Tirlagrinned.SoMamahadabigheadthismorning,causedbythevodkashehadmadefromthepotatoesTirlahadnickedforher..Inthatstate,shewouldbeeasytowheedleoutofacredit.
"It"sTirla,andthePublicHealtharealreadyontheConcourse."
"Bojemoi!Etotak?HaveInotenoughpaininmylife?"b.u.t.thedoorwaspushedopenwideenoughforTirlatoslipinside."Whathaveyousaid?ThePublicHealthagain?Sosoon?Why?"
"Anothervaccinationbythelooksofit.They"regrabbingeveryone,ablebodies,students,handiesandtheirmothers."
"Ah,wemusthurry.Elpidia,Zaveta..."MamaBobchikbeganrecitingthenamesofherusualmaternitypatients.
Tirlatuggedherarm.
"Nu,whatdoyouwantfromme?"
"IcannothelpunlessIhavecleanissue,"Tirlasaid,managingtolookpiteousandsoundefficientatthesametime.
Burilhadfixedtheclothingissueslotinhismother"ssquatsothat.i.tcouldbecoaxedtoextrudemorethanitought.HistakingwayshadbeenveryusefuluntilYa.s.simTirlamadethewardingsignatjustthethoughtofthatmanhadpaidMamaahugesumforhim.Buril"sunusualtalentfor"fixing"officialequipmentmadehimquitevaluablehehadnotgonetheusualrouteofYa.s.sim"spurchases,andMamahadbeenpaidenoughfloaterstokeephercomfortableinheroldage.
MamaBobchikblinkedherreddenedandblearyeyesandlookedatthetinygirl."Da,thatisso!"ShepattedTirla"sheadbeforeshewenttotheclothingslotanddidsomethingthatherheavyframeobscuredfromthegirl"ssight.Whensheturnedback,shehadapacketinherhand.
"Iwashedthismorning,"Tirlasaid,immediatelyunfasteningandsteppingoutoftheoldsuit.Shehadtorollupthesleevesandlegsofthefreshissue,butwhenshehadneatlyfoldedeachrolloverwristandankleandpressedtheedgestosealthem,sleeveandlegblousedoutnicelytogiveherapparelmorestyle.Sheretiedtheprettybraidedropebeltthatshehadinheritedfromhermotherandtuckedtheexcessmaterialneatlyback."Now,I"lltellMirdaKhan,dothislevel,andthenupanddown.That"llbeallIthinkIhavetimefor.
What"llIdoforanID?They"llgrabmeifmywrist"sbare."
WhatTirlawantedmostinherlifewasagenuine,validIDbraceletthatwouldallowherasquatright,theuseofatrid,threemealsaday,andafreshweeklyissueofclothing.AnIDthatwasallherownandhadneverbeenanyoneelse"s!Onethatwouldallowherintotheschoolprogramsthatsofewofthekidssheknewseemedtocareaboutatall.
Nowshec.o.c.kedherheadatMamaBobchik,knowingperfectlywellthatanIDwasessentialwhenthePHOswereswarmingtheLinear.MamaBobchikpretendedtoconsider,givingTirlajustafewmomentsofanxiety.
"Etotak!ForPHOs,weuseone."Withaflounceofherskirts,forMamawouldnotwearthesinglepiececoverallwithoutproperskirtstoconcealherlimbs,sheturnedherbackonTirlaagain.NomatterhowhardTirlalistened,shecouldnottellwhereMamasecretedthosepreciouscounterfeitIdsthatBurilhadalsocontrived.Theyweregoodforoneday"suseonlyoneday,becausewhilethebandwouldbeacceptedbyaportablereadersuchasthePHOwouldhavetorecordvaccinations,itwouldshowupasafraudlater,whentheday"sentrieswerechecked.
MamaBobchikturnedaround,danglingthepreciousIDband."Yousplitthetakeforthewarningwithme.Asusual."
Tirlanoddedsolemnagreementtotheterms,hereyeswatchingtheswingoftheband.
"Andifyoucanstealenoughvaccine,Iwillgiveyouthirtypercentofthattake,"Mamaadded.
Tirlagaveanincreduloussnort."Sixty.Icouldgetcaughtstealing."
"Forty,then.Noonehascaughtyouyet.Afterall,IgaveyoutheIDatnocosttoyouandhavetheexpenseofthespraygun."
"Fortyfive!"
Thetwohagglerseyedeachother,andthenMama"sbroadfacebeameddownatTirla"sunyieldingexpression.ShespitinherpalmandengulfedTirla"sdelicatehandinherowntosealthearrangement.
"Youareacleverone.Youmusthurrynow."
Thegirlwasalreadyslippingthroughthehalfopeneddooranddownthehalltospreadthewarning.
Despiteherspeed,TirlabarelyfinishedherroutebeforethePHofficersbegantopenetratethelevels,checkingtheIdsofeachsquat"soccupantsandherdingthemoutanddowntolineupfortheirhypospray.Shesoonlearnedthatthehealththreatwasnota"muneplaguebutavirulentintestinaldiseasethathadstartedinLinearBwithdevastatingresults.AllLinearswerebeingvaccinatedinanattempttostemthespreadoftheailment.ThePHpublicaddresssystemdronedonconstantlygivingashortexplanationinallthelanguagesregisteredinLinearG;Tirladidsomerapidtranslationsofherownwhenrequestedbynervousmothers.
"It"sonlyanotherfoodcontamination,"shea.s.suredtheskeptical.
"They"veisolatedthesource,whohavebeenheavilyfinedandlosttheirlicense."
"Huh!"MirdaKhansaid,herdarkeyesglisteningwithskepticism.
"Thatwillbegoneaslongasittakestosendinenoughcredittoreissueit.Howlongwilltheprotectionlastus?"
"Oh,thisone"lldousforayear!"
"Ayear?Theyareimproving."
Trudgingforwardstepbystepinthelongline,TirlaandMamaBobchikfinallyreachedthePH,droppedtheirwristsacrossthereader,andreceivedtheirshots.ImmediatelyMamapretendedtobecomefaintandstaggeredagainstthetable.WhilethePHwomanwascopingwiththat,TirlasweptanentiretrayofthevaccineampoulesintotheshoppingsackMirdaKhanhadreadya.s.she,too,cametoMama"sa.s.sistance.
"Okh,kakbolitgolova!"Mamasaidinanappropriatelywispytone,thebackofherfathandagainstherhead.Thepaininhervoicewasnotentirelyfaked,consideringthehangoverheadache.
"What"sshesaying?"thePHofficerasked,hoveringbetweenconcernandannoyance.
"Herheadhurts,"Tirlareplied.
"Notfromthisinjection,"wasthecallousresponseofthePHer."Nowmovealong!"
SolicitouslyMirdaKhanandTirlaproppedupMamaBobchika.s.shemadeherwayslowlytowardthenearestsideaisle.Oncesafelyoutofsight,MamaimmediatelyreachedforMirda"ssackandpeeredinsideit.
"Onewholetray?Miraculous,Tirla,trulymiraculous.Therearemorethanenough.Runaheadandtellthemtocomeinsmallgroups.ThePHOshavealreadycheckedourthreelevels.Itwillbesafe."
Inthecourseofhererrands,TirlatriedherIDbraceletonasmanypublicdispensersa.s.shepa.s.sed,nomatterwhatcommodityemergedfromtheslot.Shetuckedeachpurloineditemintotheextramaterialatthebackofhercoverall,orintoasleeveoratrouserleg.Itbecamehardertomovequickly,butshemanaged.Byevening,shehadenoughsmallfloatersandillegallyacquireditemstokeepherwellfedandcontentforthenextmonth.Ifshestretchedabit,itmightevenbesixweeksbeforesheneedbotheraboutworkingagain.
Chapter2.
"Therewasnoauraofmenaceorthreat,"RhyssaOwentoldSaschaRoznineashestoodglaringdownather.Toreducehisthreateningglowertoamoreproductive,thoughtfulmood,shetouchedhisarm,reinforcingherstatementwithamentalSee?Curiosity.Animpingement,notathreat.
Saschasubsided,buthecontinuedtoglareatthegraphrecordingofRhyssa"searlymorningsleeppattern,wherethewideblackmarkofthespokeshowedthatshehadbeenrousedfromanREMdreamsequencetofullalertnessbyamentalintruder.
AsthedirectoroftheCenterforParapsychicTalentsontheNorthAmericanEastCoast,RhyssaOwenlivedonwhathadbeentheHennerestate,areserveoftrees,lawn,andmaturegardensabovetheHudsonRiveronthePalisades.ThisarchaicremainderofthetwentiethcenturyresidentialsuburbsinterruptedtheflowofLinearstructuresthathousedthemillionswholivedandworkedinthema.s.siveJerhattancomplex.Rhyssa"squarterswereundistinguishedfromanyoftheotherthreestoryapartmentblockssetamongthegardensandtrees.
AswithalldwellingsfortheTalented,theseweresecuredandshieldedfromunannouncedentry.Infact,eventhosewhotenantedtheLinearconstructionsrunningonthelongsidesoftheCenter"s.e.xtensivegroundsdidnotknowofits.e.xistence,soartfulwereitsscreens.NooneshouldhavebeenabletointrudeonRhyssa,muchlessinhersleep.
"Awkward,rousingyousothoroughly.Youneedalltherestyoucanget."SaschaprojectedavisionofhimselfandRhyssacurledtogetherinherbed,thedoublethickduvettuckedaroundtheirspoonedbodies.
Yes,yes,Rhyssareplied.SherespondedwithavisionofafirmfootpushingtheSaschabodyoutofthebed.Butevenifyouhadbeentherephysically,youcouldn"t"vehelped,Saschabear.Itwasallinmymind,inmydreams.Andthat"syourduvet,notmine.Ineveruseplaids.
Rhyssasmiledupathim,flutteringhereyelashestomockhisprojection.Heraisedhisbrowsinresignation.Theybothenjoyedthisgame.Theyhadbeenplayingitforyears.
Picky,picky.Don"tavoidtheissue,Saschasaid."Who,I"dliketoknow,couldknockinonyourmind?Andwhy?"
"Indeed!"RhyssacrossedherarmsandstaredoffintoaviewoftheloweringcloudsanddismalrainthatobscuredausuallybreathtakingviewofJerhattan.That"swhatperplexesme.
Don"trange,Streaky.Sendingyourmindoutsearchingforhimtakestoomuchoutofyou.You"regoingtoneedallyourenergytodealwiththeZealots.HeprojectedthevisionofthreepersonswithlimbssoentangledtheyresembledanOrientalfetish,eachcaricaturedfacewearinganexpressionofmixedintransigenceandskepticism.
Oh,don"t!Shelaughedasherreturnimageuntangledarmsandlegsandseteachpersonupright,awhiskbroomsmoothingtunicandtrouserswhileemblemsofrankwerestraightened.Ican"trememberthatwhenIhavetodealsoberlywiththeirurgentrequestsforTalentsIdon"thave.They"relaughableenoughasitis.
"Good.That"salltheydeserve.ShallIhaveSirikitcheckbackandseewhenthisphenomenonfirstregistered?"Sheerimpudence!Saschasnortedhisannoyance.
"That"sanidea."Rhyssasmiledruefullya.s.shepulledclothesfromdrawerandcloset.Shecontinuedtotalka.s.shedressedinthebathroom."Ionlythoughtofcheckingmygraphthismorning.Ireallydoneedmysleep."
"ProbablysomeemergentTalentwhodoesn"tunderstandprotocol.Idowishtheydidn"talwaysfeelrequiredtooverreacttotheirnewfoundmindpowers."
"d.a.m.nedstrongone!"Maliciously,RhyssaprojectedanimageofaveryyoungMadlynLuvaro,mouthwideopen,andthecircleofpeoplecringingawayfromthewavesofsoundemanatingfromher.
Saschagrimaced.MadlynLuvarohadamentalshoutthatcouldpenetratetothes.p.a.cestationandanyofitsperipheraldockyards.IthadbeenSascha"stask,ashewasnominallyinchargeofTrainingandDevelopment,toteachherhowtofocusandmoderatehermentalvoice.
Madlynadoredhimpa.s.sionatelyandwasembarra.s.singlypossessiveofhim,anadulationhewasfindingincreasinglydifficulttodiscount.i.twasthereasonthathea.s.siduouslycultivatedthenotionthatheandRhyssawereonthebrinkofatotalpartnership.Kindly,Rhyssadidnotdisclaimtherumor.
"I"llhaveSirikitrunacheckonpossibleemergents,"hetoldher,thensenttherequesttoSirikitintheControlRoom,alsoaskinghertocheckRhyssa"sencephalographchartsforthepreviousmonths.
Emergingwashedanddressed,RhyssabeckonedSaschatofollowherthroughtoheroffice,whichadjoinedherlivingsuite.Sheyawneda.s.shesatdownatherdesk,kineticallypullingsomepencilfilesintoherreach,fanningthemout,andturningeachuntiltheindexcodesidewasvisible.Sheselectedtheoneshewantedandneatlypiledtheothersinfrontofher,codesideoutward,asherfirstselectioninserteditselfinthereplyslot.Simultaneouslythereadernetcameoffitshookandsettledlightlyonherhead.Withonefinger,shepokedtheleftcontactpadagainsthertempleinafinaladjustment.
"Wewon"tfindhimthere,"shesaid,andwasa.s.startleda.s.saschawasthatsheusedagender."Well,IknowatriflemorethanIthoughtIdidfromthatfleetingnudge."
"Asecretlover?"
"Couldbe,"Rhyssamurmured,projectinganimageofaslygrinandacomehitherexpressiondirectedatanamorphousshadow.Althoughhertonewaslight,Saschaperceivedthathersurpriseatmakinganykindofanidentificationwentdeep.
"I"llfollowthrough,"Saschasaid,andleftheroffice.Ashetooktheantigravshaftdownfromhertowertothevastbas.e.m.e.ntcomplexwheremostoftheCenter"strainingandresearchwasconducted,hecarriedwithhimavividmentalpictureofRhyssaOwenatherdesk,thereadernetcoveringherblackhair,aspiderwebbingacrossthewidesilverlockthatshehadhadsinceherearlyteens.Thatstreakgrewbroadereveryyear,andbyherlatethirtiesherhairwouldbeallCelticsilver.Rhyssawouldalwayshaveayoungface,Saschathought,asbothherfatherandherill.u.s.triousgrandfather,DaffydopOwen,hadhad:young,vibrant,withdarkblueeyesthatsparkledandgleamedwithintelligence,humor,anduna.s.sailableenergy.Rhyssawasnearlyastallasthemalesinherfamilyandashadetoothin,sheclothedherlongbonesinelegant,ifoftenbizarrestyles:generallylongflowinggarmentsthatsetheroffinasocietywhichhadstrippedappareltotheminimum.
Shewasnotprettyherfeatures,thoughsmall,weretoounevenandmismatched,herrighteyesocketcantedabovethecheekbone,givingheragamineexpressionthatnoonewhoknewherwouldmisjudge.Hernosehadaslightb.u.mp,makingherprofilelookhaughty,andhermouthwastoogenerousaboveastrongjawline.Still,oneforgotsuchdetailswithinmomentsofmeetingher.Shehadinheritedthefullmeasureofcharismaticpersonality,aswellasthestrongpsionictalents,ofherparentsandofthegrandfatherwhohadbattledtosecurethepositionofTalentsinthepresentsocioeconomicpoliticalatmosphere.
SaschaRoznine,himselfathirdgenerationTalentandyoungerthanRhyssabythreemonths,preferredhiscurrentroleaschieftrainerandrecruiterintheCenter.NotforhimthepettypowerploysthatRhyssacopedwithadmirably,forhehadstruggledallhislifetomanageaquixotictemper.ThenerverackingsessionswithJerhattan"smanagersandallthepicayunedetailsshehadtodealwithwouldhavesethimraginginfiveminutes.Sascha,ontheotherhand,hadimmensepatiencewithemergentTalents,coaxing,cosseting,andcurbing,gentlyallayingtheirdoubtsandbuildingtheirconfidence.WhenRhyssahadoncepointedoutthat,intheirownway,emergentTalentswereasobnoxiousasmanagers,SaschahadrepliedthatatleastTalentslearnedfromtheirmistakes.
ThereweresomanystrengthsandvarietiesofTalent.Oftheprecogs,therewerethosewhocouldforeseeevents,generallythosewhichwouldhaveamajoreffectonalargenumberofotherpeople;thosewhosepresciencewaslimitedtopeopletheykneworwerea.s.signedtowatch;andthosewhoseprecognitionshadaffinitieswithfire,water,malesorfemales,childrentherewasaswideana.s.sortmentoffocuspointsastherewerestrengthsofperception.
TelepathywasthemostcommonTalent,thoughsomepeoplecouldonlyreceivethought,andothersonlysendit.Telempathsfeltemotionsandrespondedtothepervadingones.Atrainedtelempathcouldeitherdampennegativeaurasorreinforcepositiveones,aTalentusefulforalteringthetensioninacrowd,preventingrampagingemotionsfromturninggroupsofpeopleintodisorderlymobs.
FinderswerethoseTalentswhocouldlocatethings,usingonlyafacsimileofthedesireditem,or,inthecaseofamissinghumanoranimal,agarmentorsomeotherpersonalobject.
Telekineticscouldworkonthelargestobjects,orthemostminuteparticlesthatcouldnotbeseenwiththenakedeyeorevenamicroscope,thoughtherehadonlybeenoneknowngeneticmanipulator,RuthHorvath.TelekineticswereinvaluableinsomanywalksoflifethatthosewiththisTalentwereencouragedtohaveasmanychildrenaspossible.
TherarestoftheTalentswerethepureanddoubletelepathslikeRhyssa,whocouldsendandreceivecommunicationsacrosstheworldaslonga.s.shehadmetthepersonshewishedtocontactShecouldpenetrateanymindnotshieldedbythethinmetalcapsthenervousworeorbythenaturalmentalshieldthatsomenormalpeoplewerebornwith.
Sascha,alsoastrongdoubletelepath,lackedthephenomenalrangethatRhyssapossessed,butheneverresentedherforitOnceherstrengthhadbeenestablishedbyhergrandfather,RhyssahadbeencommittedtoaCenterdirectorshipandallitsresponsibilitiesresponsibilitiesthatSaschawouldneverwanttotakeon.Asfarashewasconcerned,RhyssawaswelcometoherTalentHeheardMadlynLuvarobeforehelandedontheshaftcushionatthebas.e.m.e.ntlevel.Shewastryingtobequiet,butshewasa.s.successfulasifshehadbeentapdancingacrossasoundresonantsurface.
Untilyoulearntodampdownyouraura,itwon"twork,Madlyn,hetoldher.Improperflow!Lowpositiveenergyiswhatyouneedtobe"silent."
Dammit,Ithoughtthat"swhatIhad!Hermentalresponsewascontritelydiscouraged.
Saschapushedoutoftheshaftandthereshewas,flattenedagainstthewall.
"Idid"hear"youcoming,"shesaidaloud.
Sasha:Giantstepforward!Madlynwasapowerfulsender,butgenerallyshecould"hear"onlythoseinherimmediatevicinity.
Hetuggedastrandofhertangledmaneofblackhairashepa.s.sed,andshefellintostepbehindhim,herlargeandexpressiveeyesrueful.
Madlynwasavoluptuouseighteenyearoldwithasensualnaturetomatchherappearance.She,andherTalent,hadmaturedatfourteen,andsincethenSaschahadbeenstrugglingtoteachherthenecessarydisciplinethatanyTalenthadtomaster,andthatshewouldcertainlyrequirebeforeherpenetratingmentalshoutcouldbeutilized.
Sirikit"salreadycheckingRhyssa"sGooseggreadings.Saschahadnottriedtodampenhisimmediateconcern.Withsomanytelepathsawareofthealarm,keepingtheinvestigationunderwrapshadbeenimpossible.
SomeoneactuallyintrudedonRhyssa?Madlynprojectedanimageofherselfthrottlingalarge,amorphousintruderandsquashingitintoalittleballwhichshethenflusheddownthetoilet.
Saschasnorted.MadlynwasquitecapableofattackinganythingthatthreatenedRhyssa.WhointheCenterwasn"t?
TheyfoundSirikitalreadyscanningRhyssa"sGooseggencephalographsforthepreviousmonth.Severalwerepausedatthespokingthatindicatedintrusivewakenings.TheGoosegg,initiallydevelopedtomonitortheoddlightflashes.e.xperiencedbyastronauts,wasespeciallysensitiveinregisteringdeltabrainwaves,whichhadbeendiscoveredtobetheseatofparanormalorextrasensoryperceptions.ATalent,trainedtorecognizehisorherownslightmentalalterationpriortoparanormalactivity,slippedonanetthatcouldreadbrainactivity.
ManyTalents,particularlytheprecognitivesandclairvoyants,worethemnightandday.Theywerelightweight,ofastrongfinemeshmatchingthewearer"shaircolor.ThenettransmittedtotheCenter"smainbanks,sothatIncidentsofparanormalactivitycouldbeofficiallyrecorded,studied,andconsulted.Itwasproofpositivetoanyskepticsthattheextrasensoryperceptionsdidoccur.
"LookatRhyssa"srecordings,Sascha.There"snoquestionthattheIncidentshavebeenincreasing,"Sirikitsaida.s.saschastrodetothebankofhorizontalspindlesusedinsuchcomparisons."Firstonethreeweeksago,secondfourdayslater,thenthree,andthispastweekonceanightaboutfourish."
Sasha:Oddtimeforavoyeur!
Sirikit:Withthreequartersofthepopulationasleepinbed.
Madlyn:Insomniac?
Saschasmiled,fornotonlywashermentaltoneappropriatelysoftbutshehadcaughtthequickexchanges.
Sasha:Anadolescentgenerallyhastobepriedfromhissleep.Rhyssathinksit"sanemergentTalent.
Madlyn:YoukeeptellingmethatemergentTalentsfollownorule.
"Anystatisticsoninsomniacs?"Sirikitasked.
"I"llprogramit,"Madlynsaid,flippingherhairbacka.s.sheseatedherselfatamonitor,keyingindirectoriesthatcouldaccessanycomputerbankintheworldunderthespecialconcessionsgrantedtheCenters.Shewasclearedfornormaluse,althoughpa.s.swordswereneededforanysensitivefiles.Madlynmighthavebeenblatantinhers.e.xuality,buthermind,opentoinspectionatalltimes,wasastransparentlyguilelessasachild"s."Well,thiswon"tbeproductive.
Anyonecanhaveinsomniacphases.Anxietyisthebiggestcause.
Therearesomepeople,theelderlyinparticular,whocangetalongononlyfourhoursofsleepanight!"Hermentalpicturewasofahorrifiedgrimacesuperimposedonatossingbodyinarumpledbed.
"I"mwreckedwithouteighthours!"
Sirikitleanedbackfromthespools,whichhadallpausedtodisplaythetelltalespokeofintrusion.
Sirikit:Threethirtytofour,predawn,tooearlyformostshiftworkers,evenairandroadhaulers.