OpOwenwincedatGillings"sphraseology.
"Unfortunatelyonlytimewilltell.WedohaveBillJones,MaggieO"scousin,andhe"llbeafirstrateprecog.SallyIselinattheTestingClinichasupwardsoffiftyapplicantsaday."Hesighed."Mostarewishfulthinkers,I"mafraid,butoccasionallyaliveonedoescomein.
Youcan"tmakepeoplegetTalenttested."
"Whatweneed,"theLEOCommissionersaidinadeadlyvoice,"isenforcedtesting."
"Ofninemillionpeople?"askedPennstrak,goodhumoredlyaghast.
Gillingsgrunted."Themaverickscostusmore"Pennstrakagreedtothat.
"Betterstill,earlytestingwouldbeatremendoushelp,"DaffydopOwensaid."Oursensitivesinthematernitywardsdocatchtheoccasionalstrongoneatbirth.Butwelackadequatefacilitiesandmoreimportant,thepersonnel.IttakesaspecialkindofTalent,initself,tospotembryoTalents.SallyIselinisacutelysensitiveinthisareaandIthankProvidenceforherpresenceintheClinic.She"sneverbeenwronginhera.s.sessments.Butshe"stheonlyoneEasternhasandshe"soverworkedasitis."
Daffydsmiledanddecidedagainstwhathe"dbeenabouttoconfide.ThedourfaceofLesterWelchleeredathim:ForChrist"ssake,Dave,don"ttelleverybodyeverythingyouknow.Theydon"talwayswanttohearit.
Forinstance,DaffyddoubtedthatFrankGillingswouldtakekindlytothenotionthatSallyIselin"schiefa.s.sistantatthemomentwasthetwoyearoldDoroteaHorvath,theextraordinarilyTalenteddaughteroftwoofhispeople.DoroteacameeverymorningandafternoontotheClinic,to"play"intheroomfullofapplicants.She"dinstinctivelyapproachanyonewiththeleastvestigeofTalentsothatSallycouldgivethedeepertesting.Theotherscouldbedismissedaftertheroutineexaminations,nonethewiserforthepreselection.Doroteawasblissfullyunawareofwhatshecoulddoshesimplydidit.
"Talentissometimeslatent,"DaffydtoldGillings,"asitwasinSolangeBoshe,springingintomaturityunderpressure.ButdifferentmindsreacttodifferentstimuliandthepowerfulTalent,sucha.s.solange"s,toanothersetentirely.Talentca.n.a.lsobeconsciouslyorsubconsciouslysuppressedsinceanyTalentsinglesoneoutfortheunwelcomeattentionsofthelessgifted.WedotrytoalleviatethatenvywithourpublicinformationbroadcastsonwhatTalentdoestorelieve..."
Gillingscuthimoffwithabrusquewaveofhishand.Asmuch,DaffydopOwenthoughtwryly,becauseGillingswasalatentwhohadnowishtobetrainedorremindedofthisdefection.
"Sorryforthelecture,"opOwensaidwithanapologeticgrin,"butyoumustrealizethatwearelimitedinwhatwecandoevenwithalltheTalentatourdisposal.NorcanweforeseethestraymaturingofTalent.YourLEOoperatives,Frank,havealltheinformationwe"vecollatedonhowtospotthelatentorunconsciousTalent.Whatmorecanwedo?"
"GetyourSenatorfriendtowritearideronthatImmunityLaw,"saidGillingsinagrowl,"that.i.t"sillegaltobeTalentedandconcealit."
DaffydreturnedGillings"shalfguiltyglarewithawideeyedlookofsurprise.Gillings"sperceptionwasnotdull:heknewwhatwasbehindopOwen"sgrinandhescowledfiercelyathim.
"I"llsuggest.i.ttoJoelAndreswhennextwemeet,"opOwensaidpolitely."It"sapointwelltaken."
"Howinh.e.l.lcouldyouimplementsuchastatuteundertheconditionsyou"vejustcited,Daffyd?"demandedPennstrakwithunderstandabledisgust."Nofacilities,notenoughTalent.Besides,latentswouldn"tknowandthereforewouldn"tregister,andaTalentwhoknewofhisabilitycouldclaimhedidn"t."
"Well,it"dbeahelptome,"Gillingssaid,stillinagrowlingmood.
YetheglancedatopOwenwithlesscholer.Obviouslythetelepathhadn"tmentionedGillings"slatentabilitiestotheCityManager.Themanknewwhentokeephismouthshut."Icouldshutupsuspectsandkeepthemfromrunningamoklikethatgypsygirl."
OpOwen"ssmilefaded.
"Youcan"tsuppressorcontainTalent,Frank.That"dputexactlythesortofpressureonthemwe"dwantatallcoststoavoid.There"ssomuchwedon"tknowabouttheparapsychic,somuch."
"Likewhatforinstance?"askedtheLEOCommissioner,steelinghimselfforunwelcomeinformation.
OpOwenspreadhishandswide."Ican"ttellyou.I"mnotaprecog."
Towhichheaddedadevoutandsilent"Amen!"
Gillingsunloosedanothergrunt."Now,onthatscore,haveyourTalentscomeupwithanythingonthisethnicemploymentallocationnonsense?Youguysare,Isincerelytrust,panethnic?"
"Demonstrably."GillingsgavehimalonglookasifhesuspectedopOwenoffacetiousness.JulianPennstrakclearedhisthroathastily.
"That"sonelessheadacheatanyrate,"theLEOmanwenton"butyourprecogshaven"thadanyIncidentsbeyondthisnebulouswarning?"HetappedtheIncidentreadingswhichhadbeensenttohisofficethepreviousday.
Daffydshookhishead."Theprecognitivefacultyisthemosterraticbutgenerallyspeaking,thelargerthenumberofpeopleinvolved,thegreaterthepossibilityofdetailedIncidents.Or,conversely,thesevererthechangetoaprominentpersonoralinkedoremotionala.s.sociation,themorelikelihoodofadefinitiveIncident.
"Theoldtealeafandcardreadersattemptedtotellthefuture,anyone"sfuture:andwhileIsupposetheycouldgeneralizefortheaveragesoulwellenough,thebestofthemwereonlyaccuratewhenpredictingthefutureofliveswhichaffectedalargesectionofgeneralmankind.Someprecogsoperateonlyonadirectconfrontationwithapersonality,whichiswhywekeepkeypersonnelfolderswiththosesensitives.Butyoucan"tactuallyprovokeaprecog.
"IntheinstanceofMaggieO:shewasafluketobeginwith,anisolatedcase,unintegratedinanygrouporwithanyaffiliationthatwouldcauseoneofourprecogsto"read"forher.Thatis,untilcirc.u.mstancesputherinapositiontocrossGilGracie"slifelineThenwehadareadingonhim,butonlybecausetheprecogwastunedtoGil.
"Thereare,asIkeepsayingadnauseamIknow,alotofparapsychicmanifestationsaboutwhichweknownothing.EverytimeIbelieveIunderstandonecombinationorfacet,exceptionstothatcomprehensionappeartoconfoundme.
"HenryDarrowsaidthathavinganyTalentislikeridingawingedhorse,yougetamagnificentviewbutyoucan"talwaysdismountwhenyouwantto."
GillingshadwaitedpatientlythroughopOwen"speroration;nowherattledtheurgentlytaggedtapesonhisdesk.PennstrakregardedtheDirectorwithnewinsight.
"I"dalwaysthoughtthatPegasuswasthesymbolofpoetry...flightsofverbalfantasy.ButImustsay,Ilikeyournotion,Dave.Awingedhorseisanappropriatemountforyoupeople.NotthatI"dhavethecouragetohoponitsback."
"Ifyoutwowoulddeigntoconsiderthemundaneproblemsoftheearthbound,"Gillingssaidinanacidtoneofvoice,"justhowinh.e.l.larewegoingtofindjobsforalltheseeagermudgrubbers?"
OnamorningsometwomonthslaterwhenDaffydopOwenreachedhisoffice,therewasamessageonhisdesktocallSallyIselina.s.soonashehadamoment.Toasemanticallysensitivepersonality,thephrasingwasprovocative,addedtothefactthatSallyIselinwasinchargeofrecruittesting.Daffydpunchedhercallnumbersa.s.soonashereadthenote,disregardingotherredandwhiteflaggedtapesandmessages.Ifonlyonepsilatentwasuncoveredinamonthofpublicinformationbroadcasts,theprogramwouldbeworthitscost.
"Daffydhere,Sally.Yourangme?"
"Oh,Daffyd!"Shesoundedsurprisedandatingeembarra.s.sed."I"mnotreallycertainifIshouldbotheryou..."
"Mygreatgrandmotherusedtosay,"Ifit"s...o...b..ful,it"sdirty."
""I"mnottalkingaboutashirt,Daffyd,"andSally"susuallevitywasmissing."I"mtalkingaboutpeople."
"Whichpeople?"Itwaslikepullingscrewsfromwood:intriguinglyunSallyish.
"Well,Daffyd,I"dhatetoprejudiceyou.But...well,wouldyoutakemeouttonight?There"saplaceIwantyoutofeel.Ican"tfigureoutwhat.i.tismyselfandIknowsomethinghappened."
"Curiouserandcuriouser.You"vehookedme..."
"Oh,d.a.m.n.Idon"twanttohookyou.I"vegoneanddonewhatIshouldn"ttaoughta."
Daffydlaughed."Sally,allyou"vedoneisarousemyveryconsiderable,insatiablecuriosity."
"Allright,elephant"schild.Pickmeupatnine;you"llneedthecopterandmoney."Hervoicedarkenedwithbalefulimplicationsofwildspendinganddebauchery,b.u.t.therewasaripplingundercurrentoflaughterwhichtoldDaffydthatSallywasherself.a.gain.
"WithasmanybundlesasLesterwillallowme.Atnine!"
Hedepressedthecomsetb.u.t.tonjustasthedooropenedtoadmitLesterWelch.
"What"sonIselin"sallegedmind?"
"Ican"t"pathoveraphone,"Daffydreplied,deliberatelymisinterpretingLester.
Themansworeandglaredsourlyathisboss."Allright,soyouwon"ttalkeither.MaybeI"venoTalentbutIdon"tneedittoknowsomething"sgotSallyexcited.She"ssocarefultosoundcalm."
Daffydshruggedhisshouldersandreachedfortheintapes."SoonasIknow,youwill.Anythingelsebotheringyouthisfinemorning?AndSallysaysIneedbundlestonight."
Lestereyedhiminsurpriseforamomentandthensnorted.HepointedtothefinancecodedbluetapeamongtheurgentflagsDaffydwasfingering.
"SomelocalyokelfromEast.w.a.terlessFordupstatewantstotaxtheCenter"sresidentialaccommodations,sameasanyotherapartmentblock.
Claimstherevenueonsuch"highincomeresidents"wouldreducethestate"sdeficitby9%."
Daffydwhistledappreciatively."He"sprobablyrightbutforthefactthatthisisaregisteredrestrictedcommuneandthosehigh-incomeresidentsturneverycreditoftheirsalariesovertotheCenter."
"Listen,Dave,he"sbuildingaprettygoodcase."
OpOwensighed.TherewasalwayssomethingorsomeoneorsomecommitteepickingawayattheCenter,tryingtodisrupt,destroyordiscredit.i.tdespiteallthecarefulpublicity.
"TheydidthesamethinginNewJersey,youknow,whenthePrincetonUniversityComplexputupthoseacademicianvillagestocounteractthehighpriceofrealestateandtaxes,"Lesterremindedhimsourly.
"I"lllisten,I"lllisten.Now,goaway,Les."DaffydinsertedWelch"stapeintheconsole.
Lestergrowledsomethingunderhisbreathasheleft.AndDaffydopOwenlistened.Hedidn"tlikewhatheheardb.u.t.theStateSenatorhadcertainlydonesomeofhishomework.RevenuesfromtheCenter"sresidentialbuildingswouldindeedbeatidypileintheState"schronicallyanemicTreasury.OnlytheCenterwasinJerhattanproperbyamileandahalf,andthereforeitsrevenuesweretheCity"s,ifanyone"s.
"GetmeJulianPennstrak,please,"Daffydaskedhissecretary.
TheCityManagermightbeofsomea.s.sistancehere.Certainlyhe"dbeinterestedinwhatthisupstatecharacter,AaronGreenfield(amIalwaystobe"fielded,"Daffydwonderedwryly,rememberinghisbattlewiththeUSSenatorMansfieldZeusman)isproposing.IfJuliandidn"talreadyknow.NotmuchslippedpastPennstrak"saffableeagleeye.
Pennstrakwasn"tavailablebuthissecretarytactfullyputDaffydthroughtoPatTawfik,Pennstrak"sspeechwriterwhowas,inactualfact,hisTalentguard.
"Yes,Dave,Julian"sbeenkeepinganeyeonGreenfield"sproposal,"Pattoldhim."Infact,Julianhadhiminhereforalongcozychatwhenwefirstgotwindofthescheme.Greenfield"slikeZeusman:suspiciousandscaredofussupermen."
"Juliantoldhimthattheresidentialbuildingsarecommunal...?"
"YesandJulianshowedhimthefigurestheCenterfileseveryyear,pl.u.s.theauditors"reports.Cutnoice!Infact,ifanything,"andPatgrimaced,"itonlyconfirmedGreenfield"snotionthattheCenterisarichsourceofadditionalincome."
"TheCenterisalsoinJerhattanproper."
"JulianmadethatpointbutGreenfield"soneofthoseallocationgoons:allforoneandoneforall...allmoniesbeinginonekittyhis.
He"sStateBudgetChairman,yousee."
Daffydnodded.
"Ididn"twanttoworryyouunnecessarily,Daffyd,"Patwentonapologetically.
Daffydsuppressedatartrejoinderandsighedinstead.
"Pat,it"seasiertopullaweedifit"ssmall."
"Aweed?That"sagoodone.Greenfield"saweedallright."Patsoundedunusuallyacerbic."I"lltellJulianyoucalledandthatyou"reworried."
"No.I"mnotworried,Pat.Notyet."
"IwouldbeifIwereyou,"shesaid,allgloom.
"Isthereaprecog?"
"Nospecificones.Butfrankly,Dave,I"mfarmoreworriedaboutthecity"sclimatethananythingoldAaronLeftfieldperpetrates.AndsoisJulian.He"sstreetwalkingtoday."Shegavearea.s.suringwaveofherhand."Oh,IsentoneoftheLEOsensitiveswithhim.Ican"tmovesofastthesedays."Sheglanceddownathergravidabdomen.
"You"veseenmyreport?"
"Yousentonein?"Daffydbeganrifflingthroughthetapes.
"Itshouldbeonyourdesk.It"dbetterbeonyourdesk."
DaffydfoundthepurplebackedCityAdmintapeandwaveditather.
"Itis.LesterWelchhadfirstcrackatme."
"Andhedidn"tmentionourtape?"Shemadeanexasperatednoise.
"Look,Dave,listentoitnowbecause,believeme,it"smoreimportantthanGreenfieldevenifLesterdoesn"tthinkso."
"Isthataprecog,Pat?"
"Youtellmeit"smycondition,"shesaid,suddenlyangry,"thewayJuliandoesoravitamindeficiencylikemyOBandI"llresign."Theangera.s.suddenlydrainedfromherface."G.o.d,don"tIjustwishIcould!"
"Pat,d"youwantafewweeksrelief?"
DaffydopOwencaughttheshiftingemotionsonherface:sullenresentmentgivingwaytohope,instantlyreplacedbyresignation.
"Don"t,Dave."
"Iwouldn"tandyouknowit.Icansendoutamayday..."
"AndoverworksomeotherpoorTalent?"Pat"schinlifted."I"llbeallright,Dave.Honest!It"sjustthat...well,h.e.l.l,listentothereport.Andremember,it"sapanethnicproblemthisyear."
"Thisyear?"Anotherloadedphrase.DaffydopOweninsertedtheCityAdmintapeandhisconcernovertheGreenfieldproposalfadedtoinsignificanceasherecognizedthemoreimminentdangerofadisturbedCity.HebegantowonderwhoelsehadthoughttosavetheirdearDirectortroublebynotreportingthegrimfactshenowheard.BecauseiftheCorrelationStaffhadslippeduponreadingprecogs,he"ddowngradethelot.
Brief,violentinterethnicquarrelsovercontractemploymentduringthewinterhadbeenmediatedbut,withintheCity"sethnicsectors,thetrucehadbeenuneasy:eachsegmentcertainthatanotherhadreceivedwhatplums.e.xisted.(Mostofthespotemploymentduringthewinterhadbeenmakework,paidforbyfundsparedfromotherpressingneedstogivetheproudtheirsop.)MostoftheagitationcouldbetracedtoayoungPanSlavicleader,VsevolodRoznine.ThereportnotedthatRozninewasmorefearedthanpopularwithhisconst.i.tuentsand,althoughseveralattemptshadbeenmadetocoolorplacatetheagitator,hehadneatlyavoidedthetraps.ThereportclosedwiththenotethatRozninemighthavelatentTalent.However,theonlymentalcontactmadehadbeensodistastefultotheTalentthathehadbrokenitoffbeforehecouldimplantanysuggestiontogototheCenterfortesting.
"Theman"spublicmindisasewer,"wasthefinalcomment.
DaffydopOwenmadeasteepleofhisfingersand,twirlinghisswivelchair,gazedouthiswindowtotheorderlygroundsbelow.HefeltunaccountablydepressedyethecouldbejustifiablyproudofwhatTalentingeneralandEasternAmericanCenterinparticularhadbeenabletoaccomplishinthepastdecades.OpOwencouldappreciate,anditwasnoprecog,howmuchmorehadtobedoneonnumerouslevels:public,private,civic,clinical,military,spatial,andmostimportant,inner.NomatterwhatthedominantTalent,precog,telepath,teleport,kinetic,empathic,theTalentedwerestillveryhumanpeople,aboveandbeyondtheirspecialgiftswhichsooftencomplicatedadjustmenttherapy.
Theyhadprofessionalimmunityatlonglast,forallregisteredTalents.Anothergiantstepforward.TheyhadhadacceptanceonacommerciallevelformanyyearswhereTalentcouldsteadilyshowprofittomanagement.SincethefirstbodyTalentshadbeenabletopointouta.s.sa.s.sinsincrowds(evenbeforeprecogswereacceptedandactedonbykeypersonnel),they"dbeenacceptedbyintelligentpeople.b.u.t.thesuspiciouswerethemajorityandtheystillhadtobeconvincedthattheTalentedwerenotdangerouslydifferent.
He"druminatedonthismanytimesanditwasn"tsolvingtheotherpressingproblemsbeforehim.Acitytornbytheveryethnicstrifethathadoncebeenhailedasabondingcompromisetothelatetwentiethcentury"slackofbasiclifestylevalues:summerwasacomingand,despiteadvancesinweathercontrols,ahotdryspellwhichcouldcutthepoweravailableforcityairconditioningwouldonlyproduceriotbreedingconditions.
Sofar,nomajorprecogsofdisastershadbeenrecordedandforsuchalargeunitasJerhattan,atroubleprecogwa.s.statisticallymoreprobablethanonedealingwithasmallnumberofpeopleorasinglecitizen.Scantrea.s.surance,however.
AndthankG.o.d,Talentwaspanethnic,thoughtDaffyd.Hedidn"thavetoworryaboutthatuglyheadrisingagainsttheCenter.