"WetriedtolocateyouattheFactlastnight,"Daffydsaid,turningtoAmalda.Hissecondimpressionwasthatthegirlwasabouttoimplode.
Atthatpoint,SallygaspedandmadeamovementtowardsAmaldaastheimpactoffear/confusion/hatred/love/horror/revulsion/affectionlappedoverthetwoTalents.
"That"sjustasampleofwhatIcando."Despiteasouthernsoftness,thegirl"svoicegratedintheirearsandwasechoedbyanintens.e.m.e.ntalshoutthatcausedbothDaffydandSallytoshaketheirheads.
"Idon"twantthis.Itdoesn"tmatteranymoreifRedisinoroutoftheroom.Itworksanywherenow."Shewasdrenchedinbitterness,b.u.t.therewaspityaswella.s.satisfactiontobereadfromherglancea.s.shewatchedSallybeginningtoshakewithreaction.
DaffydcurtlygesturedSallyfromtheroom.Sheresisteduntilhereinforcedtheordermentally,tellinghertogetJerryFramesoverhereonthedouble.Hedulynotedthatshewasrebelliousandnotbotheringtohidethefactinherpublicmindorherexpression.
Daffydwincedslightlya.s.sallyslammedthedoorbehindher.
"You"reanempath,"DaffydtoldAmalda,tryingtoreachthroughherbroadcasttosootheherstampedingemotions.
"Idon"tcarewhatIam.Iwantyoutostopit.Now!"
"Ican"tstopit,mydear,"hesaidinhiskindestvoice,buthehadavisionofabridlelesswingedhorseboltingacrosstheheavens.
Amaldarose,inasinglefluidmovement,hereyesblazing."ThenIwill!"Herwordsrosetotheedgeofascreama.s.shelaunchedherselfatthewindow.Daffydmovedtointerceptherphysicallyandmentally,butnota.s.swiftlyasRedVaden.Notthatshecouldhaveachievedherend,sincethewindowwasunbreakable.Soshehittheplastichardandcrumpledintothearmsoftheredhead,sobbinghystericallyandbroadcastingsuchconflictingandpowerfulemotionsthat,outofpity,Daffydreachedforthetrankguninhisdeskandshother.
TherewasabsolutesilenceoneverylevelintheroomasthetwomenstareddownatthelimpfigureinVaden"sarms.
"Isupposethatwasnecessary,"themansaidinableakvoiceasheswungherupinhisarms.
Daffydcouldreadthereliefintheman"smindwhichhadbeenbruisedbyconfusion,fearandanunquestioningdevotiontothegirl.OpOwengesturedtowardsthecouch.
"Allright,opOwen,whatnow?"VadenaskedafterhehadarrangedAmaldagentlyinacomfortableposition.Theman"seyeswereacold,troubledblue.
Daffydreturnedthegaze,probingdeftlyandfindinginVaden"souterthoughtsthattheirvisitherehadbeenhissuggestion,alastpossibilityofa.s.sistance,sinceAmaldahadbeendeterminedtoendherTalentevenifitmeanttakingherlife.
"FirstwehavetheCenter"sdoctorprescribesedation,"andDaffydnoddedtowardsthepainfullythinarmoftheunconsciousgirl,"andadecentdiet."
Vadensnortedasifpracticaladvicewasthelastthinghe"dexpectedfromopOwenbuthetookthechairDaffydindicatedtohim.
"ThentheCenterteach.e.s.h.ertocontrolthisTalent."
"Talent?"Vadenexploded."Talent?It"saneffingcurse!Aftertheothernight,she"sscaredtogooutofthehouse.She"llneverperformagain...Shewon"teven..."andheclenchedhisteethoverwhathe"dbeenabouttoaddbutnotbeforethethought,"audible"toDaffyd,madehimpitythetwomore.
"AnyTalentisatwoedgedsword,Vaden,"opOwensaid,swinginghischairalittle,asoothingmotion.
"Whatkindofafreakisshe?"
"She"sbynomeansafreak,"Daffydansweredinratherseveretones.
"She"sabroadcastingtelempath..."
"AndI"mtheboosterstation?"
"Ithinkthatwouldbeagooda.n.a.logy."
"Look,opOwen,I"vereadagoodbitaboutyouTalentsandnothingwa.s.saidaboutwhatAmaldadoes..."
"Quitelikely.We"rejustbeginningtoappreciatethemutationspossibleintheparapsychic.Wehaveonlyonetruetelempathhere.Heunfortunatelyhasnomoremindthanarabbitandheonlyreceives.
Amaldacanapparentlytransmitexactlywhatshechooses.Igatherthephenomenononlybeganwhenshemetyou?"
OnthetopofVaden"smindwastheactualfirstmeeting:asortofdazedcomprehensionthattheywere"meantforeachother."Theirfirstlovemakinghadbeenarevelationtotheblase,s.e.x-weariedVadenandeachsucceedingdayhadstrengthenedtheirinterdependence.
"Shewasdownandout,"Vadensaidaloudinanexpressionlessvoice.
Whathewasn"tsayingwasvividlyandpictoriallyflashingacrosshismind,elaboratingwitheveryshadeoftheemotionalspectrumadryrecitaloffact."ThankG.o.ditwasmesheapproached..."andbeyondtheflashesofmemories,DaffydsawthatVadenhadneverallowedhimselftheluxuryoflovingorcaringforanyoneforfearofbeinghurtandused.Inatransientprofession,constantlybesiegedbystagestruckyoungsterswhothoughtaPAlicensewas"all"theyneededtoachievefame,hehadbeeninvulnerabletophysicalcharmsandordinaryploys.ButhehadabsolutelynodefenseagainsttheimpactofAmalda"smindinhis.Nowherannervousfingersthroughhiscrispredhair."Wewenteverywhere."He"dbeenhauntedwiththefearthatshe"dleavehimorbetakenfromhim."Eventorehearsal.ThenthegirlwhowastoplayCharmianwaslatesoIaskedAmaldatofillinandreadit"tilshecame.I"veneverheardabetterfirstreading.Sheevenlosteverytraceofherregionalaccentandbecamethehard-voicedtrollop.Weallloathedher.Itwa.s.suchatotalcharacterization!I"veneverseensuchathinginalltheyearsI"vebeenaPA.I"dexpectsuchexpertisefromsomeonelikeMathesorCrusada,butanovice?Anexcanary?"Vadenlookedtowardtheunconsciousgirlandgaveasortofincredulousshrug."Shewa.s.sopleasedtothinkshedidhaveability.She"dtriedoftenenoughtoqualifyasavocalist."Vadenmadeanexasperatednoiseinhisthroat."ThefirsttimeshesangformeIcouldn"tcreditthatshe"dbeenrefusedalicense."HeturnedbacktoDaffyd."Itjustdidn"tmakesense."
"I"dhazardthatyouwerethemissingfactor."
"AmodernSvengali?"Vadenwasbitter.
"Notexactly.b.u.t.thebraingenerateselectricalcurrents.Andinthesamewaythatareceivermustbetunedtoacertainwavelengthtogetamessagebroadcastonthatsamewavelength,mindsmustbebroadcastingonthesamefrequency.YoursandAmalda"sare.Wereeitherofyoureverparapsychicallytested?"
"NotthatIknowof."
"Well,wecansortoutthepuremechanicslaterduringtestingb.u.t.thereisoneotherpressingquestionImustask."
VadendidhaveTalent,whetherithadblossomedthroughcontactwithAmaldaornotwasimmaterial,forheinstantlyperceivedwhatwasonDaffyd"smindandstiffened.Daffydcontinued,feelingitwisernottoletVadenrealizethathewasinthepresenceofastrongtelepath...
atleastnotyet.
"GrantedyouserveinthecapacityofanamplifierforwhatevermoodAmaldacreates,whathappenedtheothernightattheFact?Whatterrifiedhersothatshefledfromwhatobviouslywasasmashsuccess?
Shehadthataudienceinthepalmofherhand."
AnexpressionakintoterrorcrossedVaden"sface,ruthlesslysuppressedinasecond.
"Youwereintheaudience?"Vadenasked,temporizing.
"Yes,SallyIselinhadheardAmaldatwonightsbeforeandwantedmetoconfirmhersuspicionthatAmaldawasahighgainempathist.WhatscaredAmaldaoffthatstage?Andsentbothofyouintohiding?"
TherewasnothinghelpfulinVaden"smindexceptarepet.i.tionofwhatDaffydandSallyhadfeltinAmalda"sprojection.Instead,Vaden"sthoughtsbecamedespairing.
"That"swhyyou"vegottohelpus,opOwen.TurnAmaldaoff!"
Vadendidn"tattempttodisguisehisfearnow.Andhedidn"tstrikeopOwenaseasilyfrightened.Hewastough,abletotakecareofhimselffromthelookofhisbearlikebuild.Andhadtakencareofhimself,tojudgebythescarsonhisknucklesandface.
"Fortunately,noonecanturnAmaldaoff.NordoIyetseethenecessity."OnlyanebulousbutoverwhelmingfearinbothVadenandAmalda.
"You"dbettersee,"Vadencried,leaningurgentlytowardopOwen.Hiseyeswereblazingwithanger,fearandasenseofimpotencewhichwouldbemorefrighteningandhumiliatingtoamanofVaden"stemperament.
"You"dbetterseethat.i.t"scrushingAmaldatothepointwhereshewaswillingtocommitsuicideratherthanlivewithwhatshe"sbecome!"
"Youhaven"ttoldmewhatfrightenedherandwhat,ifImayspeakcandidly,isbotheringyouaswell."
Vadengotagriponhisfearandanger."Therewa.s.someoneelseinthataudience,"hesaidinaharshcontrolledvoice,"whosuddenlylinkedupwithus.Someonewhowastryingtodominate.WhowasdeterminedtocontrolwhatAmaldacando.Shegotthebruntofit,ofcourse,thenIcaught.i.t."
OpOwenwascertainthen,withanawfulinstinct,thatRozninewasthethirdperson.Andtheramificationsofthatpremiseweredecidedlyunsettling.Hemanagedtosmilerea.s.suringlyatBruceVaden.Heswunghischairidlyfromsidetosidewithcounterfeitunconcern.HehadlostSolangeBoshebuthewouldn"tloseAmalda...andVaden...andRoznine.
"That"sveryinteresting,"hetoldVaden."DoesAmaldahaveanyideaoftheman"sident.i.ty?"
"Howcouldshe?"RedVadenaskedscornfully.Hewasmakinganotableefforttocoverhisinnerperturbations.Hecouldn"tbeareventhenotionofsharingAmaldawithanyone."Theminutesherealizedwhatwashappening,howstrongtheguywas,andwhathewantedhertodo,shemadeasifshewastakingashortbreak.Andtoldmetofollow.
Butshewon"teversingagain.Youdon"tknowwhat.i.tdoestoyou..."
"Iprobablymorethananyman,"Daffydsaidwithaslightsmile.
Vadendiscreditedthestatementwithacuttingsweepofhishand.
"You"vegottounderstandthatAmaldamustbeturnedoff."
Therewasanedgeinhisvoicenow:hewas.h.i.ttinganemotionalhigh,too.Daffydreachedsurrept.i.tiouslyforthetrankgun.
"Don"tyoudare!"VadenmovedwithsurprisingspeedandgrabbedopOwen"shand.
"Ithoughtyou"dunderstand,opOwen.Whoeverthatguyisis...o...b..edangerous!"
"You"llhaveeverybitofprotectiontheCenterandeveryotherCenterintheworldcanofferyou,Vaden,"Daffydreplied,allowinghisvoicetotakeonstrengthwithoutvolume."Whichisnotinconsiderable,Ia.s.sureyou.Whatyoudon"tunderstand,Vaden,isthatAmalda"smainproblemissimplylackofcontrolofherratherbreathtakingability."
"Youdon"tunderstand."Vadenwasdesperate."Shecancontrolma.s.sesofpeople.ThosesubbiesintheFact...shecouldhavemadethemdoanything.That"swhat"sterrifyingher.Andme.Andthatotherfreakedoutmind...hewantedtousehertocontrolthatkindofadangerousmob.G.o.d,man,Iknowwhatriotis.I"veseenthem.I"vebeencaughtinthem.Iknowwhathappens.Shecouldcauseone.Sheevenstartedonebynotbeingthere.ShecouldincitetheentireG.o.dd.a.m.nedJerhattancomplex..."
"How?"askedDaffydblandly.
"By...by...doingwhatthatmindwantedhertodotheothernight."
"But,"andDaffydmatchedRedVaden"surgencywithhisown,"shedidn"t!Andshecouldn"t!Andnothingonthisworld,notevensomefreakedoutmindwithamegalomaniacalbentcouldmakeher.Andonceshe"slearnedtocontrolthis...wingedhorseofhers,Ithinkyou"llallfindthisnotsocursedaTalent."
"Idon"tbelieveyou."
"HowoldisAmalda?"
"What?Whathasthatgottodo?"
"Howold?"
"She"stwentytwo...."
"Twentytwo.Andratheryoungfortwentytwo,Ishouldimagine.That"sstillatenderage."Daffydcould"vewishedforsomeofAmalda"sempathicstrengthbuthewasgettingthroughtoVaden"sbasicreasonableness."Andshehasbecomeemotionallyinvolvedwithyou...
Nooffense,please,Mr.Vaden.Fromaratherhumdrumfrustratingexistence,shehaseruptedontothestage,intoprominence...Evenamaturepersonalitycouldbedazzled.ThensheisthrownintoahighlychargedsituationtheconcertattheFact.i.twasunnervingformeasan.o.bserver,andI"mwellincommandofmyemotionalresponses.Sheisfrightenedandruns!ForwhichIdon"tblameheratall.Inshort,Amaldahasbeenoperatingonhighforsometime.Wearestillfrailmastersofourpowers,Mr.Vaden.Andthatreceiver/broadcasterunitwhichisAmaldaisovercharged.
"No,Mr.Vaden,wecan"tturnheroff.Wedon"twantto.ButwecanteachherhowtochannelherTalent,howtodisciplineitsoitwon"trunawaywithherasithasjustdone.Weca.n.a.lsoshowyouhowtohelpherputonthebrakes.On,yes,youcanapplywhat,toallintentsandpurposes,arecircuitbreakers.Shewillneedyourstrengthandaggression,Mr.Vaden.Infact,andthisisbetweenus,Amaldaisnotasimportantasbothofyou.SoIwillconsideryouateam,becausethat"swhatyouare."
"Thenyoucanhelp?"askedVaden.Hedidn"tquitebelieveopOwenb.u.t.theauraofbelligerentdesperationwasfading.
"Ijustsaidso."
"No,"andVadenshookhisheadangrilyasifhe"dthoughtDaffydwould"know"his.e.xactreferents.
"Emotionisasmuchatoolasapenorapneumaticdrill..."
Vadenstaredathim,andthenunexpectedlychuckled."AndAmalda"sbeenswingingthedrill?"
InwardlyopOwencheered.ThankG.o.dthemanhadasenseofhumor.
"Exactly.Amaldahasallthefinesseofatyro.Ifyouhadbeenthefocusinsteadofthisratherimpressionableandpreviouslyfrustratedyoungwoman,Ithinkmattersmighthaveprogressedmorecirc.u.mspectly.
Asitwas..."
"Idon"tthinkAmalda"sgoingtobelieveyou,opOwen,"Vadensaid,lookingsadlydownattheunconsciousgirl.
"Idon"tthinkshe"llhaveanyalternative,"Daffydrepliedseverely.
Vadenfrowned,hiseyesnarrowing,butopOwenreturnedthelook,addingamentalreinforcement."Sheis.e.xhaustedfromthelookofher,whichiswhathappenswhenyourunanengineonfullpowerforanylengthoftime.We"llsedatehersufficientlytoletherbodyandmindrest.Andwe"llkeephersedateduntilshebeginstorealizethatshecannotcontroleverythingaroundherwiththegripofatyrant...forthatseemstobehermainfear.Rathercommendable,actually."
"And?"Vadensaidinaflat,noargumentvoice.
"And,inthemeantime,youwillhavetolearnhowtoaidher.You"vebeenmoreorlesspa.s.sive.Shallwesay,"andDaffydsmiledslightlyashebowedtoVaden,"youarebothengagedforalong-termcontractwithnooptions."
ThedoorburstopentoadmitJerryFrames,theCenter"sphysicianandSallyIselin,whoglaredherwaybackintotheoffice.DaffydsmiledashesteppedasidetoletthemthroughtoAmalda.
"Whattookyousolong?"heaskedSally.
"Whatd"youthinkIam?AlousypopTalent?"
Shesabletocovercompletelynow,Daffyd,"Sallysaidwithunderstandablepride.
TheywerewatchingthroughtheonewaymirrorasAmaldafedHaroldOrley.Thewitlessempathwasneatlyeating,withappet.i.te,andoftenasmallsmileofpleasureonhischildlikefeatures.
"Neverthoughtwe"duseHaroldasaninstructor,"saidopOwen.Sallygrinnedathim,hereyessparkling."Harold"sausefuloldtool."
DaffydthoughtfleetinglyofSolangeBoshe.
"Don"t,Dai!"Sally"sonewordwasreinforcedbyhermentalcommandbehindwhichDaffydsensedsympathy,pityand,oddlyenough,annoyance.
"She"soffalltranksnow?"heasked,gratefultoher.
"Heavensyes.She"sgottoconcentrateonHarold,youknow."
"Thenlet"sstartthemmovingaboutoutside."
"IwouldifIwereyou.TheRedBear"sabouttogostircrazy."
"RedBear?"