Asitwas,heonlyjustgotoutofstunrange.
Onceclearofthebusyalt.i.tudes,Daffydhovered,callingan"abort"totheCentertransports.Thesituationhadgonebeyondtheircapabilities.He"donlycompletedonecirclebeforehesawthattheLEOcopterswerelayinggas.Itwasalltheycoulddowithsuchamobstartingtorampage.SallywasweepingsoftlyasheveeredeastwardstowardtheCenter.
"Iwasn"thonestlycertain,Daffyd,"Sallysaid,curledinasmallcontriteballonthesuspendedcouchinhisquarters.Shekeptexamininghergla.s.sasiftheamberliqueurwerefascinating.She"dtheappearanceofasmallgirltryingtogetoutofascold.ActuallyherpublicmindwaswideopentoDaffyd"s,permittinghimareviewofherinitialimpressionsofthesinger."Imean,whileIcouldn"tthinkwhatelseshemightbe,therewasthepossibilitythat.i.twasallsonicamplification.Youknowwhataskilledoperatorcando."
"Allthemorereasonyoushouldhavereportedit,Sally.Thatkindofmanipulationiswhymechanicalamplificationisstrictlylicensedtoreputableandreliabletechnicians."
"Andnotaclueaboutthegirl?"
"Notyet."ThelicensedownersoftheFactorywereamongthosedrowsilyhelplessinsidetheofficeinthelobbyofthebuilding.
They"dbequestioned,ofcourse,byGillings"smen.PerpetratorsofriotscouldexpectscantmercyfromtheLEOoffice.
"We"vegottogettothegirlfirst,Sally."
"IfonlyI"dtoldyousooner..."Sallywasfloatinginchagrin.
"Ikeeptellingyou,andeveryothermemberofmystaff,Idon"tmindbeingbotheredwithsocalled"trivia."Becauseitisn"talwaysastrivialasyoumightbelieve."
"Iknow.Iknow.Isimplywasn"tthinkingclearly."Thatwaswhatshesaid,butwhatSallywasthinking,alsoforhimtosee,wasthatshehadn"twantedtodisappointhim,orherself,incaseherinitialimpressionaboutthesingerhadbeenwrong.Thegirlhadbeenalmosttoogoodtobetrue.
"Wa.s.sheafraidofthatcrowd,Daffyd?Itwasthreetimesthesizeoftheonetheothernight.Infact,thesizealoneputmeoff."
"Youfirstheardher..."
"Justtwodaysago.Itriedtogetbackstagetoseeher..."Sallyshruggedherfailure.
"Muscleboys?"
"No."Sallywasastonished."Everyoneelsewantedtogetnexttoher.
I"dneverhavehadachancetofindoutforsurewithsomuchinterference,muchlesssuggestshecometotheCenter."
Daffydbegantostrollabout,hisarmscrossedoverhischest,hisheaddown.
"Webothsensedherfright?"
Sallynodded.
"Wearebothagreedthatsheisabroadcastingempath?"
Sallynoddedagain,moreemphatically."Couldshealsoreceive?Imean,thatwouldaccountforthat"echo"phenomenon,wouldn"t.i.t?Shethrowstheemotionsoutandthenmagnifiesthemonretrieval""That"soneexplanation."
"Hmm,butyoudon"tsubscribetoitwithanyenthusiasm."
DaffydgrinnedatSally."Itdoesn"tfitallthecirc.u.mstances.
Besides,Roznineusedaplural..."thoseeffingcopouts."
"Sally"seyesroundedwithsurprise."Shelinks.Thatwouldaccountfortheamplificationandtheecho."Daffydnodded."Thenwho"stheotherempath,orempaths?"Daffydshrugged."Doesn"tsherealizewhatsheis?"
"Probablynot.Weshallhavetoinformher."
"Andhowdoyouplantodothat?"
"IthinkweaskforFrankGillings"shelp..."
"But...but...shestartedtheriot.Youknowwhathappenstoriotprovokers."
"Yes,butIalsoknowthatFrankwantsallTalentedpeopleregistered,trainedandcontrollable.Sowhenhe"shadachancetoquestionthesleepingbeauties..."
"WecantraceCinderellaandfitheroutwithgla.s.sslippers..."
Sallygrinnedsaucilya.s.shepickedupthea.n.a.logy.
"BeforePegasusfliesawaywithher."
"Pegasus?He"samyth,notafairytale.That"snotfair,Daffyd!"
"b.u.t.thea.n.a.logyismostapt,"andopOwenwasgrimlyserious."Andwe"vegottoputabridleonherPegasusorshe"llendupwithsingedwings."
AlthoughtheLEOCommissionerandtheDirectoroftheEasternAmericanParapsychicCenterwereongoodworkingterms,theCommissioneravoidedcomingtotheCenter.Respectingthiswhimsy,DaffydcalledthroughtoGillings"sofficethenextmorning,askingforanappointmentandspecifyinghisbusinessastheFactriot.
"Howdidyouhappentobethere,Dave?"Gillingsgreetedhim,risingfromhischairasopOwenwasusheredintohistoweroffice.
Daffydspentamomentadmiringthe360viewofthesprawlinghazedmetropolis.
"TrackingaratheruniqueTalent."
"Thatsinger?"AndGillingssworewhenDaffydnodded."Doyouknowthetollonthatcaper?"
"No,but.i.t"soneh.e.l.luvalotcheaperthanitwouldhavebeenifwehadn"talertedriotcontrol."
Gillingsfrowned."Sheshouldn"tbeallowedapublicperformer"slicense."
"Iwantedtofindoutifshehadone."
Glaring,GillingsicilybangedathisdeskcomsetanddemandedtobeputthroughtoID.Nolicensehadbeenissuedtoanyoneansweringthedescriptionofthesinger,Amalda:norhadtherebeenalicenseissuedtotheFactforsoloentertaining.Therewere,however,specificationsonrecordastowhatmechanicalamplificationwaspermittedthemanagementoftheFact,thefrequencyoftheprogrammingandthenightsonwhichpublicgatheringscouldbeheldandthemaximumnumberofpeoplepermittedtogather.
Lastnight"sperformance,ittranspired,wascompletelyillegal.
Gillingsissuedasummonsfortheowners,brothersnamedd.i.c.kandHarryDitts,whohadtoldanentirelydifferenttalethepreviouseveningwhentheyhadrecoveredfromsleepygas.Fiveminuteslater,Gillingswasinformedthatneitherd.i.c.knorHarryDittscouldbelocatedattheirresidencesonrecord.
"HavetheyanyknownconnectionwithRoznine?"
"Roznine?"GillingsregardedDaffydwithacombinationofdisgustedannoyanceandstartledconcernwhichfadedintodeepreflection."Yousawhimthere?"
"Yes,hewasattheFact.Whenwewerewithdrawingfromthesceneoftheimminentriot,hewasdeepinconversationwithseveraltypesinthelobby.LaterhespottedtheLEOcoptersontheirwayinandmadehiswayout.Funnyhedidn"tsuggesttotheDittsbrothersthattheyleavewithhim."
"Don"tbenaive.RozninelooksafterRoznine,first,lastandalwaysorI"d"vehadhimcooledlongago.ButSectorKisfarfromhisbailiwick..."Gillingsstaredoutacrossthecitywithnarrowedeyes.
"He"sbeengettingtood.a.m.nedpowerfulintheCityandnotjustwiththeSlavs.Amegalomaniaciswhatheisandtheyoperatewithacuriousabilitytoavoidminordisasters...untiltheygetoverconfident.Rozninehasn"tmadethatmistake...yet..
"Ishouldn"twonderthatthere"ssomeTalentinamegalomaniac,apartfromhismadness."
"Talent?"GillingseruptedasDaffydhadknownhewould."Christ,that"sallIneedisaTalentedpanethnicleader.G.o.ddammit,whydon"tyoupeoplegetontheballandroundupalltheseG.o.dd.a.m.nfreakingTalentsbeforetheygohaywire.We"vegotenoughproblemskeepingthat..."andhisbluntfingeredhanddescribedacircleatthepanoramicmetropolisoutsidetheplexigla.s.s,"...fromexplodingasitiswithoutunnaturalhazardslikelatentTalents..."
"...ThenhelpusfindAmalda.Shecanbeimmenselyuseful..."
"She"sariotprovoker..."Gillings"seyesnarrowedwithaflashofvindictiveness.
"Areyougoingtohelpme,orhinderme,Frank?ThegirlisvaluabletobothofusbutnotinyourcoolerasanRP.She"sanintelligentbroadcastingempathoftremendousrangeandpower.Idon"tthinksherealizeswhatsheis...ordidn"tuntilpossiblylastnight.
Somethingfrightenedheroutofherwitshalfwaythroughherthirdsong.Sheran!Idon"tknowwhat.i.twasnordoIknowexactlyhowshecanbroadcastthewayshedoes,but.i.t"simperativethattheCenterfindandprotecther."
Gillings"seyebrowsroseinironicsurprise."YouandIselinwerethere.Whydidn"tyougetherthen?Whathappened?"
"Amongotherthings,ariot.Somepeopleshieldautomatically,Frank,andifyoucan"ttracethemind,youcan"tcatchthebody."
"Allright,allright,"Gillingssaid,irritablywavingasideDaffyd"smildreproval."Buthowcomeshedoesn"tknowwhatsheis?Allright,allright.Iknowtheanswertothat,too.Allright,whatdoIdo?"
"Iwantatraceronanyyoungsingerofherdescriptionapplyingforaperformer"slicenseanywhereinthecountry.AndIwanttoknowwheresheha.s.sung,whereshetrained,whereshecamefrom.She"sgonetocoverandshewon"tfindeasy.Inthefirstplace,she"sterrifiedofwhateverhitherlastnight.Andsecondly,she"llhaveagoodideawhathappenedwhentheaudiencefoundoutshewasn"tgoingtosingagain.Shehastwoverygoodreasons...o...b..ingscarce.Ialsodon"twantherfrightenedoutofherwitssoletmehandletheactualsearchwithmypeople.I"llgetmypropagandateamtoaltersomeofthepublicinfobroadcastssubliminally.Wemightgethertoseekusoutspontaneouslywhichwouldbepreferable,"Daffydadded,rising.
"Okay,youhandleit,butIwantthatgirlfoundandtrainedorwhateveritisyoudowiththem.Andquick.I"llshuntthereportonhertoyourcomputer.Shouldn"ttakelongtotraceher."ttooktwodaystotracethegirlknownasAmalda.Andtheprintouthadmanygaps.
She"dbeenbornandrearedinasmallAppalachiancommune:educatedtohersixteenthyearintheCountySchoolsystemwhichshequitto"travel"...anotuncommonpatternforanundirectedorunmotivatedyoungster.Therewasnorecordofformalmusicinstructionbutmusicwasafeatureinherenvironment:noofficialrecordofherforseveralyearsuntilshetookworkinaFloridafoodcontrolcomplex.Twoapplicationsforperformer"slicenseinFloridaweredeniedbytheAuditionBoardthere.Thethirdapplicationwasprovisionallygrantedandlapsedwithoutformalrequestforanextension,butseveralshorttermengagementswereonrecordforherasanunamplified,stringinstrumentedfolksinger.Anewapplicationasapprentice,nonsinger,hadbeenfiledinWashington,D.C.fourmonthsbefore:oneengagementwaslistedwithoutaterminationdate.ThenDaffydhadacheckmadeontheplayinwhichshehadappeared.Amalda,whohadstartedasawalkon,hadbeenabruptlypromotedtoanimportantsupportingrole.Theplaywa.s.scheduledforametropolitanopeninginthreeweeks.
AlthoughDaffydhadonlyasuperficialacquaintancewiththemechanicsofthePerformingArts,therewereseveralglaringcontradictionsinthisreport.AndnoexplanationforAmalda"ssuddenappearanceasaselfaccompaniedsoloistinaminorityentertainmenthallofdubiousreputation.
Inthemeantime,heandSallyworkedwiththepropagandadeappealforsomeoneinAmalda"ssituation.Daffydalsogotintouchwiththeplay"sproducer.
"I"vehadenoughtroublewiththatflittingbird,"NormanKabilovtoldopOwen."Ifshedoesshowup,I"lltellherstraight:shegetsnomorecontractsandsheshouldn"teverhopetogetaPPlicenseapproved.NotifIhaveanyconnectionwiththePA."
"WhatkindoftroubledidyouhavewithAmalda?"Daffydasked,injectingplacatorythoughtsattheirritatedlittleman.
"Troubles,plural,nottroublesingular,"andNormanKabilovgloweredatopOwen.
DaffydknewthemanwasconsiderablyperplexedbytheCenter"sinterestinhis.e.xactress.
"First,shelatchesontomystagemanager,RedVaden...goodman,Vaden.Solid.Dependable.Onlythislittletwithashimhoppingtohertunelikehe"dnevertriedtobrushoffastagestrucktailbefore.
Reddoesn"taskmanyfavorssowhenhewantsthisbirdinthecast...
sowhentheshowtravels,he"snotlackingwhathe"sbeenhavingregular...Isay,yes.Whatharm?SuddenlyIgotRedbeggingmetogiveheranauditionforoneofthesecondaryleads.IalreadygotagoodPApickedoutforthepart.
.."Kabilov"s.e.xpressiontoldDaffydthathischoicehadbeenpersonalratherthanprofessional."...butIgottakeep"emhappysoIauditionthegirl."Thelittleproducerfrownednow,histhoughtsvividtoDaffyd.ThemanhadbeensurprisedoutofboredomatthequalityoftheauditionandimmediatelysignedAmaldafortherole,despitethefactthathe"dknownhe"dbeinforaheavytimewiththedisappointedcandidate."Mindyou,itwasn"tthatgreatapartuntilthatkidreadsit."Anotherheadshakeofperplexity."IdunnohowshediditbecauseshesurehadnotheatreartscreditsbutIcouldn"tnotgiveherthepart.Andthentheauthorcomestorehearsalandh.e.l.l,he"srewritingtheparttogivehermore.Id.a.m.nnearhaveajeopardyactionfromCarlaJacobswho"sthenameintheplay.OnlyRedgoestoworkonherandshequietsdownlikealily.AndyougottabelievethatJacobsdon"thandlethateasy.She"spushingfifty,y"see,andanynewbirdisathreat.Funnything,"andKabilovstaredoffaboveDaffyd"shead,hismindtakingupanddiscardingahundreddifferentglimpsesofCarlaJacobsinhightantrum,CarlaJacobssoothedandveryfews.n.a.t.c.hesofAmalda.Themanwasunconsciouslycensoringthoserecollections."OnceLaJacobsgottoworkingwiththekid,thingswereokay.Wantaseethereviewswegot?"
Daffydhastilya.s.sentedbuthewasgivennochancetodomorethanglanceatthecommendatoryheadlinesinthefascsheets.
"AslongaswewereinWashington,itwasokay.b.u.t.theminutewegottoJerhattan,troubles!LaJacobsstormsinherewithherlawyersandhercurrentmanandshewon"tplaywiththatcreatureanymore.Infact,shegets...o...b..olutelyviolentwegottatrankher.NowIcan"tloseLaJacobsorIlosethetheatreandtheplaysincethat"sthecontract.SoItellRedtofindhisbirdanothernest.Ican"taffordtrouble.Andtheybothwalk!"Hewasindignant."Justlikethat.Hewalks.AguyI"dswornwas100%dependablewalksoutoftheshowtwoweeksbeforeopening.Onaaccountofascrawnybird!"
IfNormanKabilovlookedthepictureofoutragedinnocence,he"sounded"likeamanreprievedfromanunknownordeal.However,hedidhavepublicityshotsofAmaldaandRedVaden,whichheappearedrelievedtogiveDaffyd:asifbygettingridofeverythingremindinghimofthisunsettlingepisodehecoulderaseitfromhismemory.
DaffydopOwenhadhisbestfindersscanthepictures,hesentcopiestotheLEOofficeand,onanoffchance,gaveafinalprinttohisbestprecog.
"Youbetterfindthatgirl,"GillingstoldopOwen,"orI"llfindherandmakeheranswerofficiallyforthatriot."
"Frank,don"tprovokeanotherMaggieO."
Thoughthecomsetwasnotcolor,DaffydwascertainthatGillings"sfacechangedshade.
"We"redoingallwecan,"hewentonsoothingly,"tofindherb.u.t.there"snowayofforcinghertocometous."
Gillingsgrowledsomethingdireashebroketheconnection.
ThereweredayswhenGillingswasnotDaffyd"sonlycross.HeandSallyhadspentmostofthemorningtryingtofigureoutawaytoattractAmaldatothem.LesterWelchwalkedin,listenedafewminutesandthensnortedindisgust.
"Whydon"tyoujustfindoutwherethisRedVadenlives?Ifhewa.s.sogoneonthegirlhe"dleaveasuccessfulshow,he"sprobablytieduptightwithher.Andifhe"satleisure,"andLestergrinnedasheusedtheperformingarts"euphemism,"he"ssurelycheckedintothePACastingAgency."
OpOwenclosedhiseyesbrieflybeforehethankedLesterwithagoodgrace.
"I"mnotsurewhatwe"deverdowithoutyourcommonsense,Les."
"Oh,someoneelse"dtellyouyournoseisonyourface."AndLesleft.
"ThisisonetimeIwishIwereakinetic,"Daffydsaidwithawistfulsigh,thinkingallkindsofdisasters,ofaminorsort,tobefallthedourNewEnglanderonhiswaydowntheaisletohisownoffice.ThenhecaughtSallygrinningathim,hereyessparkling."AndifyourepeatanyofwhatIwasthinking..."
Shecomposedherfaceintosolemnity,raisingonehand."Dai,youknowIcan"t"paththataccurately."ButinhermindwasavividpictureofLesterstuffedintooneofhiswastepaperbaskets.
DaffydplacedacalltotheCastingAgency.BruceVadenhadreportedhisavailabilityandanewaddress.However,theAgencyinformedhim,theaddresswasnaturallyrestricted.DaffydexplainedwhohewasandthatheurgentlyneededtogetintouchwithVadenandwasinformedthatPerformingArtistVadenwouldbecontactedandwouldreturnhiscallifhewereinterested.
""Ifhewereinterested"indeed,"Daffydrepeated,breakingtheconnectionwithuncharacteristicirritability.
"ShallwethinkLesterish,andperhapsdropawordintheomnipotentearofourlocallion?"askedSally.
Hersuggestionelicitedtheneededaddressinfiveminutesandinlessthanhalfanhour,theywereontheirwaybycoptertoanisolatedareaoftheCoast.Thesmallseasilveredcottagewastightlylockedandobviouslyuntenanted.Ratherdepressed,SallyandDaffydreturnedtotheCenter.Lestermetthemattheroofstairs.
"You"recoveredwithcanaryfeathers,"saidSally.
"Ithoughtyoucouldn"treadmymind,"Lesterreplied,startled.
"WithyourexpressionIdon"tneedto."
ButSallyhesitatedatthedoorofDaffyd"soffice.Rathermoreaggravatedwithcirc.u.mstancethanSally,Daffydtookherfirmlybythearmandpushedherintotheroom.Hewasinstantlyoverwhelmedbyseveraldevastatingimpressions:contactwithSallyinforminghimthatheremotionswerehighlyunstable;therewereintenselovehateaura.s.swirlingintheroomandamongthemthesureknowledgethatthechestnuthairedgirlseatedfacingthedoorwasapowerfulandviolentlyagitatedempath;thattheredbeardedmanstandingbythewindowwaslinkedtoherinadesperate,despairingbond.
"I"mDaffydopOwen,"hesaid,"andthisisSallyIselin,headofourClinicRecruitingTeam.We"vebeenlookingforyou."Daffydpouredoutwavesofsympathy/rea.s.surance/overtloveandrespect.
"Wefoundyou,"repliedtheman."I"mBruceVaden."