The Wings Of Pegasus Part 51

"Tellmewherethechildrenwent!"hedemandedinthemostcommonAsianlanguage.

Tirlalettearsrundownhercheeksa.s.sheglancedquicklyaroundtheroom,asifseekinghelp.Theninoneofthemostobscurelanguagessheknew,sheansweredhiminapiteouslyappealingtone."Don'tbeatme.Idon'tunderstandyou!Don'tbeatmeagain!

""Ofallthe"Flimflamroared,swivelingabouttotheladronesandhittersintheroom."Whatdidshesay?Oneofyoumustunderstandher!JustwhatIneed.Adumbkid!Well?"

Thereweremurmursandshrugsasnooneadmittedtounderstanding.

Dorotea,rea.s.suringly:We'renearlythere,Tirla.Wehavetheyardonthenightscope.

"Where"Flimflamwasmakingludicrouslybroad,pantomimegestures,sounlikehispolishedperformanceasaRIGthatTirlanearlylaughedeventhoughhekeptpokingherpainfullywithhissticktoemphasizehiswords."Wherearetheothers?Cannoonetalktoher?Rousetheotherone.Wecan'twastetime.Thatb.l.o.o.d.yHis.h.i.+ghnesswillbesendingthetransports.Wemusthavethemerchandiseready.Monthsofplanning,everythinggoeswithoutahitch,we'vegotthemoneywherearetheothers?"

AladronepouredwateroverPeter,whodidnotevenmoan.Tirlawatchedhimanxiously.Helookedterriblypale,crumpleduplikethat.

Hehadbeenfineuntiltheyhadbeenrecaptured.Perhapstheeffortofmovingthoseheavyrailcars...Shegaspedasthewhipslicedheragainrightoverthepreviouswelt.Tirlatriedtobackawaybuthandsclampedonhershoulders,holdingherfast.Shekickedbackwardwithherheels,jarringfeetalreadysore,buthercaptorhadheavybootsonandsheonlyachievedmorebruises.

"Let'sreallyputsomefearintoher,"Flimflamsaid,gesturing,andshewasflungfacedowntothehardsurfaceofthetablewhereshehadrecentlyseenpilesoffloaters.Cruelhardhandsgraspedherbywristsandankles.Suddenlypainexplodedacrossheralreadylaceratedfeet.Shescreamedandscreamedagainatthesecondhorrificstabofpain,thenfaintedforthefirsttimeinherlife.

SoshemissedseeingFlimflamviolentlypropelledbackwardtocras.h.a.gainstthewall.ShemissedtheexplosiveentranceofSascha,Rhyssa,DaveLehardt,andtheTalentteams.Andshemissedtheotherexcitementsthatwouldhavegivenherimmensesatisfaction.

Chapter17.

"Commissioner,"Ranjitsaid,"that'sadiplomaticregistration."

"Iwouldn'tcareifitwasG.o.dhimself,Lieutenant,"theLEOcommissioneranswered."LawEnforcementandOrdermeansjustthatfrombottomtotop,andrightondownthelineagain.Orit'sprivilege,notlawenforcementandorder!"Hemeasuredthedistanceonthehugedisplaymap,fromtheSouthSh.o.r.etrainyardtotheRiversideaddress.

"a.s.signthebestdriverwe'vegottoshadowthatCD.AndIwantthatbeehivenotjustthepenthouseliftorthedomesticfloorsb.u.t.thatentirecomplexsecured.Whoeverisinthatcarcouldgotogroundanywhere.Packallentrieswithsensitives.Tellthemtohomeinonanystrongemotionwemaygetalotofwashonthis.Youknowhowhivershatetohavetheirprivacybroached."Heturnedtoanotheraide."Barry,getmethecitymanagerandtellherthisisasensitiveaffair.IwantherforewarnedsoshecanbackuswiththeCorps.FeedthesituationthroughJudicialandgetmefourno,makeitfiveJohnDoesandasearchwarrant.Andlet'shopethatSascha'sefficient."

Heshruggedonhistunictop,resplendentwiththe"braverybars"andbraid,thenstrappedonsidearmsandgesturedforRanjitandhisotheraidestofollowhimtotherooftopgarage.Jetandaircarswerespinningoffalongusualroutes,havingbeeninstructedtomovecirc.u.mspectly.

Sascha?Borislinkedwithhisbrotheras.h.i.+saircartookoff.

Nearlythere,Bro.Itstilltakestimetodriveacarfromtheretohere.Theotherbirdhasnotflownholyh.e.l.l,what'shappening?Backtoyoulater.

Borisfelttheabruptnessofthementalbreakandcursedunderhisbreathas.h.i.+saircarplowedontohisdestination.Thepauselengthened,causinghimsomeanxiety.SurelySaschawascompetentenough...ShouldhehavesentmenwiththeCenterteams?Ifthechilddealersattherailyardshouldgetawarningthroughtohisownquarry,thewholeoperationmightbejeopardized.

MyG.o.d,BorisSascha'svoiceburstinonhimlikeabellowifyouletthats.h.i.+mazslimeoozeoutofthis,Highness,Prince,manager,orwhatever,IpromiseyouthattheTalentswillhandlehimexofficio!

TheLEOcommissionerhadneverbeforeheardsuchvindictivenessinhisbrother'svoice.

Boris:Whathappened?

Sascha:TheVenerableReveredPonsitPrositusedabastinadoonTirla'sfeet.AndPeter'scollapsed!

Boris:Flimflamdidn'tgetamessageoff;didbe?Ifthemanhad,theymightlosethemostimportantcriminal.

Sascha,lividwithrage:No,notwhenbebadalittlegirltointerrogate!Makeitstickonthatotherb.a.s.t.a.r.d,w.i.l.l.you?Or,byallthat'sholy,lwill.Myselfwithnohelpfromanyotheragency,dearLEOBro.

Boris:LEOisonthemove,Sascha.Youbangontoyourtemper.Haveyougottheotherchildren?Haveweanyproofofcomplicity?

Sascha,sarcastically:Idon'tsupposeTirla'sb.l.o.o.d.yfeetcountformorethana.s.saultandGhH.Butwealsotookpossessionofacasefullofmanytoomanyfloaters,readyforanightdeposit,completewithanaccountnumberI'llbetcanbetracedtotheVenerableRevered.

Boris:ThatshouldbeenoughtoconvictFlimflam.Butisthereenoughtocatchthis--whatdidyoucallhim?

Sascha:s.h.i.+maz,PrincePhanibals.h.i.+maz,whoseemstobeawhizatmorethanJosephsonjunctions.Flimflam'sspillinghisguts:His.h.i.+ghnesshasratheranextensiveoperationchildlaborinhisricepaddiesandmines,childprost.i.tution,andachildfarmwherethehealthiestarekeptthatwayuntilsomeonecanpayfortheorgantheyneed.

Boris,growling:Getmesomethingtolinkhimtothatyard.Somethingthatwillstick!

TheywerewellonthewaywhenthecomlinkheraldedaconnectionfromCommissionerAiello.Sheappearedonthecabinscreendressedinformalattire.Hoveringbesideherwasherprotocolofficer,Jak,who,forallhisempathy,couldattimesbequitetiresomeaboutdetails.

"Doyouhaveincontrovertibleproof,Roznine?"sheasked.

"Wehaveproofofaconnectionwhichisincompatiblewithanydiplomaticoccupation,"Borisreplied,settinghisjaw.

"Who?Surelynottheamba.s.sador!"Atthatmoment,TeresaAiellowasdepressedwithpessimism.

"Wearenotafterhis.e.xcellency,soJakcanrelax.MembersofhisCorps,certainly,andanemba.s.syvehiclehasbeenidentifiedandtracedfromtheabductionsite.There'snoproblemofprovinginvolvement.

IstheDAthere,too?Well,givetheolddogacomfortingwordinhissh.e.l.llikeear.TheTalentshavecrackedthisabductionring."Thelastheadmittedruefully,fordespiteproteststothecontrary,heandhisbrotherwereinconstantcompet.i.tion.

Thema.s.sivebeehivewasaptlynicknamed.Itsbottomlevelsalongtheblocksquarebulk,whereotherbuildingsobscuredviews,housedmaintenance,storage,andworkeraccommodations.Wherethehiveroseaboveitsneighbors,thereweregreatcurvedplasglaspanelsthatwerepartsolarheating,partprestigiousdisplayofwealth.Eachpieshapedapartmentboastedluxuriantgardensandviewsfromtheouterwall,andwherethehivehadanatriumcore,rareplantsandtreesfestoonedtheinnerwalls.Naturallythetopapartmentswerethemostexclusiveandexpensive,withonewholefloorgivenovertoprivategardenandgaragefacilities,swimmingpools,gamecourts,andwhateverotheramenitiestheresidents.e.xpected,tosecuretheultimateofcomfort.

Isthesurroundcompleteyet,Ranjit?Borisaskedonhishelmetcomunit.

Justnowcompletelyringed,sir.Noonecangetinoroutwithoutbeingobserved.

"Commissioner,"Boris'spilotsaid,"herecomesthesuspectvehiclenow."

Thesleekwhitejetcarswoopedtosettleanddeposit.i.tspa.s.sengersontheroofofthehive.

"Threemen!"

"Icanseethatmyself,"Borissaid."Securethatjetterthemoment.i.t'sgaraged.Seewhatyoucangetthepilottosay.Grabthelog,andanygaragerecords.Andnow"Hecouldnotkeepthesatisfactionoutofhisvoice."Let'sgettheb.a.s.t.a.r.ds."

TheLEOpilotputthemdownonthehiveroof,andBorisRoznineandhissquadmadefortherampdowntotheentrancelevelofthepenthouse.

SeeingtheformalandformidableattireoftheLEOcommissionerandhisaide,thedoorattendanthurriedtoopenit.Hisbowwasrespectfulandnervous.

"Whatareyoudoing,younaga?I'mnotexpectingguests!"exclaimedthemanattheotherendofthemagnificentwhitemarbledreceptionhall.Aservantwasjusta.s.sistingtheremovalofhiselegantbluesuedelongcoatwhileasecondmanwasalsoshrugging,una.s.sisted,outofhisownouterwear."Excludethemimmediately."

"Ithinknot,PrincePhanibal,"Borissaid,steppingforwardwhilesendingRanjitaquickthoughtaboutreinforcements.

Theprince'scompanionmovedwithastonis.h.i.+ngspeedoutthenearestofthemanydoorsleadingfromtheentryhallwhiletheparalyzeddoormangaped.

"Is.h.i.+s.e.xcellencyathome?"Borisasked,someglimmerofJak'sprotocollessonsseepingthroughhisanger.Thedoormanfearfullynoddedbeforetheprinceorderedhimnottorespond.

"Howdareyouwhoeveryouareenteradiplomaticresidencewithoutinvitation?"PrincePhanibaldemanded,his.e.xpressionhaughtyandtotallyconfident.HisgazeignoredthelieutenantbyBoris'ssideandthedetachmentstandingjustoutsidethedoor.

"BorisRoznine,commissionerforLawEnforcementandOrderinJerhattan!"Boristurnedtotheawedandshakingdoorman."PleasebegHis.e.xcellency'sindulgenceandrequestanimmediateinterviewonamatterofgraveurgency."

Theattendant,ignoringtheprince'scountermandsandthreats,openedahiddendooranddisappeared.Hehadnosoonergonetha.n.a.lltheotherdoorsoftheentrancehallswungopenandanumberoflargemenfiledinwithmilitaryprecision.Three,black-robedandturbaned,withsilvermountedbeltsanddaggerswhichwereexactlythelegallengthpermitteddisplayguards,immediatelyflankedtheprince.

BorisdidnotneedtolookoverhisshouldertoknowthattheLEOofficersjustoutsidethedoorway,carryingtheweaponrylegalforthem,outnumberedtheemba.s.syguardsandwerequitereadytoforceanentry.Hewaitedamomentfortheprincetoabsorbthatfact.

"IbelievethatwenowawaitHis.e.xcellency'sappearance,"hesaidwithagrimandungenialsmileand,instudiedinsulttoaroyalperson,seatedhimselfonthenearestdecorativebench.

"Doyounotunderstandtherepercussionsthisunwarrantedintrusion"PrincePhanibalbeganimperiously."IamnotonlyaroyalprinceofmyhousebutamanagerofthePadrugoi.Iamduebackontheplatformonthenextshuttle."

"ThatiswhyI,asLEOcommissioner,amheretoexplainpersonallytotheamba.s.sador,"Borisreplied.Isthistheguywho'sbeengivingRhyssasomuchgrief?Perhapsifwebothtry,wecanprobehismind,hesenttoSascha.lt'snotadmissibleevidenceincourtsinceit'sunderduress,but.i.t'llgiveussomeclues.

Therewasabriefpauseasthebrotherstriedtobreachtheprince'smind.ThenBorispulledback.He'sgotadenseminds.h.i.+eld.He'shadcarefulconditioning,andI'dlovetoknowwhere.No,wecan'tbreakit,notwithoutbreakingthelaw.

Theslightestofsmilestuggedatthecorneroftheprince'smouthandhiseyesnarrowed,hidingsmugpleasureatdeflectingthementalintrusion.Heraisedhislefthandbriefly,hisfingersclosingasifonsomeaccustomedpossession.Thenhethrewhisfingersopeninvexationandraisedthearmindolentlyacross.h.i.+schest,thesmilebroadening.

"Perhapsyouhavemislaidyourlittlestick,"Borisheardhimselfsaying.Saschawasthere!Savingtimeandeffort,brother?Borisasked.

ThelittlestickwhichmaderawmeatofTirla'sfeet,Saschasaidsavagely.

PrincePhanibalstiffenedinsurprise."Iwhat?"

"Thelittleswitchthatyouarefondofcarryingasanaffectation,foryoudon'townanyanimalsIbelieve,"theBoris/Saschalinkcontinued.

"Theonewiththeivoryhandleandtheratherunusualfiligreedesign."

"Idonothavetoaccountformypossessionstosuchasyou,"PrincePhanibalrepliedasheangledhimselfobliquelyfromBoris,tiltinghischinarrogantlytodisplaywhatmanyprobablyconsideredahandsomeprofile.

Atthatpointtheamba.s.sador,cladinadeeppurplevelvetrobewithexquisitegolddesigns,enteredfromthecentraldoor.Hecastonestartledlookattheprinceandhispose,anotheratthegroupbythedoor,thensignaledfortheguardstowithdraw.BorisRoznineroseandwalkedforwardtomeettheMalaysian.

"Duetothegravityofthissituation,YourExcellency,"hesaid,speakingonhisownalthoughheknewthatSaschawaslisteningavidly,"youwillpermitmetodispensewithformalities.Thisman"hegesturedtothealoofprince"andanotherhavebeeninvolvedinactivitiesincompatiblewithanyfunctioninyouremba.s.sy.ImustaskyoutoinstructHis.h.i.+ghnessandhiscompaniontoaccompanymetotheLEOheadquarters."

"WithwhatcouldthePrincePhanibalbecharged?"theamba.s.sadoraskedwithgreatdignity.

"Thechargeisindeedgrave,YourExcellency,fortherehasbeentrafficinabductingminorsandsubjectingthemtoillicitbondageforthepurposeofslavelabor,unlawfulintercourse,andorganremoval.""Youhaveproofofsuchaheinouscrime?"Theamba.s.sadordrewhimselfmoreerect,buthedidnotappeartobeallthatsurprised.

"Yes,YourExcellency."Borisinclinedhisheadwithanodofregret.

Theamba.s.sadorwastoofineanoldmantobesaddledwithsuchascandal."Therearewitnesses!"theBoris/Saschalinkcontinued,supportingBoris'sreply."Talentedwitnesses."

Theprincesnortedhisdisbelief,hispoiseundisturbed."Suchaclaimtriesallpatience.Youwilldismissthesedeceivers,Uncle."

Sascha:Thisb.u.g.g.e.r'sclever.

Boris:Hehasn'tturnedahairoradmittedathing.

Sascha:DoeshethinkallTalentsareadults?

Boris:TirlaisontheofficialRegister,isshenot?

Sascha:Didn'tyoureadtheIDbraceletyougothersixweeksago?Andtherearefouroftheladrones,spillingtheirgutstoavoidbeings.p.a.ced,confirmingwhatwe'vegotoutofFlimflamforturningState'sevidencehismindtookverylittlepressurewhenheregainedconsciousness.Thatwa.s.somescamtheyhadgoing.Furthermore,itwasthedearprincewhoinfiltratedLEOprogramsandfilchedthestrandformula.Hehadallthespecialclearancepa.s.swordsbecausehewasworkingonPadrugoianddoingallthatneworkwiththeJosephsonjunctions.Hebrowsedandtookwhatheneeded.GothisislandlaboratorytoperfectavariationforFlimflamtouseasaspecialeffectinthoseResheputon.Wehaveallthedetailsneededtoimplicatetheprinceandthatsecretaryofhis.Returnedfromthereligiousinst.i.tutionsandaperiodofmeditationintheFarEast?HewasplanningthewholethingwithPrincePhanibal'sbacking.Sascha'ssnortofcontemptwa.s.sostrongthatBorisgrunted.

Theamba.s.sadorturnedhisheadslightlyoveroneshoulderinPrincePhanibal'sdirection."Iwillnotdismissthem,Nephew.Talentcannotbeforsworn."ThenheregardedBorissteadilyforamomentandbeckonedfortheprincetostepforward."Youwillgowiththem."

"ButIcannotbearrestedlikeacommoncriminal!"

"Oh,indeed,Nephew,youareanuncommoncriminal,fordiplomaticimmunitydoesnots.h.i.+eldpederasts,"theoldmansaidinavoicethatwasleachedofallemotion.

"Youcannotpermitsuchinsulttoourname,"theprincesaid,slappinghisfiststohislegsinhisbarelycontainedfrustrationandanger.

"Myfatherwillhearofthis.Youwillhearofthis.Youwillbedisgraced!Youwillneverreturntoyourhome.Yourchildrenandyourchildren'schildrenaredogmeat..."

Ignoringhim,theMalaysianamba.s.sadorstrodetothenearestdoorandcloseditfirmlybehindhim.Theguardsmovedtocovereachofthedoorways,subtlyremovingofficialprotectionfromtheprince.

Commissioner?Ranjitsaidpolitely.Thepilothasbeenarrested,andwehavethejetter'slogsandthegaragelog.Also,Princes.h.i.+maz'scompanionwasapprehended,attemptingtoescape."Ifyouwillcomewithus..."Borisbeganformally,gesturingtowardtherooflandingsteps.

Theprincesuddenlyeruptedintoaction,hisfacecontortedinrage,flinginghimselftowardtheopeningBorishadmade.Ranjit,withgreatpresenceofmind,neatlytrippedthemanashepa.s.sed.

Atthat,ittookthreeofficerstosubduetheravingman.

"So,despiteappealsfromhisgrievingfather,andprotestsfromLudmillaBarchenkathatHis.h.i.+ghnessManagerPhanibals.h.i.+mazmustbereleaseduntilthestationiscompleted,"SaschatoldTirla,sittingontheedgeofherbedinDorotea'shouse,"thatscuzballwillspendtherestofhislifeathardlaboronthemoon."

"AndFlimflam?"Tirla'seyesflashedwithanangerandhatredthatstartledSascha,eventhoughheunderstoodit.

"Oh,turningState'sevidencegavehimachoiceofoccupations,"hesaidwithagrin."HeelectedtotakeajobasasanitationengineerontheBigStation.Notexactlys.p.a.cedout,butnearenough."

"Howmanyofthekidswereillegals?"sheaskedafterrelis.h.i.+ngFlimflam'sfutureforalongandsatisfactorymoment.SheandPeterhadbothbeenincourttogivetheirevidencebuthadnotheardthesentencing.Shestillwasnotcomfortablewalkingveryfaronhertenderfeet,anddespitePeter'spatientinstructioninkinetics,shehadbeenunabletolevitateashedid.Peterwasbaffled,surethatshehadsomelatentkineticability;hemaintainedthathehadbeenunconsciouswhenFlimflamhadbeenthrownkineticallyacrosstheroomjustastherescuersarrived.

"Eightysevenchildren,"Sascharepliedbrusquely.

"Inthehostels,huh?"Tirlagavealongsigh.

"JustthinkwhatyouandPetersavedthemfrom,Tirla.Youhadatasteofit."

"Andtherehaven'tbeenanymoredealsorabductions?"

Saschashookhishead.

TheapathythathadsettledoverTirlaafterthetrialworriedeveryoneintheCenter.Obedientlyshehadworkedwiththephysiotherapisttoregainmovementinherdamagedfeetshehadbeenmoreseverelyinjuredthanhadfirstbeenapparent.Shehaddutifullytriedtoimprovehertelepathicrange,butDoroteaandPeterweretheonlyonesshecouldhearatanydistance;evenSaschashecouldhearonlyifhewaswithinahundredmeters.Shedidtesttoanastoundingdegreeofempathy,thesourceofherunusuallinguisticfeats.

Shewasa.s.siduousinfollowinghereducationprogram,optingforaverywidevarietyofcourses,someofwhichDoroteawascertainshecouldnotyetcomprehend.Herreportsprovedthatshewasmoreprecociousthanantic.i.p.ated.ShetooknojoyinthefreedomoftheCenter'sgroundsandplayedwithnootherchildrendespitetheirrepeatedattemptstointeresther.ShehadevenrefusedtogoonshoppingtripswitheitherSaschaorCa.s.s.ShetendedtobecomemoreanimatedinPeter'scompany,butshesawhimonlyrarely,asheandRhyssaweredeeplyinvolvedinhis.h.i.+ghlyspecializedtraining.Shewasvirtuallyrecoveredfromtheabduction,buthermoralewas.e.xtremelylow,soDoroteahadinsistedthatSaschacomeforavisit.

"Whatdoesittaketostrandakid?"Tirlaaskedhim.

"Look,chip,"hesaid,layingagentlehandonherkneeandnotingthatshefeltnolessfragiletohim,thoughshehadputonweightsinceshehadfirstcometotheCenter."Youcan'tsavealltheillegals.Andforthemomentthedangerisover."