Inmoments,HenryandMollyarrivedintimeforPatsy"sphonecallofsuchdetailsa.s.she"d"seen."
"I"monthewateragain,"shesaid,breathlessinanattempttoverbalizebeforedetailsescapedher."Andthere"reboats.Four.
Sun"satalateafternoonangle,onmyleftsoImustbelookingnorth.
There"slandbeyondtheboats,pines,abluff.Andoilonthewater.
Icanseeitallrainbowy.Theoilscaresme.It"sgoingtoignite,andthenthewater"scoveredwithflamesandtheboatsareeatenupand...oh,it"sgoingtobewicked,Ben.Canyoulocate?HaveIgivenyouenough?Ican"trememberanymoreandtheflamescoveranydetails."
"Itisasooner?"
"Awfulsoon.Today.I"msureofit.But.i.t"smorning,andIsawlateafternoon...istheretimeenough?"
"Sure.Plentyoftime.I"mfeedingthecomputerwiththedatarightnow.Olddidacticwillpintheplacedown,Pat.Buthaveyouanotionaboutthesizeoftheboatsinvolved?"
"Oh,yes,ofcourse.Howstupidofme.Iforgetyouhaven"tseen.
One"ssmall,apleasurecraft...apowerboat...nosails.That"stheonethatgoesonfire.Twolonglowboats...Iguessthey"dbetankers.Andahigherboat...Imean,onehigherabovethewater...
Andthey"reallmuchtooclosetogether.That"stheproblembecausethey"llallcatchfire."
"Apleasureboat,twotankersandafreighterinthelateafternoon.
That"sfine,Pat.Andthepinesandbluffandbeingclosetogetherindicateachannelofsomedescription.Now...thinkhardagain,Pat.
Didyouseeanymarkingsontheboats,funnelmarkings,ensigns,names?"
AfterasilencePatmournfullyadmitted"seeing"nothingbecausethefireandsmokeoccluded.
"Getoneofthepyrosonit,"HenrytoldBen."Patsy,Henryhere.
That"sagoodjob,la.s.s.Nowtakeiteasy.We"llbuzzyoubackwithconfirmation.Grandwork,Pat."Henrydisconnectedherline,shakinghishead,knowinghowworriedthegirlwouldbeuntilsheheardthey"dpreventedthecollision.Ifonlythere"dbeenmarkingstospeedupidentification,andthenifthepartic.i.p.antscouldbedissuadedfromarrivingonthepreviewedscene....Hemoveddeliberatelytothecomputerpanelandbegantappingoutqueries."Undoubtedlyaseaway.
CouldbeSheepsheadBayarea,EastRiver...no,notthere.Oroneoftheca.n.a.ls..."
"St.Lawrence,withtankersandfreighters..."suggestedBen.
"OrtheGreatLakes..."saidMolly.
Beforethere"dbeenaprintoutonpossiblelocationsorwhattrafficwasalreadyintheSt.LawrenceSeaway,asecondgraphbegantochatter.
"Rightontime,"saidBen."Here"sTerry,ourlocalfriendlyreliablepyro."
"Howcomeyoudon"tknow,Hank?"GeorgeHennerasked,settlinghimselfonastoolinthecorner.
"Notenoughpeopleinvolved,George,andtooclosearangeforme.
That"sPatsy"sspecialtycliffhangers.Besides,don"tyouagreethatthegoodexecutivemakesallthelongrangedecisionsandleavesthepicayunenittygrittydetailstokeephisstaffoccupied?"
Georgegrinnedbuthesaidnothingmore,listeningasintentlyastheotherstoTerryCle"sverbalizationofhis"sight."ThebroadoutlinecorrelatedwithPatsy"salthoughhe"saw"theeventfromadifferentperspective.HehadsufficientdetailononetankerandthesmallcrafttoresultinexactIds...o...b..thfromShipRegistration.AndtherewasatankeroftheIricoilLineproceedingdowntheSeawayenrouteforToronto,ETA7:48PMatthatport.Thesmallcraft,theAitchBee,wasregisteredtoanA.Frascati,andwasatthatmomentmooredinasmallboatbasinontheAmericansideoftheSeaway.
ProbabilityfiguresthecostofthecollisionandfireatseveralmillionsandathirtysixhourtieupofSeawaytraffic,plusdelayedcargoeswhichwouldcomplicateschedulesandroutinesforninety-twocompanies,involvingworklossofsomeeighteenthousandpeople.
"Okay,Ben,getouttheusualwarningformat.SeeifIricoilwilllistentous."
"AndifIricoildoesn"twanttobelieve?"
"WegetafterthisFrascati.Infact,he"dbeeasiertobullythanIricoilbutwe"vegottowarnthem,too."
Iricoilwa.s.suspiciousanduncooperativeand,inphrasesjustshortofinsult,refusedtoconsiderdivertingthetanker.ItssupplieswereurgentlyrequiredinTorontobylateevening.Frascatiwasnotathishomenorinhisbusinessoffice.UrgentmessageswereleftforthemantocontacttheCenterbeforetakingouthispleasurecraft.HenrywasdialingtheSeawayAuthorityControlwhenGeorgecuttheconnection.
"I"vegotanidea,Hank,"Georgesaid."I"vewatchedthisroutinesooftenandseenyouinsulted,ignored,andcalumniated.Noonetruststhealtruistanymore,whetherhe"sTalentedornot.You"vewarnedIricoil,triedtodothemafavor.Theyaren"tbuying.Well,likethepuppywholeavestoomanymessages,let"srubtheirnoseinit."
"Youmean,lettheaccidentoccur?"
"Moreorless.Consideringwhat"sinvolvedintermsofcreditandworkloss,andconsideringthatIhavesharesinfourofthecompaniestobeaffectedbythesnarlup,w.i.l.l.youplayitmyway,thisonce?"
Henrybegantorelax."Whathaveyouinmind,George?"
"YoudidleavetimedmessagesatIricoilandforFrascati,didn"tyou?"
BenAvedontappedthecomputerpanel."Alltimesealed,George."
"Fine.Now,issueafaxwarningtoSeawayAuthority.ThengivemeafewcomlinestoworkfromandMollytohelpme.IreneewastellingmeabouttheirnewoilpollutantatDupont.ThiswouldbegoodPRforhim.
Alwaysliketoobligefriends.Whichremindsme,yougetontoJimLawson...ourreveredGovernorowesyouafavorortwoforthatbulletStevestopped.AndaskhimforafewmoreVTOLsandacoupleoffrogmen."
"Why?"
"Youdon"tknow?"
Henrygrinned."Wouldyoubelieveaneducatedguess?"
Hennerchuckled."My,my,howthemightyhavefallen!Guessing!"
"Runtheshowyourway,George."
"Yes,letaproshowyouhow,HenryDarrow.You"retood.a.m.nedsoft.
Youtalktoomuch.ActionspeakslouderthanahundredofyourTalentedwords."
Atexactly16:32hoursofabrightspringafternoon,anIricoiltankerproceedingdowntheSt.LawrenceSeawayfouleditspropelloronatangleofsteelcables,originunknown.ThetankerdriftedathwartthecurrentasaUnitedLinefreighterenteredthenarrowchannelfromtheoppositedirection.Asecondtanker,alsoUnitedLine,makingspeedenoughtoreachTorontoportbydark,cruisedintothedangerzone,althoughitwasapparentthattheIricoilboatwasindistress.BothUnitedLineshipscontinued,evidentlyhopingtopa.s.stheinjuredvessel,oneontheport,theotheronthestarboard.Likelytheywouldhavesucceededb.u.t.theAitchBee,alsoimpatienttoreachport,camebucketingdownthesearoute.Itswungratherclosetothedistressedvessel.AsFrascatieveraftermaintained,hewantedtoseeifhecouldbeofanya.s.sistanceingettingamessageash.o.r.e:aridiculousalibisincethetankerwaswellequippedbyradioandshipsh.o.r.etelephone.Frascati"spropellorbecamefouledonthesamevillaincable.Thefreighterbegantopa.s.sthedisabledpairandherwashslammedthesmallcraftintotheIricoiltanker.TheUnitedLinetankerwasbroadsideoftheIricoilwhenherbowswungout.Tanker#2swungtostarboardtoavoidacollisionandhersternbangedintoIricoil,splittingaseamintheaftoilholdjustasthesmallcraftwasgroundbetweenthetwobiggerhulls.Itsgalleyfirescaughtoldgreaseandspreadinthecabinastheyacht"sgasolinetankwasbreached.OilpouringfromtheIricoilvesselwouldshortlyignitefromthatflame.
Atthispointthehoveringrescuecoptersintervenedasnewsmediacamerasrecordedtheeventfromeveryangle.Foamquicklydousedtheyachtfire,theoilpollutionmaterialgobbledupthesplitpetroleumandkineticsheldbackadditionaloillossbypressureuntiltheteleportscouldgettheconvenientlyhandyplatesintoposition.Otherkineticsandthefrogmenworkedloosethesteelcableanditwashoistedoutoftheway."Captain"Frascatiandthetwocrewmembers(hissons)ofthedamagedyachtwereliftedupandanotherteamofkineticskeptthelittleshipfloatinguntilthebelatedlyarrivingcoastguardcuttercouldtowitintoport.
TheSeawaywas...o...b..ockedsinceallfourvesselswereclearedoutofthenarrowchannelbeforeothersmadethepa.s.sage.Therewasnolossoflifeandnolongtermpollutionofthewater.TheParapsychicteamswerevolublyandembarra.s.singlythankedforpreventingamajordisaster,andbyc.o.c.ktailtimeeveryonewaspleasedbythedenouement,especiallyPatsyTuckerandTerryCle.
Thecongratulatoryeuphorialastedtwelvehours,atwhichpointtheSeawayAuthoritybegantorealizethatmattershadcometoneardisasterinanunprecedentedway.
"Whatwasthemeaningofsendingusonlyafaxtoannounceamajordisaster?"theSeawayCommissionerdemandedinsuchstentoriantonesthatGeorgeHennerneednothavelistenedinonthesecondcomunitinHenry"soffice.
"Youwereinformedbyfaxasusual,"Henryrepliedinamildtoneofvoice.
"Byfax!Whencountlessmillionsofcreditswereatstake?Andblockageofthemostimportant.w.a.terwayinNorthAmerica?Anddoyourealizethatwehaveonlyjustbalancedthesealifeecologyinthatstripofwaterway?Thatoil..."
"Youwereinformed..."
"Well,I"minformingyouthatyou"reinforasuitofcriminalnegligence..."
"Negligenceofwhat,Commissioner?Youwereinformedninehoursandthirtyeightminutespriortotheaccidentbythis.e.xofficiogroup,whichisnotagovernmentsponsoredoraccreditedagency.Weactforandinthepublicinterest.Butweareunderstaffedandoverworked.
Youcouldhavequeriedthisofficeformoreparticulars,althoughallwehadwereincludedinthatfax.YourAuthoritycouldhaveheldbackanyoneofthefourvesselsinvolved,thuspreventingthe..."
"AreyouaccusingtheSeawayAuthorityofnegligence?"
Henryheldthereceiverawayfromhisear,shookhishead,andrepliedinhismildestmanner,"Forewarnedisforearmed,sir."HecaughtGeorgeHennergivingthehighsignofapproval.
"You"llhearfromus,Darrow.Youpeoplecan"tgetawaywithirresponsiblebehaviorlikethis."
Theconnectionwasrudelyandnoisilybroken.
"Didyoufigurealawsuitinyourcalculations,George?"askedHenry.
Hennerrubbedhishandstogetheringlee."Iftheysue,we"dwin."
Henrycouldn"texactlyshareinHenner"sgleefulantic.i.p.ation.Theprecogknewofthemult.i.tudeoflawsuitswhichwouldbeservedonTalentsinthenextdecadesandth.e.s.h.eercostofinspireddefensemadehimshudder.Themoneywouldbeavailablebut.i.twascreditthatcouldbeusedtobetteradvantageintrainingandidentifyingTalent,notdefendingagainstmisunderstandingandgreed.Bylateafternoon,Henry"spremonitionsofimmediatedisasterwereborneoutbyadditionalsuitsofnegligencewhicharrivedfromUnitedLine,IricoilTankersandA.Frascati.
"Letmehandlethis,"GeorgeHennertoldHenryandhishastilyconvenedexecutivestaff."Idon"tneedanycrystalballoranerodicgraphneedletotellmehowtomanagethissortofc.r.a.p."
BeforehehadHenry"svoicedapproval,hewasonthewirestothemajormedianetworks,chattingfamiliarlywithpresidentsandcommissioners.
BythetimethefilmsoftheParapsychicCenter"sa.s.sistancehadbeenwidelyaired,withafewchoicecommentsonhowtheCenteroperatedtoforestallmajordisasters,thethreatenedlegalactionagainsttheTalentswaswithdrawn.SuitswereenteredagainsttheSeawayforcriminalnegligence.ThentheCenter,onGeorgeHenner"sadvice("Make"empayforit,whentheydon"tlistentoyou."),sentbillsfortherescueoperationstoFrascati,UnitedLineandIricoilTankers.
"Andfromnowon,Henry,"Georgesaid,"don"teverfollowupyourfaxedwarningswithpersonalphonecalls.Don"tbethesupplicant,d.a.m.nit.
Betheprelate!"
Henrywatchedwithinneramus.e.m.e.ntasGeorgeHennerpacedupanddownthefloor,hiseyesflashing,evenhisstridefirmandaggressivesothatHenrycouldseetracesofthestrengthswhichhadama.s.sedGeorgeHennerhisconsiderablefortuneandwhichhadoverwhelmedlessdeterminedadversariesinthebusinessworld.
"There"snopointinyoubruisingyourlarynxwithpersuasion.You"veprovedyourworthoverandoveragainandthisSeawaybollixoughttomakeavalidatedParapsychicwarningworththepaperit"sprintedon,evenatthedreadfulpriceofpaperthesedays."
"Asoundargument,George,andIappreciateyourhelp..."
Georgestoppedmidstride,glaringatHenrythroughnarrowedlids.
"Yes,Iamhelpingyou,aren"tI?Shouldn"tdothat,shouldI?"
"Myfriendlyenemy,"repliedHenrywithalaugh.
"Ha!Tellmethatwhenmyexecutorss.n.a.t.c.htherugofBeechwoodsfromunderyourtelepatheticfeet..."
"Andweneedyou,George,"HenryraisedhisvoicetooverwhelmHenner"ssnideremarks."IfIcanconvinceaskepticlikeyou,I"mwellawaytoswayingJohn(Publictomyside.He"smorevariablethanyou,andhewillbethehardesttowinover."
JohnOPublic,however,quixoticallydecidedtheSeawayAuthorityhadbeenfoolishtoignoretheParapsychicwarning.CriticismwasheapedontheSeawayfromeveryquarter.LatertheAuthoritywa.s.somewhatexoneratedofprimaryguiltsincetheCourtfeltthatgoodjudgmentonthepartofanyoneoftheotherthreeskipperswouldhavepreventedtheaccidentandnocostswereawardedtheclaimants.TheofficialrecordscitedandcreditedtheParapsychicCenterwithavertingamajorcalamity,andlossoflifeandproperty.AllTransportAuthoritieswereseverelyenjoinedtoheedanywarningsfromtheCenterwhichinvolvedpublictransport.
Forthenextfewweeksallprecogsoftrafficproblems,possiblefire,stormorspringfloodsthroughouttheworldwereinstantlyactedupon.
TheCenterwasbesiegedwithanxiouscallsaboutwhetherMr.Scouldundertakethatlongdistanceflight,orMrs.JcouldsafelymakeherannualpilgrimagefromFloridatoWisconsin,andiftherehadbeenanyprecogaboutthetransferofcyanidecylinderstotheauthorizedAtlanticTrenchdump.ThousandsofhopefulpeopleappliedforthesimpletestswhichwouldindicateiftheypossessedsomeusefulTalent.
"It"sanillwindthatblowsnogood,"HenryremarkedtoMollyafteranotherhecticdayansweringurgentcallsanddealingwithanxiousqueries.
"Isupposeso,"shesaid,sinkingwearilyintothearmchairoftheirprivatesuiteinthemainhouse."ButIwishwehadmoreGooseggsorasurerwayofspottingtheliveones."
"Anytoday?"HenryfixedMollyastiffdrink.
"Yes,"andshebrightenedasifshe"dtemporarilyforgottentheevent.
"Oneverystrongreceivingtelepathoutoffortyfiveaspirants."Sheacceptedthedrink,turningthegla.s.sinherhandasiftheamberliquidheldsomeotheranswer."Henry,theycomeinsohopeful...
andsomeofthemleavesoangryanddisappointed.Asifweoughttobeabletofindwhatdoesn"texist..."
"Notyourfault,love.Everyonewantstobe,insomeway,unique,andcan"trealizethatbeinguniqueisaresponsibilityaswellasaprivilege.Youcan"tcurethat.Howstrong"sthetelepath?"
Mollybrightened."Ithinkhe"sverystrong,buthe"sbeenblockingthoughts,thewaytheyalldo.Outoffear.Hemayneedalotoftraining."
"No,nottoomuch,"Henrysaideasily,pullinghischairclosetoMollyandclaspingherfreehand."Youngfellow,isn"the?Welshextraction,Welshname.Right?"
"Ijustsentthereportin..."Mollybegan,startled,andstoppedmidsentence,arrestedbyHenry"sknowinglook."Notanotherone,Henry?"
"Theydoseemtoappearrightonschedule,"Henrygrinnedatherb.u.t.therewasashadowinhiseyes."Rightonschedule.OnedayI"llbewrong."
"Don"t,Henry."Sheclaspedhishandtightly,rea.s.suringly,knowingthestrainofhisunfortunateinfallibility,knowingthatsomeoftheeventsheforesawhe"drathernothaveseen."And,heis,asyoupredicted,Welsh,"shewentoninalightvoice,"byname,DaffydopOwen.Verylikeablechap.He"simportant?"
Henrynodded."Hewon"tneedmorethansomebasicpointersandafewquietweeksheretowashthe"noise"outofhismindandlearntoprojectaswellasreceive."
"Well,that"soneontheplussideoftheledger."Sherotatedhershoulderstoeasetheday"sstrainsbutHenry"sdisclosureaboutyoungopOwenmadeherfeelmuchbetteraboutherlabors.
"Whenishemovingin?"
"Don"tyouknow?"sheaskedinabanteringfashion.
"WhatIknowIwishIdidn"t.WhatI"dgiveanythingtoknow,Ihavetowaitandsee."
Shesmiledathimlovingly."Youmean,ifweretainBeechwoods?"Whenhenodded,shechidedhimgently."Howoftenhaveyoubeenwronginthemerestdetail?"
"It"snothowoftenI"mright,Mollyluv,it"swillIbewrongthistime,thisonce?Thisimportant,crucial,criticalonce?Suchaterriblegift,luv.Terriblewhenyourknowledgemeansthelossofafriend..."
"Henry,yourrecognition,theverychallengeoftheCenter,"andherarmgestureencompa.s.sedallofBeechwoods,"havekeptGeorgeHenneralive...andkicking."ShepeeredintoHenry"sface,rea.s.suringhimbytouch,wordandlook."He"sdeterminedtodoyououtofBeechwoods,ifonlybyaminute.Thatdeterminationaloneha.s.strengthenedhisholdonlife.I"veseenhismedicalreports,Henry,Iknow."Sheleanedbackinherchair."You"vedonehimquiteafavorandheknowsit.Ishouldn"tbesurprisedifhehasn"tlefttheCenterBeechwoodsanyway."