SaschasatdownonthebedonPeter"sothersideandlookedhelplesslyatRhyssa.
"AsIseeit,"Peterwenton,clearlymoreinchargeofthesituationthanhisadultmentors,"weTalentsdon"thaveanyoption.WeneedtheoneswithMr.BadenintheErasmusSascha,whenIshiftedthatsteeltheotherday,yousaidIhadgraduatedintoareallyusefulcategoryofkinesis.Withenoughpowerinthegestalt,IknowIcanlandtheshuttle."
Saschaslowlyshookhishead."There"sanothermajorconsideration,son..."
"I"vebeenstudyingschematicsonpowergeneration,"Petercontinuedblithely."TuRbosinparticular,asthey"remorereliable."
"Youhave?"RhyssawasconstantlybeingsurprisedbytheturnsofPeter"savidstudying.
"Well,IthoughtIoughttogetsomesortofbasicconceptsfromwhichtowork..."Hesawtheirexpressionsandgavethemalittlesmile.
"Iusedtowatchalotofcollegelevelvidcourses.Theywerealotmoreinterestingthanmostofthelatenightrecreationalgarbage.
Havingtothinkhardtookmymindoffmyselfforawhile.Engineeringwasagoodthink."
SaschaandRhyssawerereducedtonoddinginbelatedcomprehension.
"Especially,"Peteradded,hiseyestwinkling,"asnoonereallyseemedtoknowwhattomakeofmygestalting.Andthat"stheotherconsideration,isn"t.i.t,Sascha?Keepinggestaltkinesisunderwraps?"
"He"sgotusthere,Rhyssa,"Saschasaidwithachagrinedexpression.
"That"swhatyou"rereallyworriedabout,butlook,ifthepilotbringstheshuttledownfarenough,IknowIcanget.i.tsafelythroughtheturbulenceandlandit.Andeventhepilotdoesn"tneedtoknowitwasn"tMr.Badenandtheotherkineticswhosteadiedtheshuttle."
Whenhesawthattheywereseriouslyconsideringhissuggestion,headded,"Itisn"tasifI"dbebringingtheshuttleallthewaydownfromPadrugoibymyself,youknow."
"Andyouthinkthecity"spowersystemwillsupplythenecessarygestaltforyou?"Saschaaskedinawrytone.
"TheEastSideJerhattanpowerstation"sturbosshouldbeenough."
Peter"seyesglowedattheprospectofallthatpowerathisdisposal.
RhyssaandSaschabegantolaughatth.e.s.h.eerimpudence.
"Youknow,Ireallythinkthat"llwork,"Doroteasaid,enteringtheroom.Shewa.s.stillinhernightclothes,afetchingpalelilacthatsetoffherlovelywhitehairandporcelaincomplexion."Sinceeavesdroppingisingeneralordertoday,I"vebeenfollowingtheconversationswithgreatinterest.Therewon"tbetimetotalkthatidiotofapowerresourcescommissionerintoagreeingtoanythingofsuchanexperimental,andhighlyconfidential,nature.Thefewerpeoplewhoknowwhatwe"redoingthebetter."
Herfacetookonanexceedinglyslylook,totallyuncharacteristic.
"Let"sinvokeaGandH!"Shechortled,lookingexceedinglypleasedwithherself."AllwehavetodotheniscallBorisgethimtoclearthepowerstationandusehisofficialcapacitytogetusin."
"InvokeaGandH?"Rhyssastaredattheelderlytelepathasifshehadneverseenherbefore.
"What"saGandH?"Peteraskedjusta.s.saschabegantoguffaw.
"Whydidn"t.i.thinkofthat?"Rhyssaexclaimedinexasperation.TothemystifiedPeter,sheexplained,"That"sourmaydaycode,forGeorgethat"sGeorgeHenner,whoonceownedthishouseandHenrymeaningHenryDarrow,whoestablishedTalentasaverifiableparanormalskill.
IfaTalentinvokesaGandH,hegetsimmediateandunquestionedcooperationfromeveryotherTalent."
Sascharubbedhishandstogether."Youknow,I"vealwayswantedtheexcusetoinvokethatmaydaycode."Brother,hecalled.It"saGandH:weneedescorttotheEastSidepowerstation,andit"stobecleared!Shouldn"tbedifficultwithonlyaminimalnightcrewoncall.
Boris:AGandH?Fascinating.I"mcleaningupafteramajorriotandyouelectthismomentintimetocallaGeorgeandHenry?
Sascha:AllweneedisyouandaLEOheli.
Justme?Borisrespondedsarcastically.
Saschaagreeably:Youtogetusthecooperationweneed.
AndIcanexpectreturncooperationfromyou?Boris,slyly.
Sascha:It"saGeorgeHenrymayday,Bro.Youcan"trefuse.
Boris:Quidproquo,Bro.Iwasabouttorequestyourpresence!
Sascha:Forariot?
Boris:Icouldcertainlyuseyourhelponthisone,Bro.SomeodditieshavecroppedupthatrequireyourparticularlyacutetelepathicTalent.
SascharaisedhiseyebrowsinquiringlyatRhyssa,wh.o.r.eluctantlygaveana.s.sentingnod.
"Didyoufollowthat,Peter?"Rhyssaasked,noticingthattheboy"sfacewa.s.stillregisteringsurprise.
"Yes,"hesaidtentatively.
"Youdon"treallyneedme,Peter,"Saschasaidencouragingly."You"vegotRhyssa..."
"AndDorotea,"theladyaddedstoutly.
"Tobufferyourmind,"Saschacontinued.Don,aswell,Ithink,headdedtoRhyssa.WhydoesBorishavetoneedmeatthismomentintime?
Dorotea:Borisalwaysdidhaveanawkwardstreakinhim.ComesfrombeingaLEObytemperament.
RhyssaturnedbrisklytoPeter."Now,you"dbettergetdressed.Fetchyourcloth.e.s.h.ere.Andwhatshouldhegetforyou,Dorotea?Youcanchangeinmybathroom."
"I"llgetdowntoBudworthforthevitalstatisticsweneed,"Saschasaid."Theweightoftheshuttle,aradarlinkwiththeshuttle,reprosofDaccaingoodweatherweatherreports."IfIreallythinkaboutthisinanydetail,I"llgocrackers!headdedonaveryfinethreadtothetwowomen.
RhyssaandDorotearepliedwithequalfervor:You"llhavecompany!
yPeterthinksbecandoit,Iprefertothinkhecan,Rhyssaadded.
Afterall,it"sthethoughtthatcounts.
Dorotea:That"swhatdoesthetrick.
Thenecessaryequations,basedonPeter"sestablisheduseofthegestaltplusdistance,weight,andoptimumspeedoftheshuttle,atmosphericconditions,andturbulenceatthelandingsite,wereallcompletedbythetimetheLEOheliarrivedtotransportthem.
"Ithoughtyouwerehavingariotofatimeandwe"dgetadeputy,"Saschasaid,buthewas.e.xceedinglyrelievedtohavehisbrother"ssupport.
"Iam,butI"mthebestauthorityyouhaveforwhatever"sgoingon."
Borissmiledwithwhitetoothedmalice."You"llwanttobeinonthisone,Bro.We"vegotaleadonthekidnappings."
Saschasworewithgreatingenuity.
That"sasimportantasthis,Sascha,Rhyssaconceded.WithDoroteaandDontohelpmebufferhim,he"llbefine.
Iwouldn"tinterferewithamaydayifIdidn"thaveto,theLEOcommissionersaid,evenashereacheddowntoa.s.sistDoroteaintotheheli.
Sascha,thekidnappersmustbestopped,Doroteasaidsosternlythathertonestartledallthetelepaths.There!That"ssettled!
"AndthisisPeterReidinger?"Borisasked,asPeterreachedthestepsinhistreadingwatergait."Hi!"
FromthestunnedlookonPeter"sface,RhyssasuddenlyrealizedthatnoonehadthoughttomentiontotheboythattheLEOcommissionerwa.s.sascha"stwinbrother.
"No,you"renotseeingdouble.I"molderbyfiveminutes,"Boriswentonamiably,deftlytakingPeterunderthearmsandhoistinghimaboard.
We"llbothseethemsafelytherebeforeIabductyou,Bro,formylessnefariouspurposes.Theboy"stheGandH?
Saschawaggledhisfingerathisbrother.Naughty,naughty!HeswungaboardandstartedstowingthemedicalequipmentDonUsenikhandedup,ignoringBoris"sgrumbling.WhenDonclimbedin,Saschaslidthedoorshut,andthebighelibusglidedupwardandsoutheast.
BorishadstrappedPeterintoawindowseat,andutterlyentranced,theboygazeddowntheblackcanyonoftheHudsontothema.s.soflightsthatglowedfromeveryzigguratandribbonwayofJerhattan.
"Ratherbreathtakingnomatterhowoftenyouseeit,"RhyssasaidtoPeter,whonoddedwithouttakinghiseyesfromtheview.Bythetimetheylandedontheroofofthefacility,alltheTalentsweresubtlyawareoftheemptinessofthema.s.sivestructure.
"Welldone,Boris,"Doroteasaid."Thisway,Peter!"
"Ihopeyouknowwhatyou"redoing,"Borisremarkedwryly."Myofficeisonthelineinthis!"
"Thanks,Boris,"Rhyssasaid."Canyouretrieveuswhenweshout?"
"IfIcan"tspareSascha,I"llsendsomeoneyoucantrust,"theLEOcommissionersaidashehandedDonhismonitors.Thenthebigheliliftedawayfromthehelipad.
RhyssatookoneequipmentcasefromDonashehauledopentheroofdoor.a.s.soonasPeterglidedinside,hebegantoemanateexcitement,hiseyessparklingwithantic.i.p.ationwhilehemaneuvereddownthestairs.Theyenteredabovethehugeturbines,whichwerehummingslightlyastheyservedtheneedsofthegreatmetropolis.Theyturnedintothecontrolroomthatoverlookedtheturbinefloor,aroomlinedwiththeequipmentthatregisteredtheflowofelectricitytothevarioussubstations.Withanineffableair,Petera.s.sumedtheconformablechairofthedutyengineer,swingingitidlyfromsidetosideuntiltheadultsorganizedthemonitorsandstartedhookinghimup.
AbovethewindowsoverlookingtheturbinesweresufficientvidscreenstodisplaywhatPeterneededtosee.Rhyssabeganenteringtheappropriateprograms,bringingupononescreenahighresolutionfaxprintoftheErasmus;onanother,adisplayofitsspecifications;thenweathersimulations;andfinallylinkingthestation"scommunicationsgridtothemainNASAboardtofollowtheshuttle"sdescent.TheErasmuswasalreadyinflight,havingbegunitsdescentpromptlyat0800stationtime,0130Earthtime.Thepowerstationclockread0550asthedeepradarnetbegantoshowtheshuttle"sspiralingdescent.ThefinalscreenpicturedtheDaccaairport,lashedwithrainandwhippedbyfiercegustsofwindsthatshiftedtreetrunks,partsofcars,crates,andallsortsofdebrisacrosstheconcreterunwaywherePeterwastobringtheErasmussafelydown.
WhenDonUsenikhadcompletedhischeckoftheequipmentmonitoringPeter,RhyssaandDoroteatookseatsbehindthem,themindofeachlightlytouchingtheboy"s.Heseemednottonotice,sointentwasheontheErasmus"scourse.Justasithittheatmosphere,thegeneratorsbegantowhine.
Rhyssashookherhead,asunableastheotherstoreachthatpartofPeter"smindthathadlinkedwiththeenormouspoweroftheturbinesbelowthem.Thewhinebuilt,thedecibelsincreasingtoa.n.a.lmostunbearablepitch.Doroteascrunchedherfeaturesup,unashamedlycoveringherearswithherhands.Rhyssawa.s.staringindisbeliefatthewildlyalteredreadingsonthecontrolconsole.DonUsenikkepthiseyesonhismedicalmonitors.Peterremainedoutwardlycomposed.
Rhyssanoticedtheslightlycondescendingsmileonhisfaceandjusthopedhewasnotabouttooverreachhimself.
SimultaneouslybothsheandDonnoticedtheperspirationontheboy"sforehead,b.u.t.thesmileremainedinplace.Thegeneratorsreachedafrenziedpeakandmaintainedit.AndthetouchofPeter"smindaltered!Itbecameharda.s.stone.Peterhadnotlockedmentalcontactout,buthehadsuddenlyrestrictedthecontactarea,indicatingintenseconcentration.RhyssacaughtDorotea"seyes,b.u.t.theolderwomanmerelypointedtoDon"spatientandunalarmedwatchofthemonitors.ThedescentoftheErasmusvisiblysteadiedandslowed.
He"sdoneit!Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexclaimedinmutedcongratulatorytones.
RhyssahopedsomeonewasrecordingforposteritywhatwasunquestionablythemostdramaticmomentforTalentsinceaGooseggregisteredHenryDarrow"sdeltawavepatternduringthatfirstrecordedprecognitiveIncident.HermindstillincontactwiththatpartofPeter"swhichwasaccessibletoherselfandDorotea,shewatchedtheErasmuslanding,comingtoagentlestopatthepa.s.sengerterminal,seeminglyuntouchedbythebatteringwind.Petergavealittlechuckle,andsuddenlytheturbulencebetweenshuttleandterminalabated,aneeriestormeyeofabsolutecalm.Pa.s.sengershastilydisembarked,pausinginastonishmentastheybecameawareofthesurroundinglull.One,hisfaceindistinctonthesmallscreen,liftedclaspedhandsabovehisheadinavictorysignandthenhurriedintothedubioussafetyofthewindbatteredterminal.
"WhereshouldIsendtheshuttle,Rhyssa?OnceIletgo,thatturbulencewilljustflipflopitallovertheplace."
Ihadn"tthoughtthatfarahead,RhyssaadmittedonthequiettoDorotea.
"TheweatherchartssuggestthatWoomerawouldbethesafestplace,Peter,but..."Doroteaquicklyscannedtheworldwidemeteorologicalreport.
OnlyaslightincreaseinthegeneratorsindicatedtheeffortinvolvedastheErasmusslowlyturnedandstartedbacktothemainrunway.
"Ithinkwe"dbetterwarnthepilotwherehe"sgoing,"Rhyssasaid,andspokeurgentlytoSirikitattheControlCenter.
We"vehadthemostunusualbrown-outhere,Sirikittoldher.
GetMainAirControltowarntheErasmuspilotASAPthathe"sbeingdivertedtoWoomera.
Erasmus?Diverted?ForoncetheThaiwoman"stranquillityslippedintoastonishment.Ofcourse!Immediately!
Preferablybeforebewetshisbritches,Donaddedasanaside,makingbothRhyssaandDoroteagrin.
Noneofthethreeadultscouldfeelanystressinthemindoftheboy,whowastotallywrappedinthecuriousprocessofgestalt.Physicallyhelookedmorefrailthanever,andthebonesofhisskullseemedtoexpandunderthethinskinofhishead.Theycouldallfeelthetremendouspowersurgingthroughhim,b.u.t.theycouldnotdeducehowheeffectedthecontrol.
Slowly,againstallthetenetsofaerodynamicsandinspiteoftheprevailingturbulence,theErasmusspeddowntherunwayandachievedaperfecttakeoff.
"Idon"tbelievethis,"Rhyssamutteredsoftly."Whotaughthimtoyplanes?"
"Everyboyinthisgenerationunderstandsshuttlecraft,"Donremarked,buthis.e.xpressionwasnolessbemusedthantheirs.HewatchedastheErasmusclimbedslowlyupintotheswirlingrainandcloudsandoutofsight.Theyfollowedituptothesupersoniclevel.
Thegeneratorswounddownfromtheirbusypitch.
"There!"Petersaidsuddenlywithanoteofcompletesatisfactioninhisvoice."He"sfiringhisengines,andheshouldknowwhattodonow.ItoldhimtolandinWoomera.Thatwasfun!"headdedwithlessvigor.Hewas.e.xtremelypaleandstillperspiringheavily."Thatwasalotoffun!"Hiseyesgleamed,andhegrinnedatDonUsenik,whoshookhisheadwithincredulityashepointedtoa.n.a.lmostnormalpatternonthebioscanscreen.
"Fun?Youcalledthatfun,Peter?"Rhyssaexclaimedalmostangrily,realizingthatshehadbeenunderatremendousstrainofworryevenifPeterhadnot.
"Withpowerlikethis,Icouldlofttheshuttlemucheasierthanthepilotcould,"Petersaidinavoicethatwa.s.suddenlyhoa.r.s.ewithfatigue.
Dorotea,veryprivatelytoRhyssa:"How"reyougoingtokeep"emdownonthefarm,afterthey"veseenParee?"Sherolledhereyes.e.xpressively.
"Markedfatigue,lowenergylevel,buteventhat"swithinwhatI"dcallthenormalrangeforaTalent,"Donannouncedinabaffledtone."Youdidgreat,Peter,"headdedproudly.
Clearingherthroat,Rhyssasaidwearily,"Idon"tthinkLudmilla"sgoingtobelievethatonboardTalentsalso"portedtheshuttleoutagain."
"Well,Icouldn"tleaveitontherunway,Rhyssa,nowcouldI?"Peteraskedwithwearyirritation."Thoseshuttlescostbillions."
Suddenlyallthetelepathswereawareofothertouches,vyingtoreachtheirminds.
Kayankira:Ob,thankyou,thankyou.Howdidyoumanage?
Rhyssa,Dorotea,andDonexchangedglances.
No,Rhyssa,Doroteasaidonaverythinthreadtotheothertwo,wedidn"tthinkthiswholethingthroughverycarefully.
RhyssagulpedandrepliedwithanevennessinhermentaltonethatDoroteaapplauded,Lanceisrightthere.Itwasallhisidea.ArealGandH.Wasn"t.i.t,Lance?