Saschareachedtheboybeforeshedid,liftinghimgentlyanddepositinghimonRhyssa"sconformablechair,whichinstantlyalteredtofittheboy"slimpbody.
"Willthemenbeallright?"Peterwantedtoknow,hiswhitefacecontortedwithanguish.Theywerehurtinghad.
"Moretothepoint,youngman,"Saschasaid,frowning,"areyouallright?"Don,getuphereonthedouble!
"ByG.o.d,ma"am,how"dyoudothat?"BobGaskincried.ThePortAuthoritymanagerwasmoppinghisfacewithshakinghands.
"Youhaven"tbeencompletelyabandonedbyTalent,Mr.Gaskin.Wehaveaskeletoncrew"Sascha"simageofPeter"sfrailform,bonystructureemphasized,madeitveryhardforRhyssatokeepherfeaturescomposed"whichwecanthrowintogearforemergenciesofthisnature.
Dopleasenowoverhaulyourequipment.Wedon"thavethemanpowerforunnecessaryaccidents,youknow."SheignoredSascha"s.e.xaggeratedgrimacea.s.shesawmedicsrushingtoa.s.sisttheinjuredmenasaSouthsideheliamblandedneaRby."Goodmorning,Mr.Gaskin.
"We"llcheckinwithSouthsideGeneralHospitallater,Peter,Rhyssaa.s.suredtheboy.
"AfterDon"scheckedyouout,youngman,"Doroteaadded,"thoughyourconcernforthemendoesyoucredit."
Iknowwehadto,Rhyssa,SaschasaidonatightbandtoRhyssa,butshouldwehave?
Rhyssamadeaface.Hobson"schoice,Sascha.Wemaintainanofficialpositionoftheskeletoncrew.Bytheway,don"tdothattomeagainrealsoon,huh?
Sascharolledhiseyes,expressingremorsebutnorea.s.surance.I"mnotsurehowlongwe"llbeabletohangthatlie,sowouldyougetalluptightifItriedtofollowhismind"sthrustwhenhe"slifting?Ididn"trealizebowquicklyhe"semergingtofulluseofhisTalent.
No,afterthis.e.xhibitionofPeter"sability,Iwasabouttoaskyouifyoucouldsparesometimetoworkwithhim.Ineedyourinsight,sinceyou"remoreexpertattraining.Ifwecouldduplicatethegestalt,evenourfeatherweightscouldmovecontainers.
"Okay,who"sdonewhattowhomnow?"DonUsenikdemandedasheenteredtheroom.Helookedaround,thenspottedthewanPeteronRhyssa"schair."Whathaveyoubeendoing?Movingmountains?"
"Whichdoyouwantfirst?Thegoodnews,orthebadnews?"DaveLehardtaskedRhyssaaweeklater.
Shecouldtellnothingfromhis.e.xpressionthelookofhiseyeswascuriouslyintentonherface.HemightnotbeaTalent,buthewasunusuallyastuteatpickingupminutebodylanguagesigns.Shewa.s.sogladtoseehimthatshereallydidnotcarewhatnewshebrought,butshefollowedhiscue.
"Thebad!"
"Barchenkaiscertainyou"vebeenholdingoutonher.She"sheardthatyouhaveateamofkineticTalentsthatarenotonyourofficialregister.She"sabouttocreateastink.AndIhavetotellyouthatI"veheardsomemightypeculiarrumorscirculating.
"Rhyssalaughed."We"renotholdingoutonherTalentscan"t.
Telempathsca.n.a.lwaysdetectalie.ShehasRussiantelempathsonherpayroll.Tellhertoaskthem.What"sthegoodnews?"
DaveLehardtraisedoneeyebrowinaskepticalarch."ThepollsareagainfavorabletotheTalented.Whenbusinessesemployingthemhadtocopewitholdfashionedways,TalentpopularityhitafiftyyearlowworseeventhanaftertheHawaiianvolcanodisastereventhougheveryonewasproPadrugoiandeveryone,meaningtheTalents,wasdoingtheirshare.
Seemsthatthisnonexistentteamofyourshasprovidedemergencyservices.OnlynoTalenthasbeen.o.bservedonthescene."
"It"saremotetechniquethatwe"vebeendevelopingforemergencysituations,"Rhyssasaid,schoolingherfacetorevealnothing.ItwasnotthatshedidnottrustDaveLehardt,butshewantedtoprotectPeter."Andit"stheonereasonwefeltwecouldstripallourCentersofkineticstohelpPadrugoi."
"Aremotetechnique?"
"That"swhatIsaid."
"NoTalentI"vespokentoknowsanythingabout.i.t."
"Isaiditwasremote,"Rhyssarepeated,strugglingtokeepamus.e.m.e.ntoutofhervoice."Notsomethingwewanttogopubliconjustyet.
I"msureyoucanappreciatehat!"
"SoLudmillacan"tgetherhandsonit?"
"She"scoercedalmosteverykineticwehaveontoPadrugoi.She"sgotsufficientnumbersandskillsrightnowtofinishherworkonschedule.
Sheshouldn"tgetgreedier!"
"Shewantstocomeinunderschedule,andthewayyourTalentsareworking,shecould."
"Isabonusinvolvedinearlycompletion?"Rhyssawasannoyed.d.a.m.nthewomantoadisintegratingorbit!
"Didn"tyouknow?"DaveLehardtseemedsurprised.
"Iheardagreatdealaboutpenaltiesandacompletionbonus,butstrangelyenough,nothingwa.s.said,orevenhinted,thatearlycompletionwashergoal."
"I"lldowhatIcantosquashtherumorsand,ifImaybesobold,youshouldkeepthatnewteamoutofoperationifatallpossible.Nomorecavalrychargestotherescuewithoutwarningme,huh?Please?"
Thatwasverysoundadvice,whichRhyssaintendedtofollow.Sincetheemergencylift,shehadbeencharyofusingPeter"sskill.Itjusttooktoomuchoutofhisnotsost.u.r.dybody.Hewa.s.strengtheninghimselfdailyexercisingwasbecomingalmostan.o.bsessionwithhim.
Butshewa.s.stillrigorouslyrestrictingtheuseofhisTalenttolifethreateningsituationsintheJerhattanarea,which,fortunately,werefew.Meanwhile,intheongoingtrainingsessions,hewasusingfaxplacementphotostosenditemstootherCenters.
"Icanfollowhisthoughtsalltheway,"SaschatoldRhyssaafteraweekoflinkingmindswithPeterduringthoseexercises."Icanevenfeelthevibrationsofthegeneratorinhiscerebrum,butbowheeffectsthegestaltisstillbeyondme.And,asnearlyasIcantell,he"srelyinglessandlessonthepower.Atleastforlightstuff."
"Ifhekeepsonthisway,maybeLanceisright,"Rhyssaremarked.
"PlughimintoapowerfulenoughsourceandhecouldprobablyobviatetheneedforPadrugoi."
Saschablinked,thenprojectedaseriesofimagesdepictingBarchenka"s.e.xpression,theconsternationontheeggsplatteredfacesofthes.p.a.cestation"smajorsupporters,andonesmallboysendingoutstarshipsthewaychildrenhisagelaunchedpaperplanes.ThelastandlargestimagewasofSaschahimself,elongatedmouthwideopen,chintohischest.
"Couldhe?"
Rhyssalaughed,rollinghereyes."Iwon"tsayhecouldn"t.ButyouknowaswellasIdothatallTalenthaslimitations.NowisnotthetimetoputanysortofpressureonPeter.He"ssuchahappyboynow."
"WecanthankG.o.dheis!"Hismentalpicturewasofhimself,patientlycontrollingthelovelornMadlynLuvaro,hugewadsofcottonwoolinhisears.
Rhyssaretortedwithanimageofstrayforkfulsofpotatofestooninghisoffice."Akinetichasfarmoreoptionsthanatelepath!"
"He"seasiertokeephappythanMadlyneverwas,too,"Saschasaid,stretchinghislonglegs."Theoddtrafficsnarlortwoaday,andhefeelshe"sworthhiskeep.Whichremindsme,I"vehadsomeprettypointedremarksfromindustrialVIPslatelyaboutthisremoteteam.o.f.ours.Myansweristhatwe"vemanagedtocombinethetraineeswithanexperiencedfeatherweighttoachievethenecessaryheft,b.u.t.theapplicationislimitedduetotheextremeyouthofthepartic.i.p.ants."
Rhyssasighed."Thatoldtangledwebroutine,huh?"
Saschaquirkedaneyebrow."FavoringShakespeare?ThoughtyourfamilyrantoPopery."
Rhyssalaughed,envisioningherill.u.s.triousgrandsire,DaffydopOwen,a.s.sherememberedhim,tall,silverhaired,slender,withthefaceofapoetandthechinofanItalianprince."SometimestheBardfitsbetter.Whichindustrialistshaveasked?"
"Nailonthehead,girl.EveryoneofthemsuppliessomethingtoPadrugoi!And,asyouknow,there"vebeendelaysingettingmaterieluptothestation,weatherproblemsmainly,withallthosefreakstormsmessinguplaunchwindows."
Rhyssafrownedand,inanuncharacteristicshowofnervousness,flippedastylusendoverend."Lifesaving,yes;andwiththetechniquehe"sbeenshowingoverdistances,IthinkheprobablycouldlaunchadroneuptoPadrugoithroughanysortofweather.b.u.t.there"snowayPeter"sgoingtohelpsecureherbonusorpreventherfines."
Saschagrinned."Iwon"tmentionthepossibilityofsuchfunandgamestohim,youspoilsport."Hethrewheranimageofhimhastilyraisingasolidbarrieragainstthebarbsemergingfromhereyes."Shecouldn"thirehimanyway.He"sonlyfourteen.Underage,evenunderexistingRussianlaw!"
Rhyssaletoutalowwhistle,thengrinned."Yes,heisaminor,isn"the?AndDorotearemindedmethathe"sbeenworkingprettyhardwithyou.Tomorrowhehasadayoff.AndI"vegotallthesefiles"Shegesturedresignedlyatthestacksontheedgeofherdesk."Testingreportstogothrough."
"Whydon"tyoutakeanightoff?"Saschasuggested,grinningdrolly.
"WithDave."
Rhyssasatboltupright,closinghermind.
"Honey,Idon"thavetopeek,"hetoldher.
Rhyssagroaned."He"snotaTalent."
"There"snolawintheCharterthatsaysyouhavetomarryTalent,youknow."
"b.u.t.that"sthewaytoincrease..."
"Yeah,andwheredidPeterReidingercomefrom?Ithinksometimes,mydearfriend,"hesaid,leaningoverthedesktowardher,"wehavetolookwithoureyesinsteadofourheads.JustthoughtIoughttomentionit.Dave"sthebestfriendTalent"sgot."
"It"snotuptome,Sascha,"Rhyssaadded,feelinguncomfortableforthefirsttimeinheroldfriend"spresence.
"Couldbe.Maybenot.Lehardt"scleverenoughtodohisownpromowork."WiththatSaschalefther.
AsTirlaenteredtheMainConcourseofLinearG,shesensedanauraofexcitement,tellingherthatsomethingwasabouttohappentorelievethetediumofLinearliving.Asalways,thereweresomegeneralworkersscurryingtothePlazatoseeiftheWorkBoardwa.s.scrollingoutanyjobsforablebodieds,concernedwithgettingenoughdayworktokeepoutofConscriptiveWorkServices.NoselfrespectingLinearitewantedtobesentonahardlabortouror,worse,s.p.a.cedouttotheshipyardsaroundtheBigWheel.FewCWSeverearnedareturnticket.
AndnoweventheTalentswerenotexempt.Somostofthelittleknotsofexcitedpeoplewerecomposedofwomen.
TirlaedgedcloseenoughtoagroupofHispanicstopickupthedrift.
"Helayhandson..."
"Churchisalwayslomismo...Thesingingisbad."
"MyJuannow...whenheisremindedofthepurityoftheVirgin,hedoesn"tbeatmeforadayortwo..."
"ThetruemanofG.o.dprovidesfoodforthesoul..."
Tirlasnortedtoherself.Foodforthesoulwasnothighonherprioritieswhenherbellywasempty.
"Ihaveheard,"ConsuelaLagunawa.s.sayingearnestly,"thatifhelayshandsonthelame,hecures."Consuela"ssonwashandicappedbeyondremedyorrepair,butsheremainedpositivethatsomehow,sometime,herManuelitowouldberestoredtohealthbysomenewmiracletreatment,andshewasalwaysaskingTirlatotranslatethemedicalbulletinsforher.
So,Tirlathought,aReligiousEventhadbeenunexpectedlyscheduledforLinearG.Thatwasodd.ThePublicHealthmeetinghadbeenonlyfourweeksearlier.ItwastruethattherehadnotbeenanREinalongtime,butstillshewa.s.suspicious.Twospecialswithinfourweeks?
Shemovedontothenextgroup,allNeestersfromtheLevantandtheywerebabblingabouthowtheycouldgettheirmentoattendthatnightinsteadofadjourningtoMahmoud"ssquattoseehisnewbellydancer.
ThensheslippedaroundtoanAsiangagglewhowerechatteringexcitedlyaboutcuresandwhethertheREwouldbebadforbusiness.
AsiansprovidedancientremediesforthemanyminorailmentsthatbesetthoseinthewarrenyResidentials.
"Hehascomeaspromised..."shehearda.s.shesliduptoMamaBobchik.Theoldwoman"sblackeyeswerewide;hercheeksamottledglowingredofexcitement."Youcome,too,dushka,"shesaid,catchingTirla"sarm."Youmusttellushiswords,exactly.ThelasttimeIcouldnothearwhatwa.s.said,andmysoulisblackwithsin."
"Nakonetz,"Tirlaagreedeasily.MostReligiousInterpreterGroupsgenerallysaidnothing,inthemostornamentedphraseology.Shecouldamuseherselfbyantic.i.p.atingthetritephrasesandflowerywords."Sothea.s.semblyextensionwasgrantedafterall?"sheasked,eagertomaintainherreputationofknowingallthatwentonintheLinear.
"Da,etotak!"MamaBobchikhappilyrea.s.suredher."Mymanwa.s.sentwordtopreparelatelastnight."ArgolBobchikwasoneoftheLinear"ssanitaryengineers."ThewordisthatthisReligiousisallseeing,"Mamababbledon,"withanexcellentbackupgroup.TheywerewellreceivedatLinearP.Earlyasitis,alreadythismorningmanytradershavebookeds.p.a.ce.Itwillbeanoccasion.WehavenothadreligionhereinGforsomemonths.Weareallinneedofguidance.Thesoulsofmanyaredarkwithsinandmustbepurged."Tirlanoddedsolemnly.MamaBobchikwascertainlyoldenoughtobefacingamysticaccountingofthesinsonhersoul.ToobadnoLEOmanwouldbetheretohearit.
ButhowhadTirlamissedsuchajuicyrumor?Maybeithadbeendecidedverylatethepreviousnight.Atanyrate,thepresenceoftraderswouldmakeiteasierforhertowashthetiedcreditsfortheYa.s.simman.Sheshudderedatthethoughtofhim.Shedidnotliketoholdontohismoneytoolong.Notthathehadanyreasontodistrusthershejustwantedtomakecertainheneverdid.Especiallyifhesuspectedshewasclosetosalableage.Shewa.s.smallandthinenoughtopa.s.sforthenineyearssheadmittedto.Somedaysomeonewouldcountfingersonher.FromtimetotimeshethoughtaboutwhatshewoulddothenandtriedtokeepenoughfloatersstuckinsideherblouseatalltimessothatshecouldfleetoanotherLinearifshehadto.Shehadevenmanagedtogetherhandsonahighlyillegalcopyofthecargotrainschedulesandhadfoundherwaytothenearestaccesspointstothesubterraneanconcoursetoeyeballescaperoutes.
DeftlydisengagingherselffromMamaBobchik"sfatfingers,shemovedontothePakis,whowerechatteringaboutbringinginsomerelativesfromLinearEandarguingovertheadvisabilityofsuchamove.Someinsistedthat,sincetheextensionwaslegaltherewouldbenorisk.
ThenMirdaKhanapersonTirlawasalwayscarefultopleasecameupandquicklydismissedsuchstupidgenerosity.
"TheblessingsofsuchaLamawouldbefew,"Mirdamutteredinanintenseandangrytonejustaudibletothosearoundher,"forhecannotwastehisholystrengthonthetrivial.Suchashewouldbegraciousenoughtodispensemustbeforus,here,inLinearG.Forus,"shesaidagain,pokingherthinbreastbonewithabroadflatthumb,"thetruebelievers,hisfaithfulinLinearG."
"TheVeryReveredPonsitProsithasbeenatLinearP,"oneoftheotherwomenmurmuredreverently."Panditheardofthemiraclesheperformed."
Tirlawa.s.skepticalofmiraclesfor,oncloseinspection,therewerealwaysalternateexplanationsforhealingsandsavingsandrevelations.
b.u.t.theywerefuntodelve.
"Thenwesavesuchforourselves!"Mirdarepliedfiercely,defyingcontradiction.Suddenlyshespunaround,somehowawareofbeingtheobjectofscrutinyb.u.t.tirlawasquicker,movingtoflattenherself.a.gainsttheConcoursepillar.Shehadheardenoughanyhowandleft.
SothisReligiousInterpreter,thisRIG,hadareputation?AsTirlawasquiteaware,ittookarealclevertalkertokeepfromviolatingthevarietyofcomplexdoctrinesinaLinear.ThisPonsitPrositmightwellbeworthlisteningtoandwatchingclosely.
Inherprecarioussituation,Tirlawasalwaysopentopointers.
Ifthewholethingwaslegit.Shemulledovertheprobablesa.s.sheduckedintosideaislesbeforecomingoutagainontotheMainConcourse,farenoughawayfromthePakistobescreenedbyothergroups.Thensheglancedupatthenearestpublitextscreen.
Shewatchedthroughtheusualnoticesandannouncementsuntilitscrolleddownto2200hours,wherealegalextensionforuseofthea.s.semblywasposted,withtradinganddrinkingpermitted.
Thefulldetailswerebeingvividlyproclaimed,completewithfanfaresofbra.s.sinstrumentsandsnippetsoftheRespectedVenerableHomilifierPonsitPrositsmilingbeatificallyatvastaudiences.Achoruswaspromised,andashortblastoffivepartharmonyandhighsopranodescantwaspresentedasanenticementtoattendthefullshow.ThisVR&Â HolyReligiousInterpretationGrouppurportedlyhadonlyrecentlyreturnedfromtheEasternCitiesofFaith,wherePonsitProsithadendured"fastingmeditationsofgreatlengthandillumination."LinearGwasfortunateintheextremethathewasabletofitthatevening"sa.s.semblyintohisbusytour.So,hehadnothadabookinginawhile,Tirlathoughtcynically.Well,ReligiousInterpretationswereverypopularinLinears,betterthanfightssometimesandoftenmoreshowy.
Tirlalikedshowsandlegalextensions.
TherehadbeenaPublicHealthrounduprecently,soasecond,covertonewasunlikelyinherexperience.AndwhileaReligiousEventcouldbestagedtomaskmoreillicitoperationsthanwashingtiedsinpublic,therestillmightnotbeanyundercoverLEOs.
CrowdControllerswouldbearound,ofcoursethatwa.s.standardprocedureb.u.t.tirlaknewmostofthemdespitethewaytheyalteredtheirappearances.
TheimportantthingwasthatshehadtheYa.s.simtiedstochange.Sheshouldneverhaveagreedtodoit,butBulbarhadbeeninsistentandthe"talker"ahitmanwhomshewouldnotwillinglyoffendhadtoldherthatshewasbeinggiventheopportunityinrewardforservicesalreadyrendered.HavingconsentedtoaprofessionalengagementwithMamaBobchik,whowasnotonlyanotherpersonitwasunwisetooffendbutsomeonewho,havingpresidedoverTirla"sbirth,wouldalwaysdefendthegirl,Tirlawascommittedontwocountstoattend.
Preparedwithseveralcontingencyplans,Tirlabeganherusualmorningroutinebargainingfortheday"smealsandgettingabathandacleanissueofclothing.Buta.s.sheproceeded,shewa.s.stoppedbyvariousfemaleclients,eachwantinghercompanyduringthisReligiousEventbecausethefeaturedLamashamanwasreputedtospeakintonguesandTirlawasabsolutelytheonlypersonwhowouldfaithfullytellthemeverythinghesaid.Therewasalimit,however,tohowmanypeopleTirlacouldadequatelyrepresent.Surroundedbyveryinsistent,vocal,andphysicallyactiveprospectiveclients,noneofwhomshecaredtoantagonize,sheattemptedtoorganizethem.
"Bilala,youandPilaumustcometogether.Anna,youteamupwithMarika.Zaveta,Elpidiacomesaswell.Chishu,Laow.a.n.gwithyou.
Cyoto,Arisanisyourpartner."Andsoshegroupedthem.Tenpairswasasunmanageableasitwasunavoidable.Beforeshegotintoanyfurtherdifficulties,Tirladiscreetlyremovedherselffrompublicview.Shestillhadtogetthetiedcreditsoutoftheirhideyholesandsecretedaboutherforeasyaccess.
"WehaveanIncident,"Sirikitsaid,herlight,crispvoicecarryingeasilytoBudworth,whowasdutyofficerintheParapsychControlRoom.