"Who?"Budworthsenthisgimballedchairspinningacrossthetiledfloortoherstation.SeeinghimmaneuversorapidlyaroundtheControlRoommadepeopleforgetthathisspinehadbeencrushedinanaccidentandthathehadonlyminimalmovementofhisheadandtwofingers.
"Auer."Sirikit"ssurprisewasreflectedinhervoice.
"Really!"
"Andhertha!"
"That"sanunusualcombination."
"NotifPonsitProsittheGreatFlimflamisinvolved.Icaughtthep.a.forLinearG."
"Itisverytrueshewouldhavehisgutsforgarters,"Budworthsaid,grinningwryly.herthaZoccolawasgenerallyarelaxedandtolerantindividual,butmentionofthatparticularRIGwasenoughtoenrageher.Budworthsethimselfforherfuryinreportingaprecoginvolvingtheman.
WheneverprecognitiveTalentsrespondedtoanIncident,theywouldflashtheCenter,alertingControltoreceiveaverbaldescriptionofwhattheyhadpreviewed.BudworthpositionedhischairatthefingeRboardnexttoSirikitandscratchedhischinontherimofhisheadsupport,feelingthesurgeofexcitedantic.i.p.ationthathealways.e.xperiencedatsuchmoments.
"C"mon,younetheads,report!"heexclaimed.
Sirikitglancedawayfromherscreentogrinathim.Thenableepsounded,startlingbothofthemeventhoughtheywereexpectinganentry."Auerhere,"theemotionlessvoiceannounced,andtheprecog"sfaceappearedinoneoftheresponsescreens."Arealmessyone.Highpanic,screams,mob,kidstrampled,theusualthing.Whydon"tyougrabPonsitands.p.a.cehimtotheshipyards?I"mtiredofprotectingthatscuzfart."
"YousawFlimflamhimself,Auer?"Sirikitaskedencouragingly.AtBudworth"snod,shetookovertheroutinequestions.ShewasoneofthemostdeftatpostIncidentaldebriefing,andAueralwaysrespondedwelltoher.Budworthbusiedhimselfwithtappingoutaqueryforscheduledpublicevents.Morecrowdcontrolwouldhavetobea.s.signedtoLinearG.
Auershruggedwithanindifferencebothobserversknewwasfalse.
"He"sprominent.Allcoloredlightsandglitteringhands.Thenrunningaway.Asusual.Neverstaystocalmtheaudiencesheexcitestoriotpitch."
"Where?"Sirikitencouragedhim.
"YourtypicalResidentiala.s.semblyhall.UsualPonsitbackdrops.
Nothingunusual...except"Auerpaused,frowningdownatsomething.
"Exceptthat"sodd!"
"What"sodd,Auer?"
"Alloverascrawnygirl?"Whenhelookedup,hiseyeswerehaunted.
"Yes?"
"Ifeel...andherdangerisacute.Itdoesn"tendtonight.She"sTalented!"Thatwa.s.saidinasurprisedvoice;thenAuerpa.s.sedahandacrosshiseyes,scrubbingdownward."It"sgonenow.It"sgone."Thescreenblackened.
Anotherscreenbrightened.
"Youshouldn"tallowthatmanapermitatall!"herthaZoccolawasbristlingwithindignation."You"vecaughthimdealingtimeandagain!
Thosepeopledon"thavethecreditstospendonmysticalcuresandmiraclehealings.Hespoutsthemostappallingsortofpantheisttripe.Andintheworstlanguage!"
"Whatdidyousee,hertha?"Budworthaskedtheplumplittlewoman,whostillcherishedaworndeckofTarotcardsthathergreatgrandmotherhadoncereadwithahighenoughdegreeofaccuracytoearnasignificantcreditbalance.
"Ikeeptellingyouthatmanisnothingb.u.t.trouble."Herdoublechinquivered,andherexpressionwasconcerned."Idon"tcareiftheDomesticSatisfactionIndexdoesriseafterhe"splayedaResidential.
WhyshouldweTalentsprotectaquacksalver,afaker,apharisee,ahoaxer,agyp!Anarrantcarnie!"
"We"renotprotectinghim!Now,whatdidyousee,hertha?"
"Halfwaythroughthatthatgibberouseffortofhisyounevercantellwhathe"ssayinginthatmumbojumbleofhisthere"samovement,totheleftoftheplatform..."Shejingledherlefthand,hermanywristbraceletsclackingnoisily."OrdoImeanhisright?"Sheraisedtheotherhand,splayingfingerscrammedwithrings."There"sacommotion.
Ithastodowithalargegroupofwomen."Shewaggledherhandagain,frowning."Theneverythinggoeswild!Aname!They"reallcallinganame!AndIcan"thearwhat.i.tis!Oh,wouldn"tthatcauseasainttoswear!Theonevitaldetail!AndIthoughtIhearditsoclearly..."Shepursedherlipsinconcentrationandthenslowlyshookherhead,sighing."No,it"sgone.I"msosorry."
"Thanks,herthadear.You"vefilledinsomedetails."
"Whoelse?"herthaasked,asalways.
"Auer."
"Him?"herthawasincredulous."Well,what"d"yaknowaboutthat?Dokeepmescreened,Buddy."
"Youbet."BudworthwaspunchingSascha"sofficeasherpicturedissolved."Sascha,wegotanIncident."
"There"sonlyonecrowdcontrollera.s.signedtotheRIG,Budworth,"Sirikitmurmuredtohim."ResidentialLinearGislistedasblue,calm."
"Well,it"sabouttochangecolorunlesswecanneutralize.Sascha,something"sgoingtobustwideatPonsit"smeetingatGtonight."
"LinearG?"ThelargeblueeyesinSascha"sSlaviccastfacewidenedwithsurprise."We"dnothingplannedthere,"hemurmured."Whosawit?"
"BerthaandAuer."
"What?"Sascharaisedhiseyebrows."That"safirst.I"llbebacktoyou,Buddy.I"llorganizeourinfiltrationwiththeBro."Rhyssa,we"vegotanincipientriot.
Thatsortofthing"smoreyourbailiwickthanmine,wasRhyssa"sreply.
GivemyregardstoBoris.
AsthecontactwithSaschafaded,Budworthgrunted,absentlyscratchinghisjaw.Hehopedtherewouldberemotevisualssetupsothathecouldwatchwhatwenton,andifSascha"sLEObrother,Boris,wasinvolved,therewouldbe.Whetherhis.e.xperiencewasvicariousornot,Budworthappreciatedbeinginvolvedintheseunexpectedspectaculars.
OneneverknewwhatwouldhappenduringanIncident.HewashonestenoughinthebackofhismindtheonlysafeplacetothinkintheCentertorealizethathehadnotbeenaphysicallybravepersonevenbeforehisaccident.Stillandall,hefoundthebreathlessantic.i.p.ationandstimulationtobeverypleasantsensationsforonehuskedbyamobilitychair.
Sirikitwasmakingrapidentries,doc.u.mentingtheIncident.AlthoughtheTalentedhadcometohaveimmensecredibility,andthemeticulouslykeptdailyfilesmightgenerallybescannedonlybyResearch,theproceduresoutlinedbytheParapsychicCenter"sfirstadministrator,HenryDarrow,werescrupulouslyfollowed.ThefullspectrumofTalentwasfarfrombeingknownandcertainfacetsofTalentwerenotatallfullydeveloped,asinthecaseofyoungPeterReidinger"sTalentforanelectricalgestalt.AndwhoknewwhatsortofunusualTalentmightyetbediscoveredamongemergents?Budworthsighedasheturnedbacktotaskswhichoncewouldhaveseemedfarfrommundane.
Chapter8.
Tirladidnotdarebelatetothemeeting,butshealsodidnotwanttoarrivetoosoonandriskbeingha.s.sledbyevenmorepeopledemandingherparticula.r.s.ervices.Nomatterwhatbaksheeshwasoffered,shecouldtranslateforonlysomanyatatime,especiallywiththeother,morepressing,mattertocomplete.Thathadtobemanaged.Shechosetoarrivewithenoughtimetodoaquicksurveyandidentifythebestvendors,aswellasanyundercoverLEOsorPHOs.ThefortuitousschedulingoftheReligiousEventstillbotheredher.
Unless...ItoccurredtoTirlathatmaybetherewouldbesomeTreasurypersonsinthecrowd,checkinguponvendors,thatmoneylaunderingitselfwasthetargetofthisoccasion.b.u.t.theTswereeasytospot.
Theywerealways...o...b..iousaboutblendingintothecrowd.
Havingarrangedtomeetthewomenatthemainsoutheastentrance,Tirlaenteredthea.s.semblyatriumfromoneofthesidenorthwestgates.
SomeoneelsehadalreadydisabledtheentranceeyethatreadIdsandcountedattendance,savingherthetrouble.Thepettyvendorshadtheirboothsupandmerchandisedisplayed:mainlytrinketsandsynth-clothes,goodsthatcouldbequicklyshifted.b.u.t.therewereaircushioncartsbeingangledthroughthewiderdoorways,provingthatsomeserioustradingwouldbedone.Shefeltsomewhateasierinhermind.Thebigtraderswouldnotriskthemselvesortheirmerchandiseatariskydisky.
Shetooknoteofpricesa.s.shewendedherwaythroughthegatheringcrowd.Shehopedtherewouldbesomefreshproducewell,freshinthat.i.thadbeenrecentlynickedfromtheundergroundwarehousesthatsuppliedJerhattan"smarkets.Shewouldtreatherselftoanicecrisppepper,carrot,orapplefromtheday"searnings,somethingtosinkherteethintoinsteadofthesubsistencemushorcompoundproteinloaf.
Shewantedtogetastickofrealchewinggum,too,tokeephermouthmoistwhenshestartedtranslating.Shesparedonlyaglancefortheactivityontheplatform,wherehandswererushingabout,drapingcurtainsandswagsandhaulinglightingandsoundequipmentabout.Shewasneverimpressedbypackagingjustthequalityofthecontents.ShefoundgumatFelter"sstallandmadehimlaunderoneofthesmallertiednotes.
Shewasjustsavoringthemintyflavorofhergumwhenshecaughtsightofa.n.a.lltoofamiliarprofileintotallyunfamiliarsynthissueclothing.Ya.s.simwasactuallyhere?Sheduckedbehindalargemaninastainedrobethathadoncebeentheheightoffashion.Hewasholdingupbotharms,wigwaggingatsomeoneonthestage.Thesmellofhimnearlymadeherswallowhergum,buthisoutlinecompletelyobscuredher.
WhatwasYa.s.simdoingere?Tirlawondered.Didn"thetrusther?Ashercamouflagedroppedonearmtocuphishandtohismouthtoshoutadirection,Tirlachancedasecondlook.
Yes,itwashim.Hewasunmistakable.Hehaddonesomethingsubtletohisface,alteringitsshapeprobablypadsinhischeeksandlowerlipbuthehadnot,couldnot,alterthatlongthinhookednoseandtheslopingforehead.Hewalked,asalways,asifheownedtheplace,struttingaboutinalooseoverrobethathadnotsufferedmuchcleaninginitslonglife.Hisheadgearwasalsoappropriatelyworn,torn,andstained.Itwasacreditableattempttoblendin,b.u.t.tirlaknewthemanwasYa.s.sim.Therehewas,saunteringabout,inspectingtrinkets,pausingtoaskquestionsofvendors,appearingtogofromonegroupoffriendstoanother,friendsshequicklyidentifieda.s.someofhismult.i.tudeofladrones,hitters,andsa.s.sins.Wellanddiscreetlyguardedthoughhewas,whywashethere?
Herodorousblockermovedandshemovedwithhim,keepinghimascover.
Whenhestopped,roaringoutinstructions,she,too,didandsawYa.s.simtalkingtothreeNeestermotherswhohadyoungchildrenwiththem.
SuddenlyTirlaknewwhathewasdoingthere.Withequalcertainty,Tirladidnotwanttobeanywhereinhisvicinitywhilechildbuyingwasonhismind.Shedid,however,makeamentalnoteofwhichladronesandsa.s.sinssheknewamonghisfollowers.Therehadtobeoneshecouldtrusttogivehisbossthetiedsshehadexchangedintofloaters.Therewasnowayshecouldavoidthatch.o.r.e.
Subliminalmusichadstarted,andthelightinginthea.s.semblyHallbegantoaltersubtly,heraldingthebeginningoftheReligiousInterpretation.Tirladuckedbehindthenearestvendor"sshillboardandslippedtothesoutheastentrance.
AnagitatedMirdaKhanseemedtohaveeyesinthebackofhermirroradornedheaddress,forsheswungaround,herfacea.s.sharpasapredatorybird"s,asTirlaapproached.ShehookedherfingerspainfullyintoTirla"sgraspandhauledthegirltoher.
"Wherewereyou?Wherewereyou?"Mirdashookherangrily,showeringherwithspittleandsourbreathsothatTirlapulledbackasfara.s.shecould.TheotherwomenwhohadcommissionedhertotranslatetheRlG"swordsformedaclosecirclearoundher.ButsincetheirbodiesalsoshieldedherfromYa.s.sim"snotice,shedidnotresist.
"Iwaspricingthemerch,"shesaid,unrepentantly.
BilalaandPilauweretryingtoedgearoundMirdaandpullTirlatotheirsegmentofthecircle.MirdajammedTirlatightagainstherangularbodywhileMamaBobchiksomehowgotaholdofTirla"sfreearm,effectivelypinningherbetweenthetwoformidablylargewomen.
"He"shere,"TirlasaidtoMirda,squirmingtogiveherselfalittles.p.a.ce.Sherepeatedthephraseuntilallhercustomersknew.
"He?"Mirdastretchedtopeerovertheheadsoftheirlittleknot.
Shegaveasnort."Ya.s.sim"llroastinh.e.l.lbeforeIsellhimanotherchild."HerfingerstightenedconvulsivelyonTirla"sshoulder."Youstayawayfromhim.Youhearmegood?"
Tirlanoddedenthusiastically.IfMirdaknewYa.s.sim,wasthereachanceshecouldinveiglethewomantopa.s.sonthelaundry?Notwithanysureknowledgethatallofitwouldreachhim.
"Hegivesagoodprice,"Elpidiawhined.Shehadagirlchildoldenoughtospinoff.Shealsohadadrughabittokeep,forwhichsheexchangedtheyearlyfruitsofherwomboncetheywereofanagetobesoldoffprofitably.Shefrettedwhetherornottogobacktohersquatandbringdownthechildforhim.
"Iwouldnotselltosuchashim!"Mirdasnappedinherownlanguage,blackeyesflashingscornfully."Priceornot.Evensellingtothestationisbetter."
"Whatdidshesay?"ElpidiademandedofTirla.
Tirlashrugged."Iamhiredtotranslatethespeaker,notsettledisputesbetweenclients,andsheisnotonetoannoy."
ElpidiascowledatMirdaKhan,whohauledTirlaaround,nearlywrenchingherleftarmoutofMamaBobchik"shand.
"Come,"Mirdasaid.HerouterrobebillowingitsmustyfoldsacrossTirla"sface,sheledthegroupforward,actingasaspearheadthroughthestillthinlyscatteredgathering.Shehaltedrightunderthestage,wherenoonecouldthrustinfrontofthemtoblocktheirview.
ShewasabouttopushTirlaforwardwhenthegirlwriggledfree.
"Imustbeabletoseehim.Iwillstandhere,whereIcansee,andwhereallofyoucanhear."Sherepeatedthisuntilitwasclearlyunderstoodbyallherclients.
WithinthecircleshefeltsafefromYa.s.sim.Shebegantorelaxandeventoenjoythemusicdespitethepatchysoundoftheshrillreplayasitgroundthroughamultiethnicrepertoire.Wherewerethefamouslivebackupperformers?Thishadbeenpubliclybilledasanoccasion!
Tirlatooknoteofactivityonthestage,thedraperiesbillowingsuddenlyhereandtherefrommovementbehindthem.Shecouldjustcatchaglimpseoftherighthandwingsandpeoplemillingabout,waitingtogoon.So,therewasachorus.Shemuchpreferredlivesinging.
Outofthecornerofhereyeshecaughtaglimpseofabigmantoherright,wanderingwithalltooapparentindifference.Shesensedapenetratinga.s.sessmentofhercompanionsgoingonunderthebrimofabatteredpeakcap,andsheleanedsurrept.i.tiouslyintoMamaBobchik.
Shefeltsomethingelsethen,asoothingbrushacrosshermindwhichcausedthehigh,sharpchatterofthewomentofalloffintoaless.e.xcitedpitch.Shewasnotsurewhattatwasallabout.
ThemanwasnotTreasury.Shefollowedhisprogress,awarethathewasincontactsomehowwithtwowomenwhogaveeveryevidenceofbeingoblivioustohimastheychatteredandlaughedtogether,jostlingthroughtheearlycomerstofindagoodpositionnearthestage.Shepeeredsuspiciouslyatthetwo,theirfacespaintedwithcarelesshands,oneofthemobviouslypregnant,thoughsheworethegearofaprost.i.tute.Theirfaceswereunfamiliar,andTirlawasbeginningtowonderifthemeetingreallyhadbeenstagedbyanauthoritylikeTreasuryorPHwhenathirdwoman,wellknowntoTirla,greetedthemeffusivelyandstayedtogossip.Readingfromtheirlipsthecommonplaceremarkstheyexchangedsoothedthegirl.Itwa.s.seeingYa.s.simherethatmadehersonervous.Shecertainlydidnotowehimsomuchthathewouldcomeafterher.Shewasnotevenoverduewiththelaunderedcredits.Whathadhappenedtohisstock?Hewasnotoftencaughtshortenoughtobraveapublicaffair.Shetouchedthelittlepouchesoftiedsintheclevervestsheworeforthepurposeunderherissuesuitandrea.s.suredherselfthatallwereinplace.
Afanfareblastedforattention,andtheexcitedbabbledieddowntoeagerantic.i.p.ation.Notabadflourish,Tirlathought,quitewillingtobecarriedalongbyagoodshow.
Thenthechoirstalkedoutselfconsciouslyandarrangedthemselveswithsomepokingandpullingononesideofstagecenter.Asclosea.s.shewas,Tirlacouldseethattheircostumeswereneithercleannornew.
Notallofthemmanagedtofindtherightpitchfromthefinalnoteoftherecordedblurtofbra.s.s.Tirlaknewthesongtheyweresinging,areallyoldgoodone,sothefactthattheyweresingingitbadlywasinexcusable.SheonlyhadtotranslateitforCyotoandArieveryoneelsemumbledalongintheirownlanguages.
Thentheemceecameout,falselybright,andstartedthepitch,wafflingonaboutthetrainingandmeritsoftheReveredVenerablePonsitProsit.AshewasmerelyrepeatingalltheclaptrapaboutmysticaltraininginFarAsiafromthepublicannouncement,TirladidnotstarttotranslateituntilBilalahissedathertoearnherfee.
Therewasanothersong,onewhichslippedfromonemusicalethictoanotherwithnorespectfortonalityorrhythm.Perversely,thesingersmanagedtoperformthetravestycompetently.Tirlaidentifiedsixwhoweres.p.a.cedoutonsomething.ThattheycouldsingatallmightindeedbeaminormiracleofthisRIG.
Therewereflourishesofrecordedinstrumentsandrollsofdrums,whichstirredevenTirla"scynicalpulses.Drumscouldbesoexciting!Agreatcrashingofcymbals,apainfullyglaringdisplayofa.s.sortedlightsandnarrowbeams,anearblastingcrescendoofbuglesynthsaccompaniedbyfragrantsmokebombs,andtheReveredVenerableReligiousInterpreterarrived,hisrobesartfullygleaming.
Herclientsweresuitablyimpressedbyhis"magical"appearance,b.u.t.tirlahadcaughtaglimpseofthesquareapertureinthefloorbeforeheshotupthroughthedensestveilofsmoketohoveronhiscolumnabovethestageandtheawedspectators.Shepreferredsomethingmoredramatic;shehadseenthatsortofentrancesofrequentlythat.i.thadlostanyimpact.Butclearlyshewasaminority.EvenMirdapretendedtobeafraid,coveringherfacewithafoldofherheadcloth.
TheReligiousInterpreterwentintohisactimmediately,faceupturnedsoTirla"sbestviewwasofawagglingchinanddarkholesofnostrils.
Thelightshowdazzledastapedmusicsupportedhismouthingsforthatwaswhattheywere,syllablesmeaningabsolutelynothing,withrandomwordsfromeverylanguageshehadeverheardtossedintoconfuse.
"Whatdoeshesay,theholyman?"Mirdademanded.
"Tellmewhathesay?"MamaBobchikpulledTirlatoher.BilalaandPilauwereequallyinsistent:onekickedTirla"sshin,whiletheothertransferredasubstantialamountofherweightontoTirla"sundefendedtoes.
"Nothing,"Tirlareplied,disgusted."Hesaysnothing!"
Shewaspoked,pushed,andpulled.
"He"ssayingsomething."
"Hespeaksmystically."
"Telluswhathesays."