The Wings Of Pegasus Part 5

"Hehasn't.Heshowedmethewill."

Mollyopenedhermouthtosaysomethingthenthoughtbetterofit.

"Allright,"Henrywenton,catchingherlookofmischief,"sohecouldwriteasecondoneinsecret...No,we'veawageronand..."

"Iknowwhatyoumean,hopingtowinthewagerlosesafriend."

"IcanseehorizonswiderthanmortalitybutIcannotalwaysseethesparrowfall."

"SoyoungopOwenwillbeyoursuccessor?"GeorgeHennerwasinaverytestymoodthatmorning.

"Yes,butofcourse,notforsometimeyet..."

"You'vegot.i.tallforeseen,haveyou?"

"Certainlythebasicproblems..."

"Ha!Ithoughtyou'dalreadysolvedthebasicproblems..."

"Bynomeans,myfriend,"andHenry'slaughwasmirthless."I'vehadtheeasypart.No,really.TheestablishmentoftheCenterandothersintimeinstrategicpartsoftheglobe...isonlythefirstbit:scarcelytheworst.

"Oncewe'delevatedparapsychicTalentstoademonstrable,scientificbasis,itwasonlyaquestionofsomedecentorganizationalefforttomakeusselfsufficientandindependent.Wediddodgethegovernmentalattempttotakecontrolbecauseweoperatemoreefficientlyasaprivateagencyandbecauseyoucouldimaginethetaxpayers'shrieksaboutfundingtealeafreaders.FundingwasnorealproblemoncewecouldproveTalent.Training,now...thatisalongtermprogram.

We'vegottodevelopmoreefficienttechniquesinrecognizingandtrainingTalentandthattakesTalentedpersonnel.Gettingindustryandthegovernmenttoacceptourworkerswaschild'splaywithwhatwecanoffer."ThenHenrysighed."Thesuspicionsofthegeneralpubliccan'tbetotallyallayedbutwiththehelpofadiscreetPRprogram,peoplecanbecomeaccustomedtotheTalented.

"No,George,someofourbiggestproblemsareyettobesolved.Theknottiestoneisestablis.h.i.+nglegalprotectionforTalent.Withoutthat,allwe'vecarefullybuiltcouldbewipedawayinlegalfees,damagesandlawsuits...particularlyagainsttheprecogs.Oh,Iseethatwe'llgetprofessionalimmunitysoonerorlater.I'mgreedy.Iwant.i.tsooner.Andthat'swhyatelepathlikeDaiopOwenisrequiredasDirector.He'smoresensitivetotheimmediatesituation.ByG.o.d,thetimesI'vewishedIwereatelepath..."

Georgesnorted.

"It'seasierforamanwhocandelveintothoughts,notthefuture.

That'sa.s.sured."

"Ha!"LightflitteredfromGeorgeHenner'ssunkeneyes."Notyet.

You'vethreedays,fourhoursandfiveminutestogo."

"No,"Henryrepliedgently,"no,oldfriend,you'vethreedays,fourhoursandfiveminutestogo.AndIshallmissyou."

"Hatothataswell!Seeanynewsignsofdecay?"Georgejerkedhisheadthiswayandthat.

Henryshookhisheadslowly."Iwillmissyou,youoldb.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"w.i.l.l.you?w.i.l.l.youwhenIdefyyourpredictionandyouandyourTalentsarethrownoutintothema.s.snoiseagain?"

Henrysummonedalaugh."Thenwhyhaven'tyoudiedlongago?"

Georgeglaredathim."Iintendtomakeyousweat,HenryDarrow.

Sweat.Bleed.Diealittle."

"AndyouwonderIwantatelepathasaDirector?"HegrippedGeorgefirmlybytheshoulderandgavehimanaffectionateshake."Playtheenemyifitpleasesyou:ifthecholermakesthebloodcontinuetoruninyourveins.You'remoreourfriendthanenemy.AndIknowit."

"Ha!Youarenervous.You'reworriedthatyou'rewrong.Thatthistimeyou'rewrong!I'llproveyouwrongifit'sthelastthingIdo."

Henryc.o.c.kedhisheadatGeorge,grinningironically."Youmayatthat,youoldb.a.s.t.a.r.d.I'veneverclaimedinfallibility,George.Andyou'veheardmestatetimeandagainthatforeknowledgeofthefutureca.n.a.lterit..."

"Copout!Rationalization!"Hennershookwithtriumph."You'readmittingdefeat!Ha!"

"HaveImadeyourday,George?Fairenough!I'vegottogoplacatethattaxmanagain.Seeyoulater."

'Don'twasteyourtimewithhim.He'sstupid.NowaytheycantaxtheTalentswiththestructureIhelpedyoubuild.Anddon'tmisstheparty!TheDeathParty!"

"Christ,Hank,"GusMolnarcomplainedtoDarrow,"he'shadmecheckinghimoveronthehourallday!Andthenthatgaggleof'impartialphysicianwitnesses'checkonme."Molnarranhishandnervouslythroughhislongfairhair,hiseyesrestlesswithanxietyandirritation."Andsuddenlyhewon'tletMollyoutofhissight.Saidherhealinghandswouldturnthetrick.Givehimtheminuteheneeds.

G.o.dd.a.m.noldb.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

"Coolit,Gus.It'swhatheneededtokeephimalive."Henrychuckledandstraightenedhistunicjacket,pokedathissoftlytiedscarf.

Gusmadeadisgustednoiseinhisthroat."You'resod.a.m.nedsure?"

"Notatall.Unfortunately."

"Unfortunately?WiththefutureoftheCenteratstakeononeman'sheartbeat?"

"I'veseenthatwedogettheproperty.Iregretthat.i.thastobevalidatedbythedeathofanoldandvaluedfriend.Icouldalmostwishthathedoeslivepasttheappointedminute..."

"Minute..."Molnarcorrectedhim."b.a.s.t.a.r.d'sgotahugealarmclockrigged,totheGreenwichmeantimeminute!"

"C'mon,Gus.Let'sgotothewakeandcheerthecorpseon!"

"MyG.o.d,Darrow,howdoyoudoit?"

TheDeathPartywasa.s.sembling,reluctantly,inthevaultroofedloungeoftheBeechwoodsmansion.Georgehadinvitedaselectfewtobe"inatthedeath."

Indeed,ashesaidhimself,hehadoutlastedmostofhiscontemporariesandthosethreerepresentedtodayweremoreenemiesthanfriends.

Georgequippedthatbusinessenemieshadareputationofbeinginatthedeath.HewasdressedinhisVietnamcampaignbattledress,remarkingthathe'dcheatedHimthenasatwentyyearold,soitbehoovedhimtokeeptheappointmentnowsuitablyattired.MostofthosepresentwereTalentsorconnectedwiththeCenter.YoungDaffydopOwenwaspresent.SowereLEOCommissionerMailer,tryinghardnottolookuncomfortable,GovernorLawson,severalSenators,representativesfromfourcharitableorganizations(probablybenefitingunderthewill,Henrydecidedwhenhesawtheguestlist),andthefourphysicianswho'dbeenchosenatrandomfromtheAMAdirectorybyGeorgeandflownintoJerhattanfortheevent.ThatwasGeorge'swayofsolvinganymedicalquestion.Withatouchofghoulishhumor,Georgehaddecreednotthathedidn'ttrusttheTalentsimplicitly,butonehadtoprotectoneselfthattheautopsywouldbeperformedonhiscorpseimmediatelyafterdeathhadbeena.s.sumed.

Thepartyconsequentlygeneratedlittlejovialitydespitetheabundanceofliquorandexoticfoodsonthesideboard.Georgeatesparingly,drankslowly.Anythingheconsumedthesedays,hecomplained,tastedsourorflatorinsipidandcausedheartburn.

Conversationswereconductedinsepulchraltonesandlanguishedeasily.

Theoccasionallaughwasquicklysuppressed.OnlyHenryDarrowcontrivedtolookateasethoughMollyknew,bythewayherubbedhisthumbandindexfingertogetherconstantly,thathewasinahighlynervouscondition.Shedidn'tdaretouchhimsinceshewasnotawhitlessdistraughtherself,andwouldonlydoubleHenry'stension.Thepersonwhowa.s.sufferingmostwasyoungDaffydopOwen.Shehadbecomeveryfondofthesensitiveyoungmanandwishedthathedidn'thavetobepresent.He'dnothadtimetolearntos.h.i.+eldhimself,certainlynotinsuchanemotionallyloadedsituationasthis.Daffydwasvisiblysweating,yetgamelytryingtosimulateproperpartybehaviorashechattedwithanotheryoungTalent,aprecognamedMaraChanning.

Astheappointedtimedrewnearer,anysemblanceofnormalitydwindled:effortstokeeppartytalkgoingfaltered.EveryonehadoneeyeontheclockandtheotheronGeorgeHenner.

"You'resupposedtobehappy,"GeorgeHennercomplainedwhenthecurrentsilenceremainedunbrokenforsixtyfourseconds."Mydeathmeansyou'reallsafelyensconcedhere."Hisscowlwasambiguous.

ThenhepointedafingeratHenry."Sotellme,Hank,ifyoulosethewager,wherew.i.l.l.yougo?I..."andhelaughedhollowly,"ormyexecutors.e.xpectyoutovacatethepremises...immediately."

"Andwewill.I'vea.s.sembledeverytelekineticwe'vegot...andaflockofphysicalmusclemen.Wecanclearthepremisesinanhour,I'mtold.Youwillgrantusthatmuchtime?"

Hennergrunted,thenbrightlyaskedwherethenewCenterwouldbelocated.

"I'veasiteupstateseventymiles:woods,asmalllake,verypastoral.

Thedisadvantagebeingthedistancetocommute.YouknowwhatcoptertrafficislikeovertheCityandtheTalentsarecontractedtobeatworkontime...nomatterwhat."

Henner'schairhadbeenwiredtomonitorhislifesystems,andtheresultswerebroadcastonascreenvisibleanywhereintheroom.

Georgeglancedupat.i.tincuriously.

"Allsystemsstillgo?"heasked,swingingaroundtothenearestmedicalmanwho,startled,nodded."Threeminutesandcounting,Henry?"

"George,mayIremindyouthatthis.e.xcitementisbadforyou?"Henrysaid.

"Excitementbadforme?G.o.dd.a.m.nyou,Darrow,it'skeptmealivemonthspasttheestimatethosejokersgaveme.You'vekeptmealive,d.a.m.nyoureyes."

"d.a.m.n'em?"Henrylaughed."Thatwasthepoint,George,andyou'veadmitteditbeforeimpartialwitnesses,too."

Hennerpursedhisthin,bloodlesslips,glaringatvariouspeopleintheroom,unsatisfiedwithhispresentvictim'sreactionsandunabletoventhisfeelingsonanyonebettersuitedthanHenry.Hisrestless,probingglancefellbrieflyonMolly.

"Havingtoleaveherewillputyourprogramback,won't.i.t?"

Henryshrugged."Forthisdecade,perhapsyes.ThenewlocationwillbetoofarforprospectiveTalentsinthesubbiecla.s.stocomeforthetest.Wecanhavemobileunits...oncewehavethepersonnel.

Troubleistheunitshavetobeespeciallyconstructed...""Yes,yes,you'vetoldmeallthat."Georgeflouncedaroundinhischair,seekinganeworcomfortablepositionaswellasanothervictim.ButhereturnedtoHenry."You'llbesorryyou'vekeptmealive.Inexactlytwominutesandfourseconds..."

"No,George,Iwon'teverbesorryforyourlife.Onlysorryforyourdeath."

"Icanbelievethat!"

"Indeedyoucan!"criedMolly,unabletobearGeorge'stauntingacrimony.

"Molly..."George'svoiceentreatedherandsheinstinctivelysteppedtowardhim,herhandsoutstretchedtogivethecomfortwhichhadofteneasedhim.Butheleanedaway,suddenlysuspiciousevenofher.Herhandsflewtohermouthastherebuffwoundedher.ButhisreactionbrokeHenry'stightcontrol.

"d.a.m.nit,George,sheonlywantstohelp."

"Helpme?Live?Ordie?"

Mollybegantocry,turningtowardsthewall.ButHenrytookherinhisarms,foroncethecomforter.

"Mollydidn'tdeservethatfromyou,George.Thewagerwaswithme!"

"Hedidn'tmeanitthatway,Henry,"saidyoungopOwen,thewordsburstingfromhislips,asifhe'dbeenholdingbackforsometimethedesiretospeakout.

Hennernodded,hisfaceflushedwithwhatDaiopOwenafterwardssaidwasremorse.b.u.t.themonitorsbeganflas.h.i.+ngwarningsignals.

"h.e.l.l,Molly,"Georgebeganinachokedvoice,"Idon'tdistrustyou.

"Thenthedeathalarmwentoff."Ha!Theappointedminute...AndI'malive!You'rewrong,HenryDarrow.Youandallyourtealeaf,tabletippingcrystalgazing..."

Atprecisely9:00:30,GeorgeHenner'sheartgaveama.s.sivecontractionandstopped.Camerasonthedeadmanrecordedthathishandraisedslightly,towardsHenryandMollybeforethedeadbodycollapsed.

Accustomedastheyweretothedeathprocesses,thephysiciansinattendancewereheldmotionlessbythedramaticcirc.u.mstances.GusMolnarreactedfirst,handmovingtowardstheadrenalinsyringe.

"No!"criedDaiopOwen,steppingforward,hishandoutstretched."Hewantstodie.Hedoesn'twanttowinthewager."

"MyG.o.d,"criedoneofthephysicians,pointingtothescreen.

"LookattheGoosegg.It'sgonewild.Themind'sstillalive...

No.Consciousnesshasgone.ButG.o.d,lookatthegraph."

"Lethimgo.Hewantstogo,"DaffydopOwenwa.s.saying.

MolnarlookedfirsttowardsHenrywhosefacewas.e.xpressionless,thenattheotherphysiciansstaringatthemonitorreadings.

"Thatmeansthebrain'sdead,doesn't.i.t?"askedLEOCommissionerMailer,pointingtotheGoosegggraphnowscribingstraightlifelesslines.

Twoofthemedicalmennodded.

"Thenhe'sdead,"saidMailer,glancingtowardstheGovernorwhonoddedaccord."I'dsayyouwonthebet,Darrow."

"Thewagersaid'minute',Itrust,notsecond?"askedoneoftheSenators.

"Heshouldn't'veexcitedhimselflikethat,"adoctormuttered."Thispartywasamistake.Ofcourseweweren'tconsultedonthat.But.i.tsetupcirc.u.mstanceswhichwouldobviouslyresultinoverstimulation,certaindeathforamaninHenner'scondition."

"Or,there'sthevoodooelementinthis,"anotherphysiciansaidwithoutrancor."Tellavictimoftenenoughthathe'llbedeadatsuchandsuchatimeandthesubconscioustakesoverandkillstheman."

"Notinthisinstance,"saidGusMolnar,loudlyandbelligerently.

"Andthere'samplemedicalsubstantiation,includingyourownremarks,"headded,pointingatthevoodooadherent,"thatthestimulationprovidedbytheoriginalbetkeptGeorgeHenneralivelongpasthisownmedicalmen'sestimate.Thebetdidnotcausehisdeath,itcausedhislife."

Nooneventuredtorefutethatstatement.

"Ibelieve,"spokeuponeoftheattorneyspresent,"thattheautopsywastobeperformedimmediately?"

Asifoncue,twomenappearedfromthehallway,wheelingastretcher.

Silentlytheyapproached,theirpa.s.sageunimpededasguestssteppedasidehastily.Thebodywaslaidonthestretcherinsilence.But,asthementooktheirpositionstoleave,MollybrokefromHenry'sembrace.Withgentlefingers,sheclosedthedeadman'seyes.Thetearsstreameddownherfacea.s.shekissedGeorgeontheforehead.Thestretcherglidedoutoftheroom.Noonespokeuntilthelastsoundoffootstepsinthehallwasgone.

"Mr.Darrow,"saidtheattorney,hisvoicesoundingabnormallyloudaftertherequiemsilence,"IwasenjoinedbyMr.Hennertomakeafewannouncementsatthistimeusuallyreserveduntilseveraldayshence.

Iwastotellyouthatthiswasonewagerhedidn'twishtowinandhopedhewouldn't:nomatterwhatindicationhegavetothecontrary.

Hesaidthatyouweresportsmanenough,Mr.Darrow,toappreciatethefactthathehadtotrytowin."Theattorneyturnedtothephysicianwhohadbroughtupthevoodooinsinuation."Healsoorderedmetocounteractanyattempttobringchargesresultingfromamisinterpretationoftoday'ssadoccasion.HeempoweredmetosaythathehadimplicittrustintheintegrityofallmembersoftheParapsychicCenter.We,"andhegesturedtowards.h.i.+scolleagues,"aretobetheexecutorsofMr.Henner'sestate,thebulkofwhich,excludingafewbehestsandexcludingthesegroundsnowtheirrevocablepropertyoftheNorthAmericanCenterforParapsychicTalents,istogointoaTrustFund,providinglegala.s.sistancetoanyoneregisteredwiththeCenterwhomaybeimprisonedorchargedwithdamagesorlawsuitsfollowingtheprofessionaluseoftheirTalent,untilsuchtimea.s.specificlawsarepromulgatedtogivetheTalentsprofessionalimmunity."ThelawyergaveHenryawrygrin."Hesaid,andIquote,'Ifyourideawingedhorse,you'dbetterhaveawidenetwhenyoufall.Andthattakesmoney!"