OpOwenwastakenbysurprise."I"membarra.s.sedtosayIdidn"tthinktoinquire."Hefelthimselfcoloring.
"Wecan"tthinkofeverything,canwe?"Ruthasked,herlipstwitchingwithamischievoussmile.
OpOwenburstoutlaughingand,afterastartledpause,Lajosjoinedhim.
"I"llbet.i.twillberestored,"Ruthwenton,"andthat"snoprecog:justplainjustice."
"How"sDorotea?"opOwenasked.
"She"sasleep,"andtherewasnothingbutprideandpleasureinRuth"sfacea.s.sheglancedtowardstheclosednurserydoor."It"sfascinatingtolistentoherfiguringouthowtogetoutfromunderthetable."
Lajosechoedherpleasure.OpOwenrose,suddenlyconsciousoftheripplingundercurrentbetweenthetwoyoungpeople.Hispresenceconst.i.tutedacrowd.
"IwantedyoutoknowaboutJoelAndres,Lajos."
"Thankyousir,Idoappreciateit."
"Itwasgoodofyoutotellus.Youmustbesotired,"Ruthsaid,linkingarmswithherhusbandandstandingveryclosetohim.
"Saveyourmaternalinstinctsforyourchildren,Ruth,"hesaidkindlyandleft.
Onceagaininthesoftnightair,opOwenfeltextremelypleasedwithlife.Obeyinganimpulse,heglancedoverhisshoulderandnoticedthatthelightsintheHorvathapartmentwerealreadyout.Hehadinterruptedthemafterall.Sometimes,shieldashecould,thestrongeremotions,s.e.xbeingoneofthem,seepedthrough.
Hetookhistimewalkingbackthroughthegrounds,permittinghimselftherareluxuryofsavoringthehappyaurathatpermeatedtheCenter.
Hestoredupthefragranceofthejoyfulnight,theexuberancethatpenetratedthedark,thehopefulnessthatsoftenedthechillofthebreeze,againstthosedesperatehoursthatarethecommonerlotofman.
Thesetimesofharmony,concert,attunementcamealltooseldomfortheTalented.Theywererare,glorious,treasured.
Habitmadehimstopinatthehugecontrolroom.SurprisepromptedhimtoenterforLesterWelch,adressingrobethrownoverhisnightclothesandadrinkinonehand,wasbendingovertheremotegraphpanels.Hisatt.i.tude,aswellasthatofthedutyofficer,wasofintenseconcentration.
"Neverseenanythinglikethatbeforeinacoitalgraph,"Welchwas.m.u.tteringunderhisbreath.
"Turnedgraphicvoyeur,Lester?"Daffydaskedwithtolerantamus.e.m.e.nt.
"Voyeur,h.e.l.l.Takealookatthesegraphs.RuthHorvath"sdoingitagain.Andatatimelikethis"Why?"
Welchwa.s.scarcelyaprurientman.Stiflinghisowndislikeofsuchanunwarrantedinvasionofprivacy,opOwenglancedatthetwographs,needlesreactingwildlyinresponsetothes.e.xualstimulimutuallyenjoyed.Lajos"sgraphshowedthenormalagitatedpattern:Ruth"smatchedhis.e.xceptforthefreneticactionoftheneedle,tryingvaliantlytorecordthecerebrallyexcitedandconflictingsignalsitssensitivetransistorspickedup.Theneedlegougeddeepintothefragilepaper,flingingitstipbackandforth.Yetthepatternofdeviationemergedthroughoutthefinalhighatight,intense,obviouslykineticpattern.
Abruptlythefranticactivityceased,thelineswanderedslowlybacktonormalfatiguepatterns.
"Thatwasmostincredible.ThemostprodigiousperformanceIhaveeverwitnessed."
OpOwenshotWelchasternglance,onlytorealizethatthemanmeanttheelectronicrecord.Hewasmomentarilyembarra.s.sedathisownthoughts.
"Whatdoesshedo?"Welchcontinuedspeakingandthetechnicianglancedupquickly,startledandflushing."Thekineticenergyis.e.xpendedforwhatreason?Notthatshe"dbeabletotellusanyhow."
"Forwhatreason?"opOwenaskedquietly,answeringthesafestquestion."Fortheexerciseofaverywomanlytalent."Hewaited,thensighedattheirobtuseness."Whatisthefundamentalpurposeofintercoursebetweenmembersoftheopposites.e.x?"
"Huh?"ItwasWelch"sturntobeshocked.
"Thepropagationoftheirspecies,"opOwenansweredhisowninquiry.
"Youmean...youcan"tmean..."Welchsank,stunned,intoachairashebegantocomprehend.
"Ithadn"toccurredtomebeforenow,"opOwenwentonconversationally,"that.i.tisratheroddthatabrowneyed,blackhairedfatherandagreyeyed,brownhairedmothercouldproduceablue-eyedblonde.Notimpossible.Justquiteimprobable.NowLajosisprecog,andwehavetograntthatRuthiskinetic.Sohowdothesegenesproduceastrong,strongtelepath?"
"Whatdidshedo?"Welchaskedsoftly.HiseyesknewtheanswerbuthehadtohearopOwenvoiceit.
"Sherearrangedtheproteincomponentsofthechromosomepairswhichserveasgenelocksandtooktheblueeyedgenesandtheblondehairedonesoutofcellstorage.AndwhateverelseshewantedtocreateDorotea.Thatwouldbemyeducatedguess.JustthewaysheunlockedtheRNAmessengersfor..."OpOwenhesitated:no,notevenLesterWelchneededtoknowthatbitofRuth"stinkering"whateveritisshehasinmindforthischild."Welchhadnotapparentlynoticedhishesitation."It"llbeinterestingtoseetheendproduct."
Welchwa.s.speechlessandthetechnicianpretendedgreatindustryatanotherpanel.OpOwensmiledgently.
"Thisiscla.s.sified,gentlemen.I"llwantthoserecordsremoveda.s.soonasyoucanbreakintothedrums,"hetoldthetechnician,whomanagedtorespondcoherently.
"I"mgladofthat,"Welchsaidwithopenrelief."I"mgladthatyou"renotblabbingallthistotheworld.AreyougoingtotellLajos?"
"No,"Daffydrepliedwithdeliberation."Heobviouslyintendstocooperate.Andthey"llbehappierparentswithoutthatknowledge."
Welchsnorted,himself.a.gain.
"Yousoundlikeyou"regettingcommonsense,Dave.ThankG.o.dforthat."HefrownedasthedrumwoundthelastofthatIncidentutofsight."Shecanactuallyunlockthegenes!"Hewhistledsoftly.
""Onescienceonlywillonegeniusfit.
Sovastisart,sonarrowhumanwit!"""How"sthatagain,Dave?"
"AsnitchofPopery!"opOwenremarkedasheleft.
PARTTHREE
APPLE.
Thetheftwastheleadmorning"castandruinedDaffydopOwen"sappet.i.te.Ashelistenedtothedescriptionofthepricelesssablecoat,thesapphirenecklace,thecouturemodelgownandthejewelstrapslippers,hefeltasifhewerecongealingtohischairashisbreakfastcooledandhardenedontheplate.Hewaited,numbed,forthecommentatortomaketheobviousconclusion:aconclusionwhichwoulddestroyallthattheEastAmericanParapsychicCenterhadachievedsoslowly,sodelicately.Fortheonlywayinwhichsuchvaluableitemscouldhavebeenremovedfromastoredummyinascanned,warded,verypublicdisplaywindowinthefiveminuteperiodbetweenthefixedTVframeswasbykineticenergy.
"Thepolicehaveseveralleadsandexpecttohaveasolutionbyevening.CommissionerFrankGillingsistakingchargeoftheinvestigation.
""IkeepmycontractualobligationstotheCity,"GillingsisreportedtohavetoldthepressearlythismorningashepersonallysupervisedtheexaminationofthedisplaywindowatColes,MichaelsandCharnyDepartmentStore."Ihavereducedstreetandconsensualcrimesandcontainedriotactivity.Jerhattanisasafeplaceforthelawabiding.Unsafeforthelawbreakers.""ThebackshotofGillings"ssternfacewa.s.sufficienttobreakopOwen"sstasis.Heroseandstrodetowardthecomunitjustasitbeeped.
"Daffyd,youheardthat"cast?"Thelong,unusuallygrimfaceofLesterWelchappearedonthescreen."G.o.ddammit,theypromisednoprematureannouncement.Mediamen!"His.e.xpress...o...b..dedillforthefirstunwaryreportertoapproachhim.OverLes"sshoulder,opOwencouldseetheequallysavagefaceofCharlieMoorfield,dutyofficerofthecontrolroomoftheCenter.
"Howlonghaveyouknownaboutthetheft?"OpOwencouldn"tquitekeepthereprimandfromhisvoice.Leshadadevotedhabitoftryingtosparehissuperior,particularlythesedayswhenheknewopOwenhadbeenspreadinghimselfverythinintheintensivepubliceducationalcampaign.
"TedLewissnuckinacautiousadvicea.s.soonasHeadquartersscannedthedisappearance.Healsocan"t"find"athing.And,Dave,therewasn"tawrinkleorapeakbetween7:03and7:08onanygraphthatshouldn"tbethere,witheverysingleTalentaccountedfor!""That"sright,Boss,"Charlieadded."NotasingleIncidenttoaccountforthekinetic"lift"neededfortheheist."
"Gillingsisonhiswayhere,"saidLes,s.c.r.e.w.i.n.ghisfaceupwithindignation.
"Why?"DaffydopOwenexploded."Didn"tTedclearus?"
"Christ,yes,butGillingshasbeenatCole"sandhisinitialinvestigationprovesconclusivelytohimthatoneofourpeopleisalarcenist.Oneofourwomen,tobeprecise,withasecretyenforsable,silkandsapphires."
Daffydforcedhimselftonullifytheboilingangerhefelt.Hecouldnotaffordtocloudreasonwithemotion.Notwithsomuchatstake.
NotwiththeBillwhichwouldprovidelegalprotectionforTalentsonlytwoweeksawayfrompa.s.sing.
"You"llneverbelieveme,w.i.l.l.you,Dave,"Lessaid,"thattheTalentedwillalwaysbesuspect?"
"GillingshasnevercaviledattheuseofTalents,Lester."
"He"dbeaG.o.dd.a.m.nedfoolifhedid."Lester"seyessparkledangrily.
Hejabbedathischest."We"vekeptstreetandconsensualcrimelow.
Talentdidhisjobforhim.Andnowhe"souttonailus.Withpublicitylikethis,we"llnevergetthatBillthrough.
Christ,whatluck!Twob.l.o.o.d.yweeksawayfromprotection."
"Ifthere"snoIncidentonthegraphs,Les,evenGillingsmustadmittoourinnocence."
Welchrolledhiseyesheavenwards."Howcanyoubesonaive,Dave?Nomatterwhatourremotesprove,thatheistwasdonebyaTalent."
"Notoneofours."DaffydopOwencouldbedidactic,too.
"Great.ProveittoGillings.He"sonhiswayherenowandhe"souttogetus.We"veallbutruinedhisspotlessrecordofenforcementandprotection.Thathitshiscredit,monetaryandpersonal."Lesterpausedforaquickbreath."Itoldyouthatpubliceducationprogramwouldcausemoretroublethanit"sworth.Letmecancelthemorning"cast."
"No."Daffydclosedhiseyeswearily.Hedidn"tneedtoresumethatbattlewithLesnow.Inspiteofthisdisastrousdevelopment,hewasconvincedofthenecessityforthecampaign.ThegeneralpublicmustlearnthattheyhadnothingtofearfromthosegiftedwithaparapsychicTalent.Theseriesofpublicinformationprograms,socarefullyplanned,servedseveralvitalpurposes:toshowhowthemanyfacetsofTalentservedthecommunity"sbestinterests;toidentifythosepeculiartraitsthatindicatedthepossessionofaTalent;andmostimportant,togainpublicsupportfortheBillintheSenatewhichwouldgiveTalentsprofessionalimmunityintheexerciseoftheirvariousduties.
"Ihaven"tavestigeofTalent,Dave,"Leswentonurgently,"butIdon"tneedittoguesssomedissidentinthecommonma.s.sofhave-notslistenedtoeverywordofthose"castsandputwhatyoushouldneverhaveairedtogooduse...forhim.Anddon"tcomfortmewithhowmanyhappyclodshaveobedientlytrippeduptotheClinictohavetheirminorTalentsidentified.Onerenegadeapple"sallyouneedtosourthebarrel!"
"Switchthe"casttothestandardrecruitingtape.Topullthewholeserieswouldbeworse.I"mcomingrightover."
DaffydopOwenlookeddownattheblankscreenforalongmoment,gatheringstrength.Itwasnoprecogthatthiswouldbeaverydifficultday.Strange,hemused,thatnoprecoghadforeseenthis.
No.ThatveryomissionindicatedawildTalent,actingonthespurofimpulse.WhatwasitLeshadsaid?"Thecommonma.s.sofhavenots?"
Evenwiththebasicdignitiesoffood,shelter,clothingandeducationguaranteed,theappet.i.teofthehavenotwascontinuallywhettedbytheabundancethatwasnothis.Inthiscase,hers.DaffydopOwengroaned.IfonlysuchaTalenthadbeenmovedtocometotheCenterwhereshecouldbetrainedandused.Wherehadtheirsocarefullywordedprogrammingslippedup?Shecouldhavehadthefurs,thejewels,thedressesonovertpurchase...andenjoyedthemopenly.
TheCenterwaswellenoughendowedtosatisfyanymaterialyearningofitsmembers.SurelyGillingswouldadmitthat.
OpOwentookadeepbreathandexhaledregretandsupposition.Hemustkeephismindclear,hissensitivitieshonedforanynuancethatwouldpointadirectiontowardsuccess.
AshelefthisshieldedquartersatthebackoftheCenter"s.e.xtensivegrounds,hewasinstantlyawareoftensionintheatmosphere.MostTalentedpersonspreferredtoliveintheCenter,inthespeciallyshieldedbuildingsthatreducedthe"noise"ofconstantpsychicagitation.TheCenterpreferredtohavethemhere,asmuchtoprotectastohelptheirmembers.Talentwasadouble-edgedsword;itcouldinciseevilbut.i.tneatlyseparateditswielderfromhisfellowman.
Thatwaswhythesebroadcastsweresovital.Toprovetothegeneralpublicthatthepsychicallygiftedwerebynomeanssupermen.Researchhadindicatedthereweremorepeoplewiththeabilitythanwouldadmit.i.t.Therewere,however,definitelimitationstomostTalents.
TheParapsychichadbeenraised,inDaffyd"slifetime,tothelevelofasciencewiththedevelopmentoftheGoosegg,ultrasensitiveelectroencephalographswhichcouldrecord,andidentifythetypeof"Talent"bytheminuteelectricalimpulsesgeneratedinthecortexbytheapplicationofpsychicpowers.DaffydopOwensometimesthoughttheword"power"wasthevillaininperpetuatingthepublicmisconceptions.Powermeans"possessionofcontrol"butsuchsynonymsas"domination,""sway,""command"leaptreadilytotheaveragemindanddistortedtheactualdefinition.
DaffydopOwenwasrousedfromhisthoughtsbytheheavybeatofacopter.HeturnedontothepathleadingdirectlytothemainadministrationbuildingandhadaclearviewoftheCommissioner"smarkedcopterlandingontheflightroof,totheleftofthecontroltowerwithitsforestofantennaldecorations.
Immediatelyheperceivedareactionofsurprise,indignationandanxiety.SurelyeveryTalentwho"dheardthenewsonthemorning"castandrealizeditssignificancecouldnotbesurprisedbyGillings"sarrival.OpOwenquickenedhis.p.a.ce.
"Orley"sloose!"Thethoughtwasasloudasashout.
Peoplepaused,turnedunerringlytowardsthelonglowbuildingoftheClinicwhereapplicantsweretestedforsensitivityandtrainedtounderstandandusewhatTalenttheypossessed:andwheretheCenterconducteditsbasicresearchinpsionics.
Atall,heavyfigureflungitselffromtheClinic"sbroadentrance,chargeddownthelawn,inadirectlinetothetower.Themanleapedtheornamentalgarden,plungedthroughthehedges,swungoverthehoodofaparkedlawntruck,straightarmedtheoverhangingbranchesoftrees,andbrushedasideseveralmenwhotriedtostophim.
"Projectrea.s.surance!Projectrea.s.surance!"thebullhornfromthetoweradvised."Projecthappiness!"
"Getthosecopsinmyoffice!"Daffydprojectedonhisownashebegantoruntowardsthebuilding.HehopedthatCharlieMoorfieldorLesterhadalreadydoneso.Orleydidn"tlookasifanythingshortofatranquilizerbulletwouldstophim.Whohadbeendimwittedenoughtoletthetelempathoutofhisshieldedroomatatimelikethis?ThemoronwasthemostsensitivebarometertoemotionDaffydhadeverencounteredashewasphysicallydangerousifaroused.Bythespeedofthatberserkercharge,hehadsoakedupenoughfear/anxiety/angertodismembertheobjectshewashominginon.
TheonlysoundsnowinthegroundswerethoseofopOwen"sshoes.h.i.ttingthepermaplastofthewalkandthethudthudofOrley"sprogressonthethicklawn.OneadvantageofbeingTalentedisefficientcommunicationandtotalcomprehensionofterseorders.
b.u.t.thewaveofserenity/rea.s.surancewasnotpenetratingOrley"sblindfury:theopennessdissipateditseffect.
Threemenwalkedpurposefullyoutoftheadministrationbuildinganddownthebroadap.r.o.nofsteps.Eachcarriedslimbarreledhandweapons.
Themanontheleftraisedandaimedhisattheaudiblypanting,fastapproachingmoron.TheshottookOrleyintherightarmbutdidnotcausehimtofalter.Instantlythesecondmanaimedandfired.Orleyloststridefortwopacesastheshotpenetratedhisthighbutincrediblyherecovered.ThethirdmanopOwenrecognizedCharlieMoorfieldwaitedcalmlyasOrleyrapidlyclosedtheinterveningdistance.InafewmorestepsOrleywouldcrashintohim.Charliewa.s.swingingoutoftheway,hisgunslightlyraisedforachestshot,whenthemoronstaggeredand,withahorriblegroan,felltohisknees.Hetriedtorise,oneclenchedfiststrainingtowardsthebuilding.
InstantlyCharliemovedtopreventOrleyfromgouginghisfaceonthecoa.r.s.etexturedpermaplast.
"Hetooktwodoublestrengthdoses,Dave,"Moorfieldexclaimedwithsomeaweashecradledthemoron"sheadinhisarms.
"Hewould.How"n"h.e.l.ldidhegetsuchanexposure?"
Charliemadeagrimace."Sallywasfeedinghimontheterrace.Shehadn"theardthenews"cast.Saidshewasconcentratingonkeepinghimcleananddidn"t"read"hisgrowingrestlessnessasmorethanresponsetoheruntilheburstwideopen."
"Toomuchtohopethatourunexpectedguestsdidn"tseethis?"
Charliegaveasourgrin."Theycausedit,Boss.Stoodthereontheroof,givingLesahardtime,broadcastingbasichateanddistrust.
Youshould"veseenthedialonthepsychicatmospheregauge.NowonderOrleyresponded."Charlie"sfacesoftenedasheglanceddownattheunconsciousman."Poord.a.m.nedsoul.Whereisthatmedteam?I"called"themwhenhegotoutside."
Daffydglancedupatthebroadthirdfloorwindowsthatmarkedhisoffice.Sixmenstaredback.Heputaninstantdamperonhisthoughtsandemotions,andmountedthesteps.
Thevisitorswerestillatthewindow,watchingthemedteamastheyliftedthehugelimpbodyontothestretcher.
"Orleyactsasahumanbarometer,gentlemen,reactinginstantlytotheemotionalauraaroundhim,"Leswa.s.sayinginhisdriest,downeasttone.ToopOwen"swideopenmind,heemanatedaragingangerthatalmostmaskedtheauraprojectedbythevisitors."Hehasanintelligencefactoroflessthan50ontheNewScalewhichmakeshimuneducable.Heis,however,invaluableinhelpingidentifythedominatingemotionofseriouslydisturbedmentalandhallucinogenicpatientswhichcouldovercomearationaltelepath."
PoliceCommissionerFrankGillingswastheprimesourceofthefurywhichhadsetHaroldOrleyoff.OpOwenfeltsorryforOrley,havingtobearsuchanger,andsorrierforhimselfandhisoptimistichopes.