Websterranouttocontrolthevehicles.Peopleturnedcuriously.
Stoppedandstaredafterthetrio.
"Don"t,"opOwensaidashesawGillingsmoveahandtowardsthebullhorn."There"snothingwrongwithherhearing."
Orleybegantomovefasternowthathehadreachedthefartherside.
Hewantedtogorightthroughinterveningbuildings.
"Guidehimlefttothesidewalk,Heis,"opOwensaid."Ithinkhe"sstillamenable.Heisn"trunningyet."
"He"sbreathinghard,Mr.Owen,"Heissoundeddubious."Andhisfaceischanging."
OpOwennoddedtohimself,alltoofamiliarwiththestartlingphenomenonofwatchingtheblanknessofOrley"sfacetakeonthecla.s.sicmaskofwhateveremotionshewasreceiving.Itwouldbeaparticularlyunnervingtransitionundertheseconditions.
"Whatdoesheshow?"
"I"dsay...hatred,"Heis"svoicedroppedonthelastword.Thenheaddedinhisusualtone,"He"ssmiling,too,anditisn"tnice."
TheyhadeasedOrleytothesidewalkheadingwest.HekeptpushingWebstertotherightandhis.p.a.ceincreaseduntilitwasclosetoarun.WebsterandHeisbegantogesturepeopleoutoftheirwaybut.i.twoulds...o...b..obvioustotheneighborhoodthatsomethingwasamiss.
Woulditbebettertolandmorepolicetorea.s.surepeopleandkeeptheiremanationsdown?Orwouldtheybroadcasttoomuchsuppressedexcitementatpoliceinterference?She"dcatchthat.ShouldhewarnHeisandWebstertokeeptheirthoughtsonHaroldOrley?Orwouldthatbelikewarningthemagainstallthoughtsofthecamel"sleftknee?
Orleybrokeintoarun.WebsterandHeiswerehardputtokeephimtothesidewalk.
"What"sinthenextblock?"opOwenaskedGillings.
TheCommissionerconsultedthemap,holdingitjustabovethescannersohecouldkeeponeeyeonthetriobelow.
"Residencesandanareaparkingfacilityforinterstatetrucking."
GillingsturnedtoopOwennow,hisheavyeyebrowsraisedinquestion.
"No,she"sstilltherebecauseOrleyishominginonherprojection."
"Lookathisface!MyG.o.d!"Heis.e.xclaimedoverthehandunit.Onthescreen,hisfigurehadstopped.HewaspointingatOrley.ButWebster"sfacewasclearlyvisibletothesurveillersandwhathesawunnervedhim.
Orleybrokefromhisguides.Hewasrunning,slowlyatfirstbutgatheringspeedsteadily,mindlesslybrushingasideanythingthatstoodinhisway.HeisandWebsterwentafterhimbutbothmenwereshakingtheirheadsasifsomethingwerebotheringthem.
Orleytriedtoplungethroughabrickstorewall.Hebouncedoffit,sawtheunimpededviewofhisobjectiveandchargedforward.Websterhaddartedaheadofhim,blowinghiswhistletostoptheoncomingtraffic.Heisalternatelyyelledintothehandunitandatstartledbystanders.Nowsomeofthemwereafflictedandweregrabbingtheirheads.
"Putusontheroof,"opOwentoldthepilot."Gillings,getmentocovereveryentranceandexittothatparkinglot.Getthecopterstohoverbytheopenlevels.Themen"llbesparedsomeofthelash."
Itwouldn"tdomuchgood,opOwenrealized,evenashefeltthefirstshockofthegirl"sawarenessofimminentdanger.
"Closeyourmind,"heyelledatthepilotandGillings."Don"tthink."
"Myhead,myhead."ItwasHeisgroaning.
"ConcentrateonOrley,"opOwensaid,hishandsgoingtohistemplesinreactiontotheknottingpressure.Heis"sfigureonthescannerstaggeredafterOrleywhohadnowenteredtheparkingfacility.
OpOwencaughtthementalpressureanddispersedit,projectingbackrea.s.surance/help/protection/compa.s.sion.HecouldforgiveherGilGracie"sdeath.SowouldanyTalent.Ifshewouldinstantlysurrender,somehowtheCenterwouldprotectherfromthelegalaspectsofheract.Onlysurrendernow.
Someonescreamed.Anothermanechoedthatpiercingcry.Thecopterbuckedandjoltedthem.Thepilotwasgroaningandgasping.Gillingsplungedforward,grabbingthecontrols.
OpOwen,fightinganincrediblebattle,wasblindtophysicalrealities.Ifhecouldjustoccupyalltheattentionofthatoverchargedmind...holditlongenough...pain/fear/black/red/moiledorange/purples...breathing...shock.Utterdisbelief/fear/lossofconfidence.Franticphysicaleffort.
Concretesc.r.a.pedopOwen"scheek.Hisfingersbledasheclawedatalockedsteelexitdoorontheroof.Hecouldnotenter.HebadtoreachherFIRST!
Somehowhisfeetfoundthestairsashepropelledhimselfdownthefireescape,deliberatelynumbinghismindtotheintensivepoundingreceived.Apoundingthatbecameaudible.
Thenhesawher,fingersclawingforleverageonthestairpost,footpoisedforthestepfromthelanding.Atoothinadolescentfigure,frozenforasecondwithindecisionandshock;strandsofblackhairlikeviciousscarsacrossathinface,distortedanduglyfromthetremendousphysicalandmentaleffortsofthefranticwill.Herhugeeyes,blackwithinsanefuryandterror,bloodshotwithdespairandthesaltysweatofherdesperatestrivingforescape,lookedintohis.
Sheknewhimforwhathewas;andherhatredcrackledinhismind.
ThosewordsafterGilGracie"sdeathhadbeenhers,nothisdistressedimagining.Shehadknowhimthenasherrealantagonist.Onlynowwasheforcedtorecognizeherforwhatshewas,allshewasandregrettably,allshewouldnotbe.
Hefoughttheinexorabledecisionofthatsplitsecondconfrontation,wantingmorethananythingelseinhislifethat.i.tdidnothavetobeso.
Shewasthewiser!Shewhirled!
Shewa.s.suddenlybeyondtheheavyfiredoorwithoutopeningit.HaroldOrley,chargingupthestairsbehindher,hadnosuchTalent.Hecrashedwithsickeningforceintothemetaldoor.Daffydhadnoalternative.Shehadteleported.Hesteadiedthetelempath,depressedthelockbarandthrewthedoorwide.
Orleywasaftertheslenderfigurefleeingacrossthedimlylit,lowceilingconcretefloor.Shewasheadingtowardsthedownrampnow.
"Stop,stop,"opOwenheardhisvoicebeggingher.
Heiscamestaggeringfromthestairway.
"Shoothim.ForChrist"ssake,shootOrley,Heis,"opOwenyelled.
Heiscouldn"tseemtocoordinate.OpOwentriedtopushasidehisfumblinghandsandgrabthetrankgunhimself.Heis"strainedreflexesmadehimclingallthetightertohisweapon.Justthen,opOwenheardthegirl"sdespairingshriek.
Twomenhadappearedatthetopoftheramp.Theybothfired,thedullreportsoftrankpistolsaccentuatedbyherchokedgasp.
"Nother.ShootOrley.Shoottheman,"opOwencriedbut.i.twastoolate.
Evenasthegirlcrumpledtothefloor,Orleygrabbedher.Grabbedandtoreandbeatatthesourceoftheemotionswhichsodisturbedhim.
Beatandtoreandstampedherphysicallya.s.shehada.s.saultedhimmentally.
Orley"sbodyjerkedastranks.h.i.thimfromallsides,but.i.ttookfartoolongforthemtooverridetheadrenalreactionsoftheoverchargedtelempath.
TherewaspainandpityaswellashorrorinGillings"seyeswhenhecamerunningontothelevel.Thepolicestoodatadistancefromthebloodspatteredbodies.
"Gawd,couldn"tsomeonehavestoppedhimfromgettingher?"thecopterpilotmurmured,turningawayfromtheshapelessbloodiedthinghalfcoveredbyOrley"sunconsciousbody.
"ThedoorwouldhavestoppedOrleybuthe,"andHeisgrimlypointedatopOwen,"openeditforhim."
"Sheteleportedthroughthedoor,"opOwensaidweakly.Hehadtoleanagainstthewall.Hewasbeginningtoshudderuncontrollablyfromreaction."Shehadtobestopped.Now.Here.Beforesherealizedwhatshe"ddone.Whatshecoulddo."Hiskneesbuckled."Sheteleportedthroughthedoor!"
UnexpectedlyitwasGillingswhocametohisaid,aGillingswhosemindwasnolongershieldedbutbroadcastingcompa.s.sionandawe,andunderstanding.
"Sodidyou."
ThephrasebarelyregisteredinopOwen"smindwhenhepa.s.sedout.
"That"sallthatremainsofthelateSolangeBoshe,"Gillingssaid,tossingthefilereeltothedesk."Asmuchofherlifeaswe"vebeenabletopiecetogether.Gypsiesdon"tstaylonganywhere."
"There"resomeleft?"LesterWelchasked,frowningatthethree-inchcondensationoffifteenyearsofahumanlife.
"Ohthereare,Ia.s.sureyou,"Gillingsreplied,histonesouringslightlyforthefirsttimesincehehadenteredtheoffice."ThetapealsohasalengthyinterviewwithBillJones,thecousinthesocialworkerlocatedafterSolangehadrecoveredfromthebronchialpneumonia.Hehadnoidea,"Gillingshastilya.s.suredthem,"thattherewasanyreasonotherthanaroutinecheckonthewhereaboutsofarunawaycountyward.Hehadahunch,"andGillingsgrimaced,"thatthefamilyhadgoneontoToronto.Theyhad.Healsothoughtthattheyhadprobablygiventhegirlupfordeadwhenshecollapsedonthestreet.TheTorontoreportsubstantiatesthat.SoIdon"timagineitwillsurpriseyou,opOwen,thathertribe,accordingtoJones,aretheonlyonesstillmakingalivingatfortunetelling,palmreading,tealeavesandthatbit."
"Now,justaminute,Gillings,"Lesterbegan,bristling.HesubsidedwhenhesawthathisbossandthePoliceCommissionerweregrinningateachother.
"So...justasyoususpected,opOwen,shewasafreakTalent.Weknowfromthewardnursesthatshewatchedyourpropagandabroadcastsduringherhospitalization.Wecana.s.sumethatshewasawareofthesearcheitherwhenGilGracie"found"thecoat,orwhenthedefinitefixwasmade.It"snothardtoguesshermotivationinmakingtheheistinthefirstplace,norherinstinctivedesiretohide."
Gillingsgavehisheadanabruptviolentjerkandstoodup.Hestartedtoholdouthishand,rememberedandraiseditinafarewellgesture.
"Youarecontinuingthosebroadcasts,aren"tyou?"
LesterWelchglaredsobalefullyattheCommissionerthatopOwenhadtochuckle.
"Withcertaindeletions,yes."
"Good.Talentmustbeidentifiedandtrained.TrainedyoungandwelliftheyaretousetheirTalentproperly."GillingsstaredopOwenintheeye."TheBoshegirlwasbad,opOwen,badclearthrough.ListentowhatJonessaidaboutherandyouwon"tregretTuesdaytoomuch.
Sometimestheyoungareinflexible,too."
"Iagree,Commissioner,"Daffydsaid,escortingthemantothedoorascalmlyasifhehadn"theardwhatGillingswasthinkingsoclearly.
"AndweappreciateyourhelpinthecoveryarnsthatexplainedTuesday"soddoccurrences."
"Acaseofmutualunderstanding,"Gillingssaid,hiseyesglinting.
"Oh,noneedtoseemeout.Icanopenthisdoor."
ThatdoorwasnosoonerfirmlyshutbehindhimthanLesterWelchturnedonhissuperior.
"Andjustwhowa.s.scratchingwhosebackthen?"hedemanded."Don"tyoudarecomeoverinnocent,either,DaffydopOwen.Twodaysagothatmanwasyourenemy,bristlingwithenoughhateanddistrusttoantagonizeme."
"RememberwhatyousaidaboutGillingsTuesday?"
"There"sbeenanawfullotofidlecommentaroundherelately."
"FrankGillingsistelepathic."ThenheaddedasLesterwaschokingonthenews:"Andhedoesn"twanttobe.Sohe"ssuppressedit.
Naturallyhe"dbeantagonistic."
"Hah!"
"He"snottooold,buthe"snotflexibleenoughtoadapttoTalent,havingdenieditsolong."
"I"llbuythat.Butwhatwasthatpartingshot"Icanopenthisdoor"?"
LestermimickedtheCommissioner"sdeepvoice.
"I"mtoooldtolearnnewtricks,too,Les.Iteleportedthroughtheroofdoorofthatparkingfacility.Hesawmedoit.Andshesawthememoryofitinmymind.Ifshe"dlived,she"d"vepickedmymindclean.AndIdidn"twanthertodie."
OpOwenturnedabruptlytothewindow,tryingtoletthetranquillityofthescenerestorehisequilibrium.ItdiduntilhesawHaroldOrleyploddingalongthepathwithhisguide.Instantlyawhite,wideeyed,hairstreakedfacewa.s.superimposedovertheview.
Theintercombeepedandhedepressedthekeyforhissanity"ssake.
"We"vegotaliveone,Boss,"andSallyIselin"sgayvoicerestoredhim."Astrongprecogwithkineticpossibilities.Andguesswhat?"
Sally"s.e.xcitementmadehervoicebreathless."Hesaidthecoponhisbeattoldhimtocomein.Hedoesn"twantanymoretroublewiththecopssohe..."
"WouldhisnamebeBillJones?"
"Howeverdidyouknow?"
"Andthat"snoprecog,Sally,"opOwensaidwithaghostofalaugh,awarehewasbeginningtolookforwardagain."Asurething"snoprecog,isitLes?"
PARTFOUR
ABRIDLEFORPEGASUS.
JulianPennstrak,JerhattanCityManager,DaffydopOwen,DirectoroftheEastAmericanParapsychicCenter,andFrankGillings,CommissionerofLawEnforcementandOrder,hadgatheredinthelatter"soffice:anappropriatesettingasthefoursidesofthetowerofficeweretoughplexigla.s.ssotheoccupantshadafullpanoramicviewofthecitytheymanagedorforesawandprotected.
"TheMaggieOaffairwasnotwithoutsomereward,"DaffydopOwenremindedtheothertwo."Her...relation...inwhateverdegreeofcousinshipBillJonesstood...isprovingtobeasoundprecog."
Gillingsgruntedandrubbedthesideofhisfleshynose,registeringskepticism.
"Halfacitysemiparalyzedwithblindingheadaches,twodead,andalotofpubliclyingandyousaytherewa.s.somereward!"
"Youdotendtoadoptanegativeatt.i.tude,don"tyou,Frank?"theCityManagerremarked,halfamused.HewaswatchingopOwenfromthecornerofhiseye.HeknewthattheDirectoroftheParapsychicCenterhadbeendeeplyshakenbythedeathsofGilGracieandSolangeBoshe,a.k.a.MaggieO.AndthecurioussparringbetweenGillingsandopOwendatedfromthatincident:theonegrudgingadmirationandtheotherexhibitingwistfulregret.Well,Pennstrakpossessedacertainempathyhimselfwhichtoldhimnottodelvetoodeeplyintothedenouementofthatincident.Sufficeittosay,thetruthaboutMaggie"ssuddenriseanddemisehadbeensuccessfullyobscuredfrompublicnoticeand,ifDaffydweresatisfiedthatsomeprofitexistedontheblacksideoftheledger,theCityManagerwouldbecontent."Nonetheless,"JulianPennstrakcontinued,"theProfessionalImmunityLawisnow,asofyesterday,programmedintoFederalBooksandStateLawMachinery.
What"syourproblemnow,Frank?"
"It"sthis:ifrenegadeslikeSolangeBoshecanexist,howdowesmell"emoutbeforetheycausetrouble?Now,"andhehelduphishandasDaffydopOwenopenedhismouthtospeak,"Iknowyou"vegotasubliminalTRIDprogramgoing,Dave,butjusthowsuccessfulisitinroutingouttheoddb.a.l.l.s?"