"Look,wejustgotoneminormiracleupandrunning,"Rhyssareplied.
"Giveusatleastthreedays!"
"G.o.donlyrestedoneday,"Davesaid,deepeninghisvoicetoaba.s.sregisterandlookingpious.
"Threeweeks,threemonths,threeyears,threedecades,"Johnnyrepliedinasepulchraltone."Can"tevenfigureol"Peteyboyout,andI"vebeenbustingmybunsforweeksnow."
"Pete,"Davebegan,"howdoyouseewhatyoudo?Mightaswellaskthesourcerightoutstraight,"headdedinabroadasidetoRhyssa.
Peterlaughedandpretendedtoconsiderthequestion,knotting:hisbrowsandrubbinghischinthewayJohnnysometimesdid."It"slikeIthinkthat"swhatIwanttodomovetheshuttleupandIsortofleanintothegenerators,revvingthemup,andthenIsortof"heshruggedhisthinshoulders"letgo."
"Likeastonefromaslingshot?"Daveasked.
"Yeah,sortoflikethat."
"Youdon"tsoundsure."
"I"mnot.Itneedsdoing.Idoit."
Rhyssa,sensingPeter"sdistressaboutbeingunabletoexplainadequately,putawarninghandonDave"sknee.Hishandimmediatelycoveredhers,keepingherarminaslightlyawkwardposition.OverPeter"sp.r.o.nebody,Johnnygrinnedather.
"Therearemanyoperations,"Rhyssawentonquickly,"thatoneaccomplishesstrictlyonaninvoluntarybasis.Likebreathing.Youdon"tconsciouslygothroughthestepsofdrawingbreathinandexhalingit.i.t"saninvoluntaryprocedure.Ortakereachingforagla.s.s.Youdon"tconsciouslytellyourhandtoextendtherequireddistance,tellyourfingerstoencircleitandyourarmtoliftthelightweight.Thetaskisaccomplishedwithoutmuchconsciouseffort.
Peterisworkingonsuchadeeplyinvoluntarybasisthathecannotyeta.n.a.lyzetherequisitesteps.OnceLanceBadenisreleasedfromdurancevileonthestation,Ithinkwe"llseeprogressinunderstandingwhatSkeleteamdoesaseasilyashebreathes."
"It"snotquitethateasy,"Petersaid.
"Don"thurtSkeleteam"sfeelings,"Johnnysaidinmockaffront."He"llstrike!"
"Notwithhiscontract,hewon"t,"Rhyssasaidfeelingly.
"Youknow,Pete,"Johnnybeganinathoughtfultone,"whatyousaidaboutsomethingneedingtobedoneanddoingit.Youreallydon"tstoptothinkhow?Youjustdoit?"
"Asyouyourself,ifImayremindyou,landedabadlydamagedshuttleonyourtwentyfirstmission,"Daveputin."Expertsstillhaven"tfiguredouthowyoudidthat!"
JohnGreenegrinnedathim."NeitherhaveI.Sorry,Pete."
"Youwereusingkinesis?"Peterasked.
"Nothingelsewouldhavegottenusdownthatdaywithonewingcrumpledandthetaila.s.semblyblownoff.TechnicallyIhadwhattheycallatraumaticexplosionofTalentnecessitatedbyanintenseurgetosurvive."
"Whathityou?"Peteraskedthen.Hehadalwayswantedtoask,but.i.thadneverbeenquitetherightmomentandhewasnotsureifthecolonellikedtoberemindedofhowhehadlostanarmandaleg.
"Somed.a.m.nedfoolhalftrainedclowns,doingaerobaticsthroughtheflightpath,"Johnnytoldhim,cursingfluentlyandinventivelyonbothaudibleandtelepathiclevels.Peter"seyesroundedwithaweattheflavorfullanguage."Fortunatelytheydidn"tsurvivetoanswertome,orthelaw,fortheirantics."
"Oh!"wasPeter"sreactiontoJohn"suncharacteristicbitterness.
"You"renotgoingtowastethepool,areyou,Dave?"Rhyssaasked,tochangethesubject,andinthehopeofregainingcontrolofherhandbeforeherarmfellasleep.
"You"restuckwithmeforafewdaysatanyrate,"Davereplied.
"WithoutbenefitoftheSkeleteam,theairport"ssockedinsolid."Heroseand,whistlingajauntytune,begantopickhiswaythroughthepuddlesinthedirectionofthechangingroom.
Johnnyheavedasighandresettledhimselfonthesunbed,handscushioninghishead.Thenuskinsheathinghisartificialarmlookedrealenoughexcept,Rhyssanoticed,that.i.tdidnottakeatan.Peter,however,wasbecomingarichbrownthatmadehimappearlikeanyotherhealthy,ifscrawny,boyhisage.Hewasalsofallingasleep,considerablymoretiredbythemorning"sactivitiesthanhewouldeveradmit.Smilingtenderlydownattheboy,RhyssaeasedherselfoffthesunbedandontotheloungerthatDavehadjustvacated.Shecheckedthetimer:Peterhadtenminutestogo.Sherelaxedonthesoftmattress.
"JesusChrist!"
Dave"ssuddenexpletiverousedher,andshewatchedhelplesslyas,inmidair,heflailedwitharmsandlegsfromaslipinapuddlehislongbodypoisedtocomedownrightacrossthecornerofthetiledpoolinwhatwouldbeaseriousfall.Thesunbedlightswentoff,andthenextinstanthisabruptdescentwashaltedandhecametorestgentlyonthepoolside,unharmed,unbruised,butconsiderablyshaken.
"Howtheh.e.l.l..."
"MyG.o.d!"JohnnyGreeneexclaimed."Didyoudothat,Pete?"heasked.Theveryslightestofsnoresansweredhim."MyG.o.d!Ididit!
Ididit!Ididit!"HisvoiceroseinacrescendoashestaredatRhyssainastateofshockeddelightandsurprise.
Rhyssabegantoshakeherhead,grinningsohardatthebreakthroughthatshethoughtherfacewouldsplit.
"Thatwasallyou,"shea.s.suredhim."OnceagainJohnnyonthespot!"
ThemomentDaveLehardtenteredthekitchenthateveningasRhyssawasclearingupthedebrisoftheircelebratorymeal,sheknew"amoment"hadcome.Overthelastfewmonthsoftheirclosea.s.sociation,shehadlearnedtopickupthesubtlehintsofhisbodylanguageandherownresponsestohim.Shefeltherheartbeatbegintospeedup,andshetriednottocrashdishesaboutordropthings.Worse,shecouldextractnohelpfulcluesfromthisman"smind.PerhapsthatwaswhyDaveappearedtobesomuchmoreromanticthananyofherTalenteda.s.sociations.
Hecamerightuptohersothatshehadtolookabout,toacknowledgehisproximity.
"ThehardestthingindealingwithyouTalentsistocatchyouwhennooneelseislistening,"hebegan.Hisblueeyesheldaveryintenselook.Hetookthesaucepanawayfromherandreturnedittothesoapywater,thenputbothhandsonherarmsandturnedherslightlybutdecisivelytowardhim."PeteandJohnnyaresoinvolvedinarehashofmypratfall,theycouldn"tbepayingattentiontoanythingelse."Withalittlepressureofhishand,hepulledheragainsthim.
Johnny:Don"tyoudarebecoy!
Rhyssa:Getoutofmyhead,JohnnyGreene.
Peter:Ah,justwhenit"sgettinginteresting.How"llIeverlearnhowit"sdone!
Rhyssa:Breakoff!Bothofyou!IfIfeelsomuchasatendrilofthought...
Johnny:Ithinkshemeansit!
Peter:Iknowshedoes!
Hermindwasfilledwithadeafeningsilence.
"They"renot"Rhyssaa.s.suredhim.
"I"vebeento;dandwarned,obliquelyandrighttomyface,thatI"venorighttoaskawomanofyourobviousTalent,andtalents,tomarryamanwithoutanounceoftherightstuffinhim."
Rhyssafeltasurgeofangerflaredeepinside.Shewonderedwhohadbeeninhibitingthiswonderful,caringmanespeciallyconsideringallhehaddonetoaidTalents.Thenshewilledhimnottostoptalkingsuchmarvelouslyromanticstuffandtiltedherheadupencouragingly.Sheshiveredwithantic.i.p.ation.
"But.i.thinksuchadecisionisuptoyouandme,"hewenton."AndI"msototallybesottedwithyouthatIcan"tthinkstraightwhenyou"reinthesameroomwithme,andIdon"tthinkofmuchelsebutyouwhenwe"reapart.RhyssaOwen,wouldyouevenconsidermarryingme?"
"Whattookyousomanyeonstoask?"shereplied,foldingherarmsabouthisneckandgrinningupathim.
Withagladnessthatseemedtoemanatefromeveryporeofhim,heclaspedherfirmlyinhisarmsandkissedherwithagreatdealofentirelysatisfactoryexpertise,justasifhehadreadhermind.
Chapter15.
Sascha!
HecouldnotignoreDorotea"scall,but.i.twascomingatanawkwardmoment.HeliftedhishandtosignaltoBudworthandSirikitforaslightbreakintheirdiscussion.
Dorotea"smentaltonewascoloredbyvexation.Asyoushowedherhowtouseherwristbandtopurchased.a.m.nednearanythinganywhere,youmaynowteachherthriftandbudgeting.Andsomesenseoforderinherownroom!There"snotaninchofs.p.a.cethatisn"tstackedceilinghighwith"bargains."Sascha:Whereisshe?
Dorotea,attheendofherpatience:Tryingonclotheswhileviewingtoday"slessons!
"Look,Bud,runthoseethnicgroupingsagain,"Saschaordered."We"veatleastgotastatisticalforecastofhowmanypsionicTalentseachgenerationhasproducedsinceDarrowandopOwen"stime.Nowlet"sbreakitdownintoindividualTalentmanifestations:precogs,finders,affinities,kinetics,telepaths,telempaths."
Budworthshruggedequablyandbegantoformulatetheprogram.
"Istilldon"tknowhow,"Sirikitsaidinhersoft,liltingtones"that"sgoingtohelpusdiscoverTalentintheLinears."
"Wherethere"ssmoke,there"sgottabeafireortwo,"Saschacommentedcrypticallyasheexited.ButhismindwasalreadyononeparticularTalentwhohadcomesofarfromherearlyyearsintheLinears.
Sincethatfatefulshoppingtripthreeweeksbefore,Tirlahaddiscoveredanewpastimethatalmostrivaledherhungerforlearning.
Atfirst,Doroteahadbeenamused."It"shungerofanothersort:acquisition.It"llpa.s.s."
Ca.s.shadaccompaniedherontwomoreexpeditions,showingherhowtousethesubwaytransport,andthought.i.twasfuntowatchTirlaslipintothemostexclusiveshopsandboutiques.Thenshehadstartedshoppingonherown,andscoffedwhenDoroteaworriedthatchildstealerswoulds.n.a.t.c.hher.
"s.n.a.t.c.hme?Notlikely,"Tirlarepliedscathingly."Icansmelltheirsortcomingonthestreets.I"msafeinthemalls."
b.u.t.themallswerenotfreefromallperil,forshewasdetainedtwicebyoverzealousofficialsand,tohercredit,hadwaitedpatientlyuntilsomeoneusuallySaschaarrivedfromtheCentertoverifyherrighttoweartheIDbraceletandmakechargesagainsttheCenter"saccount.
Shewasmoreamusedbythedetentionstha.n.a.larmed,anddeterminedtoenjoyhernewpastime.Certainlyshewasnotdeterredfromherexpeditions,andsinceSaschabackedCa.s.s"sopinionthatTirlawascapableofhandlingherself,Dorotea"sapprehensionwaned.Invariably,TirlaendedherafternoonsattheOldFashionedParlor.WhenTirlaannouncedthatshewasgoingtoworkherwayrightthroughthefivepagesofconfectioneryselections,Doroteahadlaughed.
"Itmightputalittleweightonthosebirdbonesofhers,andshealwayseatsherdinner,"shesaid."Iwishshewouldputonweight.
Whatmustthoseshopattendantsthinkwhenthatchildlookshalf-starvedallthetime?"
Doroteawa.s.standinginthelivingroomwhenSaschaarrivedinanswertohersummons,andshepointedsternlytowardTirla"sroom.Saschatappedonthedoor,andTirla"scheerfulhumbrokeoff.
"Whoisit?"Therewasalwaysthatnoteofapprehensionwhenthegirlwascaughtunawares.OnceshecouldbreakintothetelepathicmodethatSaschawascertainshepossessed,shewouldrarelybecaughtoffguardagain.
"Sascha!"
"Justaminute."
Forjustamoment,Saschathoughthecaughtastraycoythought,andthenthedooropened,instages,becauseTirlahadtorearrangethingstoget.i.twideenoughforhimtoenter.Saschalookedinandgroaned.
"Tirla,whathappenedtothekidwhohadtobecoaxedintobuyingmorethanoneoutfit?"Itwasthefirstthingthatcameintohishead,anditwasprobablynotatallthewaytohandlethesituation.
Dorotea,indisgust:Hamhandedtwit!
TirlablinkedatSascha."ButyoutoldmeIcouldshopwheneverIwantedto.JustlookwhatIfoundtoday!"Andsheheldupapairofstilettoheeledsandalswithjeweledstraps."Andtheyfit.Theydidn"tcostmuch,becausetheshopkeeperhadhadthemaroundfordecadesandpracticallygavethemtome.Aren"ttheylovely?D"youwanttoseethemon?Theymakememuchtaller."
"I"msuretheydo,Tirla,b.u.t.tobecandid,they"renotthesortofthingagirlyourageshouldwear."
"Theyfit!"sherepeatedasifthatwerethemostimportantaspect.
"Tirla!IstherenoplaceIcansitdowninhere?Andthat"swhathasDoroteasoupset.Youknowhowneatshekeepseverythinginthehouse."
Dorotea:That"sright.Blameme.
"WhileTalentsmayhavewhattheyneed,andalsowhattheywant,withinreason,"hewenton,"that"stheoperativephrase.This"Hegesturedbroadly,hookingahangeranditslayersofclothingoffthedoor.Thepiletumbledtoenlargeama.s.sofcolorfulblouseslyingbesidethedoor."Thisisnolongerreasonable!"
Tirlamerelylookedupathim,herfaceexpressionless,buthesensedsodeepahurtanddisappointmentthatherelentedinstantly."Idon"tthinkIcansenditallback,"shesaid."I"vetriedeverythingon."
"Look,chip,"hesaid,usingCa.s.s"saffectionatenicknameforher"sendingitallbackisnottheanswer."
It"sastart!Doroteaputin.
"Learningtobuywiselyis.Someofthisstuff"Saschapointedtoitemsofintimateapparelinlaceandgauzethatwerefartoosophisticatedforevenatwentyyearold."canbepackedupandstored.
Dorotea,acidly:Where?
"Inthevaults."Hebeganpickingupotherinappropriategarments.
"Andwe"llgettheclutterdowntomanageableproportions."Indoingsoheexposedasmallhillofshoes,ofallcolorsandinavarietyofstylesthatastonishedhimandallofthemsmallenoughtofitTirla"sdaintyfeet.
Dorotea:Cinderellacomplex?
Sascha:Pairs,everysingleoneofthem,hesaidwryly.
Dorotea:Thenhowcantheybepairs?
"Fivepairsofshoes,nomore,Tirla."Hesawhersulkyexpression.
"Fivepairsatonetime.Andtendifferentoutfitsinthecloset.
Noneofthis..."Heheldupanemeraldgreenballgownwithexquisitelydetailedbeadworkinsilverandleafgreen.Itwas.e.xceedinglystylish,andthecolorwasperfectforTirlabutnotuntilshereachedtwenty.Eighteen,atleast."I"llhavesometrunkssentoversoyoucanputeverythingaway.Thenwe"regoingtositdownandworkoutabudget."
"Budget?Liketheydoforcitiesandprojects?"Surprised,Tirlacameoutofhersulk.
"Yes.TheCenterhasabudget,Ihaveabudget,Peterhasabudget..."
Dorotea:AllG.o.d"schillungotbudgets!