Theconnectionwentdead.OpOwenlookedaroundattheothers.
"That"sknownaslockingthebarnwhenthehorseisgone,"saidWelchinaflatvoice."Layyoutwotooneandnopreviewing,RizorjustdiscoveredthatZeusma.n.u.sesahelijetforthesejauntsofhis."
"Charlie,getmethroughtooneofthemobilerescueteamtrucks."
"Sir,they"reconvergingonthecampus.Onlythey"vebeendelayedatthegate,"Charliesaidinaquietsadvoiceafteramomentofurgentcrosswirephoning.
Welchscratchedhishead,smoothinghishairbackoverhisears,tryingnottostareatopOwen"s.e.xpressionlessface.LajoswonderedhowtheDirectorcouldsitsocalmly,butsuddenly,notthetranquilizerbutaninnernaturalcomposuresettledLajos"stensions.
"Sir,"hesaidtoopOwen,"Ithinkitcameoutallright."
Everyoneglancedupattheclockwhichnowtickedovertohighnoon.
Thesecondhandmovedforwardagain,andagain,thesweep-seconddulycirc.u.mscribingitssegmentsoftime.Thephone"sbuzzstartledeveryone.OpOwendepressedReceiveandBroadcast.
"IwanttospeaktotheDirectorofthissocalledCenter,"aba.s.svoicedemandedauthoritatively.
"OpOwenspeaking,SenatorZeusman."
"Well,didn"texpecttogetyou."
"YouaskedtospeaktotheDirector;Iamhe."OpOwenhadn"tswitchedonhisvisual.
ThecomposedanswerappearedtoconfoundtheSenatorbriefly.Hehadnotactivatedthescreenathisendeither.
"You"veoutsmartedyourself,Owen,withthismorning"s.e.xhibitionofcrystalballing.Ithoughtyou"dhavebettersensethantosetoneupandtrytofoolmeintobelievinginyourpsionicartsbunk."Thesenator"svoicewasrichwithridiculeandselfsatisfaction."Heatconverter"sblowing,indeed!They"reconstructednottoblow.Safest,mosteconomicalwayofheatinglargeinst.i.tutionalbuildings.Ascientificway,Imightadd."
"Itellyou,Senator,"Rizorinterrupted,"thereisaflawinthebleedoffofthatconverter.Myengineersreportedit."
"Getofftheextension,Rizor.I"llsettleyourhashlater.Applyingforfundstorunaresearchprogramwhichyouarbitrarilyinterruptatavitalstageonthesaysoofcrackpotsandwitchdoctors?YouruniversityisunfittohandleanyfurtherpublicmoniesoverwhichIhaveanycontrol."Zeusmanwasalmostsnarling.
"Iwon"tgetofftheextension,Zeusman.Thisismycollege,inwhatisreputedlystillafreecountry,andIdon"tregretinanywayhavinglistenedtoDr.opOwen.Therewasaflawwhichwouldhaveexplodedunderconditionsforeseen..."
"Don"tdefendOwen,Rizor,"Zeusmansaid."Hismeddlingcostshisdefenderstood.a.m.nedmuch.How"sJoelAndresfeelingthesedays,Owen?
How"shisamyloidosisprogressing?Justrememberwhenyoupredicthisdeaththattheresearchyourschemeinterruptedheremighthavesavedhislife."
TherewasaloudclackasZeusmanbroketheconnection.
"Dave?"Rizorsoundeddefeated.
"I"mstillhere,"opOwenreplied."What"sthisaboutJoelAndres?"
"You"vehadnothing?Ithoughtyoualwayskeptacheckonimportantmen...likeZeusman."Thenamewasgratedout.
"Nothing"sbeenreportedonJoel.Precogishighlyunpredictable,asyou"vejustwitnessed."
"Thatd.a.m.nedconverterwasfaulty,"Rizorwasangrynowanddefiant.
"Itwouldhaveblowninthenextoverload.YousavedZeusmanandyou"vealsosavedotherpeople."
"AndJoel?Isittrueabouthisliver?"
"SoIunderstand,"Rizorsaidinaheavyvoice,"Andourresearchwasforaneoproteintoreplacethefaultyendogenousproteinandrestoreanormalmetabolism.Don"tworry.Theexperimentscanbereinitiated."
"WithZeusmanwithholdingfunds?"
"ThereareothersourcesoffundsandIintendtouseyourso-called"meddling"toadvantage.d.a.m.nit,theconverterwouldhaveblown!"
Rizorwas.m.u.tteringasheendedthecall.
Lajoswasutterlyspentwhenhereturnedtohisapartment.Ruthtookonelookathisfaceandfixedhimastiffdrink.Hetookitdown,andwithawearysmilefloppedontothebed.
"Doroteaasleep?"heaskedhopefully.Hewastoodisturbednottogenerateemotionalimbalanceandtootiredtosuppressit.
"Fastasleep.Goodforacoupleofhours,honey,"Ruthreplied,herstrongfingersalreadyatworkonhistensemuscles.Shedidnotquestionhisdepressionandweariness.Slowlyshefelthimrelaxasherma.s.sageandthestiffdrinkcombinedtobringsurcease.
Hewokeintimefordinnerandseemedincontrolagain,laughingatDorotea"santics,playingwithherontheflooruntilherbedtime.
Onlywhenthebabywa.s.safelyasleepinhershieldedroomdidhetellRuthallthathadhappened.
"Oh,no,notMr.Andres,"shesaidwhenhefinished.Lajosdidn"tnoticeherquickflusha.s.sherecalledheronepersonalencounterwiththemagneticSenatorAndres.He"dbeen...sokindtoherandshe"dbeensoembarra.s.sed.
"HowcouldIguessthathe"dbeinvolved?Itwastheflames.AndhowcouldIknowthatZeusmanwouldbesavedatAndres"s.e.xpense?"
"Why,youcouldn"t,darling,"Ruthcried,alarmedathisself-castigation."Youcouldn"t!Youmustn"tblameyourself.Yousavedlotsoflivestoday!Lots!"
Lajosgroaned,miserable."Butwhy,Ruthie...whydoesithavetoricochetoffAndres?IfRizorhadn"torderedtheconverteroff,theexperimentwouldhavebeenconcluded.Alltheyhadtodowaskeepvisitorsout."
"No,that"snotquitetrue,"Ruthtoldhiminsterncontradiction.
"Yousaidyourselfthattheheatconverterprovedtobeflawed.Thatflawwouldnothavebeendiscoveredwithoutyourprecog.Itwouldhaveexplodedduringthenextlabfire.Whoknowswhomighthavebeenkilledthen?"
"ButAndresistheonewhoneededtheneoprotein!"
"They"llcomeupwithaneoproteinsomewhereelse,then,"Ruthsaid,verypositivelytodistractLajos."They"vemadesomanystridesinorganreplacement..."
"Exceptlivers!Thatneoproteinwa.s.supposedtocorrectsomekindofabnormalproteingrowth...faultyendogenousproteinmetabolism...
that"swhat"skillingSenatorAndres...stuffiscrammingintohisliverandspleen,enlargingthemandthere"snoknownwaytocleartheamyloids.Andwhentheliverdoesn"twork,that"sit,honey.Ticketout!"
RuthwentonstrokingLajos"foreheadgently,knowingthathemustfindhisownwayoutofthis.Heburrowedhisfaceintoherneck,entreatingthecomfortthatsheneverdeniedhim.Laterhermindreturnedtotheterribleparadox,thetragiclinkageofcirc.u.mstanceandthesorrowofthewellintentionedGoodSamaritan.
G.o.dgivesmanstewardshipofhisgiftsandthefreewilltouseordenythem.Whymust.i.tbe,thatamanactingingoodfaith,findshimselfreviled?
a.s.sleepfinallyclaimedherintheearlymorninghours,shewonderedifsheoughtnowtouseherTalenttopreventLajosfromprecogslikethis.No,shedrowsilyrealized,shehadnorighttotakenegativeaction.Onemustalwaysthinkpositively.Oneisone"sbrother"skeeper,nothiswarder!
"Iratherexpectedacallfromyou,Dave,"JoelAndressaid,hisgrinonthevidscreenslightlywavingfromatmosphericdisturbance."Andthat"snoprecog.Noindeed,"herattledon,withoutpermittingopOwentospeak."ThegoodsenatorfromthatgreatmidwesternstatecalledespeciallytowarnmethatI"mthenextsparrowtofallbecausemypetwitchdoctorreadthewrongcrystalball.Hey,thatrhymes.
Now,Idon"tbelievethatforamomentDave,onaccountofIdon"tthinkthatthatstupidmockproteingoopwouldhavebeenjelledorcurdledorwhathaveyou,intimetosavemymisspentlifeanyhow."
Thewordswerelightlysaidb.u.t.therewasanedgetoAndres"svoicethatruinedthejovialeffect.
"Howlong,Joel?"
"ProbablylongenoughtogetthatBilloutofCommittee,Dave,andI"llcountthetimewellspent.Zeusmancan"tputdownthema.s.sofevidenceinfavorofpsionics,thetremendoussavingoflossoflifealreadyeffectedbyvalidatedprecogs.Bytheway,Welchtoldmethattheprecogcameinat10:12.DoyouknowthetimewhenZeusmangavehispilotorderstoflytoNorthEast?"
"10:12?".
"Right,man.Andthat"sintherecord!Rightinhisflightlogandafriendofmineimpoundeditbecausethepilotisn"tsocontemptuousofthecirc.u.mstancesasZeusman.Thatpilotwa.s.scaredsillybythecoincidence.Anddon"tthinkI"mnotgoingtoramthatdownZeusman"s...o...b..echins."
"He"llneveradmitourwarningsavedhislife,Joel,"Daffydsaid.
"h.e.l.l,hedoesn"thavetoadmit.i.t.Thefactsproveit.ButImustsay,Dave,youmadeonemistake."Joel"schucklewasrich.
"HadIknownwhatIknownow,Idobelievethatthisonce,I"d"vesatbackandtwiddledmythumbs."
"Ha!Idon"tbelievethatforaminute...no,maybeyouwouldhave,"andthelawmaker"svoicerippledwithamus.e.m.e.nt."Ifthishasbuckledyouraltruisticarmor,it"sworthit.Worthdyingfor,becausethere"snothingtrickiertotiedownthananhonestmangonebad!Nowletmegotowork."
"Joel,letmeknow..."
"Hangloose,man.Don"trobmeofmycool.Notnow!"
ThesenatorsignedoffbutDaffydopOwensatstaringmoodilyatthewalloppositehisdesk,unableforthefirsttimeinhislifetodiverthistrainofthought.Hismindwrithedinrecriminationasbitterasanancientinquisitionalpenance.
"Dave?"Welch"sbriskvoicebrokethroughhisintrospection."There"sananomalyon...Oh,I"llcomebacklater...."
"No,Lester,comein."
Welchgavehisfriendaspeculativelookbutheunrolledthegraphswithoutcomment.
"RuthHorvath!"OpOwenwa.s.surprised,almostirritatedthatsheshouldbethesubjectoftheintrusion.
"Coupleofthings.Here...onthebaby"schart...IncidentafterIncident...compareitwithRuth"s.Nopattern.Notevenaninkyhiccup.Ithoughtyousaidshecouldblockthatbaby."
Curiousnow,opOwenscannedthecharts."What"sthis?"heasked,pointingtoasustainedemphaticvariation.
"That"stheanomaly.Happenedlastnight.It"saspontaneousvariation.Allherothershavebeentriggered,usuallybyLajos.And,ifyou"lllookatthepeaksandvalleysinlastnight"srecords,you"llseethatthepatterniskinetic."
"That"stootightforatruekinetictouch."
"Well,it"snotTP,it"snot"finding"andwhat"n"h.e.l.lwouldshebetryingtodo,fastasleep?"Finding"isaconsciousapplication,anyway.No,thisisakineticpattern."
"Forwhatreason?Againstwhat?"
"Whoknows?Thepointis,whilesheha.s.stoppedsuppressingherhusband,shehasn"tstartedblockingherdaughter.Andthat"sgoingtobeserious.Imean,wedon"tneedateethingtelepathbroadcastingdiscomfort."
"Teething?"
"Iforgetyou"renotaparent,"Welchsaidwithtolerantcondescension,"tosmallbabies,thatis."
OpOwenwasengrossedinthepatternsanditwasobviousthatRuthwasnotrespondingandseemedunabletouseaconsciousblock.Andthatwas...o...b..d.Hefrownedattheunusualkineticdisplayofthepreviousnight.
"She"sgot.i.t.Sheusedit."
"Notconsciously."
"Ihatetoresorttotherapeuticinterference.Itmightjeopardizehereverusingitconsciously."
"It"stherapyforRuth,orthatbaby"lltyrannizebothparents.Andthat"sbad.Akidthatstronghasgottohavelimits,rightnow,beforeshecandevelopprecociousresistance."
OpOwenexaminedthechartsonelasttime,shakinghisheadashenoticedthetelepathicpatternsonDorotea"schart,sawtheimpingementonthemother"sandn.o.block.
"Thesecouldbelegitimatecalls..."
"Don"tevade,Dave.IknowyouhateinterferingwithTalent;that.i.tshouldbespontaneous.AdmitRuthHorvathisoneofthosewhocannotuseTalentconsciously.Meddlealittle!"
OpOwenrose,hisfacedrawn."I"lldropovertoseethemtoday.
Let"shopesherespondswelltohypnosis."
"Shedoes.Ilookeduphertrainingrecord."
TwodayslaterWelchcamebackintriumph,trailingtwosheetsofgraphingtissuelikevictorystreamers.
"Youdidit,Boss.Look,pa.s.sblocked,timeandagain,withaminimumofeffortonRuth"spart.Butd.a.m.nit,she"snotapurekinetic.Whatcouldshebemovingwithsuchaninfinitesimaltouch?Howdoessheapplytheblock?"
"Unconsciously,"opOwenrepliedwithaslygrin."However,itmaybebecausethattouchissodelicate,shecan"tdoitconsciously.Ididn"tlookverydeeply.ButsomanykindsofTalentarefairlyheavyhanded,violent.Likeusingawlsinplaceofmicroneedles."Hewincedalittle,rememberinghowhismentaltouchhaduncoveredRuth"spitifullackofselfconfidenceinherTalent.AllherIncidentsoccurredwithoutherawareness,deepinthesubconsciouslevelsofhermindintowhichDaffydsawnoneedtotrespa.s.s.Shewasanicewomanlyperson:hersurfacethoughtsrevolvingaroundherhusband,herdaughter:allheranxietieswereneedlessguiltsoverminordetails.
Itwas,therefore,relativelyeasytoblockhernotionsthatshewouldinadvertentlyharmDorotea,ortrytosuppressLajos.ItwaseasytoeraseconsciousknowledgeofherTalent,replacingitwithafeelingofaccomplishmentandwellbeing:theposthypnoticcommandtorespondtoDorotea"stelepathicdemandsandchannelthemfirmlyintospeechcenters.HealsodisplacedherreluctancetohaveotherTalentedchildrenbecauseshefeltinadequate.Ruthmusthavegreatresourcesofself-a.s.surance.Heplantedthem.
NowopOwenturnedtoWelch."AskJerryFrameshowsoonRuthHorvathcanbearanotherchild.I"dlikeherfirsttwofairlyclosetogetherbeforeshegetscoldfeet."
"Coldfeethecallsit!"wasWelch"spartingcrack.
"I"msorry,Daffyd,"theWashingtonprecogsaid,"I"vestaredatJoelAndres"spictureforhours.I"vereadhisHousespeeches,I"vereadhismemoirs.I"vesatinhisouterofficeuntiltheSenatepoliceaskedtohaveawordwithme.Thenhecamein,andrecognizedme,ofcourse.Andgavemeascarftohold."MaraHelmpaused."Asamemento,hesaid.ButIdon"tseeit."
"You"vehadnostimulationabouthimatall?"
"Nothingdire."
"Whatdoyoumean,nothingdire?"
"That"swhatImeanandallImean,Dai.Nothingconclusive,inthathislifeconcludes.And,asyouknow,myaccuracyisunfortunatelyhigh."
"Idon"tunderstandthis,Mara."
"NomoredoIwhenIhearthegossiparoundtown."