocontacttheCenterbeforetakingouthispleasurecraft.HenrywasdialingtheSeawayAuthorityControlwhenGeorgecuttheconnection.
"I'vegotanidea,Hank,"Georgesaid."I'vewatchedthisroutinesooftenandseenyouinsulted,ignored,andcalumniated.Noonetruststhealtruistanymore,whetherhe'sTalentedornot.You'vewarnedIricoil,triedtodothemafavor.Theyaren'tbuying.Well,likethepuppywholeavestoomanymessages,let'srubtheirnoseinit."
"Youmean,lettheaccidentoccur?"
"Moreorless.Consideringwhat'sinvolvedintermsofcreditandworkloss,andconsideringthatIhavesharesinfourofthecompaniestobeaffectedbythesnarlup,w.i.l.l.youplayitmyway,thisonce?"
Henrybegantorelax."Whathaveyouinmind,George?"
"YoudidleavetimedmessagesatIricoilandforFrascati,didn'tyou?"
BenAvedontappedthecomputerpanel."Alltimesealed,George."
"Fine.Now,issueafaxwarningtoSeawayAuthority.ThengivemeafewcomlinestoworkfromandMollytohelpme.IreneewastellingmeabouttheirnewoilpollutantatDupont.ThiswouldbegoodPRforhim.
Alwaysliketoobligefriends.Whichremindsme,yougetontoJimLawson...ourreveredGovernorowesyouafavorortwoforthatbulletStevestopped.AndaskhimforafewmoreVTOLsandacoupleoffrogmen."
"Why?"
"Youdon'tknow?"
Henrygrinned."Wouldyoubelieveaneducatedguess?"
Hennerchuckled."My,my,howthemightyhavefallen!Guessing!"
"Runtheshowyourway,George."
"Yes,letaproshowyouhow,HenryDarrow.You'retood.a.m.nedsoft.
Youtalktoomuch.ActionspeakslouderthanahundredofyourTalentedwords."
Atexactly16:32hoursofabrightspringafternoon,anIricoiltankerproceedingdowntheSt.LawrenceSeawayfouleditspropelloronatangleofsteelcables,originunknown.ThetankerdriftedathwartthecurrentasaUnitedLinefreighterenteredthenarrowchannelfromtheoppositedirection.Asecondtanker,alsoUnitedLine,makingspeedenoughtoreachTorontoportbydark,cruisedintothedangerzone,althoughitwasapparentthattheIricoilboatwasindistress.BothUnitedLines.h.i.+pscontinued,evidentlyhopingtopa.s.stheinjuredvessel,oneontheport,theotheronthestarboard.Likelytheywouldhavesucceededb.u.t.theAitchBee,alsoimpatienttoreachport,camebucketingdownthesearoute.Itswungratherclosetothedistressedvessel.AsFrascatieveraftermaintained,hewantedtoseeifhecouldbeofanya.s.sistanceingettingamessageash.o.r.e:aridiculousalibisincethetankerwaswellequippedbyradioands.h.i.+psh.o.r.etelephone.Frascati'spropellorbecamefouledonthesamevillaincable.Thefreighterbegantopa.s.sthedisabledpairandherwashslammedthesmallcraftintotheIricoiltanker.TheUnitedLinetankerwasbroadsideoftheIricoilwhenherbowswungout.Tanker#2swungtostarboardtoavoidacollisionandhersternbangedintoIricoil,splittingaseamintheaftoilholdjustasthesmallcraftwasgroundbetweenthetwobiggerhulls.Itsgalleyfirescaughtoldgreaseandspreadinthecabinastheyacht'sgasolinetankwasbreached.OilpouringfromtheIricoilvesselwouldshortlyignitefromthatflame.
Atthispointthehoveringrescuecoptersintervenedasnewsmediacamerasrecordedtheeventfromeveryangle.Foamquicklydousedtheyachtfire,theoilpollutionmaterialgobbledupthesplitpetroleumandkineticsheldbackadditionaloillossbypressureuntiltheteleportscouldgettheconvenientlyhandyplatesintoposition.Otherkineticsandthefrogmenworkedloosethesteelcableanditwashoistedoutoftheway."Captain"Frascatiandthetwocrewmembers(hissons)ofthedamagedyachtwereliftedupandanotherteamofkineticskeptthelittles.h.i.+pfloatinguntilthebelatedlyarrivingcoastguardcuttercouldtowitintoport.
TheSeawaywas...o...b..ockedsinceallfourvesselswereclearedoutofthenarrowchannelbeforeothersmadethepa.s.sage.Therewasnolossoflifeandnolongtermpollutionofthewater.TheParapsychicteamswerevolublyandembarra.s.singlythankedforpreventingamajordisaster,andbyc.o.c.ktailtimeeveryonewaspleasedbythedenouement,especiallyPatsyTuckerandTerryCle.
Thecongratulatoryeuphorialastedtwelvehours,atwhichpointtheSeawayAuthoritybegantorealizethatmattershadcometoneardisasterinanunprecedentedway.
"Whatwasthemeaningofsendingusonlyafaxtoannounceamajordisaster?"theSeawayCommissionerdemandedinsuchstentoriantonesthatGeorgeHennerneednothavelistenedinonthesecondcomunitinHenry'soffice.
"Youwereinformedbyfaxasusual,"Henryrepliedinamildtoneofvoice.
"Byfax!Whencountlessmillionsofcreditswereatstake?Andblockageofthemostimportant.w.a.terwayinNorthAmerica?Anddoyourealizethatwehaveonlyjustbalancedthesealifeecologyinthatstripofwaterway?Thatoil..."
"Youwereinformed..."
"Well,I'minformingyouthatyou'reinforasuitofcriminalnegligence..."
"Negligenceofwhat,Commissioner?Youwereinformedninehoursandthirtyeightminutespriortotheaccidentbythis.e.xofficiogroup,whichisnotagovernmentsponsoredoraccreditedagency.Weactforandinthepublicinterest.Butweareunderstaffedandoverworked.
Youcouldhavequeriedthisofficeformoreparticulars,althoughallwehadwereincludedinthatfax.YourAuthoritycouldhaveheldbackanyoneofthefourvesselsinvolved,thuspreventingthe..."
"AreyouaccusingtheSeawayAuthorityofnegligence?"
Henryheldthereceiverawayfromhisear,shookhishead,andrepliedinhismildestmanner,"Forewarnedisforearmed,sir."HecaughtGeorgeHennergivingthehighsignofapproval.
"You'llhearfromus,Darrow.Youpeoplecan'tgetawaywithirresponsiblebehaviorlikethis."
Theconnectionwasrudelyandnoisilybroken.
"Didyoufigurealawsuitinyourcalculations,George?"askedHenry.
Hennerrubbedhishandstogetheringlee."Iftheysue,we'dwin."
Henrycouldn'texactlyshareinHenner'sgleefulantic.i.p.ation.Theprecogknewofthemult.i.tudeoflawsuitswhichwouldbeservedonTalentsinthenextdecadesandth.e.s.h.eercostofinspireddefensemadehimshudder.Themoneywouldbeavailablebut.i.twascreditthatcouldbeusedtobetteradvantageintrainingandidentifyingTalent,notdefendingagainstmisunderstandingandgreed.Bylateafternoon,Henry'spremonitionsofimmediatedisasterwereborneoutbyadditionalsuitsofnegligencewhicharrivedfromUnitedLine,IricoilTankersandA.Frascati.
"Letmehandlethis,"GeorgeHennertoldHenryandhishastilyconvenedexecutivestaff."Idon'tneedanycrystalballoranerodicgraphneedletotellmehowtomanagethissortofc.r.a.p."
BeforehehadHenry'svoicedapproval,hewasonthewirestothemajormedianetworks,chattingfamiliarlywithpresidentsandcommissioners.
BythetimethefilmsoftheParapsychicCenter'sa.s.sistancehadbeenwidelyaired,withafewchoicecommentsonhowtheCenteroperatedtoforestallmajordisasters,thethreatenedlegalactionagainsttheTalentswaswithdrawn.SuitswereenteredagainsttheSeawayforcriminalnegligence.ThentheCenter,onGeorgeHenner'sadvice("Make'empayforit,whentheydon'tlistentoyou."),sentbillsfortherescueoperationstoFrascati,UnitedLineandIricoilTankers.
"Andfromnowon,Henry,"Georgesaid,"don'teverfollowupyourfaxedwarningswithpersonalphonecalls.Don'tbethesupplicant,d.a.m.nit.
Betheprelate!"
Henrywatchedwithinneramus.e.m.e.ntasGeorgeHennerpacedupanddownthefloor,hiseyesflas.h.i.+ng,evenhisstridefirmandaggressivesothatHenrycouldseetracesofthestrengthswhichhadama.s.sedGeorgeHennerhisconsiderablefortuneandwhichhadoverwhelmedlessdeterminedadversariesinthebusinessworld.
"There'snopointinyoubruisingyourlarynxwithpersuasion.You'veprovedyourworthoverandoveragainandthisSeawaybollixoughttomakeavalidatedParapsychicwarningworththepaperit'sprintedon,evenatthedreadfulpriceofpaperthesedays."
"Asoundargument,George,andIappreciateyourhelp..."
Georgestoppedmidstride,glaringatHenrythroughnarrowedlids.
"Yes,Iamhelpingyou,aren'tI?Shouldn'tdothat,shouldI?"
"Myfriendlyenemy,"repliedHenrywithalaugh.
"Ha!Tellmethatwhenmyexecutorss.n.a.t.c.htherugofBeechwoodsfromunderyourtelepatheticfeet..."
"Andweneedyou,George,"HenryraisedhisvoicetooverwhelmHenner'ssnideremarks."IfIcanconvinceaskepticlikeyou,I'mwellawaytoswayingJohn(Publictomyside.He'smorevariablethanyou,andhewillbethehardesttowinover."
JohnOPublic,however,quixoticallydecidedtheSeawayAuthorityhadbeenfoolishtoignoretheParapsychicwarning.CriticismwasheapedontheSeawayfromeveryquarter.LatertheAuthoritywa.s.somewhatexoneratedofprimaryguiltsincetheCourtfeltthatgoodjudgmentonthepartofanyoneoftheotherthreeskipperswouldhavepreventedtheaccidentandnocostswereawardedtheclaimants.TheofficialrecordscitedandcreditedtheParapsychicCenterwithavertingamajorcalamity,andlossoflifeandproperty.AllTransportAuthoritieswereseverelyenjoinedtoheedanywarningsfromtheCenterwhichinvolvedpublictransport.
Forthenextfewweeksallprecogsoftrafficproblems,possiblefire,stormorspringfloodsthroughouttheworldwereinstantlyactedupon.
TheCenterwasbesiegedwithanxiouscallsaboutwhetherMr.Scouldundertakethatlongdistanceflight,orMrs.JcouldsafelymakeherannualpilgrimagefromFloridatoWisconsin,andiftherehadbeenanyprecogaboutthetransferofcyanidecylinderstotheauthorizedAtlanticTrenchdump.ThousandsofhopefulpeopleappliedforthesimpletestswhichwouldindicateiftheypossessedsomeusefulTalent.
"It'sanillwindthatblowsnogood,"HenryremarkedtoMollyafteranotherhecticdayansweringurgentcallsanddealingwithanxiousqueries.
"Isupposeso,"shesaid,sinkingwearilyintothearmchairoftheirprivatesuiteinthemainhouse."ButIwishwehadmoreGooseggsorasurerwayofspottingtheliveones."
"Anytoday?"HenryfixedMollyastiffdrink.
"Yes,"andshebrightenedasifshe'dtemporarilyforgottentheevent.
"Oneverystrongreceivingtelepathoutoffortyfiveaspirants."Sheacceptedthedrink,turningthegla.s.sinherhandasiftheamberliquidheldsomeotheranswer."Henry,theycomeinsohopeful...
andsomeofthemleavesoangryanddisappointed.Asifweoughttobeabletofindwhatdoesn'texist..."
"Notyourfault,love.Everyonewantstobe,insomeway,unique,andcan'trealizethatbeinguniqueisaresponsibilityaswellasaprivilege.Youcan'tcurethat.Howstrong'sthetelepath?"
Mollybrightened."Ithinkhe'sverystrong,buthe'sbeenblockingthoughts,thewaytheyalldo.Outoffear.Hemayneedalotoftraining."
"No,nottoomuch,"Henrysaideasily,pullinghischairclosetoMollyandclaspingherfreehand."Youngfellow,isn'the?Welshextraction,Welshname.Right?"
"Ijustsentthereportin..."Mollybegan,startled,andstoppedmidsentence,arrestedbyHenry'sknowinglook."Notanotherone,Henry?"
"Theydoseemtoappearrightonschedule,"Henrygrinnedatherb.u.t.therewasashadowinhiseyes."Rightonschedule.OnedayI'llbewrong."
"Don't,Henry."Sheclaspedhishandtightly,rea.s.suringly,knowingthestrainofhisunfortunateinfallibility,knowingthatsomeoftheeventsheforesawhe'drathernothaveseen."And,heis,asyoupredicted,Welsh,"shewentoninalightvoice,"byname,DaffydopOwen.Verylikeablechap.He'simportant?"
Henrynodded."Hewon'tneedmorethansomebasicpointersandafewquietweeksheretowashthe'noise'outofhismindandlearntoprojectaswellasreceive."
"Well,that'soneontheplussideoftheledger."Sherotatedhershoulderstoeasetheday'sstrainsbutHenry'sdisclosureaboutyoungopOwenmadeherfeelmuchbetteraboutherlabors.
"Whenishemovingin?"
"Don'tyouknow?"sheaskedinabanteringfas.h.i.+on.
"WhatIknowIwis.h.i.+didn't.WhatI'dgiveanythingtoknow,Ihavetowaitandsee."
Shesmiledathimlovingly."Youmean,ifweretainBeechwoods?"Whenhenodded,shechidedhimgently."Howoftenhaveyoubeenwronginthemerestdetail?"
"It'snothowoftenI'mright,Mollyluv,it'swillIbewrongthistime,thisonce?Thisimportant,crucial,criticalonce?Suchaterriblegift,luv.Terriblewhenyourknowledgemeansthelossofafriend..."
"Henry,yourrecognition,theverychallengeoftheCenter,"andherarmgestureencompa.s.sedallofBeechwoods,"havekeptGeorgeHenneralive...andkicking."ShepeeredintoHenry'sface,rea.s.suringhimbytouch,wordandlook."He'sdeterminedtodoyououtofBeechwoods,ifonlybyaminute.Thatdeterminationaloneha.s.strengthenedhisholdonlife.I'veseenhismedicalreports,Henry,Iknow."Sheleanedbackinherchair."You'vedonehimquiteafavorandheknowsit.Ishouldn'tbesurprisedifhehasn'tlefttheCenterBeechwoodsanyway."
The Wings Of Pegasus Part 4
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The Wings Of Pegasus Part 4 summary
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