TheWingsOfPegasus.
By:AnneMcCaffrey.
Synopsis:
WhenHenryDarrowandMollyMahoneyteamuptofoundaclinicforpparanormalhealerstheyembarkonalongandwondrousjourneyintowhatmightbeandwhatis.Inthisbookwemeetthemandthepeopletheyrecruittotheircause.Fast-paced,amongMcCaffrey"sbest.
THEWINGSOFPEGASUS(ContainsbothTORIDEPEGASUSandPEGASUSINFLIGHT)
ThisBookisrespectfullydedicatedtoBettyBallantine,awomanofmanytalents.
PARTONE
TORIDEPEGASUS.
Theslickpavement,oilywithrainandmotorlubricantsthathaddrippedfromthehundredsofillrepairedvehiclesutilizingthemajornorthsoutharteryintoJerhattan,causedtheaccident.HenryDarrowhadnotbeenexceedingthespeedlimitwhenhepa.s.sedtheoldtwoseater.Buthehadadatewithdestiny.Andkept.i.tontime.
Hadtherebeennorainthatday,orhadthelanebeencloseda.s.scheduledforresurfacing,orhadtheoldtwoseatermaintainedtheminimumspeedinthelefthandlane,HenryDarrowwouldnothavebeenexasperatedenoughtopa.s.s,wouldnothaveskiddedontheslickpaving,wouldnothavecrashedintotheguardrail,wouldnothavefracturedhisskullsothatabonefragmentpressedagainstthebrainpan;hadtheaccidentoccurredevenhalfamilefurtherupthearterialroad,HenryDarrowwouldnothavebeensenttotheonehospitalintheareaequippedwithaspecialelectroencephalograph.
Asthingscametopa.s.s,thiswashowhisaccidentwastooccur:exactlyhow.Infact,hehadjotteddowntheexacttimeinhisastralnotebook:10:02:50postmeridian.HehadalsoremindedhimselfthatdaynottotakethearterialroutebackintoJerhattanbuthehadnotforeseenoneslightdelayatthegasolinestationwhichcausedhimtochangehismindandtakethefatefulroute,forgetfulofhisownprognostication.
Ofcourse,sinceitwasamajorturningforhimaswellasmillionsofotherpeople,hecouldneverhaveavoidedtheaccident.Whichiswhyhissubconsciousorsoitismaintainedpreventedhimfromrememberinghisforecastatthecriticalmoment.
HenryDarrowwasthereforeinjured,seriously,withminorfracturesintheleftlegaswellasthedepressedfragmentofskullbone.HadHenrybeenfullyconsciousduringsurgery,hewouldhavea.s.suredthesurgeonsthat,despitetheseverityofthewound,hewouldlive.Theywouldhavebeendubious.HenryDarrowkneWwhenhewasgoingtodiefrommyocardialinfarction,somefifteenyears,fourmonths,andninedaysinthefuture.
Hecouldn"ttellthemsincethecranialpressureaffectedhisspeechcenterandhewasmercifullyunawareofhissurroundings.Brainsurgerycanbeaharrowingexperience.
TheoperationwastechnicallysuccessfulandHenrywasa.s.signedabedintheintensivecareward,cardiacandencephalographicmonitorskeepingclosetrackofhisvitalsystems.TheSouthsideGeneralHospitalboastedtheverylatesttechnology,includingoneoftheultrasensitiveelectroencephalographs,familiarlyknownas"Gooseggs."
TheGooseggequipmentwasdevelopedduringtheApolloflightsinthe70s,tomonitortheeffectsofthemysterious"lights,"whichperiodicallyafflictedtheastronauts,andtorecordanysuspecteddamagebycosmicradiationtothebraintissue.Theultrasensitiveequipmentwasprimarilyusednowinhospitalstodetectbraindamagetonewborninfantssufferingoxygenstarvationduringbirth,or,asinHenryDarrow"scase,braininjurieswheresimilaroxygendeprivation,bleeding,andpressuremustbeascertained.
TheintensivecarenurseondutywhenDarrowregainedhissenseaftersurgerywas,asDestinypreordained,MollyMahony,a.ratherplaingirlwhogoodnaturedlyborealotofteasingfromhercolleaguesforheravoweddedicationtonursing.Shewasinvariablya.s.signedthecriticalcasesbecauseshehadaknackofpullingthemthroughthecrises.
i"Dr.Scherman,wouldyoulookattheprintoutonMr.Darrow"sEEG?"shesaidwhentheresidentcheckedinatherstation.
"Thealphasareunusuallystrongforamanascriticallyinjuredashe,aren"tthey?"
;Schermanlookedobedientlyatthegraphs,noddedsagelyandthengaveherawink."Hebeenconsciousatall?Givingyouatime?"
Mollyshookherhead,veryseriousthoughsheknewhewasteasingher.
Scherma.n.a.lwaysdid."He"snotregainedconsciousness,Dr.Scherman.
I"mtonotifyDr.Wahlmanwhenhedoes.ButshouldIgivehimaringaboutthesereadings?"
"Ah,don"tbother,Molly.Thatone"sluckyhecanprintanythingoutontheGoosegg.You"d"vethoughthe"d"veknownbetter."
"Better?Aboutwhat?Hewasanaccidentcasualty,wasn"the?"
"Betteraboutgoingoutatall.He"sHenryDarrow,theastrologer.
Christ,itcostsafortunetoconsulthimaboutyourfuture."Schermansnorted."Andhecouldn"tcasthisownproperly."
Schermanleftafteracursoryglanceattheotheri.c.patients.MollyMahonylookedwithrenewedinterestatthebraininjury.SheknewofHenryDarrow,thoughshewouldn"thaveadmittedittomany.Nomorethanshewouldhaveadmittedtoanyonethatshefeltshehadthegiftofhealing.Unlikehergrandmotherwho"dhadnomedicalbackgroundandranintoproblemswithher"healinghands,"Mollyhadprofessionalcachetandknewbesthowandwhentoapplyher"whammy."
Havingauniquetalent,Mollywaskeenlyinterestedinalltheparanormalmanifestations.Inherlexicon,theastrologistmerelyusedthesignsofthezodiactofocusaprecognitivegift,onefortunatelymorescientificallybasedthantealeafreadingorcardtelling.Justasthenursingprofessionallowedhertofocusherhealingtalentonascientificbasis.SosheknewofHenryDarrowandnowtiptoed,likeanawedsycophant,tothebedsideandstareddownatafaceshehadn"tnoticedbefore.
Hisfacehadcharactereveninlaxjawedabnormalcoma.Theeyesocketswereblackandbluepits,andhereandthereatraceofbloodhadescapedtheemergencycleanup.Itwasunfairofhertolookathiminsuchacondition.Shelaidthebackofherhandgentlyagainsthischeek,notlikingthecolorofhisskin.Sheflickedbackth.e.s.h.eet,tookafoldofthepectoralskin,andgaveitabrutaltwist.Well,atleasthehadreactions.Shepattedth.e.s.h.eetintoplaceandstrokedhischeekagain.
Thecardiographpulseds...o...b..tregular,thoughthereweretracesinthereadingthatspelledthebeginningsofarteriosclerosis.Nomorethanwouldbeapparentinanyreadingofafortytwo-yearoldheartwhichhadlivedwellandhard.
Nowsheplacedstrong,slenderfingersonhistemples,pressinglightly,tryingto"feel"wheretherealinjurywas.Notthatwhichthesurgeonshadcorrectedwhentheyremovedthesplinterandreleasedthepressureonthebrain.b.u.t.thepsychicinjury,theessentialblowtothevitalitiesoftheman,whichhadbeenshockedbytheproximityofdeath,bytheexigencyoftheoperationthatultimateviolationofpersonalintegrity.
Soofteninherreadingofcasehistories,she"dseenthesimpleterm"heartfailure,"orthemorecomplexmedicalannotationofheartstoppageforavarietyofphysicallyinexplicableandunnecessaryreasons.Shock,theywouldtermitforlackofbetterexplanation,"thepatientdiedofshock."Fright,Mollycalledit.Whenapatientofhersretreatedfromrealityinthissortoffright,MollywoulddrawthatviolatedintegritybackagainwithherTalent.
TheresponsetoherhealingtouchonHenryDarrow"sbrowwasdifferentandpuzzling.Thecardiogrametchedbolder,strongerpeaksandtheGooseggmadefranticpa.s.sesonallfourrecordingbands.
HenryDarrow"seyelidsflickered,opened,andafaintsmilecrossedhislips.
"Whattheh.e.l.lhitme?"heasked.
"Youhityou,"Mollyreplied,"onthecenterpostofyourcarwhenyoucrashedintotheguardrails,Mr.Darrow.Headache?"
"Christyes!"Hemoanedandtriedtoreachupward.
"Don"t.You"vesufferedasevereconcussion,headlacerationsyourleftlegisfractured..."
TherewasmischiefinthecleargreeneyesthatmetMolly"s."You"renotsupposedtotellmesuchthings,areyou?"
Mollysmiled."Youknowanyhow.Andyoureallyoughttopaymoreattentiontoyourownpredictions,Mr.Darrow."
TheGooseggchatteredcrazilyandMollywhirledtoseewhatwashappening.ButHenryDarrowwasgrabbingherarm,hiseyeswideningwithbewilderedsurpriseandincredulity.
"You"reaGemini.What"syourname?You"regoingtomarryme."
Loveatfirstsightisarareenoughincident,particularlyinahospitalsetting,despitewhattheromancessay.Butfarrarerwasthescientificaccidentthatprovedalongsuspectedtruth.ForwhathadregisteredontheGoosegg"schartwasindisputableproofthattheparapsychictalentexists.HenryDarrowhadaprecognitiveexperiencewhenhelookedatMollyMahonyasaperson,notjustthenurseinattendance,and"knew"shewouldbehiswife.
Theydidmarry,a.s.soonashislegwasoutofthecast.MarriagewasnottheonlythingHenryforesawforMolly:heknew,too,herdateofdeath,afactheneverdisclosedtoher.Talents,helearnedveryshortly,hadtodiscountsuchprecogsintheirownlivesiftheyweretooperateefficientlyforothers.Mollywastreasured,lovedandcherishedallthedaysofherlifebyherhusbandbecauseheknewhowlittleofhertimehewouldenjoy.
ThesignificanceoftheGoosegg"sremarkableactivitydidnotimmediatelyimpingeonHenry"sawareness.ToMollyMahonybelongsallthecredit,therefore,forliftingtheparapsychicfunctionfromtherealmofchicanerytoscience.
Forstarters,MollywasfascinatedwiththeunusualstrengthandpatternofHenry"sEEGcharts.Shecouldn"tdismiss,asDr.Schermanhad,thevariations.InherfavorwasanaturalinclinationtoplaceHenryDarrow"smindintoanexceptionalcategory.Addedtothat,sheknewHenry"dhadtheprecognitionoftheirmarriageattheprecisemomenttheGooseggwentwild.Attheveryfirstopportunityshetriedanempiricexperiment.Sheattachedtheelectrodestoherownskullthenexttimeshehadoccasiontoexertherownabilityintheintensivecareward.Asimilarvariationoccurredinherreading;notasintenseasHenry"s,butsignificant.Shetookseveralmoreofherself,andcopiedthoseportionsofHenry"srecordswhichshowedthiscurious.e.xcitation.
ShewasrathersurprisedthatDr.Wahlman,Henry"ssurgeon,didnotcanceltheGooseggmonitoringwhenHenryappearedtohaverecoveredfromtheworstoftheconcussion.ShewonderedifWahlmanwasasinterestedintheEEGvariationa.s.shewas.
HenryhadtwomoreprecognitiveincidentsbeforeshefeltshecouldapproachDr.Wahlmanwithherprivateconclusions.
"Formyowninformation,Dr.Wahlman,whatisthesignificanceofthisactivityinanEEG?"
"Well,now,"saidWahlman,takingthegraphsdiffidentlyandstudyingtheminamannerwhichtoldMollythathehadn"taclue."Tobefrank,Mahony,Idon"tknow.Thisparticularsortofprintoutusuallyoccursjustpriortodeath.AndDarrow"sverymuchalive."ThesurgeonlookedtowardsHenry"scloseddoorwithsomeirritation.Henryhadinsistedonpursuinghisavocationofchartinghoroscopes,hadevenimportedhiscomputer,embarkingonacerebralactivitywhichapparentlyhadnodeleteriouseffectsonhisrapidrecoverybutdidnotstrikeWahlmanas.e.xactlythesortofoccupationsuitabletoamanrecoveringfromanearfatalheadinjury.
"Andthese?"Mollyshowedhimherowngraphs.
"Whosearethese?Aterminalreading?No,couldn"tbe.Thealpha"stoointense.Whatareyouupto,Mahony?"
"I"mnotcertain,doctor,butIdoknowthatwhenMr.Darrowis!
hardestatwork,that"swhenthissortofvariationoccurs."
"Jasushelpus,thed.a.m.nedGoosegg"squeerforastrology?"
Mollysmiledandapologizedforbotheringthesurgeonwithanomalies.
"Mahony,ifyouweren"tthebestpostoperativenursewehave,I"dtellyoutobugoff.Butifyouhaveanyidea,anyunreasonableidea,whythatkindofreadingoccurs,wouldyoupleaseletmeinonthesecret?"
SheletHenryinfirst.
"ThemomentyouwokeupafteryouraccidentandaskedwasIGeminiandthensaidIwasgoingtomarryyou,wasthataprecog?"
"Fact,mylovefact!"
"No,Henry,stopthatnow.Later.Answerme.Wasyourprecognitivefacultyatwork?"
"Violently."Themodifiedbandageonhisheadgavehimaslightlyrakishlookbuthestoppedcaressingher,respondingtoherseriousmood.
"And,forinstance,whenMrs.Rellahanwashere,youtoldmethatyouhadanintenseprevision..."
"Hmmmm."Henry"smouthtightenedslightlywithdislike.
"ThisiswhattheGooseggprintedout.See,heretherapidneedle,strongstrokes,thelengthofthepattern...And,inthese..."
"That"snotmypattern,too,isit?Quiteadifference."
"No,that"smybrainwaves.AndthisiswhathappenswhenI"mhealing.
"HenrylookedslowlyupatMolly,anincredulous...o...b..ighteninghiseyes,alightsuffusinghisfacethatrewardedMollyforhereffortsandintuition.
"Molly,myownheart"sdarling,doyouknowwhatwehavehere?"
Theworldingeneralremainedskeptical.FortunatelyHenryDarrowcaredverylittlefortheworld"sthoughtsbuthewasabletoproduceprooftoapowerful,wealthyfewthattheparapsychicfacultyexistedincertainindividualsandcouldbemanifestedatwill.
Awholenewlineofresearchwasinstigatedbythoseprivatepersonsandconcernswhichhadlonghopedforscientificrecognitionoftheparanormalabilities.
"I"vealwayshadapresentimentofDestiny,ofbeingonthethresholdofsomevastimportantbreakthrough,"HenrytoldMollyduringtheearlyhecticdaysshortlybeforetheyformedthefirstParapsychicCenter.
"Mostmegalomaniacsdo,too,andyourpsychoticparanoidslikeNero,Napoleon,HitlerandKyudu.That"swhyIhadthatteamofpsychiatrists.e.xaminemymentalhealthwithfineFreudiantongs.
Nonethelessit"saprejudicialadmission.D"youknow,I"vebeenafraidtoforecastmyownfuturetoofarinadvancenow?Somedetailsareunwiseforanymantoknow..."Helookedwithunfocusedeyesattheblankwallinfrontofthemforamomentbeforehesmiledrea.s.suringlyather."I"vebeenadilettanteuptillnowandmycriticscansayeitherthatIgainedmywitsinthataccident,orlostthefewIhad,b.u.t.thateventwasthethresholdofmy...ofourdestiny."
"d.a.m.nthetorpedoesandfullsteamahead,"Mollyreplied,gesturingtheatrically.
"Andtorpedoestherewillbe,"Henryagreedgrimly.
"Ithoughtyousaidyoudidn"tseefarinadvance..."
"Formyself,Imeant.Notforwhatwemustdo."Hewa.s.silentagainforamoment."G.o.d,it"sgoingtobefun."
Mollylookedattheamus.e.m.e.ntinhiseyes,theantic.i.p.atorygleamofmalice."Forwhom?"sheasked.
Hiseyessparkledasheturnedhisgazebacktoher.
"Forus,"hesaid,huggingheraffectionately,"forallofus,"andhemeantthenewlyrecruitedTalents."Wemayperceivetheoutcome,buthalfthefun,mostofthefuninlife,isgettingthere.AndI"vegotjustenoughtime."
a.s.soonashewa.s.sufficientlyrecoveredtoarguewithhissurgeons(andbecauseMollya.s.suredWahlmanthatHenrycouldn"tgetaroundhervigilance),hewasallowedtogobacktoworkfulltime.Not,aspreviously,inhiscapacityasadilettanteastrologer,butasthemanager,organizer,fundraiser,andrecruiterparexcellencefortheParapsychicCenter.
"MaryMollyluv,it"sgoingtobeaccomplishedinsteps,thisestablishmentoftheTalentedintheschemeofthings.Notsociety,mindyou,forwe"retheoriginalnonconformists,"andhetappedhisforeheadjustbelowthepinkfleshofthenewlyhealedheadwound.
"AndSocietywillneverpermitustointegrate.That"sokay!"HeconsignedSocietytoinsignificancewithaflickofhisfingers."TheTalentedformtheirownsocietyandthat"sasitshouldbe:birdsofafeather.No,notbirds.Wingedhorses!Ha!
Yes,indeed.Pegasus...thepoeticwingedhorseofflightsoffancy.Ab.l.o.o.d.ygoodsymbolforus.You"dseealotfromthebackofawingedhorse..."
"Yes,anairplanehasblindspots.Wherewouldyouputasaddle?"
Mollyhadherpracticalside.
Helaughedandhuggedher.Henry"sfrequentdemonstrationsofaffectionwereasourceofgreatdelighttoMolly,whoseownstrengthwasintactilecontacts.
"Don"tknow.Lord,howwouldyoubridleawingedhorse?"
"Withtheheart?"
"Indubitably!"Thenotionpleasedhim."Yes,withtheheartandtheheadbecausePegasusistoostrongasteedtocontrolorsubduebyanyordinarymethod."
"Youcouldn"tbreakoursortofPegasusanyhow,"Mollysaidfirmly.