"Justwhatisthis?"TheCommissionerforLawEnforcementandOrderhadriseninindignationfromhispaperfreedesk."MyappointmentwaswithJamesMarshall,notyou,Darrow."
"Iknow.Jimgot.i.tforusbecauseyou"verefusedtosee..."
"Abunchoftearoomcrackpots!"
"Well,we"rehereandyou"regoingtolisten..."
"NotifIhaveanysay..."TheCommissionerwasfumblingwithhisdesksetandsworewhenthetelltalelightsdidnotwinkonathistouch.
"Itwon"twork,CommissionerMailer,"Henrytoldhim."IforgottomentionthatJerry"stelekineticandkeepsclosingtheswitchesa.s.soonasyoupress.Sorry.You"reincommunicadountilyoulisten.Andwatch.Barbara,ifyouwould,please?Here"sthelist.Justsithere.Ready,Molly?"
TheCommissioner"sragingdidhimnogoodsincehisofficewa.s.soundproofed.Hecontinuedtofumblefutilelywithhiscomunit,unabletobelievethat.i.twouldn"tfunctionbecausesomenondescriptyoungmanstaredat.i.t.Hedidn"tnoticethatMollywasquietlyplacingtheelectrodenetonBarbara"shead.ThegirladjusteditintothescalpedspotsinherhairandnoddedtoHenry.
"Igathertheseareinorderofpreference?"HenryaskedtheCommissioner.Henryperchedonthedesk,unperturbedbytheCommissioner"sbelligerenceandprofanity.
"Preference?What"n"h.e.l.lareyoutalkingabout,Darrow?Getyourcircusoutofhere.Thisisalawenforcementandorder..."
"Neitherofwhichyouareabletomaintainwiththecurrentrestrictionsonyourmen,"saidHenry,interruptingwithsuchaforcefultonethattheCommissioner"ssputteringdiedandhestaredatDarrowinamazement.FewpeoplehadaddressedtheLEOmaninthattoneofvoice."That"swhyI"mhere,torendera.s.sistanceyoucan"tgetfromanyotheragency.Nowsitdown,shutup,andlisten.Whodoyouwantustofindforyoufirst?"
"Find?"
"Find!"
ThetwomenlockedeyesandtherewasaqualityinHenry"sthatwroughtasuddenchangeintheCommissioner.
"Allright,"Mailersaidinatighthardvoice,"findmethemantheycallJoeBlow."
"TheJoyPillman?"
"That"shim."
HenryflickedoutthesecondIBMcardandhandedittoBarbaraHolland.
"Enoughforyou,Babs?"
ThegirlstudiedthesketchdrawnbypoliceartistsfromverbaldescriptionsofvictimsoftheelusiveJoeBlow.Shereadthenotationsonhismostfrequentedlocations,hisgeneralmodusoperandi.
ThenshelookedupatHenrywithagrin.
"Thisisn"tareallyfairtest,Henry,"shesaid.
"Ha!"exclaimedtheCommissioner,anunholydelightinhiseyes.
"No,"saidBarbara,"becauseI"veencounteredhimsoit"seasytotrackhimdown."Sheclosedhereyes,claspingthecardbetweenherhands.
TheneedlesontheGooseggbegantowhipacrossthegraphpaper.Hersmilewidenedandsheopenedhereyes."He"sonthecornerof4thAvenueNewEastand197thStreet.He"swearingalongbluedutymac,withwaterproofedshoulders,andalongblondwig.Nomoustachestoday.He"scarryingnothingillegalbuthehasagreatdealofmoneyonhimandsomefoldedpapers."
TheCommissionerwasfumblingwithhiscomunit."ForG.o.d"ssakereleaseitorwhatever.I"vegottoget..."
"Why?"askedBarbara."YouwanthimwithdustoracidortheBrownJoy,don"tyou?"
"Iwanthiminanyway."
"Canyouchargehim?"
"I"veonlygottogethim..."
Suddenlythecomunitcamealiveoneverypreviouslypressedband,b.u.t.theCommissionergot.i.tsortedoutandhadasquadvehicledispatchedtothecoordinates,toapprehendamanansweringBarbara"sdescription.
Thenheturnedback,smilingsourlyatthefourpeople."We"llseewhatwe"llsee.Ifsuchamanisthere,we"llhavehiminthreeminutes.Mypeoplearequickandefficient."
"Soaremine,"saidHenryandlookedexpectantlyatBarbara,whonodded.
"What"sthatallabout?"demandedtheCommissioner.
"I"mkeepingtrackofhim,"Barbarareplied,andsuddenlythethirdbandbegantoshowactivity.
"ThatistheGooseggatwork,CommissionerMailer,"saidHenry.
"Areyoureadingmymind?"Mailerlookedalarmedandangrier.
"Notatall,"Henryreplied."I"mnotatelepath.I"matealeafreaderonagrandiosescale..."
TheCommissionerpursedhislipstohearhisowndescriptionofHenryDarrowthrownbackathim.
"Allright,then,tellmenowifmymen"llsucceed?"
"BarbaracantellyoubetterthanI.Idon"tdealgenerallywithindividuals.Myspecialtyisma.s.smovement.ButBarbaracanfindJoeBlowforyounowandanytimeyouwanttocheckonhiswhereabouts..."
"Theyhavehim,"Barbarasaid,andheldoutherhandforanothercard.
TheCommissionerstaredathersuspiciously.
"Oh,let"slethismentellhim,Babs."
Sheshruggedandsettledbackinherchair.ThenbrightenedandsmiledsweetlyatMailer."Youleftyourpipeinyourskijacket,Commissioner,theblueonewhichyoudon"tusuallywear.Ifyoucallhomerightnow,you"llfindyourwifethere.Andremindherthecoatisunderyourreddressingrobeinthefirstcloset."
Mailerregardedherwithnarrowedeyes."Ithoughtyousaidyouweren"tamindreader."
"Ineversaidthat,"Barbarareplied,thenpointedtoHenry."Hedid.
AndIcanonlygetimpressionsoflostarticles.Youdidlosethepipeandwerejustnowthinkingwherehadyouput.i.t.AndtheonlyreasonIknowaboutyourwifeisbecauseyousayyoucanneverfindherwhenyouneedher."BarbarakeptherfaceverystraightbutHenryknewhertobepossessedofasenseofdevilment,verymuchinevidenceunderthatairofinnocenthelpfulness.
This"finding"wasmakingfarmoreimpressionontheCommissionerthanherlocationofJoeBlow.
Thecomunitbuzzed.
"Theypickedupaman,answeringthatdescription.Whatdotheydowithhim?He"sdemandingrights."
Mailerwasunpreparedforonlyonemoment."Searchhim.There"sbeenalocalrobberyandamanansweringhisdescriptionwa.s.seennearby.
You"resupposedtofindawadofcreditsandpapers.Invokecitizensearchprerogative."
"He"scarryingroughly8000credits,sir,"saidBarbara.
"Theheistwas8000."
Therewasasecondlongtensesilence.
"He"sgot.i.t,sir."
"Bookhim!"
ThefleetingexpressionsonMailer"sfacenowtoldofintens.e.m.e.ntalconflict.Hewasamantowhomamiraclehadbeenofferedandhewastooscaredtoaccept.i.t.
"Barbaraisparapsychic,Commissioner.WebroughtGooseggtoprovetoyouonascientificbasisasreliableasballistics,withoutatealeafinsight,thathermindgeneratesaspecifictypeofelectricalimpulsewhensheusesherparapsychicTalent.Shecan"treadyourmindexceptwhenyou,oranyone,areworryingaboutsomethinglost,strayedorstolen..."
"Stolen"TheCommissionerpouncedontheword.
"Ifyoumeanthathijackedshipmentofcrowdgas,Commissioner,"saidBarbara,"it"sinawarehouse,withasouthsidefeel.It"sverydarkinside,whichhampersme:Ican"tseeinshadows.Icanmakeoutsomewhiteairfreightcontainers,they"veaplasticfeel,ratherthanwoodorsteel.There"sageometricdesignindarkpaintinthelowerlefthandside."ShefrownedandtheGooseggchatteredrapidlyforamomentandthentoneddowntoamild,normalswing."I"msorry.Theresimplyisn"tenoughlightthere."
TheCommissionersnortedbutherinformationhadobviouslygivenhimsomethingtoworkon."Southside...airfreight...white..."Hisfistslappeddownanendkey."Jack...whatairfreightcompaniesusewhitecontainerswithgeometricdesignsinlowerlefthand...Oh,theydo.Now,whatairfreightcompaniesusesouthsidedepots...Oh.
Hmmm.Well,checkyourcontactslikerightnow."Heturnedacolddispa.s.sionatelookonBarbara."Youcan"tbemorespecific?"
BarbaragaveHenryaquickglancebeforeanswering."I"vealreadynarrowedthesearchtoasmallsectionofthecitywithasmanyspecificsasIcansee.Therecan"tbethatmanywarehousesforairfreight!I"vedonemorethanyou"vebeenableto,Mr.Mailer."
"Now,justaminute,younglady..."
"You"vehadmorethanaminute,Commissioner,andmytimeisvaluable."
Barbarawasonherfeet,theelectrodenetinherhand."We"rewastingtimewiththisone,Henry.AndIdon"tlikehim.Miserablevibesfromhim,justmiserable!"
Shelefttheroom.MollyquietlybegantopackuptheGooseggwhiletheCommissionerstaredfirstattheopendoorandthenatHenry.
"Sheoperatesmoreefficientlywithanoccasionalwordortwoofthanks,Mailer.Mostpeopledo."HenrygatheredMollyintothecurveofhisarm,motionedcourteouslytoJerrytotaketheGooseggandwishingMailerapleasantgoodday,left.
"Hey,justaminute..."
Henryturnedatthedoor."AsBabssaid,Mailer,you"vehadmorethanaminuteandourtimeisvaluable."
"DoesCharityhavetobesedatedagain,Gus?"HenryaskedtheCenter"sphysician."We"vegotheratemporarycontracttofindoutthetroublemakerintheArrowShirtCompany."
Gusduckedhishead,hisfacetwistedintoagrimace,wantingtosaynoandhavingtosayyes.HeleanedagainstthenowflaggeddoortoCharityMcGillicuddy"stworoomedaccommodationonthelivingflooroftheCenter"swarehousebuilding.
"Evenwiththeshieldingwe"vegot,Hank,it"snotenoughprivacyfortheempathsandtelepaths.Notenoughphysicaldistance.Nowaytogetoutandawayfromourselves,ifyougetwhatImean.We"resortofallcrammedintothiswarrendespitetheconveniencesandamenities.
Youmightsay,it"stoomuchof.a.goodthing...tocloseabuddybuddyact.Likeanoverdoseofeuphorics.Everyone"shighhereonsheergoodfellowship.Andit"smuchtoomuchforCharity."
Henrylookedtowardsthecorridorwindowwiththeprojectionofsunlightonthegra.s.s,ahugespreadingbeechtree,russetagainstanautumnallybluesky.Thoughitwa.s.sorealisticthattheleavesmovedgentlyandtheangleofsunlightalteredslowly,Henryknewittobeonlyaprojectionandhismindwouldnotacceptthefantasythatdeludedmillionsofwarrendwellers.
"Talentrequirescertainrealitiesnotobtainableinthisage,"Guswenton."Andoneofthemostimportantisphysicalfreedomandelbowroom."Hesnorted,awareoftheimpossibilityoffulfillingthatrequirementinJerhattan"sovercrowdedboundaries.
"We"vebeenofferedthatoldgamepreservein..."
"TooG.o.dd.a.m.nedfartocommuteandmostofusgotta."MolnarwasheadneurologistattheMidtownHospitalCenteralthoughhespentmoretimeastheCenter"sphysician.
"Okay,"Henrysaid,"I"lldowhatIcan."
"Henry?"Guseyedhisfriendsuspiciously."Whatareyouuptonow?"
"Me?Nothing."ThenHenryDarrowa.s.sumedacrouchedstanceandrubbedhishandstogether,chucklingevilly."ButDestiny...hahaHA!Iknowwhenwetwainshallmeet.Soon!"
GusrolledhiseyesheavenwardtodealwithHenryDarrowinthiswhimsicalmood.
"Oh,don"tworry,Gus,"Henrysaidinanormalvoice."Iusuallycall"em,youknow."
Gusnoddedsourly.
"Contentyourself,"Henrycontinued,"withtheenticingthoughtsofdissectingmybrainwhenIdie,andtryingtofigureoutjusthowIdoit."
"Ha!"
"Youcan"tsubpoenaBarbaraHolland,notonthosegrounds,CommissionerMailer,"HenryDarrowsaid."ButyoucanhireherservicesfromtheCenter..."
"WhatCenter?"demandedMailer,lookingscornfullyaroundtheminuscules.p.a.cethatservedasHenry"soffice.
"TheCenterwe"llshortlyacquirewiththewagesyou"llbepayingTalentslikeBarbara,andt.i.tterBeyleyandGilGracieand..."
"t.i.tterBeyley?"TheCommissionerhoveredonthevergeofapoplexy.
"Yes,t.i.tter.Hedranktostopfindingthings.Alcoholaffectstheparapsychicfaculty,sometimesitinhibits,asint.i.tter"scase,sometimesitsharpens."
"Now,justaminute,Darrow..."
"Myminutesarevaluable,Mailer.Ionlyhavesomany.Youwantthingsandpeoplefound:Barbarahasthatfacultyandsodoest.i.tterBeyley.Actuallyt.i.tter"smuchbetterforinanimateobjectsthanBarbara.Hedoesn"tlikepeople.Andthedayyoufindouthe"sbeendrunkonduty,hencomplain."
"Andyoumeantostandthere,youngman,andtellmethatI"mgoingtogetshotatSat.u.r.day?Again!"GovernorLawsontippedhischairbackandroaredwithlaughter:anexercisehebrokeoffabruptlytoglarewithanintensityakintohatredatDarrowandthewraithlikeSteveHawkins."Sowhatelseisnew?"
"ThepredictiveIncidentsaysthata.38slugwillpenetratetherightventricle."Steve"svoiceshookslightly.Henrywonderedifhe"dmadeamistakeinbringingSteve,whowasverynewtohisgiftsandtheCenter"sstaff."Themanwillapproachfromtheleft..."
"Whatdoesitmatterwherehecomesfrom?"TheGovernorsaid,sharply,hostilely."Oh,Idon"tdisbelieveyou,Darrow.Oryou,Hawkins.
I"veheardtoomuchaboutyoupeopletobeskepticalanymore.But,ifIdon"tappear..."
"Youhavetoappear,"Henryreplied."WeranthealternatesthroughaprobabilitycomputationandfindthatyourappearanceatthatForumMeetingmusttakeplacetoswayacurrentlyuncommitted8%ofthepopularvotetoyourparty.Withoutthat8%,youfailtoreceivethecriticalmajorityandifyoufail,theLaboritescan.o.btainthepluralitytheyneedtoeffectacountermeasurethatwouldhavedisastrousconsequencesontheeconomy."
GovernorLawsonbeganachuckle,hisbellyshakingfirstbeforetheamus.e.m.e.ntwa.s.shunteduptherotundabdomentothechestandfinallybecameaudibleintheheadcavity.FinallyLawson"slipspartedtoemitarich,juicylaugh.