"I"llhelpasmuchasIcan,"DoroteatoldRhyssa,alookofresigneddisappointmentonherface,"butIameightyfour,andI"vesloweddownalot."Thenshesmiledwithbrightmischief."Ofcourse,I"vealwayslikedcookingforamaleappet.i.te.Andhe"llbeabletodomostthingsforhimselfinshortorder.I"msureofit.IknowastrongTalentwhenIb.u.mpmindswithit."
SoRhyssa,Dorotea,andSaschamadealittleceremonyofaddingPeterReidinger"snametotheRegistryofTalentsattheEasternCenter.
Peterwa.s.stillnotquitecertainofhisgreatgoodfortune.RickHobson,whowasempathicaswellaskinetic,monitoredthekineticaspects;DonUsenik,theCenter"sversatilemedic,keptaclosecheckontheboy"sphysicalcondition;andtheboyresidedinDorotea"shouse.
"Icanstillhandlethemotheringbits,"theoldwomansaidstaunchly,"especiallysinceRhyssahasenoughtoadminister."
Bytheendofthefirstweek,Peterwasabletohandleallhisintimateproblems,asuccessofimmeasurableproportionforasensitiveboy.
Themorninghemanagedtotakeashowerallbyhimselfwascelebratedbyhismentorsastheachievement.i.twas.Thefirsttimehehadattemptedashower,hehadnearlyscaldedhimselfandthenover-controlledandhadtoberescuedfromicywaterbyDorotea.
Italsotooktime,andfinesse,todescendfromhisbedwithouthittingthefloorinaheap.Ortokeepfromcollidingwithfurnitureashereeledaroundthehouse.Graduallyheachieveddelicatecontrolofthegestaltandmanagedtoimitatewalking;onlythereallyobservantwouldnoticethathisfeetneverquitetouchedthegroundandthatthebendofhiskneesonlyapproximatedanormalwalk.Hecouldnotgraspthings,buthearrangedhishandsinappropriatepositionssothatheappearedtobecarryingobjects.Withsuchaccomplishments,hewasadifferentboyaltogether,andthechangeastonishedhismotheronhernextvisit.
"There"sneverbeenanyTalentinourfamily,oneitherside,"sheconfidedinDoroteaatonepoint."Ijustcan"timaginewherehegot.i.tfrom."
"Necessity,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteasaidathermostgrandmotherly.
"Theaccidenthasforcedhimtotransfermotorfunctionstoanotherpartofhisbrain.Eventhebestofusonlyutilizeabouttwofifthsofourbrainpotential."
IlsaReidingerdidnotreallyunderstandDorotea"s.e.xplanation,butsheaccepteditbecauseDoroteaspokewithsuchauthority.
"Thehumanbodylearnstocompensate,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteawentonsoothingly."AllPeterneededwasachancetotraininnewways.
Which,Imustsay,hehasdoneextraordinarilywell.We"reverypleasedwithhisprogress."Shebeamedplacidlyatherguest.
"Yes,butwhatwillhedo?"IlsaReidingeraskedplaintively.
"Why,PeterwilldoverywellhereattheCenter,helpingotheryoungstersandadults,toowhohavetolearntocompensatefordrastichandicaps."Sensingthewoman"sreservationsonthatscore,Doroteaadded,"Oh,theworkpaysverywell.He"sonatrainingscholarshiprightnow,ofcourse,buthisprofessionpaysverywellindeed.He"sallsetforafinecareerattheCenter.You"regoingtobeveryproudofhim."
DoroteachosetoignoreIlsaReidinger"sotherdominantthought:thatifPeterwasTalented,Katyamustbe,too.Thegirlwasbeingeversodifficult,wantingtoknowwhyPetergotalltheluckandshewa.s.stuckinaboringschool,doingboringstudieswhilePeterwasgettingeverythinghiswayjustbecausehehadgottenlucky.
"Canhereadminds?"iswhatIlsaReidingeraskedoutloud.Theideamadeheruncomfortable.
"Peterhasaverylimitedrange,"Dorotearepliedmendaciously,intimatingregret."Hecanhearverystrongthoughts,buthisprojectionsareshortrange.HisTalentliesinkinetics.Doyouunderstandthatword?"
"Yes,itmeanspeoplecanpushthingsaboutwithouthavingtotouchthem.LiketheonesgoinguptoPadrugoiStationtohelpget.i.ta.s.sembledsowecancolonizethestars."TheglibphrasingcamefromDaveLehardt"scleverpublicitycampaignonthetrid.ThenIlsaaskedmoretimorously,"WouldPeteygointos.p.a.ce?"Inherveryaudiblepublicmind,Ilsadecidedthatwhatevertheanswer,shewouldnotmentionthattoKatya.
"Quiteunlikely.TheplatformwillbefinishedbeforePeter"sreceivedallhisnecessarytraining."TheverythoughtofBarchenkaconscriptingPeterReidingermadeDoroteaqueasy.IlsaReidingerwasdisappointed,however,sufferingfromtheusualmaternalsyndromeofwantinghersontobeunique,whichhewas;famous,whichtheCenterwouldnotwishonhim;andperhapsrich,whichPeterwouldalsobe,inthat,asaTalent,hecouldpurchasethroughtheCenteranythinghereallydesired."HeshowsatrulyuniqueTalent."Letthatbeasoptoherpride.
"Yes,butwhatexactlydoesPeteydo?"
"Well,yousawhimwalkandserveusteaquitebyhimself.ThatisallaccomplishedbyhiskineticTalent.Soyousee,heisnolongerdependentonmechanicalorprostheticdevicestoconductnormalactivities.Whenhe"ssurerofhisabilities,we"lladdmorecomplicatedtasks."
"He"llbeabletoholddownajob?"
IlsaReidingerreallyhadnotevengraspedthebasics,Doroteathought,orcomprehendedtheobviousachievements.ShehadbarelygraspedthefactthatPeterwouldnolongerbeafinancialoranemotionalburdentohisfamily.ShewasjustanicewomanwhohadcertainlybeendevotedtoPeterduringhisconvalescence,b.u.t.thestrainhadtakenatollonher,too.DoroteaventuredtowamoreenthusiasticaboutPeter"spotential.
ItsuddenlyoccurredtoDoroteatowonderifthetestingroutines,establishedbyDaffydopOwen,neededtobeupdatedormademoresensitive.HospitalswereusuallywellstaffedwithTalentsofalldescriptions.Whyhadn"tsomeonespottedPeter?ShereallyoughttodiscussthatnotionwithRhyssawhenthemesswithBarchenkawa.s.smoothedout.
"Ishouldn"tthinkthere"dbemuchyoungPetercan"tdoifhesetshismindtoit."
"Beingakinetic,youmean?"
"Aratherspecialone,atthat,sincehe"shadtoovercomeseverephysicallimitations."
StillslightlypuzzledbythefussbeingmadeoverherPeterbutimmenselyrelievedbyhisfutureprospects,ilsaReidingerdeparted.
ItneveroccurredtoDoroteathatherremarks,meanttoallayamother"snaturalconcern,wouldhaveunexpectedrepercussions.
CertainlysheandRhyssawerebeginningtorealizetheboy"simmensepotential,buteventocolleaguestheyhadbeendiscreet.
"It"sacaseofmakespeedslowly,Lance,"RhyssatoldtheAustraliandirector,whoseemedtospendmoretimeonas.p.a.cehotolandintheJerhattanareathanarrangingmattersinCanberraforhisleaveofabsenceonPadrugoi.HehaddroppedintoseeheronhiswayfromyetanotherlongschemingsessionwithDaveLehardtandSamjan.
"I"veseensomefaird.i.n.k.u.ms,dealingwiththeAboriginesandtheMaoris,Rhyssa,"Lancerepliedinhisdistinctivedrawlasheslouchedonachairinhertoweroffice,"b.u.t.thisladtakesthepeach.Ifhe"scomeonthisfastwithonlyali"lfourpointfivekpmgeneratorforhimtoplaywith,thinkwhathecoulddowithrealpower."
"Allthemorereasontomakespeedslowly.Controlisthemostvitalpartofhistraining."SheprojectedanimageofPeter,headfirst,zippingaroundJerhattanonawhirlwindtour,withatailofdetritus,people,smallvehicles,andoddmentscaughtupinthewakeofhispa.s.sage.
Lancegrinned,histeethverywhiteagainsthisperpetualtan,hisseagreeneyesglittering."Tooright,mate.Igetthedrift.ButwithaTalentlikehisandapropergenerator,wecouldbleedingnearshiftdronesallthewaytothenearestplanet."
Thinkthatinyourmostprivatemind,Lance,shetoldhimsharply.
Don"tletawhisperofitescapeyourshield.
Lanceproppedhisangularbodyupright,his.e.xpressioncompletelyserious.Iwasfunning!
Rhyssanoddedslowly,andheletoutalongwhistle.
Yeah,butjustimaginethelookonBarchenka"sfaceifwecouldtellherthatpreciousPadrugoiprojecthadjustturnedobsolete.
"Notquite,"Rhyssasaidwithavindictivegrin.Shehadentertainedafewverysatisfyingfantasiesonthatverythemeherself!"AfacilitylikePadrugoiisrequiredforanynumberofvalidreasonsapartfromajumpingoffpointtothestars."
HowmanyknowaboutPeteyboy?
Abouthispotential?Mainstaffknowhe"sunusual.IwastooexcitedwhenIrealizedthepossibilitiesinherentinhisgestalt,b.u.t.theyonlyknowIwas.e.xcitedabouttheboy.TherearejustthreeofusmyselfDorotea,andSaschawh.o.r.ealizethattheboymightbeunusual.
Idon"tthinkSascha"shadthechancetoappreciatethepotentialthatDoroteaandIarejustbeginningtograsp.RickHobsonthinkstheboyisinordinatelyquick,butwehadtohaveakineticinonhisinitialtraining.Likeyou,Rick"sgottogotoPadrugoi,sowe"recrammingasmuchtechniqueinaspossible.HeandPetermeshwell.Youaremychoiceforhismoreadvancedtraining,sodon"tdoanythingstupiduponPadrugoi,w.i.l.l.you?
Noway!That"sameancarrottodangleinfrontofmeforsixlongmonths!Lancerose."PureshamethatDaveLehardt"snotarealTalent.He"swizardathandlingtheFinnandthatslimylittleNeesterbloke."
RhyssagavealittleconvulsiveshudderatthemerementionofPrincePhanibal.
"Youdon"tlikehimeither,doyou?"Lanceasked.
"No!"
Lancechuckled."Alwaysknewyouwereawomanofgoodsense,ducks."
RhyssadidworryaboutPeterhelookedsofrailaftersolonginahospitalbed.SodidDorotea,bothkeepingtheirconcernsfromPeter,whosetelempathywa.s.steadilyimprovingalongwithhiskinesis.Hewasnotlimitedmerelytoreceivingorsendingemotions,butwasdevelopingatruetelepathy,theabilitytosendandreceivebothabstractandlingualmessages.NordidRhyssaorDoroteacallattentiontothosemomentswhen,insheerebullience,Peerdidnotdrawonthegeneratorinkineticexercises.
Doroteaenjoyedcookingforhiseagerappet.i.te,andoncePeterwasabletoperformroutinetasks,shefinetunedhiskinesiswithfoodpreparationexercises.Hecouldpareapplesandpotatoes,sc.r.a.pecarrots,andcutupvegetables,allkinetically.Heateanythingandeverything,andhisbodybegantofilloutwithgoodfirmflesh;Rickshowedhimexercisesformuscletone,andhoursspentinDorotea"sgardentannedhisskintoahealthyglow.Peternolongerlookedthewastedparalyticwithatrophiedmuscles.Still,extremecarewasneededinallhisactivities,sincehecontinuedtohavenofeelinginhis.e.xtremitiesorlowertorsoandwouldbeunawareofcuttingorburningorbruisinghimselfinsomeofhisperambulations.
WhenRickfinallyhadtoleaveforhistouratPadrugoi,Petertookithard,mopingaboutthenextday.
"Rickwillbeback,Peter,"Rhyssasaidwhenshejoinedthemthateveningatdinner."He"staughtyouaboutallheknows.Now,youhavetoteachyourself,which"llbehard."
"Teachmyself?"Peterwa.s.soshockedthathisgoodmannersbrieflydesertedhim.Hisforkhoveredabovehisplate.HeandDoroteahadanagreementhecouldgetthefoodtohismouthhoweverhechoseifhewasalone,buthewas...o...b..erveproperetiquettewithanyoneelse.
"Yes,teachyourself,"Dorotearepliedblandly.
"Rickhasgivenyouthebasics,"Rhyssaaddedwithawarmsmile.
"Certainlyyou"renowabletodoeverythingforyourselfandhelpoutinthehouseandthegarden.Nowyoubeginthenextsteptestingyourself.Don"tworry.Rickleftalonglistforyoutocompletebythetimehistourofdutyisover."
"Buthedidn"ttellmehow..."Peterwasclearlyfloundering.
"Youknowhow,"Rhyssasaid,actingsurprisedathisreaction."AllparanormalTalentscomefromaninstinctivelevel.Sharpenyourinstinct."Shesmiledathim,pattinghisarmsoothingly."ThatinstinctledyourighttotheCenter,didn"t.i.t?Don"tworryaboutthe"how"!Relyonyourinstinct.Useitbysendingdifferenttypesofinertobjectstodestinationsfartherandfartheraway.Firsttoplacesyouarefamiliarwith.Thenbymemorizingtridvisualsandmaybeevenusingmathematicalcoordinates.Forexample,thatforkfulofmashedpotato.Wherewouldyouliketoput.i.t?"
Thefork"sburdenofmashedpotatodisappeared.
Sascha:Whatisgoingondownthere?
Rhyssa:Doesitconcernaportionofmashedpotato?
Sascha,somewhatdisgusted:Itdoes!Hesentheranimageofawhiteglobinthemiddleofhisdesk.
"Andwheredidyousendit,Peter?"Doroteaaskednoncommittally.
"Sascha"sdesk.Butonthewood,notonanythingimportant,"Petera.s.suredher.
"Iwon"trequireyoutoeat.i.t,butdobringitback!"
ThewelltraveledforkfulreappearedontheedgeofPeter"splate.
Sascha,sarcastically:Thankyou!
You"rewelcome!Petergiggledlikeanyyoungstersucceedingwithapracticaljoke.
SaschatoRhyssaandDorotea:WejustgetMadlynhousetrainedandnowwehavePeter!Sometimes...Isuppose,ifhe"suptotricks,he"sadjustingtoRick"sdeparture.
Peterwasalsouptoworkthenextday,usingthegestaltwiththegeneratortoshiftvariousitemsabouttheCenter.Doroteastartedhimoffmovingsmallobjectsfromoneroomtoanother,emphasizingaccuracyofplacementandpickinglocationswithwhichPeterwasfamiliar.Bytheendofthemorninghewa.s.shiftingheavybalesofcomputerpaperfromstoragetotheControlRoom,gettinghisplacementsfromsquarescrayonedontotheflooruntilBudworthfinallysignaledthathisaimwasperfect.
"Weightseemstobenoobject,"Saschasaid,reviewingtheachievementsatlunchwithRhyssa."Howmuchdidhehavetorelyonthegestalt?"
"Notmuch.We"vegotagraphonitsusage,"Rhyssareplied."Hisneedisvergingonthepsychological."
"Ah,b.u.t.thatdoesn"talterthefactthathedoesuseit,"Saschasaidthoughtfully."Cananddoes.Byd.a.m.n,Rhyssa,he"s.e.xtraordinary!
Oncehecanreallyleanongeneratorpower,thereisn"tanythinghecan"tshift,isthere?"Hiseyeswereshiningwithexcitement."Ifonlywecouldfigureoutjusthowheachievesthegestalt."
Rhyssashookherhead,witharuefulsmile.
"CouldRick?"heasked.
Rhyssasighed."Rickdidjustthebasickinetictrainingexerciseswithhim.Hedidn"thavemoretime.d.a.m.nBarchenka.Wouldn"tyoujustknowthatwe"dhaveapromisingemergentwho"dbenefitfromtrainingwiththeverykineticsthatshe"syankedoutofourreach.
Whydidn"twehaveanearlierprecogofthis?"
Saschaleanedbackinhischair,regardinghisgoodfriendanddirectorwithanuncharacteristicallysolemnexpression."Rhyssa,hon,couldyoufollowhismind?"
Shegaveashortlaugh."I"manadeptattelepathy,butPeter"sgoingwherenomanhasgonebefore.Maybeanotherstrongkineticcouldfollow.I"mgoingtodragoonLanceBadenashisadvancedtrainera.s.soonasthatwretchedPadrugoiisfinished."Shebluedthementalairwitha.s.sortedimagesofherfrustration.
Saschanoddedsympathetically."Thenwe"lljusthavetocontinuedoingkindergartenstuffwithhimuntilLanceisfree.Andbuildhimupphysically.DoesDonUsenikseeanychanceofexerciserestimulatingthosedamagednerves?Nowthat""Trouble!"Budworth"svoicerangthroughthespecialalarmspeakerinRhyssa"soffice.
Whatkind?sheaskedimmediately.
"G.o.ddammit,IwanttospeaktoDirectorOwennow!"saidavoiceontheroomaddresssystemasBudworthpatchedthecallthrough.
"Youare,"Rhyssarepliedcoolly."Pleaseidentifyyourself."
"Dammit,didn"ttheytellyou?BobGaskin,JerhattanPortAuthority.
Youtookourkineticawayfromus,andnowwe"veacontainerpinningthreemendownandn.o.b.l.o.o.d.ywaytolift.i.tquickenoughtosavetheirlives.Rightnowonlythesafetybarontheforkliftis""Doyouhavetheareaonvideo?"
"Idothewholeyard."
"Relayittothisscreenimmediately,"sheordered.Dorotea,bringPetertomyofice.We"vegottotrytohelp.They"repatchingthroughtheimage.
Dorotea:Darewe?
Rhyssa:We"llneverknowunlesswedo.Livesareatstake.He"sgotthepotential,andhe"sdonewellenoughalreadywithbulky,heavythings.
Dorotea:That"shalfwayacrossthecity.But...allright.I"llhavePeterthereinadash.
SaschaandRhyssakepttheireyesonthescreen,whichwa.s.showingthecontainer,thehoistcablesatoneendofitstillwhippinginbacklash.Ithadcomedownaskewacrossasmallforkliftthest.u.r.dyframeofwhichwaskeepingitfromcrushingthedriverandtwomenwhohadbeenworkingnearhim.TheTalentscouldseethedanglingarm.o.f.onemanpinnedatoneside,thefeetofasecondprotrudingunderonecornerandnothingatallofthedriver.
"Whydidthathoistcablepart,Mr.Gaskin?"Rhyssaaskedcalmly.
"Surelyyoucheckedallyourequipmentbeforeyouput.i.tinuseagain."
Shedeliberatelymadeherselfsoundcensorious.
TheofficedooropenedandDoroteaandPeterentered;Peter"seyeswentimmediatelytothescreen.
"IfyourG.o.dd.a.m.nedCenterhadn"tpulledourkinetic,"Gaskinexploded,"thiswouldn"thaveHolyh.e.l.l!How"dyougetsomeoneherethisquick?"
Rhyssa,Dorotea,andSaschaheldtheirbreathastheywatchedthelongunwieldyma.s.softhecontainerslowlyriseoffthecrumbledforklift,revealingthedriverslumpedacrosshiscontrolsandanothermansprawledflatonthegroundwhilethethirdstaggeredtohisfeet,holdinghisinjuredarm.TheywerealsoawareofahummingthattheycouldfeelthroughtheflooRboardsofRhyssa"soffice.Thehumpeakedoffasthecontainerwasloweredcarefullytothewaitingtruckloadbed.
"Bravo,Peter,beautifullydone!Magnificent!"Rhyssasaidandthenshesawhimcrumpledonthefloor."Oh,Lord!Didyoustrainyourself,love?"