"So,that"sthewayit"llbe,huh?"
"Yes,ifyoureloquencedoesn"tfalterwithforeknowledge."
"Huh?How"sthat?"
"Youhavebeengivenaprescienceoftheimmediatefuture.Suchknowledgecould,initself,alterthecirc.u.mstancesofthefuture.Wedonotalwayshaveeitherthepersonnelortheforesighttomodifythefuture.Inyourcase,wemakeanexception.ALaboriteMajorityisnotagoodthingfortheTalented."
GovernorLawsonnoddedinappreciationofthatexpediency.
"Yourmanwillinterceptthebullet?"
Henrynodded.
"Andthenutwillbeputaway?That"sbetterthanleavinghimfreeforanothershot.Good!Howmanypoliticalfiguresdoesyourgroupprotect?"
"Thosewhoneedit.Andwe"dappreciateakindlywordfortheCenterwhenStevedivertsthatbullet."
Lawsonnoddedagreement."Thosewhoneedprotection?Orthosewhomyouneed,Darrow?No,don"tanswerthatone.Answerthis...willIwinthiselection?"
Henrysmiledslowly."Youknowtheanswertothatone,Governor,b.u.t.thefunliesinmakingcertainyou"veplayedthegameright."
"Howfardoyouguysplayfunandgames?"
"Justfarenough!"
"Now,Mr.Rambley,whatseemstobeyourproblem?"
"Notmyproblem,Mr.Darrow.Yours!"TheInternalRevenueDepartmentmansmiledathinsmugsmileandbegantopullIBMcardsfromhisneatfakepigcase.
"Really?"
"WehavehereWTformsfromtheDepartmentofLawEnforcementandOrder,fromJohnsHopkins,BethelGeneral,MidtownfromDupont,MerckPharmaceuticals...needIgoon?"
"Justasyouplease."
"ThesesalarychitsrepresenttheearningsofBarbaraHolland,t.i.tterBeyley,CharityMcGillicuddy,GilGracie,FrankNegelscoAugustusMolnar..."AgaintheIRDrepresentativeregardedHenryDarrowwithacuteexpressiononhisfleshlessface."Icouldcontinue..."
"Justasyouplease.Igiveeverygovernmentofficialthecourtesyduehisoffice."HenryinclinedhisheadtowardMr.Rambleywhoforthefirsttimesincehe"dmincedintoHenry"stinylair,lookednonplussed.
"Afterall,someofmybestpeopleareemployedbythegovernment."
Withanirritatedsigh,Rambleyclosedthestackofcardsandtappedtheminanadmonitoryfashiononthedesk.
"Comenow,Mr.Darrow.Thesepeople,"andhebrandishedthecards,"earntremendoussalariesandyetthereisnorecordofasingletaxdeduction,noreturns..."
"TheydonatetheirsalariesintotototheParapsychicCenter.Theyleasetheirservicescontractuallytothevariousemployers.TheParapsychicCenterfilesacorporateformtocoverthem.UnderCorporationLaw..."
"Nooneintheirrightmindswould..."Rambleybouncedontheendofhischairwithindignationanddisbelief.
"IneversaidanyoftheparapsychicTalentswereinarightmind.Infact,"Henrywentonwithgentleamus.e.m.e.nt,"thereiseveryreasontobelievethatthecoreoftheparapsychicis,ifanywhere,inthelefthandpartofthebrain."
"Mr.Darrow,"Mr.Rambleywasonhisfeet."Youdidsaythatyougavegovernmentofficialsthecourtesyduetheiroffice?"
"Yes,didn"tI?Consequently,you"rewastingtime,yourgovernment"sandmine,Mr.Rambley.TheindividualsrepresentedbythoseneatlyslottedcardsdodonatetheirtotalincometotheParapsychicCenter.
Ouraccountantwillbegladtoshowyoutheappropriaterecordsandcontractualagreements..."
"But...butIknowthatthatt.i.tterBeyleycreatureisdrivingafourpa.s.senger350horsepowervehicle!"SuchanincongruityshockedMr.Rambley.
"Yes,t.i.tter"salwayswantedtodriveabigone.ThecarbelongstotheCenter.Youcanchecktheregistrationpapers."
"Andthat...thatCharityMcGillicuddyhasablueranchminkcoat."
"Indeedshehas.SherequisitioneditfromStoresaboutfourmonthsago."
"Sherequisitioned...fromStores?"
"ShehasapositiontomaintainnowandherappearanceisofgreatconcerntotheLEOoffice.Thinkhowembarra.s.singitwouldbeforsomeoneemployedbytheLEOCommissiontobearrestedforwearingstolenfurs.Ofcourse,Charitysaysthatnowshecanbuy"eminsteadof"lifting""em,halfthefun"sgone.But.i.tgivesheragreatmoralboosttowearblueranchminkintheLEOBlock.Wetrytokeepourworkershappy."
RambleyhadstaredatHenryDarrowthroughthisingenuous.e.xplanationbuthisindignationrosewitheverygentlyspokenword.
"Thiswon"tbethelastyou"llhearfromme,Mr.Darrow.YoudonotmocktheInternalRevenueDepartment,Mr.Darrow."Heslammedthefilecardsintohiscase,handstremblingwithoutrageddignity.
"You"llhearfromus."
"That"sfinebyme.Justcallaheadforanappointment.OnlyconsiderthefactthatSenatorsMaxwell,Abrahams,MontelloandGratzapprovedourcorporatestructure."
Rambley"seyeswidened.
"Andthepresidentialadvisor,Mr.Killiney,actedasourfinanciala.s.sistant.Don"tyouhavehiscardinthatfile?"
Rambleyexited,reducedtomutterings.
"Doyouoftentrickyourwayintoaprivatehome,Mr.Darrow?"
"WhenI"vebeenunabletosecureanappointmentanyotherway,yes,Mr.Henner."Henrysmiledpleasantly,tryingnottoglancewithobviousenvyatthes.p.a.ciousnessofthemagnificentlyfurnishedlivingroom.
Suchaccommodationwasalmostarchaic.
GeorgeHennerappearedmoreamusedthanirritatedbyHenryDarrowsimpertinenceasheleanedbackinhisItalianbrocadearmchair.
"Ifit"smoneyforyourpalmreading,tabletiltingcrystalgazing"tricks,forget.i.t."
"Onthecontrary,sir.I"veaffirmationthatIcanaskyoutojoinourhappyband."HenrysmiledatthesurpriseinHenner"syellowedeyes.
"Joinyou?"Hennerburstoutlaughing.Hisheadwentbackshowingaveritablegoldfieldoffillingsinhisupperteeth."ByG.o.d,Darrow,you"vemademyday!Ifyoucan"tlick"em,recruit"em?"
"Actually,"Henrywentonsmoothly,seatinghimselfandcrossinghislegs,counterfeitinganeasehedidn"tfeel.HenotedtheflickerofirritationinHenner"sfaceb.u.t.thefinancierhadareputationoflettingamanhaveenoughropetohanghimself."Actually,Mr.Henner,yourabilitiesinthefinancialworldarea.s.solidlyderivedfromtheparapsychicasmyown.Incidentally,you"rethecrystalballreader...althoughIseeyou"vegotamoderncomputerforstockmarketprintoutinsteadoftheoldgla.s.scase."
Hennergaveanamusedgruntbutsaidnothing,hissilenceasubtleprodtokeepHenrytalking.
"You"reknown,"Henrycontinuedobediently,becausethatwasthewaytheinterviewoughttoproceed,"tohaveagenius,asecond.sightintowhatstocksaregoingtorise,whichwillfall,whatbond;issueswillpaythekeenestlongtermprofit.AndIcanprovethatyou"reparapsychic."
Hennerc.o.c.kedhisheadslightlytooneside,hisamus.e.m.e.ntdeepening,ashetacitlyencouragedHenrytoproducehisproof.Darrowspreadthegraphoutonthetable."Iknowyou"vefollowedthenewsmediacoverageonus,soyou"refamiliarwiththissortofgraph.Whatyoumaynotimmediatelyappreciateisthefactthatthisisyourgraph."
Hennerbecameimmobilewithattention.
"Whenyouhadyourlastroutinephysicalamonthago,yourphysicianemployedaGoosegg.Hedidn"trealizethat.i.twasn"thisownofficemodelsohe"sblameless.Youdid,however,experiencewhatwecallanIncidentanditisrecordedonthisgraph,hereandhere.IbelievetheIncidentwasinconnectionwiththeAlliedMetalsandMiningmergerinwhichyoumanagedquitea"killing."
""Youdon"treadthoughtfromanEEGgraph,Darrow."
"Hardly.Butyouplacedaphonecalldirectlyyouwerethroughyourphysicaltoyourofficeandwithinthenextfewhoursthemergerwasannounced...butnotbeforeyouhadacquiredatidypileofAlliedstock.Aremyfactscorrect?"
Hennernoddedslowly,hiseyes,narrowedtointenseslits,watchingHenryDarrow"sface.
"That"sproof,"Henrysaid,rustlingthegraphpaper,"thatyou"reparapsychic,Mr.Henner."
Thesilencewhichensued,designedtomakeDarrowexceedinglyuncomfortable,didnot.Foralongs.p.a.ce,HenryreturnedGeorgeHenner"sstare,thenfoldedhisarmsandgazedaroundthebeautifulroom.FinallyheturnedbacktoHennerandsmiled.
"Blackmail?"askedHenner.
Darrowshookhishead.
"No.You"dbefartoocleverforthat.No,I"dhazardtheguessthatyouwanttoborrowmyTalent,asyoucallit,tomakeyourfortunes?
Thatwouldstillbeessentiallyblackmail,wouldn"t.i.t,Darrow?"
Henrypursedhislipsalittle,expressingdubiety.
"Well,thenwhatisityouwantfromme?It"ssomething."
"Actually,it"sthetwelveacretractoflandonthePalisades."
OnceagainHenrywishedhewereatelepathtoreadtheemotionsswiftlypa.s.singthroughGeorgeHenner"smind.Hehadstartledthefinancier,hehadtouchedthemostvulnerablepointoftheshrewdman"slife:hisintenselove,andneedfor,thebeautifulestateofBeechwoods.IthadbeeninHenner"sfamilyforahundredandfortyyears,wasashowplacewhichfewsaw.AndHenner"sneedofBeechwoodswasasgreatandforthesamereasonsasHenryDarrow"s."
"Howcouldyouknow?"demandedHennerinahoa.r.s.ewhisper.
"ThattheStateintendstoconfiscateallprivatelyheldlandswithinahundredmileradiusoftheJerhattancitylimits?Iknowbecauseitisasimportanttomeasitistoyoutoknowthesethings."Hennerwasonhisfeet,pacingtoreleasetheenergyofhisanger.Inabarelyaudiblemonotoneheinventivelya.s.signeddestinationstotheStateenma.s.se,theneedsoftheunhoused,unwashedmult.i.tudesingeneralandthoseparticularofficialswhohadfailedtokeepHenner"sancestralhomeinviolate.
"If,however,thepropertyisalreadyownedbyareligious,medical,educationalorcharitableinst.i.tutionwhichwillaccommodateasufficientnumberofoureverexpandingpopulation,theycannotconfiscateyourpropertyevenunderthetermsofSection91,Paragraph12oftheHousingActof1998."
"Thisis1997,man.ThatActisn"tpa.s.sedyet.Icanstilldefeat.i.t."
"No.Itwillbepa.s.sed."
HennertriedtostarethatknowledgeoutofHenry"smind.
"Andyouknowtheinevitability,Mr.Henner.Noneofyourcontactscanholdoutanyhopeofdefeatingthatmeasure,norofdefendingyourBeechwoods?"
"Andit"syourtabletiltingtealeafreaderswho"llinfestmyhome?"
"Yourphysicalconditionispoor,Mr.Henner,andyournervesd.a.m.nednearthebreakingpoint.Thesolitudeandprivacyofthishouseanditsgroundsarevitaltoyourlife.Itwouldbetoanyparapsychicmindforcedtotuneinontheemotionalchaosthathauntstheveryairwebreathe.Youknowyou"vebeenlivingonborrowedtimeforthepastyear.Youknowwhatalternativedwellingaccommodationswilldotoyou."
"Doyouhappentoknow,"askedHennercasuallyforhe"dgotcontrolofhimself.a.gain,"theexactdateofmydeath?"
"AsIknowtheexacttimeofmine,Mr.Henner.Youwilldieofa"heartattack,theaortawillbeclosedbyaglobuleofthearterioscleroticmattercoatingyourveins,atninetwentyonePM,exactlyoneyear,ninemonthsandfourteendaysfromnow."
AgleamofchallengelivenedthedeadlyintentofHenner"sgaze."AndifIdon"t?"
"Ifyoudon"t,thenrevokethegrantofBeechwoodstotheCenter.Inthemeantime,you"llhavesecuredyourlastdaysintheancestralhome,whichisyourprimeconcernatthemoment."
"Icouldhaveahearttransplant..."Hennerwasclearlyenjoyingthis.
"Notwithadiseasedliverandtheconditionofyourarteries."
"Andthat"syourprophecy,Darrow?"
"Amedicalcertainty,"Henrysaid."I"vetoyedwiththenotionofatransplantmyselfsincemydeathwillalsooccurfrommyocardialinfarctiononacertainMaytwelfth,attenfiftytwoPM.ButbyMaytwelfthofthatyear,Iintendtohaveaccomplishedthemajorpartofwhatneedstobedonetoestablishaviable,selfsufficientParapsychicCenterinNorthAmerica..."
"OntheBeechwoodsestate?"
"OntheBeechwoodsestate.ByMaytwelfth,Ishallbegratefulforthepeaceandtranquillityofmygrave."Henner"seyesflickedfromDarrow"stosomeinnermiddledistance,theharshcynicallinesofthefinancier"sfacesoftened.
""Easeafterwar,deathafterlifedoesgreatlyplease"?"Thewordsweresoftlyspokenb.u.t.therewasnoquarterinthehardlookHennerthenturnedonHenryDarrow.
"Inyourschemingwheredoesthishouseendup?"
"AsanintegralpartoftheCenter."
Henner"s.e.xpressionwasironic."Andmymoney?I"venonextofkin."
Darrowlaughed."Youkeepharpingonyourmoney,Mr.Henner.Wedon"tneedyourmoney.Checkourbooksonthat.ButonlytheCentercanofferoneofitsownmemberswhathismoneyhasn"tbeenabletosecureforhim."
ForalongtimeHennergazedouttheFrenchwindowsthatgaveontheflaggedterrace,towardthesweepofmagnificentlawnandthesuperbbeechtrees.WhenHennerfinallyturnedbacktoHenry,hishandwas.e.xtended.Thetwomenshookthreetimesintheancientcustomofbindingabargain.
"Answermeonething,Darrow!Didyouforeseewinning?"
"IknewthatwewouldeventuallysecureBeechwoods,Mr.Henner,"hesaid,permittingregrettotingehisvoice."ButIwantedyourcooperation."
"Cooperation?YouG.o.dd.a.m.nwellknowIhadnochoice!"
"Didn"tyou?"
GeorgeHennerhadwanderedintotheGraphroomjustasthefirstofthethreeIncidentswasrecorded.Hehadthehabitofappearinginthevariousdepartments,takingwhathecalledaperverseinterestintheeventualevictionoftheCenterfromBeechwoods.Inpointoffact,HennerhadadmittedtoMollyDarrowthattheCenterhadgivenhimsomethingtolivefor.He"dbeenfeelingmuchbettersinceHenry"dconnedhimoutofBeechwoods.Despitehisprofessedintentionofhara.s.singHenry,GeorgeHenner"spa.s.singsuggestionswereusuallysolidadvice.Anddespitehiscrotchetyandoftenirasciblemanner,theTalentsbecamefondofhim.
"GotastrongIncident,"BenAvedon,thedutyofficer,toldHenryontheintercomjustasGeorgeHennerwanderedintotheGraphroom.
"PatsyTucker."