"Now,it"snotasbadasthat,"opOwensaidfirmly."Infact,stopfeelingguiltyandlookattheverypositivesideRuthactuallyhasbeenabletosuppressyourstrongTalent."
"Andthat"spositive?"
"Yes.TheunderlyingproblemisRuth"slackofTalent.Wenowcanproveconclusivelythatshehasone.Shehasdemonstrateditsuperbly.
Severefrustrationoftenbreaksdownblocks.Andshe"shadthat."
"Ofcourse."Lajos"sfacebegantolightup."Whoa.Yousaidshedoesn"tknowshe"sdoingit?"
"I"veproofforher.Andthefurtherproofwillbetherenewalofyourprecogs.I"llhaveatalkwithherandstraightenthisouttoday."
HemadethecallasLajosleft.TherewasmoretotheproblemofRuthHorvaththantouchedthelittlefamily.Ifyoudon"ttellallyouknow,howmuchisenough?opOwenwondered.
"Allright,I"mforcedtobelieveyou,"Ruthsaid,herdefensivenesswaningunderopOwen"sgentleredirection,becauseshealsocouldnotdenytheevidenceofthegraphs:ofthatremarkable,infinitesimalvariationthathadtobeanIncident.
DaffydopOwenfelthimselfbegintorelaxwithheradmission.Hehadknownitwouldbeastormyconfrontation:onereasonwhyhehadnotdelayedit.RuthhadbeenappalledbytheknowledgethatshehadsubconsciouslyblockedLajos.ShefinallyadmittedthatDoroteascaredher:thatshehadlostalljoyinherdaughterandwasterrifiedofpredisposingthechildtowardsher.
"Yes,Ihavetobelieveyou,"sherepeated,notbotheringtostifleresentment,"but.i.t"saprettypoorexcuseofaTalent,"sheaddedbitterly,"ifallIcandoisblockmyhusband"s,andnotevenknowI"mdoingthat."
"Onthecontrary,"opOwenrepliedwithalaugh,"it"s.e.xactlytheoneyouneedthemost...appliedproperly."
Ruthglaredathim,waitingpointedlyforanexplanation.
"You"veastrongmoralcode,Ruth.Youwouldnotpermityourselftoactagainstyourdaughter,thoughherTalentfrightenedyou.Butyouwillhavetowaivethatmostlaudableprinciple.UntilDoroteahasdevelopedsufficientdiscretiontohandlehermentalgift,youaregoingtohavetoblockit."
Ruthblinkedinsurpriseandthenhereyesbrightened,hermouthformedan"O"ofastonishmenta.s.shebegantounderstand.
"Ofcourse.Ofcourse,Iunderstand."Tearsofreliefwelledinhereyes."Oh,ofcourse."
OpOwensmiledather."Yes,Doroteacannotbepermittedtodipintoanymindshechooses.Youmustrestrictherbyyourabilitytoblock.
Youwon"tneedmuchpressuretodissuadeherfrombroadcastingoreavesdropping."
"Butwon"tDorotearesent.i.t?Imean,she"llfeelmedoingit,won"tshe?"
"Allchildrenrequirelimits.Wantthem.Aslongasthoselimitsareconsistentandreasonable,achildasawareasDoroteaofherparents"approvalandaffectionwon"tresist.Inanyevent,bythetimeshecould,orwould,weshallhavebeenabletoinstilldiscretionandyourmoralcode.Rightnow,Ruth,youhaveallthat"srequiredtokeepDoroteafrombecominganuisanceandabrat."
Ruthinstantlyreactedwithindignationtohiscalculatedinsultandthenlaugheda.s.sherecognizedthebait.Shelefthisofficeconsiderablyrea.s.sured,onceagainatharmonywithhersituation.
OpOwenenviedherthatcarefreea.s.surance.Hestilldidn"tknowwhattocallwhatshe"ddone.Yes,shehadsuppressedLajos"sprecogoverthelastsixweeks,butinthefourmonthspriortothatLajos"sabilitieshadincreasedinstrengthandefficiencyand,exceptfordurationandwidth,byasimilarapplicationofpsioniceffortonRuth"spart.WhatdidherTalentactuallyaffect?Andwouldit,ashehadsoblithelya.s.suredher,beableto"block"Dorotea?
Well,ifshethinksshecan,shewill.Atleastsheisnolongerafraidofherprecociouschild,hethought.Heswunghischairround,gazingoutatthepeacefulviewofthegroundsofBeechwoods,seeingthecitybeyondwithitsspires,towersandlivingblocks.
WasIrightinmya.n.a.logythatTalentisinitsinfancy,andthepublicistheparent?Withthedutytoblocktheundisciplinedchild?TheTalentsaremoredisciplinedthattheaveragecitizenweoftenhavetosearchoutandrebuke,protectandcherish.Itwouldbecatastrophicfortheparenttofearthechild.Howmuchofthewholetruthwouldrea.s.sure,asithadRuth?
Thosewhotrulyunderstandpsionicpowersneednoexplanation.Thosewhoneedexplanationwillneverunderstand.
Twomorningslater,whilereviewingcontractscoveringinst.i.tutionsholdinggovernmentresearchgrants,Lajos.e.xperiencedoneofhisstrongestIncidents.Sopowerfulwastheflamefearthat.i.twasallhecoulddotopulltheGooseggrecordingwebtohisskullanddepressthekeythatwouldrelaythereadingbacktotheCenter.
"Flames!"hesaid,gasping;hismindreeledwiththepanoramicintensepreview.
"Where?"hewasprompted.
"Asheet,infrontofahugewindow,overlooking...thegrounds.
Rhododendrons.Redones.Theclockinthechurchtower...nearlytwelve.Toomuchheat!Theconverterisflawed.It"llblow.Therearesomanypeoplewatching.Theydon"tbelongthere."Lajoswasabstractedlycuriousatthesoundofindignationinhisvoice."Theycausedthefire.Meddling.Iknowhim!"Lajosstruggledtogetaclearpictureofthatface.
"Youdon"tlikehim.Whoishe?"
"Ahhh...theflames.Obscuringeverything."Lajosfellbackinhischair,shakenandsweating.
"CanyoumakeittotheCenter?I"llsendtransport,"thedutyofficersaid.
BythetimeLajosreachedthecomputerroomintheCenter,thesystemwasalreadychucklingawayatthedetails,locatingwhichlaboratorieshadscheduledvisitorsinthea.m.:laboratoriesusingheatconverters.
Thechurchclocktowersuggestedacollegesothatdatawasaddedaswellastheplantingofredrhododendrons.
OpOwengreetedLajoswithagrinofapproval."Thatwasthemostintensepatternyou"veeverprojected.Haveyouanyideawhythatpremonitionshouldaffectyouso?"
"None,sir,"Lajosreplied,takingtheseatopOwenindicated.Hewa.s.stillshaken.
"Themanyouknew:hewa.s.someoneyouobviouslydislike.Doyouhavetheimpressionthatyou"vemethimpersonally?"
"No.Irecognizedhisface,that"sall.Thentheflamesleapedup."
"Wedon"thavemuchtime,"andopOwen"seyesglancedtowardsthewallclock,registeringquartertoeleven."Yourprecogcameat10:12.
Unfortunatelythisappearstobeappropriationtimeandeverylabinthecountryishavingitsshareofvisitations.Iwanttoplaybackyouranswer,Lajos.Iwa.s.struckbytwothingsandifyoucanpinpointthemalso,we"llhavethe"where"atleast."
"Anything."Lajoscouldseethevividoverprintoftheflamesinhismindandtriedtoseebeyondtheirobscuringcurtain."Andoneday,figureoutwhyIhaveapyroaffinity."
"Keepsinsurancerateslow,Horvath,"Welchsaiddrilyasherewoundthetape."Don"tknocksmallfavors."
Lajoslistenedasobjectivelyashecould,appalledattheoddwoodenqualityofhisvoice,thefearwhenhementionedtheflames.
"I"vegot.i.t,sir,"hesaid."Theconverter,thelab,thechurchtower.Knowingthatthepeopledidn"tbelongthere.Whereveritis,isfamiliartome."
"Charlie,"Welchspokeoverhisshouldertotheprogrammer,"addHorvath"splaceandtravelcard."
Almostimmediatelyaprintoutappeared.
"Sir,it"sNorthEastUniversity.Checksout,clockinchurchtower,visiblefromresearchlaboratorywhichusesaheatconverter."
"Anyvisitorsscheduledtoday?"
"Noreportonthatyet,sir,b.u.t.theydohaveagovernmentfundedresearchprojectinneoproteinandsubcellularengineering."
"Checktheuniversitydirect,"WelchsaidafteranodfromopOwen.
"Onlylimit.i.ttoarequestaboutvisitors,"opOwenadded."Therewa.s.somethingelseIwanttocheckfirst."
"Excuseme,sir,"CharlesbrokeinasopOwenliftedhisdeskphone.
"Severalpartiesareexpectedduringthecourseoftheday.Dr.Rizorwishestospeaktoyou."
"Whenyourofficeputsinaguardedcall,DaffydopOwen,I"mcurious.
Comeclean."
"Henry,wearenotalarmists..."
"Precisely.So...?"
"We"vehadavalidIncidentthatappearsplacedatNorthEast.Severalofthedetailshavenotcoincided,however.Wearefallibleyouknow."
Rizor"ssnortwasderogatory."What"stherestoftheprecog?"
"Itcentersaroundtheheatconverterinthelabbuildingoppositethechurchtower."
"And?G.o.d,it"slikepullingnailsfromyou,Dave."
"Theheatconvertermaybefaulty.Theprecogwasthat.i.twillblowduetoasuddenhotlabfire,justbeforenoon,whilevisitorsareonthepremises."
"I"dhateforsomethingtohappentherenow,Dave.We"reonthevergeofabreakthroughintheneoproteins.Runningteststhatareawfullygood.Butnovisitorsareexpectedthere."
"Thenavariablehasalreadyalteredtheprecog."
"That"stooglibadismissal,Dave.Whywouldalabfirestimulateyourprecog?Ididn"tthinktheyusuallyworkedoutoftheirownarea."
"Ourprecogrecognizedoneofthevisitors."
WelchsignaledurgentlytoopOwen.
"Look,Dave,"Rizorwa.s.saying,"I"mtakingnochances.I"llhavethatconvertercheckedandthebuildingcleared.That"llaltercirc.u.mstances,too.BesidesIdon"twantvisitorsinthatbuildinguntilwecompletetheprogram.Abreakthroughwillwarrantgovernmentfundingallnextyear.Iappreciateyourcalling,Dave.LetmeknowwhenIcanhelpagain."
WelchwaspracticallyapoplecticbeforeopOwenhungup.
"WashingtonsentinanurgentpersonalprecogforMansfieldZeusman!"
"That"swhoIsaw,"Lajoscried,jumpingtohisfeet.
"GetSenatorZeusman"sofficeonthephone,Charlie,anddon"tindicatetheorigin,"opOwensaid.
"Dave,"andLesWelchhadapeculiarexpressiononhislongface,"he"sthelastpersontowarn.One,hewon"tbelieveyou.Two,he"sourprinc.i.p.alantagonist.Letthatd.a.m.nedheroperish."
"Les,youhaveadrysenseofmisplacedhumor."
"I"mpracticalasallh.e.l.l,too,"Welchadded.
"CanyoutellmeifSenatorZeusmanis.e.xpectedintheofficethismorning?"Charlie"svoicecarriedclearlyinthetensesilence."Oh,Isee.Canyoutellmewhereheplanstobeinthemorninghours?
Butsurely,heleftanitinerary?Thankyou."Charlie"svoicewaswoodenandhisfaceexpressionless."Heisnotintheoffice.Thea.s.sistantisaveryrude,uncouthb.u.mptioustwit."
"Ifhe"snotintheoffice,"opOwensaid,"he"scollegehoppinghimandthatResearchAppropriationsCommitteeofhis.He"stheslykindisZeusman,lovestoarriveunannounced."
"HecouldbeonhiswaytoNorthEastthen,"Lajossaid.
OpOwentoldCharlietogetRizorbackontheline.
"Sir,"Charliereported,concerned,"Dr.Rizorhaslefthisoffice.
Isthereamessage?"
OpOwenpickedupanextensionphone."MissGalt?DaffydopOwenhere.WehavereasontobelievethatSenatorMansfieldZeusmanwillpayanunscheduledvisittoyourcampusbeforenoon.w.i.l.l.youpleaseinformDr.Rizorimmediately?Good.Thankyou.IcanbereachedattheCenteronaprioritycallbasis.Yes,thesituationcouldbeconsideredcritical."
Lajosfelthimselfunwindatriflebuthisapprehensiondidnotcompletelyabate.HesmiledweaklyatopOwen.
"Paradoxtime."
"Howso,lad?"
"Dr.Rizorbelieves.Heisalreadyalteringthecirc.u.mstancesIforesaw.Wemayhaveundoneourselves!"
OpOwen"seyesflashed."AttheriskofZeusman"slife,andthatofhowmanyothersyousawintheprecog?"
"No,sir,Ididn"tmeanitthatway,"Lajosreplied,stungbyopOwen"sscorn."Imean,thatfirecan"thappennowbecauseRizorwillpreventZeusmanfromenteringthelab."
"I"dstillprefertoseethatsparrowfall!"Welch"s.m.u.tterwasclearlyaudible.
OpOwenswunghischairinidlehalfarcsbuthiseyesremainedonhisdissidentengineer.
"Iamnotintheleasttempted,gentlemen,"hesaidinhisusualeasyvoice."WearenotG.o.d.NorarewetryingtoreplaceG.o.d.Thepsionicartsarepreventive,notmiraculous.Wearefallible,andbecauseofthatfallibilitywehavetobescrupulouslyimpartial,andtrytohelpanymanoursensestouch,whoeverhemaybe,wheneverwecan.Lajosisright.Wehavealready..."
"Sir,"Charlie"sinterruptionwasapologeticbutdetermined,"twomoredangerprecogsinvolvingMansfieldZeusman.OnefromDeltaandoneinQuebec.NeithercouldgetthroughtoZeusmanandareapplyingtous."
OpOwenlookedasifhemightbeswearingsilently.Heglancedupattheclock,itshandsinexorablyhalfwaypasteleven.
"Wehaven"talteredthefutureenough,"Lajossaidwithagroan.
"Charlie,alertallrescueteamsintheNorthEastarea,"opOwensaid,hiswordscrispbutcalm."I"lltryforRizor.Les,getLajosasedative.Henry,f;mgladIcouldreachyou..."
"Don"tworryaboutathing,"Dr.Rizorrepliedcheerily."I"veacrewcheckingtheconverterandthebuildingiscompletelyofflimits.
What"sthisMissGaltsaysaboutZeusmanpayingusanunexpectedvisit?"
"Evidencepointsinthatdirection,andwe"venewprecogsofdangerforhim."
"Look,we"reallsethere,Dave,"Rizortoldhiminaneasydrawl."Noonecanpa.s.sthegatewithoutcheckingthroughmyofficeand...Oh,no!No!"