Gordie"sworkingonit!Rhyssadidnotbothertolightenthegrimnessshefelt.
DaveLehardtswungintoRhyssa"stowerofficeattheHennerestatewithinanhouroftheTalents"reluctantacceptanceoftheinevitable.
"MyG.o.d,doyouhavewings?"RhyssacommentedastheenergeticLehardtshookherhand.Hewasafulltwometerstall,athleticinbuild,andheemanatedacompetenceandgenialitythatcouldonlycomefromasecure,welladjustedpersonality.Hewashandsomeenough,withmidbrownhair,blueeyes,andregularbutnotremarkablefeatures,andhedressedwithconservativeelegance.
"Notwings!Vanes!Morereliable,"hesaidwithacharminggrin.
Hebegansortingthroughthepapersinhisattachecase."Gordiesaiditwasurgent,andIwatchthenews."Hestoppedwhenhenoticedherbaffledexpression."What"sthematter?DidIbreakoutinspots?"
"No,butyouhaven"tanounceofTalent,andyououghtto."
"Why?"DaveLehardtshrugged."I"veneverneededit.Astutestudentofhumanpsychologyandkeen.o.bserverofbodylanguage."
Healsohadanimpenetrablenaturalshield.Withallherskill,shecouldnotreadhismind.
"Now,"hesaid,haulingasparechairupbesidehersandspreadingouthardcopyofadvertis.e.m.e.ntsandgraphics,"wegetintherebeforeBarchenkaeventhinksofcrowingintriumph,sothepublicwillseethatTalentsaregraciouslymobilizingallavailablepersonneltobesurePadrugoiPlatformisfinishedonschedulewithphrasesthatimplyshecan"tmakeitonherownwithoutTalentedhelp."
"That"strueenough,"Rhyssasaidgrimly.
"Ah,b.u.t.therearewaysandwaysofsayingthesamething,"DaveLehardtsaidwithatrulymalicioussmile."ItangledbrieflywiththeBarchenkaStonewallforanotherclient,andbelieveme,I"monyourside!"
Rhyssasmiledtoherself.DaveLehardtdidhavesomethinglikeaTalentaselfconfidencethatradiatedfromhimlikeanaura.Shehadnevermetsomeonelikehimbefore:someonewhos.e.m.e.ntalityshecouldnotdelveinto,howeverdiscreetly.Itwasanewexperience,andshefoundherselfwatchinghis.e.xpressiveface,notingthewayhishandsemphasizedpointsandhowheoccasionallyaddedashouldermovementthatreinforcedwhathesaid.Healsokeptglancingather,meetinghereyesasfewnonTalentswould.ClearlyhewasnottheleastbitinaweofbeinginthepresenceofoneofthetoptelepathicTalents.
Oblivioustoherreactions,hewenton."I"vebeenyearningtoscoreonourgracious"Milla."Aflickerofsomequicklysuppressedemotionshotacrosshisface,butRhyssacouldnotdecipherit."AlloutTalenta.s.sistance,evenattheexpenseoflongestablishedlinkswiththepublicsector,atconsiderablepersonalsacrifice"Milladoesn"tpaythegoingrates,sincehersisaprioritycontractandhasworldwidebacking."
"Shewillnotbelievethatmoneyisnotaconsideration..."
"Areyouawareofthesizeofherbonusifshegetsthestationfullyoperationalontime?"
Rhyssagrinned."OneofthebestkeptsecretsoftheTalents.Wealsoknowthepercentageshehastocoughupifshedoesn"t."
"Youarewellinformed!"Hepausedwithahopefulexpressionandthensigheda.s.shemerelysmiled."No,Ididn"tthinkyou"dtellme."Hesnaggedthecornerof.a.graphicsheetfromthepileandspreaditout.
"Toaddressyourtwopoints:sixhourshiftsandshieldingveryalliterative.I"mgoingtobeabletousethatasaslogan,youknow...Haveyoudemonstratedtheproblem?"
"Howdoyoumean"demonstrated"?"
"Timeandmotionstudies,energyexpendituresthatsortofrecordabledata.Remember,I"veseenyourkineticsinaction,butIdoubtthatLudmillaorevenPerDuomlhavetakenthetroubletowatchthemwork.
They"vebeentoobusyb.i.t.c.hingaboutweightlessnessandthesilenceofs.p.a.cetoappreciatetheeffortkinesisactuallytakes.Ithoughtyoumightnothavethoughtofthatgimmick.SoIhadachatwithaTalentIknowwhowasupontheplatform,andhegavemesomeremarkableinsightsintotheactualshiftmechanics.Theday"smaterielwasproperlyorganized,thekineticcouldputeverythinginplaceforthegruntstolockonandweld.
"Then,thenoiseelement.Samjanransomeofthe"noises"pastme"Hegrimacedandcrossedhiseyesinsympathy."andIthinkifwedidatapesimulationofwhatasensitivehearsinunshieldedquartersandplayeditback..."
"NottoLudmilla.Sheinsiststhereisnonoiseins.p.a.ce."
"She"smoreofaMutethanIam."
"But.i.takeyourpoint.Ihadn"tthoughtofatricklikethat."
"Notrick,mydear,justpresentationandthat"swhereI"mtheexpert."
Hisgrinwasamixtureofimpudenceandmalice.
ForthefirsttimeinherTalentedlife,RhyssafoundherselffascinatedbyaMute,andhalfofthatfascinationwasduetothefactthatshecouldnotpredictwhathewoulddoorsaynext.Itwasfunmatchingwitswithhimduringsubsequentinterviews,givingtheoneroustaskanunexpectedexhilaration.
DaveLehardtwasathersidefortheinitialmeetingwithaBarchenkawhooozedsmugsatisfactionthatshemadenoattempttodisguise.
Rhyssawashardputtoremaincivil.DaveLehardttalkedsofastthattheengineerhadtolistenattentivelytocatchhispoints.PerDuomlwas,asusual,withher,butRhyssahadbeensparedanotherconfrontationwithPrincePhanibal.
"Allwehavehadistalk,emptytalk,"LudmillaBarchenkasaidwhenDavehadexplainedthedualproblemsofshortshiftsandshielding.
"Eventhephysicallyimpairedareabletoworkpropershiftsins.p.a.ce:nogravity,nosound!"SheshotanaccusatorylookatRhyssa.
"Ah,but.i.tisnotgravitywhichisaproblem,northevacuum.
LudmillaIvanova,Ihavearrangedademonstration..."
"Ihavenotimefordemonstrations,"theExaltedEngineerstateddismissively."Imustreturntotheplatform.Alreadytherearedelayswhichmustberectified."
"Understood,EngineerBarchenka,"Davesaidsoothingly,withjusttherightamountofrespectandunderstanding."PerhapsPerDuomlwillattend.Thisdemonstrationislikelytoputthebasicproblemsintoproperperspective,andthushelpusallresolvethemainproblemswiththemaximumbenefittoyourproject."
Duomlwouldbemucheasiertodealwithhismindwasnottotallyclosed,althoughhewasasdedicatedtotheprojectasBarchenka.Iftheycouldprovetheirpointstohim,theywouldbehalfwaytovictory.
"Ithinkshe"sdisappointedshedidn"thavetoinvokethatwretchedstatute,"RhyssatoldSaschalater.
"D"youthinkwegaveintooeasily?"heasked."ThenewsquotesBarchenkacallingitthe"cowardlycapitulationoftheeffete."""Lether.IfwecanjustswingDuomltoourside."Rhyssafrowned."Idon"tseewhatelsewecouldhavedone.DaveLehardtisrunningpublicopinionpolls.Onepointisclear:EveryonewantsPadrugoitobefinished,everyonewantssomeoneelsetoworkupthere,andeveryonethinkspeoplewhovolunteerforanythingarecrazy."
Thenextday,DaveLehardtandRhyssaOwentookPersonnelManagerPerDuomltothemostprestigious.e.xercisecomplexinJerhattan,afacilitythatoccupiedthefirstninefloorsofaResidentialzigguratnearCentralPark.Thelargestgymnasiumwa.s.setupwiththreesetsofstressmonitoringparaphernaliaandtechnicians,threepyramidsofstandardsizepackages,aforklift,abevyofimpartialobservers,andtheComplexdirector,MenasheratibnMalik,whohadbeenamultipleOlympicgoldmedalistforfourtimesrunning.
PerDuomlwa.s.suitablyimpressedbyibnMalik.SowasRhyssa,forthemanexudedphysicalvitalityandcompetence.HealsohadnomoreTalentthanDaveLehardt,whoappearedwellacquaintedwithhim.Davestoodby,aslightsmileonhisface,whileibnMalikacceptedPerDuoml"shomageandconversedamiablywithhim.
"Now,ManagerDuoml,"theComplexdirectorsaid,gesturingtothethreemenwhoenteredfromtheside.Strippeddowntotheirshorts,theywereallfestoonedwithwires,whichwereinturnhookeduptothemachines."LetmeintroduceyoutoPavelKorl,bronzemedalistinheavyweightboxing;ChasHuntley,aforkliftoperatorwithInternationalCanning;andRickHobson,thekinetic."
RhyssawasalmostasbemusedasPerDuomlasibnMalikmadetheintroductions.KorlandHuntleywerebigmen,toweringoverDuomlandcertainlymakingRickHobson,whowasaverageinheightandbuild,lookinsignificant.
"Now,ifyouwouldcaretocheckthemovablesineachpile,ManagerDuoml,toa.s.sureyourselfthattheyareequalinweight..."
Duomlcomplied,anditwasclearthathehadtostruggletoliftanyofthem.
"Thenonceourguineapigs"wiresaredoublechecked,wecanstartthetestwhichisrathersimple.Bymuscle,bymachine,andbymind,oursubjectswilltransfertheirpilesacrossthefloor.Theenergylevelsrequired,thestressfactors,andcaloriesconsumedwillbedisplayedonthemonitors.Now,"ibnMaliksaid,movingtothebigscreensetinthewallforuseatsportingevents,"onPadrugoi,threemenwillbedoingexactlythesameinQhangar."Hespokeintohiscollarmike.
"Ifyou"rereadyupatPadrugoi?"Thebigscreenlitupwithascenenotdissimilartotheonearoundthem,exceptthatallthemenwores.p.a.cesuits."Ins.p.a.ce,ourhandshifterisJesusManrique,thelifterisoperatedbyGinnyStanley,andthekineticisKevinClark.Areyouallready?Onyourmarks"Thegoldmedalistraisedhisarm."Getsetgo!"Hisarmcamedown,andtheactivityonthegymfloorandin(_hangarcommenced."Thistestwilllastanhour,"heinformedPerDuoml,gesturingfortheobserverstotakeseatstooneside.
Afterthefirstfewminutes,PerDuomlstoppedwatchingtheburlyfigureofKorlmanhandlingthepackagesdownthefloor,orHuntleyzippingbackandforthontheloader.HekepthiseyeseitheronRick,whohadseatedhimselfatatableand,withnovisibleeffort,keptasteadystreamofpackagesflowing,orontheplatformkinetic,whowasdoinghisworkwhileleaningagainstastanchion.OccasionallyDuomlflickedalookatthemonitorschatteringouttheirhardcopy.
BothTalentsworkedtheirwaythroughtheirpilesinhalfthetimeittooktheothers.Theinstrumentationprovedthattheyhadexpendedhalf.a.gainasmuchenergyanduseduptwiceasmanycalories.
Whenthetesthadbeencompleted,DaveLehardtstrippedthehardcopysheetsfromallsixprinters.Neatlyfoldingthem,hehandedth.e.s.h.eaftoPerDuoml,whotookitwithoutaword.Thetestsubjectswereallthankedandleftthegym,RickHobsonthrowingRhyssaanimpudentwinkashewalkedby.
"Youwill,ofcourse,wishtoa.n.a.lyzetheresultsofthistestwithyourownmotionexperts,ManagerDuoml,"DaveLehardtsaid,"butI"msureyourecognizedthefactthatweightlessnessgrantsn.o.bonusestothekinetic.Astothenoisefactor..."Thepublicisttookacompactrecorderfromhishippocketandthumbediton.
Atthebabelandsqueaksandmetallicgroans,PerDuomlcoveredhisearsindefenseandstaredinshockatRhyssa.
"Thatiswhatasensitive"hears"onthestation,"Davesaid,raisinghisvoiceandinsertinghiswordsinbetweentheworstofthenoise.
Itwasafairselection,representingthestreamsofconsciousnessofeightymentalities:resentments,complaints,shouts,pains,angers,andmyriadmetallicnoisesthatsomeofthekineticsendured."Withtenthousandpeoplelivinguptherealready,thementalnoiseisneverending.Soallthatgarbageisaconstantsecondarydrainontheirnerves,reducingtheirefficiencyiftheyhavenorespitefromitinshieldedquarters."
Havingsetthedecibelrateherself,RhyssaknewthatcoveringhisearsgaveDuomlfrailprotection,butshedidnotreducethevolumeuntilDavehadfinishedhislittlespeech.
"Iseethatyouhadn"trealizedjustwhatwemeantbynoise,"shesaidfinally."b.u.t.thecostofshieldingpersonnelquartersforthekineticsisgoingtobelessthanthecostofmateriellostordamagedduetotiredminds."
"Youhavemadeyourpoints,"PerDuomlsaidwithagrimexpression."IshallpresentthemtoLudmillaBarchenka."
"Presentthemandinsuretheirimplementation,PerDuoml,andyouwillhavethekinetica.s.sistanceyourequire.Oh,andoneotherminorpoint,"sheadded,smilingtotakethestingout."Barchenkaistorelayallorderstothekineticsthroughtheregularchannels.WewillhavenomoreofherroustingTalentsoutoftheirquartersatinappropriatehoursandinsistingon"extraduty"becauseherscheduleistwominutesoutofline!HaveImademyselfclearonthatpoint?"
Henodded,his.e.xpressionsolemn.
RhyssahopedhecouldconvinceBarchenka.
Chapter6.
"No,please!"PeterReidingercriedastheelectricianwasabouttodisconnectthetridintheward.Hiscrywasechoedbytheotherchildren.
"Look,kids,there"ssomekindoffreakydrainonthehospital"spowersupply,andwe"vefinallytracedittothisward.Igottafixit,orsomeofyoursupportsystemswillG.o.downwhentheyshouldn"t,"theelectriciansaidwithahintofexasperationinhistone.
"No,wait,please,"Petersaid."Theprogram"sallaboutthes.p.a.ceplatformandtheTalents."
"Huh?"Theelectriciantookabetterlookatthemonitor.
"It"llonlybeafewminutes!Justthenewscast!"Peterpleaded.
"Wal,Iguess""Shhhh,"Peterinterrupted,strainingtohearthecommentator.NotthathereallyneededthevoiceovertoidentifythesceneastheestateofthelateGeorgeHenner,oneoftheearliestsupportersoftheparapsychics.Asthecamerapannedacrossthetreesandlawns,theboywa.s.startledbytheplace"seeriefamiliarity.Thiswastheplacehehadsoughtaplaceoftranquilgreeneryandhugeoldtreesandvinecoveredbuildings.Theplacethathadscaredhimaway.
Andnowheknewwhy.Theywouldnotwanttohavetheirprecinctinvaded.Theyneededtheirprivacytodoallthewonderfulthingstheydid.LikehelptofinishthelastthreespokesofthePadrugoiPlatformsothatmankindcould,atlast,reachforthestars.
"It"snotonlytheTalentedwh.o.a.remakingasacrifice,"thecommentatorwenton,stillstandinginthatmarvelousoasis,"forIndustryandCommercehavegrantedleaveofabsencetotheirTalentedemployeestoa.s.sistwiththisfinalpushouttos.p.a.ce.PlatformManagerLudmillaBarchenkaannouncesthatthemostambitiousworldprojectyetundertakenwillbecompletedonschedule.AndnowtoothernewsintheJerhattandistrict..."
"Okay,mister,"Petersaid,relaxingagainsthisframe."That"swhatwewantedtosee."
"You"renotlookingforacareerins.p.a.ce,areyou?"theelectricianasked,halfteasing.Hewasalwaysalittlenervousaroundkidswhoweresobadlyinjured.
Peterc.o.c.kedhisheadathim."Whynot?Withnogravity,Iwouldn"tbestuckinthisframe,andapushofmytoeormylittlefinger"Hewaggledthetwoextremities,whichwere,aftermonthsoftherapy,allhecouldmove."Icouldfloatabout."
"Yeah,Iguessyoucould.Now,nurse,canIstartwiththisframe?"
theelectricianasked,gesturingtothemultipletaskingdevicethatgavePeterwhatindependencehehadinhiscondition.
"Yes,it"stimeforPeter"sbodybracesessionanyway,"SueRomerosaid.
"C"mon,Peter."
"Aw,doIhaveto?Couldn"tIwatchwhathedoes?"
"No,themomentforpositivethinkinghascome.Letmeseethatlimbicsystemsmileonyourface."
Peterhatedthebodybraceandthemorning"s"torturesession,"ashementallycategorizedthetherapy.Hefeltheavyintheframe,hisbodymorelifelessthanever."Butsee,Icanmovemybigtoeandmylittlefinger.Please..."
"Hey,whatthe?"theelectricianexclaimed.Thediagnosticreaderhehadjusthookeduphadunexpectedlyregisteredablip.
WhilePetergamelyconcentratedonhisbodybracedrills,theelectriciancheckedoutthebed"swiring,butexceptforthatonebriefblip,hecouldfindnoshort,nodysfunctioninanyofthecircuitry.
BythetimeanexhaustedPeterwasbackinhisbed,theelectricianhaddoneathoroughtestofallthespecializedtreatmentelectronicsintheward.Baffledbythecontinualsurgesontheward"scircuits,themanleftasmallmonitorattachedtotheonepieceofequipmentthathadregisteredanabnormality,slightthoughithadbeen,andleft.
PeterknewbyherfacethatSueRomerowasdisappointedinhim.Hedidtrytomakehisbodyrememberhowtomove.Theframesentelectricalimpulsesintohisatrophiedmuscles,thetheorybeingthatthelittlejoltswouldrestimulateneuralandmuscularactivity.Hehatedthatintrusionintohisbodyevenmorethanhehatedbeingparalyzed.
"Peter,ifyouwouldonlystopresistingthemechanism,"Suesaidreproachfully."Ifyouwouldonlygowithit,insteadofdenyingthehelpitcouldgiveyou.Youcould,youknow,evengettotheplatform.
Yourschoolworkwas.e.xcellentthere"dbenoproblemwiththeeducationalend..."Shetrailedoff,fightingherowndispiritedness.
Sometimeswiththeverybadlydamagedchildren,shefeltshewaspoundingatthewellknownimmovableobjectgenerally,asinPeter"scase,thechilditself.
Theboywas.e.xhausted,eyesclosed,armsandlegssprawledjustashehadbeenrolledoutofthebodybrace.SueRomerocouldnotaffordtopityhimitwasunprofessionalandhelpedneitheroftheminhisrehabilitationbutshedid.a.s.sheturnedaway,shethoughthewa.s.sleeping.ShewouldhavebeenamazedtolearnthathewasreviewingthatvisionoftheCenter,withitstreesandlawnsand...RhyssaOwen.
Thatnight,Rhyssawaswakeful,goingoverandoverthattelecast.Shehadfeltgoodabout.i.tduringfilming.DaveLehardthaddonehisjobwell.Theywould,ofcourse,havetowaituntilopinionshadbeensampled,butRhyssafeltthatBarchenkawascomingoutapoorsecondatthemoment,despiteherapparenttriumphatthecowardlycapitulationoftheeffeteTalents.RhyssafrettedthatshehadsomehowweakenedtheconsolidatedstrengthofTalentsandwonderedhowshecouldrectifywhatwa.s.still,inthemindsofmostTalented,anuntenablepositionwithBarchenkagettingherway.
Shefeltthenthegossamertouchenvious,yearning,wistfulandsoterriblysadthatasobcloggedherthroat.
Wait,littlefriend,shemurmuredinthesoftestoftones.
Saywhat?Withthevoicecamemixedimpressionsofstartlement,senseofapologydenialrejection,andanastringentsmell.Andthenthetouchtimorousandreluctantwasgone.
Rhyssatriedtofollow,hertouchfeathersoft,b.u.t.theretreathadbeentooswift,likeaflickerofshadowacrossthemoonlightoutsideherwindow.Shemadeaquicknoteofthetime:3:43.Thenshelaytheresavoringthattouch,examiningit,lettingherperceptiona.n.a.lyzeit.
Suchswiftnesssuggestedayoungmindnooldthoughtsorexperiencestoslowtheinstantaneityofaction.Aboyonaprank...Aboy?Doinganoutofbodymaneuver?Aboyinahospitalyes,ahospitalwouldaccountfortheastringentodorhismovementconstrainedsothatonlyhismindcouldtravel?
ThatfitthepiecestogethersoperfectlythatRhyssagotoutofbedandpacedovertotheconsole.
"Bud,IwantacallouttoallhospitalTalents,"shesaid,unabletokeeptheelationoutofhervoice.
"Thepeepercaughtyouagain?"
"That"sright.Anadolescentboy,quitelikelycrippledorparalyzed.