"MakethemPayTheirOwnWay!Taxationforallonanequalbasis."
PrecogsbegantohavetroubledIncidents.Toaltercirc.u.mstances,theteambeganwearingdisguises,withAmaldaandBruceVadenbothpairedtocombattrainedLEOmen.Theywerealsoontwentyfourhourcall,hoppingfromonegatheringtoanother,tryingtoforestallexplosionsusuallyatralliesdesignedtobringtheirowndownfall.
TwiceAmaldafeltRoznine"smindsearchingforhers.She"dbreakoffallbroadcastingandtheteamwouldleavethatareainstantly.
Theweatherremainedunseasonablyhotandhumid.Therewereunprecedentedfoulupsinthefoodsupplyandaheavydrainonthepowersourcesnecessitatedcutsoftheentertainmentcircuits.Moretrouble.
Roznine"sstrategemalsosufferedfromhiszealousness.Onthedayofthehearing,thereweresomanypeoplewantingtoattendthistestoftheImmunityActthathecouldn"tpossiblyhaveattemptedakidnapping.
ThepressofhopefulattendeesprovidedtheLEOofficialswithanexcusetobeselectiveand,naturally,theaudiencewasconvenientlypackedwithoutoftownTalentswhomDaffydhadinvited.SensitivesattheCourtBlockentrancetippedtheLEOmenoffwhomtoexcludeandthePanSlaviccontingentwasdecimated.Inthewakeoftheprosecutingforce,RozninewasadmittedinhiscapacityasPanSlavicleadersinceoneofthewaiterswashisethnic.ItwasthefirstopportunityDaffydopOwenhadhadtogetagoodlookatthemanandhewa.s.somewhatsurprisedbyRoznine"sphysicalappearance.Daffydwouldhavelikedto"scan"himb.u.t.theemotionalauraofthecourtroommadethatmentallyandphysicallyimpossible.Thetelepathponderedonthesubconsciousimpressionshe"dbeenreceivingfromGillingsandAmalda,forRozninewasaperfectlypresentable,personablelookingchap,quietlydressedinamoderatelyexpensivetunic,hisheavyheadofblackhaircuttohisshouldersandhisthickblackmoustachetrimmedtojointhesideburns,leavingtherestofthestrongfacebare.
Rozninetookaseatbythewallandturnedforacarefulsurveyofthosealreadyseated.
OpOwensincerelyregrettedtheimpossibilityofprobingtheman"smind.Hemusthaveplannedsomething.Hehada"waiting"abouthim,calmlycomposedinthemidstofahecticscene.
b.u.t.therehadbeennoprecogsonthesituation.There"dbeenincidentalauguriesbutoftoovariedanaturetobeusefulorindicativeofthetrendoftheday"sevents.Daffydcouldonlyconclude,astheCorrelationStaffhad,that.i.tdidn"tmatterhowthehearingwenttoday.Thatinitselfwasunsettling.However,planshadbeenmadeforsuchcontingenciesascommonsenseindicated.DaffydhadwarnedVaden,amongotherthings,andthen"conditioned"Amaldawithstrongconfidences.TherewereTalentsunknowntothegirlintheaudienceandtheyhadtheirinstructions.
BruceVadenentered,slippingintoanaisleseatattherear.He,too,glancedaround,hiseyesslidingpastDaffyd"s.He"slookingforRoznine,Daffydthought,asVaden"seyeslingeredonceonsomebullchestedmanbutnotonRoznine"smustachioedface.Roznine"sattentionwasheldbyawirylittlemaninsloppytweedsofancientmanufacturewhoprancedconspicuouslydowntheaisletoaseatreservedforhimbytheprosecution"stable.
So,thoughtDaffyd,AaronGreenfieldhadasmallman"spush!
Greenfieldleanedover,tappingoneoftheprosecutingattorneysontheshoulderandengagedhiminaguardedconversation,allthetimeglancingaroundtheaudience,pointingatlasttotheveryemptyseatsonthedefendant"sside.
Thehearinglightswentonandthe"judge"soundedhiselectronicgavelforthecourttocometoorder.Oneoftheprosecutionteamrosetoprotesttheabsenceofthedefendantandcounselb.u.t.thatwasAmalda"scueandshe,andherescort,madetheirentrance.
Therewas,ofcourse,theantic.i.p.atedcryofprotestfromtheprosecutingattorneys.Thedefendantarrivedgarbedinvoluminousrobes,bewiggedandmadeupalaj.a.ponaise,escortedbytwowomenexactlythesametothelasthairandmeasurement.Evenastheprosecutionleapttoitscollectivefeet,thethreefiguresshiftedinacomplicatedpattern,makingitimpossibleforanyuntalentedpersontoknowwhichonewaswhich.
However,asthiswasapreliminaryhearing,necessarilyconductedinfrontofthelegalcomputer,the"hearingjudge"hadnodirectivesaboutthedressorescortofthedefendantsand/orattorneyssolongastheyappearedcladandreasonablyclean.Prosecutionrepliedthatthedefendantwasdeliberatelyobstructingjusticebyappearingwithlookalikeescorts.OneoftheAmaldasrose,presentedtwosetsofcredentialsaslegalcounselorsforthedefendantandaskedthe"hearingjudge"ifitwasprogrammedtorefusedefendant"scounselonthebasisofsimilarityinshapeandappearancetodefendant.Theobjectionwasoverruled.
ProsecutioninstantlydemandedEEGreadingstoprovethatthewomensoattiredwereinfacttheaforesaidattorneysandthedefendant.
DefensehadnoobjectionandEEGreadingswerepromptlytaken,establishingbeyondcontroversywhoweretheattorneysandwhothedefendant.Atwhichpoint,thethreewomenrepeatedtheirrapid"sh.e.l.lact."DaffydopOwenwatchedfuriousangersuffusethefacesattheprosecutiontable,evidencethattherusewa.s.successful.Theaudiencemurmured,halfinamus.e.m.e.nt,theotherhalftotallyconfusedbytheantics.
Thehearingproceededwiththechargebeingmadeofillegalarrestandrestraint,counteredbythedefenseinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityAct,requiringthatthecomplaintagainstAmalda,RegisteredTalent,bedropped.
Rathersmug,DaffydmissedthefirsttwingeofAmalda"salarm.
"Daffyd,"shesaid,hermindtoneanxious,"he"safterme."
"Makeeveryonelaugh,"Daffydsaidandsoquicklydidshereact,withsuchforcefulness,thatDaffyddidn"tneedtocallinthereserveempathstohelp.
ForamomentDaffydwonderediffearpromptedheroutrageousstrength,foreveryoneintheaudience,himselfandtheplantedTalents,werestruckbyanepidemicofgiggles.Itwouldappearthattheaudiencewasattemptingtolaughthecomplaintoutofcourt.
DaffydsuppressedAmalda"sprojectionsufficientlysothathewasn"tdoubledwithuncontrollablemirth.Rozninehadarictus-likegrinacrosshisface:he"dleanedbackagainstthewallinanefforttocontrolhisbodyandhewasforcinghisheadtomovesohecouldscantheaudience.Daffydbentoverslightly,counterfeitingexcessivemirth,andnoticedthatRedVadenandtheotherTalentsweredoingthesamething.
Grand!LetRozninethinkonlyAmaldawasresponsible!ButcouldAmaldaevenwithRedhelpingbroadcastsostrongly?CouldsheactuallyuseRozninewithouthisconsent?Ifso...
The"hearingjudge"mechanicallysoundedthegavelandcalledfororder,itsvoicegettinglouderandlouderasthegigglescontinued.
Itorderedthecourtroomclearedof"obstructionists."Theparoxysmswhichhadafflictedeveryoneabruptlyceasedandpeopleweaklywipedtheireyesandorderedtheirclothing.AaronGreenfieldlookedanxiouslyaround,hisfaceflushedwithanger.Themanwasnofool,Daffydrealized.He"dknowthatTalenthadbeenresponsibleand,withhisp.r.i.c.klydignityoffended,he"dredoublehiseffortstogettheTalentedtaxed.Oh,well,youcouldn"tmakeanomelettewithoutbreakingeggs,thoughtDaffydphilosophically.HenoddedapprovinglyatAmaldawho,withhertwins,hadsneakedaglanceathim.
ProsecutionthenannouncedpossessionofaswornstatementfromtheMorcamConventionCommitteethat.i.thadrequestednoLEOsurveillance.
DefenserepliedthatallconventionsituationsfellundertheRiotPreventionActandtheLEOCommissionwasquitewithinitsjurisdictiontousesuchriotpreventiontechniquesa.s.seemedadvisable.Theuncertainclimateofthecitywascitedtobeinthe"unsettled"percentilewhichpermittedtheLEOCommissiontotakesuchprecautionsasitdeemednecessarytoensurelawenforcementandorder.Thedefensecounselremindedthe"judge"thatanygatheringof200ormorepersons(andtheMorcamLuncheonhadhad525paidandconsumedcovers)wasliabletoauxiliarysurveillancewhetherrequestedornotwhentheclimateofthecityregisteredinthe"uneasy"percentiles.ProsecutiondemandedtoknowexactlywhatriotpreventiontechniquewasemployedbyAmalda.Defenserespondedthatshewasaregisteredempathofa+15sensitivityandaperceptiveratingof+12,andofferedtoproducepositivetestimonialsfromorganizationswhichhademployedAmaldainhercapacityasaTalentforriotprevention.ProsecutionrepeateditsdemandforanexplicitdescriptionofhercrowdcontroltechniqueanddefenseinvokedtheprovisionsoftheLawEnforcementandOrderCommission.
Daffydwasn"tcertainwhethertheprosecutionwantedtoseparateAmaldafromherlookalikesordiscovertheexactproceduresheused.
Defenseagainrequestedthatthechargebedropped:shedidn"twishtowastetheCourt"stimeandpublicmoneywhentheevidenceclearlypointedtoanolleprosequisituation.
Prosecutioninsistedvehementlythatthiswasaclearcaseofpersonalinfringementandmisuseofprivilegejustasthetime-limitlightcameon.Therewastherumbleasthe"hearingjudge"searcheditsprogrammingforprecedents.Thatdidn"ttakelong.Momentslaterthedateforatrialappearedonthescreen:adatesevenweekshence.
Notbad,thoughtDaffyd,althoughhe"dhalfwishedthatthecomputerwouldthrowthecaseout.Withnoprecedents,there"dbeenslimchanceofthat.
Amalda"sfearwaslikeaknifeinhisownguts.HetriedtogetthroughtoRoznine,tofathomwhatthemanwasdoing.BruceVadenjumpedtohisfeet,starteddowntheaisle,hisprogressblockedbyotherswhowerebeginningtoleavethecourtroom.
DaffydhadthesensethateveryTalentintheaudiencestiffenedsuddenlyandthenRoznine,halfrisingfromhisseat,stunnedamazementonhisface,begantotoppleslowlyoverontothepeopleintherowinfrontofhim.
"Hey,thisguy"spa.s.sedout,"someonecried."Isthereamedicaround?"
BruceVadenkepttryingtoreachRoznine.DaffydsignalledtotwootherTalentstoa.s.sist.IftheycouldbringRozninetotheCenterthisway...
"I"maphysician,"awomansaidinafirmloudvoice,threerowsaway,holdingupheremergencypouch.TherewasaslightscuffleasBrucetriedtointercepther,butsuddenlythePanSlavsmoved,jumpingoverseats,knockingpeopleasideinanefforttoprotecttheirfallenleader.
DaffydcaughtVadenback,calledofftheothers.
Thebailiffscurriedfromthecourt,yellingforanambicopter,asthewomanmedicandthreeSlavsliftedthestrickenmanandcarriedhimtotheprosecution"stable.The"hearingjudge"begantocallfororder,forthenextcase,fortheobstructioniststoberemovedfromthecourtroom.Itsvoicegotlouderandlouderuntilitfinallycalledarecessuntilthecourtcouldbehumanlycleared.
"Allright,allright,we"vegothimunderheavysedationintheCourtBlockinfirmary,"FrankGillingstoldDaffyd,"b.u.t.thattookdoing.
TheplaceiscrawlingwithPanSlavs.Wecan"tarrestamanforcollapsingincourt...andhowdidyoudoit?"
"Oneoftheteleportsgavehima"punch,""Daffydsaidwitharuefulgrimace.
Gillingsstaredathimwithaweandrespect.
"Onehastobeverycareful,"Daffydexplainedalmostapologetically,"pressingagainstthecarotid.ButhewaspressuringAmalda."
"Youexpectedthat!ButIexpectedyouguystograbhimthere.AndthatG.o.dd.a.m.nedhearingisaffectingtheentirecity.Nowdon"ttellmeyouexpectedthat!"
DaffydlookedatGillingsand,foramicrosecond,hesitated.
"No,notexactly,butwe"redoingourverybest."
"What?Whatinh.e.l.ldoyoumeanbythat?"
"Imean,we"vesetthetrapandbaiteditandwesimplyhavetohavepatience."
"Patience?Withthiscityabouttoerupt?"
"Curiouslyenough,Gillings,Idon"tthinkthecityisgoingtoerupt.
Oh,we"verecordedsomeIncidents,minorones,involvingTalents..."
andDaffydfrownedbecausetheIncidentsweredistressingandsovaguethatonlyageneralallTalentwarningcouldbeissued.
Gillingsgaveoneofhisdisgustedgrowls."Youguysmakemesick.
Youcan"tevenprotectyourselves."
"We"lldowhatwecan,"andDaffyd"svoiceturnedsteelyenoughtoreprimandGillings."Whatconcernsyou,Commissioner,isthefactthatourprecogshavepredictednomajorIncidents.Yourcityisgoingtobesafe!"
"Proveit!"demandedGillingsbutDaffydopOwenmadenoreplyashelefttheCommissioner"soffice.
IttookthetelepaththeentiretripbacktotheCentertogetcontrolofhisinnerperturbation.Ofcourse,Gillingshadtoberuthlessandconsideronlythelargeraspect,thesafetyoftheCity,but.i.tgalledDaffydtothinkthatGillingscouldsooffhandedlydismissthepersonaltrialsoftheTalented.ItgrievedDaffydthattherewouldbemoreprecedentsonthenewlyprogrammedImmunityLawafterthenextfewdays.ThefactthatTalentswouldnowhaveredressfortheprecoggedpersonala.s.saultsonthemwasnosatisfaction.He"dreallyhavepreferrednevertohavehadtoinvokethatLaw.
ItwouldserveGillingspropernoticeifRozninedidburstoutofbounds...Andhowinh.e.l.lweretheytopromulgatealawthatmadeitillegaltoconcealTalent?LatentTalentswerealwayscroppingupwhentherightconnectionsweremade...
AndnotasingleIncidentconnectedwithAmaldaorRedorVsevolodRoznine.Andhe"dhadeveryprecogintheCentersensitizedtothatunholytrio.Howcouldthatpossiblybe?
Daffyd"sstateofmindwasgrimashelandedthecopterontheroofofthemainadministrationbuildingoftheCenter.Hetriedtodrainthepoisonsofbitternessandangerfromhismindashedescendedthestairs.Hepausedathisofficedoorbutswungaway.Hehadtocalmhimself.This.e.xcessivereactionwa.s.selfdefeating.GillingsmightbealatentTalenthimselfbutheremainedobduratelyimpervioustotheproblemsoftheTalented,especiallywhentheyinterferedwiththelawenforcementandorderofhispreciouscity.
WhileRozninewasunconsciousintheCourtBlockinfirmary,DaffydhadmanagedtoimplantasuggestionthatRoznineseekAmaldaoutattheCenter.Itwastheonlyfeasiblepracticablemethod...makethemountaincometoMahomet.Andthemountainmustapparentlycomeofitsownvolition.Now,ifhecouldjustgetMahomettodoaLorelei...itwouldspeedmattersup,andmaybesomanyTalentswouldn"tgethurt.
ThatbroughtDaffydbacktothepointofangerhe"dreachedinGillings"sofficeandthewholethoughtsequencestartedagain.
Hispathledhimpasttheplayyardwherehecouldhearthechildrenyellingandscreaming,arguingoversomeviolentlyimportanttriviality.Triviality?Tohim,perhaps,yettheywereasdevotedtotheirseparatesidesoftheargumentashewasto...
"Well?"SallyIselinstoodinhisway,herfistsplantedonherhips,amockferocious.e.xpressiononherpertprettyface."Aren"tyoupleasedwiththeoutcomeofthehearing?"Shefrowned,sensinghisuncertainty."ButyouwereabletoplantasuggestioninRoznine"smind?Oh,thatGillings.Whatisitaboutacopthatsourstheman?"
ItwasDaffyd"sturntobesurprised."That"sprettygoodreading,Sally."
a.s.suddenlyhefelthermindtightenandthecontactthathadbeguntolifthisdepressionwastakenaway.
"WhatdoesGillings.e.xpectofusanyway?"sheasked.
"Ahappyending!"
Sallyeyedhimspeculativelyandthenfellinstepwithhim,grinning.
"Therehastobeahappyendingtoeveryfairytale,afterall.ThoughIshouldn"thaveexpecteditofGillings,fergawd"ssake."
Herswitchofmood,whileitobscuredherthoughtsfromhim,liftedhisspirits.Nonetheless,hesaidrathergloomilythattherehadn"tbeenaprecogofanyhappyendingforCinderella.
"Oh,you...honestly!"Sallysoundedpeevedandhereyesflashedathimirritably."Yourtrouble,DaffydopOwen,isthatyoudon"treallybelieveinTalent."
"Ibegyourpardon?"Daffydstoppedandstareddownather.
"Justbecausenoonehasprecoggedadisasterofsomemonumentalproportionresultingfromthisfairytaleaffair,you"redowninthedoldrums.DoeseverythingTalentedhavetoendindisaster?Areyougoingtobecommittedtogrieffortherestofyourborndays?Orareyouwillingtoadmitthattherehasn"tbeenadisasterprecogbecausethereisn"tgoingtobeadisaster?Thatthingswillworkoutright?
Allthesensitivesareedgy,butnotmiserablyso.GoodG.o.d,dowehavetowallowinsorrowallthetime?Dowehavetorunaroundwonderingifwehavearighttobehappy?"
DaffydthoughtheknewSallyIselinfairlywellb.u.t.thisfromagirlcharacteristicallyfullofpuppyishgoodnatureandexuberance?
Sheturnedonhim,herbrowneyesflashingwithangera.s.shestampedherfoot."AndIamnotagoodnaturedpuppy!Icanbejustasmuchofab.i.t.c.hasanyotherwoman!"
Inthatoutragedmood,sheforgottoshieldherinnerthoughts.Itwasallthere,whatproprietyhadkeptDaffydfrom"perceiving"andhersenseofhonorhadpreventedherfromshowinghimmoreopenly.
AbruptlyDaffydreachedoutanddrewherintohisarms,savoringthemiraculousdisclosure.UnaccountablySallystruggled,andcourtesydisregarded,Daffydprobeddeeplyintohermind,pastthebarriersshehadcarefullyerected,pastthepertverbositywithwhichshemaskedthoseinnerfeelings.Withastrangledsob,sherelaxedagainsthimandlethimperceivethewholeofherconflict.Theolderman/muchyoungerwoman,heryearningtobetall/elegant,anappropriatespouseforamanofhisstatus/abilities,thepuppyimageofherselffromhismind,herfeelingofinadequacybecauseshecouldn"tlocatemoreandmoreTalentstorelievetheburdensonhim...allthesmallsinsandgreatvanitiesthatinhabitthesoulofanyhumanbeing.Andwhathesawinthatinstantofperceptiononlyendearedhertohimmore.
Withonehandhetiltedherheadback,forcinghertomeethiseyes,amusedthatatelepathrequiredalook.Hermouthliftedslightlyinasmilea.s.shesharedhisthought.Hefeltapressingneedtoarticulatethethoughtshewastransferringtohermindbutallhecouldsaywashernamebeforehekissedher.Nomorewasneeded.
ThenextmorningthenebulousanxietiesofthesensitivesweretranslatedintoattacksontheTalented.OneofthefindersattachedtotheLEOBlockwasbeatenuponhiswaytotheCenter.ATalentmechanicatthebigMidTownParkingComplexwa.s.seriouslymauledandshovedintothebootofthecarhe"dbeenservicing.TwohealersintheGeneralHospitalwererapedandshornoftheirhairb.u.t.theira.s.sailantswerecaughtbecausethegirlshadtheabilityto"call"forhelp.
Intheclearlightofthatmorning,Daffydbitterlywonderedifindeedhehadarighttoanypersonalhappiness.
"Andifthatisn"tapieceofoutrightantediluvianpuritanicalnonsense,Idon"tknowwhatis,"Sallysaid,poppingoutofthebathroomwithallthesavageryofaminiature..."...Iamnotaminiatureanything,DaiopOwen."
Butshewascomicalenoughinherundressedstate,mentallybristlingathisthoughtsandaggravatedbyhispessimisticruminationtoputthemorning"sdisastersintheirproperperspective.
"I"mnotsurewhatgoodit"lldotohaveRozninemarchinginherenow,"shewenton,pouringoutcoffee.
"I"dhopedhe"dcomea.s.soonasheregainedconsciousness."
Sally"seyebrowsflickedup."You"veneverfailedofyourmarkbefore.
Unless..."Shepursedherlips,frowning.
"Amalda"sinhibitinghim?"Daffydcaughtthehalfsuppressednotion.
"Youknowshe"sscaredofhim.Imean,scaredasawomanisofaverydomineeringman...s.e.xually,Imean.Oh,youknowwhatImeanandthenthere"sBruceVadenandallthat."
"AmaldahadproofpositiveyesterdaythatRozninecouldn"tdominateher."
"Perhaps...Imean,intellectually,Talentwise,yes.But.i.t"sBrucethat"sholdingherback.He"salreadyatthetopoftheGla.s.smountainandAmaldadoesn"tdarerolltheotherapple."
DaffydcaughttheunarticulatedramificationsofSally"sthinking.
PartofAmalda"sreluctancetoadmitRoznine"sattractivenesstoherstemmedfromafearoflosingBruceVaden,towhomshewasequallyattractedbutfordifferentreasons.
"She"snotonetodroptheboneshe"sgotinhermouthfortheonesheseesinthewater,"Sallysaid.
"Nowit"sfables?"
"Whynot?Youaddedmythstomyfairytalessoit"smyshot."
"Thatonlyleavesmeproverbs."
"So?"