Bythetimetheyreachedtheloadingdock,Sascha"smuscleswereprotestingtheirabuse.Theteamhadloadedthechildrenintothecars,andthedockwasfullofcargotobetransshipped.
"Youcutthatfine,Sascha,"theteamleadertoldhim."There"llbeagoodstrainthroughhereintwominutes.We"renotsupposedtodisrupttheservice."
TirlatuggedimperiouslyatSascha"ssleeve."Myfloaters."
Withonehandhepa.s.sedthemtoher,withtheotherhegrabbedherwrist."Notricksnow.There"smorebusinesswecandotogether.
We"lldiscussitbackinG."
Saschadidnotknowwhetheritwashersurprisethatallowedhimtocaptureherorifshewaswillinglycooperatingwithhim.Butsheenteredthecaraheadofhimashetriedtokeephisgripfrombreakingfragilebones.
Go!hetoldthedriver,andthestartingpressureofthespecialtrainpushedhimagainstthepaddedendofhiscar.
"AreyoutakingusalltoG?"Hertonewascasual.
"That"swhatyouwanted,wasn"t.i.t?TogetthekidsbacktoG?"
"Ikeptourbargain."Hervoiceheldanelementofantagonism.
"SowillI.BackatG.Thenwedealagain."
Shewa.s.silentforalongtime,thinkingthatover.
Chapter11.
Petertriedtofollowthetridmeteorologist"sreportonthe,latestfreakweatherconditionsthatseemedworldwide,Bangladeshbeingtheworstexample.Itwasdifficulttoconcentratewhenhefelt"problem"hoveringintheair.Heknewhehaddonenothingwrong;infact,heknewthathehaddonesomethingmostextraordinary,aboutwhichhefeltverygoodindeed.But.i.twashardnottobeworried.HecouldsensethenebulousanxietyemanatingfromRhyssa,Dorotea,andSascha.HeshouldnothaveaskedDoroteaaboutabiggergenerator.Themomentthewordswereoutofhismouth,heknewitwasthewrongtime.Buthehadprovedwhathecoulddowithenoughpowertoincreasethegestalt,andthat4.5feltlikepunykidstuffnow.
Kidstuff!Petergrinnedtohimselfandgavethe4.5alittleshove;itwhinedobediently.Likeadog.Andwhowashekidding?Hewa.s.stillonlyafourteenyearoldboy.HehadalreadyabsorbedenoughTalentdisciplineandseenenoughexamplesofthesortofpeopleTalentsweretorealizethathehadrushedthegate.Onedidnotclimbmountainswhenonecouldnotwalk.Rhyssa,Sascha,andDoroteahadsupportedhimthroughouttheentireErasmusincident,readytohelphim,readytokeephimfromburninghimselfout.Andhehadn"t.Buthaditbeenbecausetheyhadbeenrighttheretoprotecthim?Thinkaboutthat,Peteyboy,andgetyourswelledheadbacktonormal.Therearealotofthingsyoucantdojustyet.
Hepouredhimselfanothergla.s.soforangejuiceandbrought.i.ttothelivingroomasthebroadcasterannouncedthatonceagainsupplyshuttlesforPadrugoihadbeengroundedbyweatherconditions.Thescreendepictedtherankoffourperpendiculars.p.a.cevehicles,lockedintotheirgantries,waitingforliftoffconditionswithurgentlyneededmaterielsothattheFirstWorldProjectwouldbefinishedintime.
Talentswerehelpingtodothat,Peterthoughtwithalittlethrillofcorporatepride.HehadjuststartedwonderinghowbigageneratorhewouldneedtosendashuttlesafelythroughthefoulweatherwhentheprogramswitchedtocoverageofthefloodinginBangladesh.TherewerenoscenesactuallyshowingtheTalentsatwork;teamsofdoctorsandrescueworkerswerefilmedrushingabout.TherewasalsonomentionofexactlyhowtheErasmushadlandedsosafelyatDacca.Hehadnotreallyexpectedtobementionedpublicly.ButonewouldthinkthattherewouldhavebeensomecommentthatTalentswereriskingtheirlivesintheappallingmonsoonconditions.Theresultsoftheirworkwa.s.shown,allrightenough,butsomehowthatdidnotseemtobeenough.
RhyssaandDoroteawerealwayssubtlymentioninghowimportant.i.twasnottorubTalentintopeople"snoses.Peopleresenteddifferences.
Talenthadalwaystobediscreet.Thewayhismotherlookedathimhaddemonstratedthat!Petergrimaced.Hisownmotherwa.s.scaredofhimnow.Whenhehadbeentotallyhelpless,shehadbeensogoodaboutcomingtoseehim,hugginghim,kissinghim,alwaysbringinghimsomething:afaxclipabouthisfavoriteballteam,acoupleofherspecialcookies,afewflowers.Nowwhenshevisitedshewouldnothughim;shesatboltuprightinthechairandtriednottolookathimwhenhewantedsomuchtoshowherwhatTalentallowedhimtodo.
WhenMumwasthereheredoubledhiseffortstoappeartowalknormallyandcarrythingsproperlysoitwouldnotfreakherout.HowoftenhadshesaidsheprayedeverynighttoseePeteyonhisfeetandwalkingaround?Andsheneverlookedathimnow.Sheneveroncementionedhisballteam.Notthathewouldeverplaysandlotbaseballagain...ThenPetergrinned,thinkingwhathomershecouldwhackandhowfasthecouldrunthebases.Maybenowhecouldbethepitcherhehadalwayswantedtobe...Hisfastballwouldbesomethingelse!Evenifheonlyusedthe4.5!
Buthehadgonepastthatsortofordinarything,hadn"the?Whenonecouldzapshuttlesaboutlikegameboardpieces,ordinaryaccomplishmentsnolongersatisfied.
Hedrankhisorangejuice.
Notallordinarythings,though.Someveryordinaryandextremelyhomelyactionslikegettinghimselfanorangejuicewhenhefeltthirstyforitwere,inaspecialway,farmoreimportantthanwhathehaddonewiththeErasmus.
Hesenttheemptygla.s.sbacktothekitchen,rinseditout,andput.i.tupsidedownonthedrainboard.
Hehadtokeepthingsinperspective.Itwasmoreimportanttohavethefreedomtodolittlethingsandtheoptiontodobiggerones.But,jeez,ithadbeenawonderfulfeelingtohaveallthatpoweranddosomethingnooneelsecouldhavedonewithitjustwhenhelpwasneeded.
Thetridwa.s.showingfloodwaterflowingobedientlyawayfromasmalltownanditssurroundingfields.Thesandbagsandbarriersalongitstorrentseemedtobecontainingit,butPetercouldrecognizethesubtlesignsofkineticforce.HewonderedwhichTalentwasatwork.
RickHobson?Mr.Baden?Now,ifhe"dhadaccesstoagenerator,hewouldhavebeenabletodothat.Hesettleddowntolearnwhathecouldaboutfloodcontrolfromtheprogram.Nexttimehewouldbereadytohelp.The4.5kpmwasportable,wasn"t.i.t?
HisthoughtswereinterruptedbyRhyssa"smentalcall.Peterwouldyoucomeuptomyoffice,please?
Sure!HeleanedbrieflyintothegeneratorandspedouttoRhyssa"sbuildingandinthroughthefrontdoor,slowingtomaneuverthestaircase;hegothisfeettothegroundashereachedthecarpetedhallwayleadingtoRhyssa"soffice.Noeffort!
ShowoffRhyssawa.s.standingbyherofficedoor,butshewa.s.smiling.
"Wedon"thaveanymountainsforyoutomovetoday,b.u.t.there"stroubleinthewind,dearboy,there"stroubleinthewind."
Peterstumbledinhisforwardmotionandcorrectedhimself.
Trouble?Why?Wedidn"tdoanythingwrong!
Hertouchrea.s.suredhim,asitalwaysdid.Doroteawasgreat:shetreatedhimcasually,a.s.shewouldanyofhergrandchildrenandthatrelaxedatt.i.tudemademanythingseasierforhim.ButRhyssawasdifferent:hermindhadsomuchdepthnotthathehaddisobeyedtheprimeruleofmentalprivacy,buthecouldnothelpbutsensethedepthandpuritythatwasthere.ShewasalsothemostbeautifulwomanPeterhadeverseen,onoroffthetridAndshewa.s.sogood!Everythingaboutherwa.s.shiningandbrilliant.
Shemadehimfeelwholeandstrong.
"Wedidsomethingashadetooright,"Rhyssasaid."Andwewerenotquiteasdiscreetasweshouldhavebeen."
Momentarilyafraid,hereachedouttoseeexactlywhattheyhaddonewrongPeter!
"Sorry."
Rhyssa,morefiercelythanPeterhadeverheardher:d.a.m.nthatBarchenkawoman!
"WasIsupposedtohearthat?"Peterwasconfused.
"Yes,anddoubled.a.m.nBarchenka!"Rhyssasaidaloud,andwavedhimonthroughtoheroffice,closingthedoorbehindthem.
Hehalted,sensingtheauraofcrisis.Dorotea,whowasrarelyperturbed,wasbrushingimaginarythreadsfromherslacks.Thingsmustreallybebad.Heziggedsideways,awarethatRhyssajustmissedb.u.mpingintohim.
Dorotea:Welldone,Peter!
"Thisisastrategycouncil,Peter,"Rhyssasaid,gesturingforhimtosita.s.sheresumedherchairinthetowerbaywindow.
Peterfloatedovertotheconformableseat,gratefulforitsautomaticallyadjustedsupport.
"Don"teverforgetjusthowproudweallareofyou,"Rhyssasaid,hergestureincludingtheentireCenter."You"veaddedabrandnewdimensiontoTalent."Shegavehimanimpishsmile."AndremindedthisCenter"smanagernottogettoocomplacent."
Withoutviolatingetiquette,Petercouldhearwhatshewasnotsayingaloud:Talentwasveryhappy;theuntalentedwerenot.
Dorotea:TheuntalentedalwaysresistanewTalentwhichwehaven"tcarefullyledthemtoexpect.Inthisinstance,you!
Rhyssa:Wedon"tdosomethingright,Peter,withoutdoingsomethingwrong!Petersensedasecondqualificationbehindthethoughtand,rememberinghismanners,brokethecontact.
Dorotea:Andwe"vegottofigureouthowtoimproveourtestingmethods!Sheclearedherthroatinabusinesslikemanner,thenwinkedatPeter.
Hethought,veryprivatelytohimself,thatsomethingbadwasdefinitelyabouttohappen,buthewasa.s.suredoftheirloveandapprovalandthatwasallthatreallymatteredtohim.
"Ifyourmaindesirerightnow,"Rhyssasaid,smilingwiththatspecialtwinkleinhereyewhichshesavedforPeter,"istohavethebiggestgeneratorontheplanetatyourdisposal"Peterflushed,lookinghardathisbonyknees"thenthemaindesireofhalftheindustriesonEarthandins.p.a.ceistohaveyouusingtheirs,andtheirsalone."
s.p.a.ce?Hecouldgetintos.p.a.ce?Helookedupinsurprise,staringather.Clearlyshedidnotmeanhisway.
"Howdotheyknowaboutme?"Hefeltsuddenlyverydefenseless.Hisfatherwasalwaystalkingaboutthemanagersworkingamantodeathwithnoconsiderationforhimasahumanbeing,onlyhowproductivehewas,acipherinagiganticprogram.
"Theydon"tknowit"syou,"Doroteasaid.
"That"stheproblem,"Rhyssawenton.
"Why?"Peterasked,thinkingofbiggenerators.
"Candidly,"Doroteasaid,"you"refourteen,you"reonlyjustbeginningtounderstandyourTalent,andprematureexposurecould""Burnmeout,"Peterfinishedforher,thoughprivatelyhedidnotthinkhecouldburnoutifhehadtherightpowersourceforanythinghewantedtoshift.
"ButIdidn"tburnout..."
"Withoutintheleastdiminishingyourachievement,Peter,wewerecloselymonitoringyoutheothernight,"Rhyssawenton."Whattheyhaveinmindforyouisanothercanofwormsaltogether...SpeakingasaCenterdirector,Imusttellyouthat.i.thasneverbeenthepolicyoftheCenterstoa.s.signtraineesevenpart-timeworkuntilthey"reatleasteighteen."
"Even1,"Doroteaputin,herhandgracefullysweepingherchest,"wasn"tpermittedtodomuchuntilIwaseighteen!"Shemadeaface.
"Asachild,IthoughtIwasjustplayingagame,guessingwhichonesintheroomcouldhearmepeoplewhothoughttheymightbeTalented."
SheshotPeteranimageofherselfasafiveyearold,prettilydressedandherearlybeautywa.s.stillapparentinherfaceandmannerwalkingthroughtheCenter"scrowdedreceptionarea.
"ButI"veprovedwhatIcando,"Petersaid."AndIwastheonlyonewhocouldlandtheErasmus."
"Thesituationisnotaboutrightorwrong,Peter,"Rhyssasaidleaningtowardhim,asadexpressioninhereyesandface,"orevenamoralobligationtoreducesufferingandmitigatedisaster."Thensheopenedhermindtohimsohecoulddirectlya.s.sessthecurrentproblem.
Peterhadknown,ofcourse,thattheParapsychicCentershadhadtosendthebestkineticstoPadrugoitohelpcompletethestationontime.HehadnotrealizedalltheundercurrentsbeneaththecarefullycontrivedpublicimageofPadrugoi,muchlessthemachinationsofLudmillaBarchenka,whohadforcedthecapitulationofCenters,ruthlesslystrippingthemofkineticsinwhatwasbasicallyafacesavingoperation.HefumedwhenhesawthatthisBarchenkawomanwasthreateninghisRhyssawithallkindsofoffenseswhenitwasnowpatentlycleartohimthatBarchenkawasatfault.Andhewaspartoftheproblem.No,atthemoment,hewasalloftheproblem,becauseBarchenkawasouttoaddhimtoherforceofTalent.
"AndIusedtothinkworkingonthestationwouldbethemostspecialthingyoucoulddo,"hesaidslowly.Itjustwasnotfair!
"No,notfair,Peter,"Rhyssareplied,"b.u.t.talentrecognizesthatcompletingthestationisfarmoreimportantthanindividualpersonalconsiderations.CompletingitontimeisobviouslyLudmilla"spersonalgoal.Ican"tdenyherthat,onlyhermeansofachievingit,sincebyherachievement,mankindhasmadeanothergiantsteptothestars.
Don"tbedeflectedtoomuchbytheskeletonsinthes.p.a.celockers.
There"sbeennomajorforwardprogressinallofhumanhistorythathas...o...b..enaccompaniedbysomeproblems."
"Likelettingpeoplefloatoutintos.p.a.ceanddiebecauserescuewouldputherbehindschedule?"Peterwasaghast.
"That"sbeentakencareof,"Dorotearemindedhim.
"ByTalents,andnowshethinksshecanconscriptme?"Peterwa.s.soagitatedthathefloatedabovethechair.
Dorotea,prosaically:You"redrifting,dear.
Petersettleddown.Well,Ijustwon"tworkforapersonlikeher.
Andyou"renotgoingtoaskmeto!
"Indeedandwe"renot,"Rhyssaa.s.suredhim."Butfirst,"shesaidwithagrin,hereyestwinkling,"wehavetoprovetothemthatyou"reyou!
We"vebeentryingveryhardtokeepyousheltereduntilyou"vemorecontrol..."owmuchcontroldoIneedifIcanmoveashuttleabouttheworld?
"Peter!"Despitethesharpnessinhervoice,PeterknewthatRhyssawasamusedbyhisoutrage,proudofhisachievement,andconcernedforhisfutureallatonce.Hesubsided."Thankyou.Now,wewerewarnedtoexpectvisitorsofhighrankandgreatprestige.Wewantedtobriefyou,sinceyouarethecatweareabouttoletoutofthebag."
"Iratherthinkhe"sthecatamongthepigeons,"Doroteasaidwithasarcasticsnort.
"Pigeons?Warhawks,Dorotea,"Rhyssacorrected,settlingintoherchair.ThentheyallheardtheunmistakablethunkingofabighelicopterlandingontheXoutsideHennerHouse."Peter,don"tletthefussgettoyou.There"sboundtobesomebruisedfeelingsandoutragedsensibilities.Youjustpaythemnoheed!"
Buthecouldnothelpbutheedthefinebutcontrolledauraofapprehension.Theywereworried.Abouthim!Forhim.}Ragnar"svoicecamethroughontheintercom.Hewasdutyofficer,andtwentyyearsintheCenterhadmadehimimpervioustorankandprestige.
"Rhyssa,there"sabunchheretoseeyou.DoIsend"emup?"
"Yes,I"mexpectingthem,Ragnar."
His"humph"cameoverthespeaker,andPeternoticedRhyssa"slittlesmile.Healsonoticedthatshewasnervouslyrunningthestyl.u.s.throughherfingers.Doroteasatevenstraighterinherchairandmanagedtolooknotonlylargerandmoreimposingbutvery,veryqueenly.
Therewasapoliteknockonthedoor,andRhyssapressedthereleaseb.u.t.ton.Thefirstmanintheroomwasatelepath,Peterrealized,andhewasdirectingtightprivatewarningsatRhyssa.Thesecondman,verytall,thin,andwiselooking,gazeddirectlyatPeterandnodded.
HeknewwhoPeterwasevenifPeterdidnotknowhim,andhewasalsoatelepath.HecourteouslyidentifiedhimselftoPeterasJusticeGordonHavers.
Peterknewthethirdman,DaveLehardt,whoimmediatelymovedtostandbyRhyssa"sdesk,facingtheothersastheyfiledin.Hemadehispartisanshipveryclear.HeexchangedaglancewithRhyssaandgavea.n.a.lmostimperceptiblenodofhishead.Shehadaslightsmileonherface,andPetersensedthatshewasverygladtohaveDaveLehardtsocloseby.ButknowingthatDavewasnotaTalent,Peterwa.s.surprisedbytheintimateexchange.Hefeltaflairofjealousy.
Thenextsixmentoenterwereobviouslyimportantpeople;fourwereinuniformandonlyoneofthemwasTalented.ThatoneappearedverynervousandkeptlookingfromRhyssatoDorotea.ThelastmantoentergapedatRhyssainafashionthatmadePeterveryuneasyhiseyesandhismannermadePeterwonderifhewasoneofthosepervertshismotherusedtowarnhimabout.
AsRhyssaaskedthemalltobeseated,Peterpickedupnames:VernonAltenbach,whowa.s.secretaryofs.p.a.ce;theRussianofficerwasGeneralShevchenko,Padrugoiliaisonofficial,andevenwiththeshieldhewore,hewasbristlingwithaggression.ThetelempathwasAndreiGrushkov,andPeterfeltsorryforhimhehadtobetruthfultohisemployer,thegeneral,buthefeltobscurelythathewasbetrayingTalentindoingso.ThereweretwoNASAofficers,ageneralandacolonel,andthatpervertwastheworldfamousJosephsonjunctionspecialist,andaMalaysianprincebesides,whodidsuchfantasticprogrammingofairands.p.a.cetraffic.Peterdidnotlikethemananybetteronceheknewhewasagenius,notwhenthemankeptsloppilyoglingRhyssa.ThemanwhohadcomeinfirstwasColonelJohnGreene,andPeterwatchedinsomeaweasthemostsuccessfuletoppilotoftheearlydaysofthePadrugoiProjectplacedachairnexttohim,PeterReidinger,andsmiledquitepleasantlyathim.ColonelGreeneseemedtobetheonlyonewhowa.s.smiling.EvenJusticeHaverslookedsolemn.
"ItwouldbepointlessformetodenythatIamawareofthereasonforyourvisit,"Rhyssasaidcalmly."ShallIcalluptheEasternCenterRegisterforyoutocheckonourmemberships?"Sheplacedherfingersoverthekeyboard.
Peterregardedherwithpride.Sheevenhadalittlesmileonherface.Andthatpervertkeptsmarmingather.
TheRussianliaisongeneralclearedhisthroat."Wehavealreadyseenit,Madame.Butwebelievethatyouhavenothonestlydeclaredyourfullkineticstrength."Hecrookedhisheadtoseehistelempath"sface.
"Andreicancertainlya.s.sureyouthatourdeclarationishonestandcomplete.Wehavenothingtohide.NoTalentdoes."
"Andreihasalsoa.s.suredme,MadameOwen,"thegeneralcontinuedponderously,"thatnokineticanywherecouldhavesuccessfullylandedtheErasmus,noteventhetwentytwoonboardher,or"Hepauseddramatically."a.s.sisteditstakeofffromtheDaccafieldintheweatherconditionsprevailingthatday."Hischestseemedtodeflateslightlyoncehehaddeliveredhisaccusation.
"Itwasme,"Petersaid.Hewantedtoget.i.talloverwith,andgetthatsmarmyfacedmanoutoftheroomandawayfromRhyssa."Imean,itwasI."
Thestunnedsilencewasworsethannoisydisclaimers.ThenColonelGreenestartedtochuckleandDaveLehardtbegantolaugh.HealsowinkedapprovinglyatPeter.Notoneoftheothervisitorsappearedtobetheleastbitamused.