The Wings Of Pegasus Part 41

Bythetimetheyreachedtheloadingdock,Sascha'smuscleswereprotestingtheirabuse.Theteamhadloadedthechildrenintothecars,andthedockwasfullofcargotobetranss.h.i.+pped.

"Youcutthatfine,Sascha,"theteamleadertoldhim."There'llbeagoodstrainthroughhereintwominutes.We'renotsupposedtodisrupttheservice."

TirlatuggedimperiouslyatSascha'ssleeve."Myfloaters."

Withonehandhepa.s.sedthemtoher,withtheotherhegrabbedherwrist."Notricksnow.There'smorebusinesswecandotogether.

We'lldiscussitbackinG."

Saschadidnotknowwhetheritwashersurprisethatallowedhimtocaptureherorifshewaswillinglycooperatingwithhim.Butsheenteredthecaraheadofhimashetriedtokeephisgripfrombreakingfragilebones.

Go!hetoldthedriver,andthestartingpressureofthespecialtrainpushedhimagainstthepaddedendofhiscar.

"AreyoutakingusalltoG?"Hertonewascasual.

"That'swhatyouwanted,wasn't.i.t?TogetthekidsbacktoG?"

"Ikeptourbargain."Hervoiceheldanelementofantagonism.

"SowillI.BackatG.Thenwedealagain."

Shewa.s.silentforalongtime,thinkingthatover.

Chapter11.

Petertriedtofollowthetridmeteorologist'sreportonthe,latestfreakweatherconditionsthatseemedworldwide,Bangladeshbeingtheworstexample.Itwasdifficulttoconcentratewhenhefelt"problem"hoveringintheair.Heknewhehaddonenothingwrong;infact,heknewthathehaddonesomethingmostextraordinary,aboutwhichhefeltverygoodindeed.But.i.twashardnottobeworried.HecouldsensethenebulousanxietyemanatingfromRhyssa,Dorotea,andSascha.HeshouldnothaveaskedDoroteaaboutabiggergenerator.Themomentthewordswereoutofhismouth,heknewitwasthewrongtime.Buthehadprovedwhathecoulddowithenoughpowertoincreasethegestalt,andthat4.5feltlikepunykidstuffnow.

Kidstuff!Petergrinnedtohimselfandgavethe4.5alittleshove;itwhinedobediently.Likeadog.Andwhowashekidding?Hewa.s.stillonlyafourteenyearoldboy.HehadalreadyabsorbedenoughTalentdisciplineandseenenoughexamplesofthesortofpeopleTalentsweretorealizethathehadrushedthegate.Onedidnotclimbmountainswhenonecouldnotwalk.Rhyssa,Sascha,andDoroteahadsupportedhimthroughouttheentireErasmusincident,readytohelphim,readytokeephimfromburninghimselfout.Andhehadn't.Buthaditbeenbecausetheyhadbeenrighttheretoprotecthim?Thinkaboutthat,Peteyboy,andgetyourswelledheadbacktonormal.Therearealotofthingsyoucantdojustyet.

Hepouredhimselfanothergla.s.soforangejuiceandbrought.i.ttothelivingroomasthebroadcasterannouncedthatonceagainsupplyshuttlesforPadrugoihadbeengroundedbyweatherconditions.Thescreendepictedtherankoffourperpendiculars.p.a.cevehicles,lockedintotheirgantries,waitingforliftoffconditionswithurgentlyneededmaterielsothattheFirstWorldProjectwouldbefinishedintime.

Talentswerehelpingtodothat,Peterthoughtwithalittlethrillofcorporatepride.HehadjuststartedwonderinghowbigageneratorhewouldneedtosendashuttlesafelythroughthefoulweatherwhentheprogramswitchedtocoverageofthefloodinginBangladesh.TherewerenoscenesactuallyshowingtheTalentsatwork;teamsofdoctorsandrescueworkerswerefilmedrus.h.i.+ngabout.TherewasalsonomentionofexactlyhowtheErasmushadlandedsosafelyatDacca.Hehadnotreallyexpectedtobementionedpublicly.ButonewouldthinkthattherewouldhavebeensomecommentthatTalentswereriskingtheirlivesintheappallingmonsoonconditions.Theresultsoftheirworkwa.s.shown,allrightenough,butsomehowthatdidnotseemtobeenough.

RhyssaandDoroteawerealwayssubtlymentioninghowimportant.i.twasnottorubTalentintopeople'snoses.Peopleresenteddifferences.

Talenthadalwaystobediscreet.Thewayhismotherlookedathimhaddemonstratedthat!Petergrimaced.Hisownmotherwa.s.scaredofhimnow.Whenhehadbeentotallyhelpless,shehadbeensogoodaboutcomingtoseehim,hugginghim,kissinghim,alwaysbringinghimsomething:afaxclipabouthisfavoriteballteam,acoupleofherspecialcookies,afewflowers.Nowwhenshevisitedshewouldnothughim;shesatboltuprightinthechairandtriednottolookathimwhenhewantedsomuchtoshowherwhatTalentallowedhimtodo.

WhenMumwasthereheredoubledhiseffortstoappeartowalknormallyandcarrythingsproperlysoitwouldnotfreakherout.HowoftenhadshesaidsheprayedeverynighttoseePeteyonhisfeetandwalkingaround?Andsheneverlookedathimnow.Sheneveroncementionedhisballteam.Notthathewouldeverplaysandlotbaseballagain...ThenPetergrinned,thinkingwhathomershecouldwhackandhowfasthecouldrunthebases.Maybenowhecouldbethepitcherhehadalwayswantedtobe...Hisfastballwouldbesomethingelse!Evenifheonlyusedthe4.5!

Buthehadgonepastthatsortofordinarything,hadn'the?Whenonecouldzapshuttlesaboutlikegameboardpieces,ordinaryaccomplishmentsnolongersatisfied.

Hedrankhisorangejuice.

Notallordinarythings,though.Someveryordinaryandextremelyhomelyactionslikegettinghimselfanorangejuicewhenhefeltthirstyforitwere,inaspecialway,farmoreimportantthanwhathehaddonewiththeErasmus.

Hesenttheemptygla.s.sbacktothekitchen,rinseditout,andput.i.tupsidedownonthedrainboard.

Hehadtokeepthingsinperspective.Itwasmoreimportanttohavethefreedomtodolittlethingsandtheoptiontodobiggerones.But,jeez,ithadbeenawonderfulfeelingtohaveallthatpoweranddosomethingnooneelsecouldhavedonewithitjustwhenhelpwasneeded.

Thetridwa.s.showingfloodwaterflowingobedientlyawayfromasmalltownanditssurroundingfields.Thesandbagsandbarriersalongitstorrentseemedtobecontainingit,butPetercouldrecognizethesubtlesignsofkineticforce.HewonderedwhichTalentwasatwork.

RickHobson?Mr.Baden?Now,ifhe'dhadaccesstoagenerator,hewouldhavebeenabletodothat.Hesettleddowntolearnwhathecouldaboutfloodcontrolfromtheprogram.Nexttimehewouldbereadytohelp.The4.5kpmwasportable,wasn't.i.t?

HisthoughtswereinterruptedbyRhyssa'smentalcall.Peterwouldyoucomeuptomyoffice,please?

Sure!HeleanedbrieflyintothegeneratorandspedouttoRhyssa'sbuildingandinthroughthefrontdoor,slowingtomaneuverthestaircase;hegothisfeettothegroundashereachedthecarpetedhallwayleadingtoRhyssa'soffice.Noeffort!

ShowoffRhyssawa.s.standingbyherofficedoor,butshewa.s.smiling.

"Wedon'thaveanymountainsforyoutomovetoday,b.u.t.there'stroubleinthewind,dearboy,there'stroubleinthewind."

Peterstumbledinhisforwardmotionandcorrectedhimself.

Trouble?Why?Wedidn'tdoanythingwrong!

Hertouchrea.s.suredhim,asitalwaysdid.Doroteawasgreat:shetreatedhimcasually,a.s.shewouldanyofhergrandchildrenandthatrelaxedatt.i.tudemademanythingseasierforhim.ButRhyssawasdifferent:hermindhadsomuchdepthnotthathehaddisobeyedtheprimeruleofmentalprivacy,buthecouldnothelpbutsensethedepthandpuritythatwasthere.ShewasalsothemostbeautifulwomanPeterhadeverseen,onoroffthetridAndshewa.s.sogood!Everythingaboutherwa.s.s.h.i.+ningandbrilliant.

Shemadehimfeelwholeandstrong.

"Wedidsomethingashadetooright,"Rhyssasaid."Andwewerenotquiteasdiscreetasweshouldhavebeen."

Momentarilyafraid,hereachedouttoseeexactlywhattheyhaddonewrongPeter!

"Sorry."

Rhyssa,morefiercelythanPeterhadeverheardher:d.a.m.nthatBarchenkawoman!

"WasIsupposedtohearthat?"Peterwasconfused.

"Yes,anddoubled.a.m.nBarchenka!"Rhyssasaidaloud,andwavedhimonthroughtoheroffice,closingthedoorbehindthem.

Hehalted,sensingtheauraofcrisis.Dorotea,whowasrarelyperturbed,wasbrus.h.i.+ngimaginarythreadsfromherslacks.Thingsmustreallybebad.Heziggedsideways,awarethatRhyssajustmissedb.u.mpingintohim.

Dorotea:Welldone,Peter!

"Thisisastrategycouncil,Peter,"Rhyssasaid,gesturingforhimtosita.s.sheresumedherchairinthetowerbaywindow.

Peterfloatedovertotheconformableseat,gratefulforitsautomaticallyadjustedsupport.

"Don'teverforgetjusthowproudweallareofyou,"Rhyssasaid,hergestureincludingtheentireCenter."You'veaddedabrandnewdimensiontoTalent."Shegavehimanimpishsmile."AndremindedthisCenter'smanagernottogettoocomplacent."

Withoutviolatingetiquette,Petercouldhearwhatshewasnotsayingaloud:Talentwasveryhappy;theuntalentedwerenot.

Dorotea:TheuntalentedalwaysresistanewTalentwhichwehaven'tcarefullyledthemtoexpect.Inthisinstance,you!

Rhyssa:Wedon'tdosomethingright,Peter,withoutdoingsomethingwrong!Petersensedasecondqualificationbehindthethoughtand,rememberinghismanners,brokethecontact.

Dorotea:Andwe'vegottofigureouthowtoimproveourtestingmethods!Sheclearedherthroatinabusinesslikemanner,thenwinkedatPeter.

Hethought,veryprivatelytohimself,thatsomethingbadwasdefinitelyabouttohappen,buthewasa.s.suredoftheirloveandapprovalandthatwasallthatreallymatteredtohim.

"Ifyourmaindesirerightnow,"Rhyssasaid,smilingwiththatspecialtwinkleinhereyewhichshesavedforPeter,"istohavethebiggestgeneratorontheplanetatyourdisposal"Peterflushed,lookinghardathisbonyknees"thenthemaindesireofhalftheindustriesonEarthandins.p.a.ceistohaveyouusingtheirs,andtheirsalone."

s.p.a.ce?Hecouldgetintos.p.a.ce?Helookedupinsurprise,staringather.Clearlyshedidnotmeanhisway.

"Howdotheyknowaboutme?"Hefeltsuddenlyverydefenseless.Hisfatherwasalwaystalkingaboutthemanagersworkingamantodeathwithnoconsiderationforhimasahumanbeing,onlyhowproductivehewas,acipherinagiganticprogram.

"Theydon'tknowit'syou,"Doroteasaid.

"That'stheproblem,"Rhyssawenton.

"Why?"Peterasked,thinkingofbiggenerators.

"Candidly,"Doroteasaid,"you'refourteen,you'reonlyjustbeginningtounderstandyourTalent,andprematureexposurecould""Burnmeout,"Peterfinishedforher,thoughprivatelyhedidnotthinkhecouldburnoutifhehadtherightpowersourceforanythinghewantedtos.h.i.+ft.

"ButIdidn'tburnout..."

"Withoutintheleastdiminis.h.i.+ngyourachievement,Peter,wewerecloselymonitoringyoutheothernight,"Rhyssawenton."Whattheyhaveinmindforyouisanothercanofwormsaltogether...SpeakingasaCenterdirector,Imusttellyouthat.i.thasneverbeenthepolicyoftheCenterstoa.s.signtraineesevenpart-timeworkuntilthey'reatleasteighteen."

"Even1,"Doroteaputin,herhandgracefullysweepingherchest,"wasn'tpermittedtodomuchuntilIwaseighteen!"Shemadeaface.

"Asachild,IthoughtIwasjustplayingagame,guessingwhichonesintheroomcouldhearmepeoplewhothoughttheymightbeTalented."

SheshotPeteranimageofherselfasafiveyearold,prettilydressedandherearlybeautywa.s.stillapparentinherfaceandmannerwalkingthroughtheCenter'scrowdedreceptionarea.

"ButI'veprovedwhatIcando,"Petersaid."AndIwastheonlyonewhocouldlandtheErasmus."

"Thesituationisnotaboutrightorwrong,Peter,"Rhyssasaidleaningtowardhim,asadexpressioninhereyesandface,"orevenamoralobligationtoreducesufferingandmitigatedisaster."Thensheopenedhermindtohimsohecoulddirectlya.s.sessthecurrentproblem.

Peterhadknown,ofcourse,thattheParapsychicCentershadhadtosendthebestkineticstoPadrugoitohelpcompletethestationontime.HehadnotrealizedalltheundercurrentsbeneaththecarefullycontrivedpublicimageofPadrugoi,muchlessthemachinationsofLudmillaBarchenka,whohadforcedthecapitulationofCenters,ruthlesslystrippingthemofkineticsinwhatwasbasicallyafacesavingoperation.HefumedwhenhesawthatthisBarchenkawomanwasthreateninghisRhyssawithallkindsofoffenseswhenitwasnowpatentlycleartohimthatBarchenkawasatfault.Andhewaspartoftheproblem.No,atthemoment,hewasalloftheproblem,becauseBarchenkawasouttoaddhimtoherforceofTalent.

"AndIusedtothinkworkingonthestationwouldbethemostspecialthingyoucoulddo,"hesaidslowly.Itjustwasnotfair!

"No,notfair,Peter,"Rhyssareplied,"b.u.t.talentrecognizesthatcompletingthestationisfarmoreimportantthanindividualpersonalconsiderations.CompletingitontimeisobviouslyLudmilla'spersonalgoal.Ican'tdenyherthat,onlyhermeansofachievingit,sincebyherachievement,mankindhasmadeanothergiantsteptothestars.

Don'tbedeflectedtoomuchbytheskeletonsinthes.p.a.celockers.

There'sbeennomajorforwardprogressinallofhumanhistorythathas...o...b..enaccompaniedbysomeproblems."

"Likelettingpeoplefloatoutintos.p.a.ceanddiebecauserescuewouldputherbehindschedule?"Peterwasaghast.

"That'sbeentakencareof,"Dorotearemindedhim.

"ByTalents,andnowshethinksshecanconscriptme?"Peterwa.s.soagitatedthathefloatedabovethechair.

Dorotea,prosaically:You'redrifting,dear.

Petersettleddown.Well,Ijustwon'tworkforapersonlikeher.

Andyou'renotgoingtoaskmeto!

"Indeedandwe'renot,"Rhyssaa.s.suredhim."Butfirst,"shesaidwithagrin,hereyestwinkling,"wehavetoprovetothemthatyou'reyou!

We'vebeentryingveryhardtokeepyousheltereduntilyou'vemorecontrol..."owmuchcontroldoIneedifIcanmoveashuttleabouttheworld?

"Peter!"Despitethesharpnessinhervoice,PeterknewthatRhyssawasamusedbyhisoutrage,proudofhisachievement,andconcernedforhisfutureallatonce.Hesubsided."Thankyou.Now,wewerewarnedtoexpectvisitorsofhighrankandgreatprestige.Wewantedtobriefyou,sinceyouarethecatweareabouttoletoutofthebag."

"Iratherthinkhe'sthecatamongthepigeons,"Doroteasaidwithasarcasticsnort.

"Pigeons?Warhawks,Dorotea,"Rhyssacorrected,settlingintoherchair.ThentheyallheardtheunmistakablethunkingofabighelicopterlandingontheXoutsideHennerHouse."Peter,don'tletthefussgettoyou.There'sboundtobesomebruisedfeelingsandoutragedsensibilities.Youjustpaythemnoheed!"

Buthecouldnothelpbutheedthefinebutcontrolledauraofapprehension.Theywereworried.Abouthim!Forhim.}Ragnar'svoicecamethroughontheintercom.Hewasdutyofficer,andtwentyyearsintheCenterhadmadehimimpervioustorankandprestige.

"Rhyssa,there'sabunchheretoseeyou.DoIsend'emup?"

"Yes,I'mexpectingthem,Ragnar."

His"humph"cameoverthespeaker,andPeternoticedRhyssa'slittlesmile.Healsonoticedthatshewasnervouslyrunningthestyl.u.s.throughherfingers.Doroteasatevenstraighterinherchairandmanagedtolooknotonlylargerandmoreimposingbutvery,veryqueenly.

Therewasapoliteknockonthedoor,andRhyssapressedthereleaseb.u.t.ton.Thefirstmanintheroomwasatelepath,Peterrealized,andhewasdirectingtightprivatewarningsatRhyssa.Thesecondman,verytall,thin,andwiselooking,gazeddirectlyatPeterandnodded.

HeknewwhoPeterwasevenifPeterdidnotknowhim,andhewasalsoatelepath.HecourteouslyidentifiedhimselftoPeterasJusticeGordonHavers.

Peterknewthethirdman,DaveLehardt,whoimmediatelymovedtostandbyRhyssa'sdesk,facingtheothersastheyfiledin.Hemadehispartisans.h.i.+pveryclear.HeexchangedaglancewithRhyssaandgavea.n.a.lmostimperceptiblenodofhishead.Shehadaslightsmileonherface,andPetersensedthatshewasverygladtohaveDaveLehardtsocloseby.ButknowingthatDavewasnotaTalent,Peterwa.s.surprisedbytheintimateexchange.Hefeltaflairofjealousy.

Thenextsixmentoenterwereobviouslyimportantpeople;fourwereinuniformandonlyoneofthemwasTalented.ThatoneappearedverynervousandkeptlookingfromRhyssatoDorotea.ThelastmantoentergapedatRhyssainafas.h.i.+onthatmadePeterveryuneasyhiseyesandhismannermadePeterwonderifhewasoneofthoseperverts.h.i.+smotherusedtowarnhimabout.

AsRhyssaaskedthemalltobeseated,Peterpickedupnames:VernonAltenbach,whowa.s.secretaryofs.p.a.ce;theRussianofficerwasGeneralShevchenko,Padrugoiliaisonofficial,andevenwiththes.h.i.+eldhewore,hewasbristlingwithaggression.ThetelempathwasAndreiGrushkov,andPeterfeltsorryforhimhehadtobetruthfultohisemployer,thegeneral,buthefeltobscurelythathewasbetrayingTalentindoingso.ThereweretwoNASAofficers,ageneralandacolonel,andthatpervertwastheworldfamousJosephsonjunctionspecialist,andaMalaysianprincebesides,whodidsuchfantasticprogrammingofairands.p.a.cetraffic.Peterdidnotlikethemananybetteronceheknewhewasagenius,notwhenthemankeptsloppilyoglingRhyssa.ThemanwhohadcomeinfirstwasColonelJohnGreene,andPeterwatchedinsomeaweasthemostsuccessfuletoppilotoftheearlydaysofthePadrugoiProjectplacedachairnexttohim,PeterReidinger,andsmiledquitepleasantlyathim.ColonelGreeneseemedtobetheonlyonewhowa.s.smiling.EvenJusticeHaverslookedsolemn.

"ItwouldbepointlessformetodenythatIamawareofthereasonforyourvisit,"Rhyssasaidcalmly."ShallIcalluptheEasternCenterRegisterforyoutocheckonourmembers.h.i.+ps?"Sheplacedherfingersoverthekeyboard.

Peterregardedherwithpride.Sheevenhadalittlesmileonherface.Andthatpervertkeptsmarmingather.

TheRussianliaisongeneralclearedhisthroat."Wehavealreadyseenit,Madame.Butwebelievethatyouhavenothonestlydeclaredyourfullkineticstrength."Hecrookedhisheadtoseehistelempath'sface.

"Andreicancertainlya.s.sureyouthatourdeclarationishonestandcomplete.Wehavenothingtohide.NoTalentdoes."

"Andreihasalsoa.s.suredme,MadameOwen,"thegeneralcontinuedponderously,"thatnokineticanywherecouldhavesuccessfullylandedtheErasmus,noteventhetwentytwoonboardher,or"Hepauseddramatically."a.s.sisteditstakeofffromtheDaccafieldintheweatherconditionsprevailingthatday."Hischestseemedtodeflateslightlyoncehehaddeliveredhisaccusation.

"Itwasme,"Petersaid.Hewantedtoget.i.talloverwith,andgetthatsmarmyfacedmanoutoftheroomandawayfromRhyssa."Imean,itwasI."

Thestunnedsilencewasworsethannoisydisclaimers.ThenColonelGreenestartedtochuckleandDaveLehardtbegantolaugh.HealsowinkedapprovinglyatPeter.Notoneoftheothervisitorsappearedtobetheleastbitamused.