Hedidtapea.n.a.llTalentalertonthecity"sclimate.Thegreatmindswouldnowhaveasinglethought.Perhapsthey"dalsohaveananswer.
WhenhepickedSallyIselinupatnineattheClinicdoor,shegavehimaquickappraisinglook.Thenheranxiouspuppyexpressionchangedtoaradiantsmile.
"Iknewit.Iknewit."Andsheallbutwardancedacirclea.s.sheinspectedhiscostume.
"What?"heasked,turningtokeepherfaceinview.
"Youdressedjustright.How"dyouknow?I"msureIdidn"tclueyou.
Areyoupositiveyou"renotaprecog,too,Daffyd?"
"I"drathernotbe."
Hervivacityfadedinstantly.Sheputahandout,abortingthesympatheticgesturebeforesheactuallymadeacontact.Hetouchedherfingerslightlyinrea.s.surance.
"Nottoworry.Ijusthadatediousday.Feltlikewearinggladthreads."
Sally"seyescrinkledandhermouthtiltedupa.s.shec.o.c.kedherheadtooneside."Youareindeedjoyous,"shesaidsaucilyasherglancetookinhisroyalblueblacktrimmedcoverall.
"Lookwho"stalking,"andDaffydgrinneddownatSallyinlimegreenandblackswingtunicandmatchinghighboots.Sally"spuppycharmwasatonicandhewondered,asheoftendidinhercompany,whyhedidn"tmakemoreopportunitiestoenjoyit.
Asheputahelpinghandunderherelbowtoa.s.sistheruptothepa.s.sengersideofthetwospotcopter,shegavehimastartledsidewaysglance.Hecaughttheechoofmentalastonishmentbeforeshestartedtochatterabouttheday"shopefulapplicants.
"Theycome,Daffyd,swearingoathsthatthey"dhadthisorthatperception.Doroteadoesn"ttapaone.Wegothroughtheroutinebutevenwithmaximumperceptol,theycomeoverdeaddumbandstoneblind."
SallywasacompulsivetalkerbutDaffydbecameawarethatherpresentgarrulitywasashield.HewonderedwhatSallywouldneedtoobscure.
Proprietyprohibitedhismakingaquickprobebutundoubtedlythere"dbeclueslateron.Sallywasentirelytooopentobedeviousforverylong.
ShedirectedhimtoSectorK,northwestoftheCenter,wherethewornhillsstruggledupfromoldswamplands:notasalubriousareadespitereclamationandrenovationefforts.Therewerestillruinsofearlytwentiethcenturyfactoriesanditwasbyonesuchstructure,asprawlinghalfgla.s.sandbrickaffair,thatSallydirectedhimtoland.
"Theplaceseemspopularenough,"Daffydsaidashehadtocircleseveraltimestofindasiteforthecopter.
Sallywinced,eyeingtheranksofcitycrawlersandthepresenceofbothprivateandpublictransportcopters."Doesn"ttakelong,doesit,forthema.s.sestolatchontoanewthrill!"
"Oh?Thisisnew?"He"dcaughttheworrytoneofherthoughts.
"Crowdbadfortheproject?"
"Idon"tknow."Shewasmorethanworried."Ijustdon"tknow.It"sjustthat..."Shebrokeoff,firmlypressingherlipstogether.
Theystoodinashortqueueforbillets,payingacreditapiecetogetin.
"Milkingthegoldencow,"Sallysaidwithuncharacteristicbitternessastheypa.s.sedthebilletsinatma.s.siveslidingdoorswhichseparatedtheouterhallfromthevastfactorys.p.a.cebeyond.
"Guardingit,too,"Daffydsaid,notingthestrongarmtypesinmesheddutyalls.
"Thatmightmakemoresensethanyou"dguess,"Sallysaidinaverydarkvoice.Hermindwaspracticallyshouting"trouble."
"Willweneeda.s.sistance?"heaskedher,estimatinghowmanyempathicTalentsmightbeneededtocontrolacrowdthissize.
Sallydidn"tanswer.Shewaslookingaroundtheenormousopenareawhichwasfillingrapidly.Itdidn"trequireTalenttoappreciatetheauraofexcitedantic.i.p.ationthatemanatedfromtheaudience.Thehallwasbynomeansfullyet;halfthetableswerestillempty,butmostofthecouchesoftheinnercircleswereoccupied.Daffydhadneverseensuchana.s.sortmentofstyles,agesandconditionsoffurnishings.
"TheymusthavebeenscouringtheSector,"Sallysaid.Thensheindicatedatableontheouterrim:atable,Daffydnoticed,whichwasconvenienttooneoftheluminescentexitdoors.
Theywerebarelyseated,DaffydonQueenAnne,SallyonSwedishtubular,beforeawaiterinquiredtheirpleasure.
"What"savailable?"Sallyasked,simulatingboredindifference.
Daffydwa.s.surprisedthatshefelttheneedtodissemble.
"Younameit,"repliedtheconcessionaire,impatient.Histableswerefillingup.
Sally"told"Daffydthatthis,too,wasaninnovation.
"Trysomethingsimple,schatzie,"Daffydsaid,managingtheverbalslursoftheira.s.sumedroles."TheMedboardwarnedyouandI"mnotcoptingyoutothedrainbrainagainthismonth."
Sallyaffectedpetulance,thenwithdutifulresignation,askedforamildcaffeine.Daffyd,incharacter,askedforanesotericblend.
"NoramIcoptingyou!"
"Makeittwomildsandbringthepot."
Astheconmanleft,DaffydleanedtowardsSally."Isthisareadisaffected?"
Shewrinkledhernose."WegetalotofhopefulsfromthisSector."
Soundhadcomeon,morefrequencydronethanactualnote.Thedimlightsonthegirderswerebeginningtofadecompletely,andgroundspotslitup,addingtheireeriemoietytotheambience.Sallylookedtowardthehalfcircleofstagewhichhadremainedsemilit.Theauraofexpectation,ofvoraciousemotionalappet.i.teincreasedperceptibly.
Sallyshiveredandfoldedherarmsacrossherb.r.e.a.s.t.sbutDaffydsensedthatthecreatedatmosphereirritatedmorethandistressedher.
Sheshiftedinherchairnervouslywhenthewaiterappearedwithcupsandthepot.Heservedthemdisdainfullyhedidn"tmakeasmuchcommissionfromthemilderbrewsandhurriedoff,grimacingthanksforthecarefullygenerousgratuity.
TheauditoriumwasalmostfullnowandtheconversationalmurmurimpingedonDaffyd"ssensesasthesnarloftheunfed.Yestheclimateofthecitywasveryuncertainindeed.Hecouldfeelthetens...o...b..ildingrapidlynow,withsomanyfeedingit.Henoticedthemuscleboysspreadingthroughthetablesandcouches,andheworriedharder.
Thepsychologyofacrowdwastheoreticallyunderstoodb.u.t.therewasalwaysthatgapbetweentheoryandrealitythatdangerousgapwhichcouldbebridgedbythemostinsignificanteventwhencrowdexplodedintoRiot.DaffydandSallywerefartoofamiliarwiththe"tone"ofRiottobeverycomfortableinapregnantsituation.
Infact,DaffydwasleaningacrossthetabletowarnSallythattheymighthavetoleavewhenthelightingofthestageareaalteredandagirlsteppedintothecenter.Sheworeawhitecaftantypeunadornedrobeandcarriedanoldfashionedtwelvestringguitar.IthadnoumbilicalamplifierwhichsurprisedDaffydasmuchasthegirl"sregalpoiseandsimpleappearance.
Acamouflagedhanddepositedathreeleggedstoolandthegirltookherplaceonitwithoutabackwardglance.
Daffydfrownedatthedarknessabovethestage,wonderingwherethesoundamplificationwashidden.Shecouldn"tpossiblyhopetoreachandholdthiscrowdwithoutelectronicboostingofsomekind.
ThenDaffydsawtherelievedandpleasedsmileonSally"sface.
Thegirlsettledherself,tossedbackhermaneoftawnyhairand,withouttakinganynoticeoftheaudience,begantoplaysoftly.Therewasnoneedformechanicalamplificationofthatdelicatesound.Forthefirstnotefellintoavoracioussilence,themosteffectiveconductor.
NoandDaffydsatupstraighteverynerveinhisbodyawareofasubtle,incrediblepulsethatpickedupthegentlemelodyandexpandedittelepathically!
Andthis,too,waswhatSallyhadhopedhe"dfeel,whatshe"dbroughthimheretoconfirm.Hesawthehappytriumphinhereyes.Thegirl"svoice,awarmlyricsoprano,intensifiedthepulse,"sounded"offtheechoa.s.shefedthemult.i.tudewithatenderethnicadmonitiontoloveoneanother.And...everyonedid.
Daffydlistenedand"listened,"stunnedphysicallyandemotionallybytheunusualexperience:unusualevenforamanwhoselifehadbeendedicatedtotheconceptofunusualmentalpowers.Onanintellectualplane,hewasincredulous.Hecouldn"tdeducehowshewaseffectingthetotalrapport,thisaugmentedpulse.Itwasnotmechanical,ofthathewascertain.Whythissensationof"echo"?
Thegirlwouldhavetobeabroadcastingempath:anintelligentempath,unlikepoorHaroldOrleywhohadn"tanyintellectatall.Thisyoungwomanwasconsciouslychoosinganddirectingtheemotionshebroadcast...Wait!Thatwasit...shewasconsciouslydirectingtheemotions...atwhom?Nottheindividualmindsofthelisteners:theywererespondingb.u.t.theycouldnotaccountforthe"generation"ofemotionthatenvelopedeveryone.Therehadtobesensitivemindstogenerateemotionlikethatandthesepeoplewereparapsychicallydead.Yetshewasmanipulatingtheminsomeway,usingsomemethodthatwasnonelectricalandnonsonic.
ThegirlcontinuedwithamorecomplicatedtunefromsomeearlynineteenthcenturyreligiousminoritywhichhadsettledintheeasternUnitedStates.Andthe"message"ofthesongwasasoothingstatementofacceptance.Shewasdeliberatelytakingtheaudienceoutofthetechnocratictrap,transferringthemtolesscomplexdays,lullingthemintoamoodofevengreaterreceptivity.NorwasDaffydimmunetothechargedatmosphere...exceptforthatpartofhisbrainwhichcouldnotperceivehowshewaseffectingthisdeft,ma.s.scontrol.
Thesingerfinishedthatsongandpluckedthestringsidlychordingintoadifferentkey.Thethirdsong,whilenomoreintensethanthefirsttwo,wasarollickinghappyballad,aspirit-lifter,aworkdoer.
Shewaspreparingheraudience,Daffydrealized,deftlyandcarefully.
Hebegantorelax,orrather,theintellectwhichhadbeenalerted,respondedtothebeguilingcharmofherperformance.
Daffydwa.s.suddenlyfrightened.Adeeppang,coveredinaflash,overladenwithworrythatwaslyricinspired.Onlyitwasn"t.Sallyhadfeltthepang,too,glancingnervouslyaroundher.Therestoftheaudiencedidn"tseemtocatchalarm:theywereintheyoungsinger"scompletethrall,caughtupintheillusionofunpressuredtimesandways.
Thefearwasthesinger"sanditwasnotpartofhersong,Daffydconcluded,becausehecoulddetectnootherinfluence,nonewcomerinthehall,nochangeoflightingoraura.Sallywasconcentratingonthegirl,too.
Whywouldshebefrightened?Shehadtheaudienceinthepalmofherhand.Shecouldturntheminanydirectionshechoseto:shecould.
Hersongendedand,inafluidmovement,sherose,proppedherguitaragainstthestoolandcasuallydisappearedintotheshadowyrearofthestage.
SallyturnedanxiouseyestoDaffyd,andtheysharedthesameknowledge.She"stheonewho"sfrightened.She"sleaving.
Andthat"sthemostdangerousthingshecoulddo,Daffyd"told"Sally.
NooneintheaudiencemovedandDaffyddidn"tdare.Thelightingalteredsubtly,brighternow,andpeoplebegantoshakeoffthedeepentrancement,reachingforcigarettesordrinks,startingsoftconversation.
"Theydon"tknowshe"snotcomingback.Whentheydo..."
DaffydsignalledtoSally.Itwasimperativetheyleave:theycouldn"triskthepsychicdistortionofariotand,oncethiscrowddiscoveredthatthesingerwasn"treturning,theircontentmentwouldturntosoursavageresentment.CautiongovernedDaffyd.
Theycouldn"tjustleave.b.u.t.theyhadto...
Hereachedacrossthetablecasuallyanddeftlytippedthecaffeinepotover.
"Ofallthestupidjerks,"Sallycried,irritably,gettingtoherfeetandholdingherflaredskirtfromher.
Daffydrose,too,withmanyapologies.Theyreceivedmildlyirritatedglancesfromnearbycoupleswhosepleasantmoodwasdisrupted.AsDaffydandSallymovedtowardthemaindoor,Sallykeptuparunningdiatribeastoherescort"sawkwardnessesandfailings.Theyreachedtheslidingdoors.TheaurageneratedbythesingerwasfainterinthelobbyandthecloseknotofmenbytheboxofficewindowinterruptedtheirdiscussiontostaresuspiciouslyatDaffydandSally.
"Ican"tsitaroundinthisdampdress,"Sallysaidinanasalwhine.
"It"llstainandyouknowit"sonlythisweek"sissue."
"Honlove,it"lldryinafewmoments.Itwasonly..."
"Youwouldbeclumsyandrightnow..."
"Let"sjuststandoutsideabit.It"swarmer.You"lldryoffandwewon"tmissanyofthesinging."
"IfyoumakememissanyofAmalda"ssongs,I"llnever,neverforgiveyou..."
Withsuchdriveltheygotoutthemainentrance.ButnotbeforeDaffydexperiencedawashofsuchfrightfullewdthoughtsthathehastilyclosedoffallawareness.
"Sally,howmanyminoritiesdidyounoticerepresentedthere?"
"Toomany,inviewofyourmemorandumthismorning.Daffyd,I"mscared.Andit"snotAmalda"sfearthistime!"
"I"mcallingFrankGillings."
Sallypulledfromhim."I"llfindthegirl.She"sgottohaveprotection..."
"Canyoufindher?"
"I"mnotsure.ButI"vegottotry.Oncethatcrowdrealizesshe"sleft..."Sallyturnedtotheright,towardtherearofthefactory,slippingpastthelittlecitycrawlersuntilshewasoutofDaffyd"ssight.HemadeforhiscopterandopenedtheemergencychanneltotheCenter.
CharlieMoorfieldwasondutyandheinstantlypatchedDaffydthroughtotheofficeofLawEnforcementandOrderashewasrousingtheCenter"sriotcontrolpeople.Iftheycouldgetenoughtelepathstothesiteintime,theymightdampentheincipientriotbeforeLEOneededtoresorttotheunpopularexpedientofgascontrol.
"TellFrankGillingsthatRoznineishere,too,"Daffydtoldtheofficerontheline.
"Roznine?What"nh.e.l.lwouldhebedoinglisteningtoasinger?"themanasked.
"Ifyou"dheardtheeffectthissingerhasonpeople,you"dunderstand."Theofficerswore,atalossforotherwords.Daffydwishedthatswearingwereastherapeuticforhim.
"Keepthebandopen,Charlie..."
"Dave,youcan"tstaythere..."Charlie"svoicereachedDaffyd"sea.r.s.evenseveralyardsfromthecopter.Daffydwishedhe"dbequiet.Hehadtoconcentrateon"listening"forthegirl.HecouldsenseSally"sdirectionbuthewasusedtoSally"smind,hecouldhave"found"heratafargreaterdistance.b.u.t.thesingerwasunknown:alarminglyunknown,Daffydrealized,becauseheoughttobeableto"find"her.
He"dbeeninherpresence,in"touch"withherforoverhalfanhour,longenoughforhimtoidentifymostmindsandcontactthemagainwithinamileradius.Shecouldn"thavegotveryfarawayinsuchashorttime.
Thebeatofheavydutycopterswasaudiblenow:cominginwithoutlightsandsirens.Daffydlookedeast,willingtheCenter"sfasttransportstogetherebeforetheriotcontrolsquads.Itwasgenerallyimpossibletogetenoughtelepathsduringthedaytoquellanimminentriotunlessthere"dbeenaprecogoftroubleBut,ofanevening,therewastheentireCenter"stelepathicpopulation...Now,if...IHeheardthebeginningofasubduedmurmurfromthebuilding.
Thecustomersweregettingrestless.Hehopedtheyhadn"tyetrealizedthatthesingerwasn"ttakingashortbreak.
Someoneopenedasectionofthebigmaindoors,stoodframedintherectangleoflightforamoment,peeringout.DaffydidentifiedthestockyfigureasRoznine"s.Suddenlythefigureoftheethnicleaderfroze.Hesteppedout,intothenight,headup.Theman"scursesfloatedtowardDaffydasheslammedbackintothebuilding.DaffydhurriedinsearchofSally,wonderingwhatRozninewoulddonowheknewaLEOsquadwasontheway.Only...andDaffydfalteredmidstridehowcouldRoznineknow,ifhedid,thatthebigcopterswereLEO.Cargofirmsusedthesametype.YetopOwenknewwithunarguablecertaintythatRozninehadproperlyidentifiedtheaircraft.
Daffydcameroundthecorneroftheoldfactoryjustasthepersonnelhatchinthehugereardooropened.Hecountedfiveofthemuscleboys,eachtakingoffinadifferentdirection.Thenasixthman,Roznine,whoseharshurgentvoiceorderedthemtofindthoseeffingcopoutsorthey"dbesubsistenceliversfortherestoftheirbreathingdays.
"Copouts."Plural,thoughtDaffyd.WhobesideAmalda?Notimenowforspeculation.DaffydsentaquickwarningtoSallytoleaveoffthesearchandgetbacktothecopter.Shewastherewhenhereturned,easilyeludingthesearchingmusclemenwhowereasnoisymentallyastheywerephysically.
"Thataudienceislosingpatiencefast,"Sallysaid,staringattheominousblackbulkofthebuilding.Shewashuggingherself.a.gainstshiversoffear.
Daffydlookedeastward,sawtherunninglightsoftheslimCentertransports.
"Notlongnow."
b.u.t.toofaraway.Disappointmentandwhettedappet.i.terocketedtoexplosiveheights.Allalongtheirsideofthefactory,exitsburstopenaspartoftheaudienceswarmedout,infutilesearchofthesinger.Insidethefurnishingswerebeingthrownaboutandbroken,peopleweresluggingandslugged,trampledandhurtasuncertaintemperserupted.
Daffydwastednotime.HehalfthrewSallyintothecopter,jammedintherocketlift,warningSallytohangon.TheheadLEOcopterblareditssummonsbeforehecouldturnonhisdistinctiveident.i.tylights.