Sallywrinkledhernose."That"swhatIcallVaden."
"ThenAmalda"sGoldilocks?"
"Goodheavens,no.She"sCinderella,remember?"
"CinderellaandtheOneBear?"
"Cinderella,theOneBearand...theWolf!"
Daffydfrowned."IthoughtIwasabettertherapistthanthat."
"Oh,it"sjustabackofthemindworry.She"snotgoingtotrustherselfuntilshedoesmeetandvanquishtheWolf.Andthenweca.n.a.lllivehappilyeverafter."
TherewasatingeofbitternessinSally"sbrightvoicethatmadeDaffydlookatherclosely.Hewastemptedtoprobeb.u.t.thatwasn"tethical,particularlysinceSallywouldbeinstantlyawareoftheintrusion.SoheobservedAmaldaforafewmoremomentsbeforeleavingtheClinic.
InthemonthAmaldahadbeenattheCenter,theoverthin,intensegirlchildhadbeenreplacedbyastillslenderbutcomposedyoungwoman.HerfearshadslowlybeeneasedbyDaffyd"sadroittherapyandbyherownabilitytodisciplineheremotions,tochannelthevitalenergiesdeftly.
ThefirstsessionswithHaroldOrleyhadbeenconductedwithAmaldafairlywellsedated.ThegirlhadbeenrevoltedbyHarold"switlessness.Therecouldhavebeennoclearermirrorforherreaction.
PityforthemoronicempathhadbeenquicklysuppressedbecauseHaroldwoulddisconcertinglyburstintotears.AtfirstAmaldahadrebelledatbeingforcedtoworkwithHaroldbutshecouldnotrefutethefactthathewouldreactinstantlytoheremotionsanduntilshecouldcontroltheminhispresence,shecouldn"texpecttobeabletocontrolthemsufficientlyinpublic.
InthefirstdaysattheCenter,shehadalsodemanded,evenunderheavysedation,tobelobotomized:anoperationwhichAmaldaerroneouslysupposedwouldsuppresshergratuitousTalent.ThenshemetHaroldandrealizedthatthepsionicportionofherbrainwouldnotbeexcisedbysuchanoperation.StepTwoinAmalda"srehabilitationwasherintroductiontotheCenter"sstaryoungTalent,twoyearoldDoroteaHorvath.Itdidn"ttakeAmaldalongtorecognizethelessonwhichwasthusdemonstratedtoher.
SmallDoroteawasplayingcontentedlywithsixsidedblocks.Whentheytumbled,herfuryexploded...tobechecked,unconsciouslybutfirmly,byhermother.Theyoungtelepath"sthoughtsweresoloudandclearthatAmaldacouldn"tfailtorecognizethea.n.a.logy.
"SoIdiscoveredabrightnewtoyinmymindanditwon"tplaywithme,isthat.i.t?"
"YouhavetolearntobalancethetoyjustasDoroteadoes..."Daffydsaidgently.
"Sotheywon"tallfalldownandgoboom?"
"Withyouunderneath,"addedSally."LikethenightattheFact."
Despitesedation,Amaldapaledandshuddered.
"Hecan"tfindme,canhe?"
"Nothere,behindshieldedwalls,mydear,"Daffydrea.s.suredher.
OnceAmaldacouldcontrolheremotions,Vadenbegantotakepartintheexercises.ItwasduringthesesessionsthatthephenomenonofthesecondFactconcertwasharnessed.Amalda,withRed,coulddominatetheemotionalatmosphereofanylargeroom,couldproject,eventothemindsofsensitives,anyemotionshechose.b.u.t.theforcethatDaffydandSallyhadfeltattheFactwasabsent.
"Theteamrightnowislimited,"DaffydsaidtoSally,somewhatruefully.
"Limited?"Sallywa.s.surprised.
"Yes.Aslongastherearenodarkemotionsbeingcounterbroadcast,shecanprojectwhatshewantsofthelighterones.ButIwasratherhopingthatsheandVadenwouldbestrongenoughtogethertocounteract..."
"Anincipientriot?"
"Yes,"andDaffydleanedforwardeagerly."ThatwouldplacateFrankGillingsandwipeoutthatRPhe"sstillgotagainsther.Andthinkwhat.i.twouldmeaninriotcontroltechniques:twopeopleinsteadoftwentysensitives,ifwehave"emavailablewhenweneed"em,orinsteadofthegas."
"Well,sothat"swhatyou"vehadinmind."
"Asitis,Ithinkwe"llletthemoperateasateaminthosegatheringsthattendtodevelopbrawls:conventions,fairs,industrialshows."
"AndwhatabouttheWolf?"
"Ah,yes,butyousee,Iwanthimtocomeoutofthewoods."
"AndAmalda?"Sally"sounded"furiouswithhim.
"Whichwouldyouwageron?AWolforaBear?"
DaffydopOwenwasbynomeansascallousofAmalda"ssafetya.s.sallymightthink,forhe"dcirculatedawarningtoallsensitivesforanyinquiryaboutAmaldaorBruceVadenandanyunusualactivityonRoznine"spart.TedLewis,thechiefpoliceTalent,gavethemtheirfirsthintofinterest.AwellknownandrespectedPerformer"sAgentwhojusthappenedtobePolish,askedfora.s.sistancefromCentralCastingtofindamissingPA,Bruce"Red"Vadenwhowasreportedlyemployedbutwhohadobviouslynotappearedwithanyworkingcompany.
"Nowthatcouldbelegit,"TedLewistoldDaffyd."TheguyreallyisformingupavarietyshowfortheBorschtcircuitbutforthathedoesn"tneedastagedirectorwithVaden"srating."
"Whataboutanunamplifiedfolksinger?"
TedLewisshookhishead."NowRozninemayhavefoundoutthatAmaldaisVaden"sbirdbut.i.t"salsofairlycommonknowledgethatGillingsisstillafterthefolksingerwhostartedtheriotattheFact.StupidRoznineisn"t.Devious,yes."
ItsuitedDaffydthatGillingshadnotyetdroppedthatcharge,forwhileAmaldawasrecoveringherselfandlearningtocontrolherabilities,thechargewouldprovideherwithacertainprotection.
WhatdidpuzzleDaffydwaswhatRoznineintendeddoingwithAmaldaif,as,andwhen,hegotpossessionofher.Tobesure,thepublicwasinformed,inbroadterms,aboutthecapabilitiesoftheTalentedbutnothinghadeverbeenreleasedaboutthemorebizarrepossibilitiesofpsionicpowers.CertainlynothingrelatedtoAmalda"sabilityfortheverygoodreasonthatuntilAmaldahadmetBruceVaden,suchaTalentcouldn"tevenhavebeenconjecturedaspossible.Therefore,whatcouldRoznine"sactiveimaginationhavesuggestedtohim?Didherealizethathe,Roznine,wasTalented?Sincehehaddominationoverhisethnicgroup,didheplantodominatetheentireCitythroughAmalda?
"VsevolodRoznineisnoman"sfool,boss,"TedLewiswa.s.sayingtoDaffyd"sfurtheragitation."He"sgoteverysingleemploymentandpatronageplumavailableforhisSlavs.Oh,allverylegal;abitdiceyifyou"relookingat.i.tfromsomeotherethniccorner,butlegal.Andhe"sfastmovingoutofhisownbailiwick.He"sbeengettingcooperationwherenoPanSlavhasevergot.i.tbefore.How,why,whathedoes,wedon"tknow.HemayuseacommongardenvarietyofblackmailorhemayevenhaveagenuineTalent.ThoughGillings"llflipifhe"sgottodealwithaTalentedethnicleader!"
"Therecouldbeworsethings,"Daffydsaid,thoughobviouslyTedLewiswouldn"tagree."HaveyougottheLEOprecogssensitivetobothRoznineandAmalda?"
TedLewisshothissuperioradisgustedlook."They"reallsleepingonpaperedpillows."
"And?"
"Boss,youknowyoucan"tforceavalidprecog."
"NoIncidentsatall?"
"Naryaone.Onlyvaguefeelingsofuneasiness."Hewasevidentlyrepeatingafrequentlyreply,whichsatisfiedhimnomorethanitdidDaffyd.
"KeepanopenmindonRoznine.Anddon"tletGillingsknowwesuspectRoznineisTalented.I"mgoingtostartusingAmaldaandVadenasateam.SoonerorlaterRozninewilldiscoverheragain."
"Youwantthat?"
"Verymuch."AndinDaffyd"smind,asheleftTedLewis,wasthememoryofSolangeBoshe"swilddementedfacebeforesheteleportedthroughasteeldoorintheparkingbuilding.
GillingswasdelightedtouseAmaldaandBruceVadenasriotprevention.HeevenofferedtotakethechargeoffthebooksbutDaffydsuggestedthat.i.tremainawhilelonger.Theteamwasinstantlya.s.signedtoaroundofrallies,meetings,conferences,andconventions.
Suchgatheringswereencouragedtodivertapopulationwithtoomuchunoccupiedtimebutanyoneofthemmightexplodeintoariot,giventheproperstimuli.Decibelalarmswerelegallyrequiredineverymeetinghall,includingchurches,butcleveragitatorscouldandhadsabotagedthemsothatthesuppressantgaseswerenotreleasedwhenthe"noise"levelreachedthesharppitchofincipientriot.Theprofessionalagitatorshadalsolearnedhowtomodulatetheirvoicesbelowthedangerlevel,carefullygoadingtheirvictimsintothespontaneous...o...b..stionwhichneithergasnorwaterjetscouldcontrol.
Andwhichnoprecogcouldbeexpectedtoaccuratelypredictuntiltoolateforeffectiveaction.
Fortuitously,asAmaldalearnedtocontrolherself,shelearnedtoreadHaroldwithanaccuracyandperceptionthatsurpa.s.sedSally"s.Haroldcouldservewiththeteam,Daffyddecided,asagaugeforthegeneralatmosphereof.a.groupandas,inanemergency,abodyguardforAmalda.(Youlearnedthings,evenfromdisasters,Daffydtoldhimselfpositively.)Partneredwiththeempath,Amaldawouldsitinthecenterofanaudienceorcirculatethroughacrowd.Vadenwouldbeontheperiphery,readyto"broadcast"ifitbecamenecessary.TheycouldalsobeexpectedtokeepuparunningprojectionofwhateverauratheLEOauthoritiesorthesponsorsoftheoccasionrequested,ifthiswerenotacommercialaffair.Subliminalpressuresformercantilepurposeswere,ofcourse,anillegalandunethicaluseofTalent.
Theteamwas.e.xtraordinarilysuccessfulinunexpectedways.TheMotorboatshowhadthelowestincidenceofpettypilferinginitshistory:theHomeShowreportednolostchildrenandaremarkablyquiet,wellbehavedquotaofsiblingsfollowingtheirparentsthroughtheexhibits.Twoconventions,notedfortheinebriationoftheirmembers,hadtheirdamagedepositsreducedasaresultofgenialbutundestructivebehavior.
AndAmaldabegantogainconfidencetothepointwhereSallyremarkedthatevenBruceVadenhadbeenseentosmileoccasionally.
Iwa.s.surelyrightaboutthemenutoday,Amaldathoughtasthewaiterplunkeddownthemockchicken,lumpyreconst.i.tutedpotatoesandshrivelledsnapbeans.Oh,well,allpartofLife"sRichPageant,sheaddedandstartedbroadcastingrecklesslyintensedelicioustastefeelings.Haroldbegantobeambesideher,attackinghisfoodwithrelish.
Sheglancedcasuallyaroundathertablemates,aspompousacrewofconventiongoersa.s.she"deverseenandshewasnowanauthority.(Didtheyalwaysusethesame"masks"atconventions?OrcoulditbethesamegroupofpeopleasthePlasticContainerManufacturerslastweek,andtheFabricFinishersa.s.sociationonTuesdayweek?)TheyrespondedtoherpromptingasrapidlyasHarold,allgruntingwithpleasureastheyatetheircardboardfood.Amaldasighed.ToobadsheandBrucecouldn"tgetakickbackfromthecateringstafffor"improving"theirfoodbeyondthecallofduty.
NowthereIgoagain,shethought,but.i.tdoesseemthattheTalentedwerelettinganawfulgoodthinggothewayofDutyandHonor.
Shewasratherpleasedwithherbroadcastingtoday.Shehadbeguntobotherwithsuchfinepointsintheira.s.signments,moretoamuseherselfatfirstlikestoppingallthosekidsfromwhiningattheBoatFair.But.i.thadsoundedlikehome,allherbrothersandsisterswhiningatonce,beforethey"dtiedMaoff.Ifsheneverheardanotherchildwhineitwouldbesoonenough.Andmakingfoodatleast"seem"tastywasindefenseofherpoorabuseddigestion.Accordingtospecifications,allthenutrientsandvitaminswereinthefoodandwouldbeabsorbedbyhersystem.Butshe"dcometoprefer"tasting"things.Itmadetheseconventionluncheonsbearable.Whatawaytoearnaliving!
Andyet,Amaldareluctantlyadmitted,shedidn"tdislikeit.Ifonly...Shewouldn"tthinkaboutthat.It"druinherappet.i.te.Afterall,nowshe"dgotthehangofthistrickmindofhers,shecouldmakewholebunchesofpeoplefeelwhatshewantedthemto.Whenthetimecame,shecouldcontrolhim,too.Brucewasneverfarfromher.Shesmiled,thewarmthofhisinfiniteloveapresencetocounteractanynibbleoffear.SometimeswhenBrucemadelovetoher,shewantedtoembracethewholeworldwithitsbeauty,b.u.t.thatsortofbroadcastingwasn"tevenmoral:thatwasprivatebetweenherandBruceand...He"dthoughtthingsatherthatnight...Thingsshedidn"tevendaretothinkabout...
Haroldwasgettingrestless.Shecurbedherreminiscences.
Andthen,thejab.Sosharpshegasped,soharditwasphysicalyettheprodwasinhermind...andalltoofamiliar.Hewashere.
Haroldwhimpered,empathizingwithher.Shehastilydampeddownhershockoffearfulsurprise.Hewasasabruptlygonefromhermind.Sheshivered,unabletosuppressthelingeringsenseofrevulsionthatthatrecognitiontouchevokedinher.Sheovercamethefeeling,smilinginanelyaroundathertablemates.ShepattedHaroldsoothinglyonthearm.Hegrinned,restoredtoequilibrium.Good,shemustkeepthistoherself.
Butshecouldn"tkeepfromglancingaroundforBruce:hewasattable4,nearthedignitaries.Heglancedup,noddedather,andwasthenrequiredtomakesomeanswertohispartner,afemalewhosimperedupathim.
Sometimes,Amaldathought,Redhastheharderroletoplay.
Partofhermindwantedtosearchforhim,butherstrongestdesirewasnevertobetouchedbyhimagain,ever.Shescannedtheroomnow,certainshe"dbeabletolocatehisevilself.She"dcertainlystudiedhisIdslongenoughtospothimphysicallyanywhere.Waiterswerecomingandgoingfromthekitchens.Hewasn"toneofthem.Hewouldn"tbeoneoftheconventioneers.She"d"veidentifiedhimlongbeforenow.Sheopenedhermind,makingit,asDavehadsuggested,likethelensofacamera,slowlywidening.Shedidn"treallywantto:toomuchofanappallingandrevoltingnatureseepedin.ShewonderedhowDave,whowasafulltelepathand"heard"actualthoughts,notjustemotionsa.s.shedid,couldbearit.Shewonderedhowmuchhehad"conditioned"hermindtoacceptherTalent.Sheknewhehad:he"dtoldherso.Shedidn"tmind...probablyDavehaddonethat,too.
Buthewa.s.sokind.Nowifonlyhe"d...
No,shetoldherselfsternly,thesethoughtsyoumaynothave.SallylovesDaffydopOwen.Shegrimaced.ForaperceptiveTalent,Davecouldbeawfullydense.FortheLord"ssake,youdidn"tevenhavetobeatelepathtoseeSallyIselinwasmadlyinlovewithhim.OrmaybeDaveknewandcouldn"tdoanythingabout.i.t?Couldn"tsomeoneconditionDave?Mmmm.MaybeI"llgettoworkonit.No,andAmaldagaveherheadalittleregretfulshake,thatwouldbetamperingandthat"snotethical.
Shesighed.BeingaTalentimposedcertainrulesandregulationswhichabsolutelycouldn"tbebroken.Inthefirstplace,yougotfoundouttoofast.NotmuchofabridleonthatwingedhorseDave"salwaystalkingaboutbut.i.tkeptyoufromfallingoff...
morallyThewaiterwasbendingoverher.AmaldaleanedtowardHaroldtopermitthewaitertoremoveherplate.Insteadhemumbledsomething.
"I"msorry.Ididn"thearyou,"shesaid,smilingupathim.
Hegaveherastareandsaidsomethinginthesameunintelligiblemumble.Shecould,however,sensehisurgency.Hehadsomethingshemustdo?
"I"mreallyverysorry,butwouldyourepeatyourquestion?"Shegesturedatthechatteringdinersbywayofexplanation.
Thelittlemanlookedangry.Inaclearvoice,heaskedthewaiteratthenexttabletojoinhim.
"Iaskherasimplequestionandshegivesmethissosorryroutine,"hesaid.Buthewasincensedaboutsomething.Andhisurgencyintensified.
"Really,there"ssomuchnoise,"Amaldasaid.
Thesecondwaiter,aburlyman,gaveherafiercescowl.
"What"syourproblem,miss?Yougotdelusions?Ain"tyouconventioneerssatisfiedwithnothing?Dolikehesaysandthere"llbenotrouble."
"Icertainlydon"twanttocausetrouble."AndAmaldabegantobroadcastsoothingthoughts.
Suddenlyathirdmanwaspullingherchairfromunderherandthefirsttwohadherbythearms.
"Youjustcomewithus,miss.Youjustcomewithus."
Theywerescared:theywerepromptedbyanurgencywhichwasunnaturalandartificiallyinduced.Hehadinstigatedtheiractions.
ShegotHaroldtohisfeet.Thepoorwitlessfoolwasmomentarilyasconfuseda.s.shewas.ShefeltBrucereacting.Butshewasbeingphysicallymanhandledawayfromthetablebythetwowaiters.Iftheydidgetheroutofthehallitwasn"tthatfartothekitchenentranceAmaldatriedtokeepfrompanicking.ThenextthingsheknewHaroldreachedoutandgrabbedthewaitersbytheshoulders,hadtorntheirhandsfromherarms,andbangedtheirheadstogether.
ThenBruceandtwoofficialsclosedinontheknotofpeopleandsomehowtheunconsciouswaiterswerebeingwhiskedfromthebanquethall."Calm"em,Mally,"Brucehissedatherandshebegantopouroutsuchsweetnessandlightthateveryoneathertablestoppedeatingtobeamateachother.Shemodifiedthebroadcast,gotHaroldandherselfreseated.SheevenmanagedtokeephertremblingreactioninwardsothatnoneofitboiledovertoerasetheidioticsmilefromHaroldOrley"sface.
Bythetimetheluncheonended,however,theeffortbegantotellonherandwasreflectedinHarold"snervousness.Shefeltphysicallydrained.WhatifhehadbeenabletogetherawaybeforeHaroldcouldreact?BeforeBruce,ontheothersideofthehall,hadbeenabletogettoher?Supposinghehad...
Brucewasatherside,hisfacesetanddetermined.Sheknewthatlook.Butnowshewasafraidofleavingthesemiprotectionofsomanypeople.Ifhehadactuallytriedtokidnapherinthemiddleofaconvention...
AplainclothesLEOmanwasbearingdownonthem.Sherose,smilingbrightly.Haroldtwitchedhishulktohisfeet,buthisbrowwascloudingwithchildlikeanxiety.
DisgustatherspinelessnessbuoyedAmalda"sweakeningknees.TheinstantRedputhisarmaroundherprotectingly,shealmostcrawledintohim.
"Let"sgetheroutofhere,"RedsaidandgesturedtheLEOmantoleadHarold.
"Comethisway,"theLEOmansaid,gesturingtothedraperiesatthesideofthehugebanquethall.Adoorinthepanelinggaveontoasmallanteroom."TheWaitersUnionisscreamingoverthosebustedskulls.Wegottogetyououtofherequietly.What"n"h.e.l.ldidhappen,Amalda?"
"Idon"tquiteknow,"shemurmured,awarethatexhaustionwasovercomingmentalresolve."Isitallrighttoleave?"Shelookedbackoverhershoulderatthedinersdispersingslowly.
"Theh.e.l.lwiththem,"Brucesaidinasavagevoice.
"I"msosorry.Sosorry."Amaldahadasenseoffailure.Thefirsttimeshecameupagainsthimshehadfallenapart.Shewantedtocry.
Shewasafailure.AfterallDaffydandtheothershaddonetohelpher...toswoonlikeanyvapidfemale...
"I"llgetyou.I"llgetyouthenexttime."ThevoicewasasloudinherearsasBruce"s.e.xclamation.
"Bruce..."CharlieMoorfieldcamethroughDaffyd"sdoorwithoutbotheringtoknock.
"Theydidit,"hecried,haltinghisforwardmomentumjustshortofgouginghisthighsonthedeskedge.
DaffydpickeduptheimagessovividinCharlie"smind,anddespitethefactthathecouldalsoperceivethattheemergencywasover,hesprangtohisfeet.
"Whodidwhat?"demandedSally,excitedly.Shewasn"taccurateenoughto"paththesequence.
"Theytriedtos.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaattheMorcamConventionluncheon,"Daffydtoldher.
"OnlyshegotHaroldtobashtheirskullsin."