Sallygasped.
"GillingssaidtheattemptandthearrestwerehandledsoquicklythatnooneatthetablewithAmaldaandHaroldknewwhathappened,"Charliewenton."WaitersUnionisscreamingoverthequoteunwarrantedunquotearrestofthreemembers.There"sh.e.l.ltopay."
"Notnecessarily,"saidLesterbuthewasgloweringashewalkedintotheroomandcarefullyclosedthedoorbehindhim."Thisisaclearcaseofprofessionalimmunity."
"Howdoyouconstruethat?"Daffydasked.
Lestersighedasheregardedhisbosswithatolerantexpression.
"AmaldaisaregisteredTalent,right?ShewaspresentattheLuncheoninaprofessionalcapacity.Thereforenoone,notanybody,hastherighttointerfere.Thewaitersdid,bytryingtoremoveherfromthehall.Theybrokethelaw.Amaldahasn"t.NeitherhasHarold.Evenifhewasalittleoverzealous,heisnowprotectedfromtheconsequencesofhisTalent."
"Waitaminute,Lester,"Charliesaid,"thatImmunityLawonlymeansthatyoucan"tgetsuedwhen..."
"Italsomeans,"andLesterwaggledabonyfingeratCharlieandDaffydinturn,"accordingtothewaySenatorJoelAndresandourlegaleaglesinterpretedittome,thatanycitizenattemptingtointerferewitharegisteredTalent"sperformanceofhisdutyisviolatingthatlaw."
"Thiswouldbethefirsttimewe"vehadtoinvokethelaw,"Daffydsaid.
Lesterraisedhiseyebrowsinsurprisedalarm."Sowhat"swrongwiththat?Ordidyoubreakyour..."heglancedabruptlyatSallywhostifledherlaugh..."yourbonesarrangingprotectionnottouseit?"
OpOwenmadeacutoffgesturewithonehand.LesterWelchmutteredindisgust.
"Ithoughtbythistimeyou"d"velearnedthecostofidealism,Dave.
WesweatedoutthatBill:itd.a.m.nednearcostusJoelAndres"slife;wehaveaclearcaseofaninfractionandbyG.o.d"slittlechickens,you"regoingtoinvokeit.IfGillingshasn"talready."
ThecomsetonDaffyd"sdesklitup,flashingred.Hepushedthetoggledown.
"CommissionerGillings,sir,urgently."
Daffydnoddedacceptance.
"OpOwen,we"regettingalotofstaticfromtheWaitersUnion,aboutAmalda,falsearrestandallthatc.r.a.p,"Gillingsstatedwithnopreamble."SofarI"veplayeditthattheirmemberwaspushingal.u.s.tactandgottoldtobugoff:thattheladyinquestionissufficientlyupsettoinvokefemalecitizen"srights.Thenwegotthehonestemployees,goodunionmenwithcleans.e.xrecordsandshe"sapervertafterthedamagesclaim."Gillingssighedwithheavydisgust.
"Youknow,theusualconventionstatic.Now,wecanclearallthisupbyinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityActbut..."andGillingswaggledathickfingeratDaffyd."I"mnotallthateagertobreaktheteam"scover.BruceVadentoldmymenthatsomethinghadscaredAmaldaandtheonlythingIknowshe"sscaredaboutiswhathappenedattheFact.WastherearepeatattheMorcam?"
"Ihaven"ttalkedtoAmaldayet,Frank,"Daffydsaid."Ia.s.sumeshe"sonherwaybackherewithVaden?"Gillingsnodded."Givemealittletime."
"Don"ttaketoomuch.ThatWaitersUnionpacksquiteawallop."
a.s.soonastheCommissioner"sfacehadfadedfromthescreen,DaffydaskedforTedLewisintheLEOBlock.
"Ted,youheardaboutthes.n.a.t.c.hattemptonAmalda?"
"It"sallovertheplace.Say,whydon"tyoujustinvoketheImmunityAct...No?"TedwasasperplexedasLester.
"IsRoznineinvolvedinanywayintheWaitersUnion?"
"h.e.l.lyes.Thereisn"toneUnionheisn"tinvolvedwithrightnow."
"AnychanceoffindingoutifhewasattheMorcamConventionHotelthisafternoon?"
TedLewisheldupahand,flickedonanotherswitch,hiswordsandthereplyindistinct,beingoffthereceiverlimitofthecomscreen.Helookedmoreconfused.
"We"vehadCronersortofkeepinghimundertheeye/ear.Cronersayshe"sataTRIDonMarketandHall.Huh,how"sthat,Croner?Hey,boss,RozninehasbeenwatchingalotofTRIDlately."
"Thenhesuspectshe"sbeenundersurveillanceandisduckingouttheotherexitoftheTRID.Fine."ThiswasanunsettlingdevelopmentbecauseitcouldmeanthatRozninewasdevelopingasaTalent.Ifhegotpushedtoohard....opOwenshuddered."Let"sgoseeAmalda."
"Itwashim,"AmaldatoldDaffyd.Shelookedwhite,shakenandsmalla.s.shehuddledagainstRedVadenonthecouchinthelivingroomoftheirsuite.
"Howclosetoyou?"
Sheshookherhead."Hewasn"tintheroom.I"d"veseenhim.Buthewasnearenoughtorecognizeme.Mymind,Imean."Shegaveadelicateshudder.Hadherecognizedherbecauseshe"dbeenthinkingthosethoughtsabouthim?ShewantedtoaskDaffydbutshedidn"tdare.She"dlethimdownenoughalready.
"Wereyouawareofanything,Red?"Daffydasked.
"Notatfirst.ThenonlyAmalda"ssurprise.Ilookedupandsawthewaitersgrabbingher.ButbeforeIcouldgetacrosstheroom,Haroldhadacted."TherewasadmirationonVaden"sfaceforthemaneuver."Ishouldapologizetotheguy.Ithinkwegotthingsquieteddownbeforeanyoftheconventioncrowdgotwise."
"Aftertheattempt,wereyouawareofRoznine"smind,Amalda?"
"Notuntilwewereleavingthehall."Sheclosedhereyes."Hesaid"I"llgetyou.ThenexttimeI"llgetyou."
"DaffydlookedquestioninglyatRedwhoshookhishead.
"Hadyoueverreceivedwordsbefore,Amalda?"Daffydasked.
Amaldalookedathimstartledandthenshookherhead,smilingshyly.
"Onlyfromyou.Beforenow."Shewasawareofhisconcern."That"sbad,ain"t.i.t?"sheasked,hersoftsoutherninflectionintensifyingherregret.
"Notnecessarily.Wehaveaproblem,"hebegan,choosinghiswordscarefully."WeknowthatRozninewouldliketo...getyou,Amalda,toaccomplishhisownendswhich,knowingyourcapability,mustbeillegalcontrolofmen"semotions.Wehavetoa.s.sumehe"sbeentryingtolocateyou.Wemustalsoa.s.sumethathemaynotrealizethatBruceispartofyourability.Andthat"salinkthatcanandwillprotectyou,Amalda."Daffydreinforcedthatnotionwithasterntelepathicvoice.
"Rozninecouldn"tsucceed.i.n.kidnappingyoutoday,couldhe?Well,hed.a.m.nedwellwon"tbeabletoanywhereelseeither."
"Youcan"tbesureofthat,Daffyd,"shesaidinaverysmallscaredvoice.
"Idon"tintendtoput.i.ttothetest,Amalda,"Daffydcontinuedsmoothly,smilingattheapprehensivegirl,"butkindlyrememberthatyouhavesuccessfullyeludedhimtwicenow.Oncebyrunningawayandhidingsuccessfully.Andtodaybydirectactionagainsthisagents."
Amaldaslowlynoddedherheadinagreement.
"Now,whileRoznineiskeentogethishandsonyou,we...andIincludetheCommissioner...areveryanxioustogetRoznine."ItwasBruceVadenwhostiffenedandlookedwithanintensityclosetohatredatDaffydopOwen.Thetelepathreturnedthatlookcalmly,knowinginthatexchangethatVadenunderstoodtheimplicationevenifAmaldadidn"t.
"RoznineisobviouslyalatentTalent.WeknowhefitsmindswithAmalda.Wedon"tknowwhatelsehecando,andheisinapeculiarlysensitivepositionintheethnicsituationofthiscity:inapositiontodoalotofdamageoralotofgood.Wecan"tpushhimtoofarandwecan"tlethimgo.Wedowanthim,preferablyonhisowninitiativeasyoudid,tocometotheCenter.Youknowwhat.i.t"sliketohaveanunmanageableTalent..."
Daffydwa.s.speakingmoretoBruceVadenthanAmaldabut.i.twasthegirlwhoanswered.
"It"sawful...awfullonely,awfulwonderful."ShegaveDaffydasmile,tremulous,andthoughsheheldherchinupinanatt.i.tudeofconfidence,hecouldseetheindecisionandfearofhermind.
"Now,"hewentonbriskly,"inusingtheWaitersUniontosnagyou,Rozninehasputusinadifficultposition:wecaneasilyusetheProfessionalImmunityActtoprotectyoub.u.t.thatwouldnecessitateyourappearanceincourt.Andbelieveme,everyoneinterestedinourcoveragentswouldbetheretoidentifyyou.Yourteamusefulnesswoulddecrease..."
"DoesAmaldahavetoappearincourt?"askedRedsuddenly.
"Well,yes.Oh,Iseewhatyoumean,"andDaffydstartedtogrin.HemanagedtokeephissmilenormaldespitewhathehadreadinBruceVaden"smindunderthecoveroftheconstructivesuggestion."Verygoodpoint.Twoways.Yes,IsupposewecouldmakeAmaldauptolookdifferent...orwecouldhaveastandinforher.Inthatcase,AmaldawouldhavetobephysicallypresentbecauseRozninewouldbethereandhe"dknowifsheweren"tpresent,whichcouldscoreagainstusifanEEGreadingisrequestedbytheprosecution.Hmmm.Goodnotion."
"WhatcanRozninehopetoachievebyforcingusintocourt?"askedRed.HewastryingtocoverhisearlierthoughtsbeforetheycameapparenttoDaffyd.Presentnowwasathreadofhopelessness,apresentimentthattheintensehappinessandrapportthatBruceVadenhadenjoyedwithAmaldawastobesundered:toogoodtolast.Daffydcouldonlyanswerthespokenquestion.
"Nowthathasmestumped,"hesaid,andmeant.i.tonseverallevels.
"Standin?"Gillingsappearedtorejectthestratageminstantlyandjustasabruptly,hefrownedthoughtfully."Why?Youdon"tthinkanyonewouldbecrazyenoughtotryands.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaincourt,doyou?
Although..."heglancedoveratthewindows,"theatmosphereisd.a.m.nedunstable..."
"Iknow,"Daffydagreed.Evenduringtheshortcopterflightto:theLEOBlock,he"dbeenawareofthepervasive"darkness"ofthecity"semotionalaura.Theweatherhadbeenmiserable,whichdidn"thelp;generalemploymentwasdown;there"dbeentheusualcomplaintsaboutthesubsistencelevelfoods;gripesabouttheTRI-Dprogramming;nothingoutoftheordinary...yet.Theremightindeedbethemakingsofamajorblowup.
Itwouldtaketwoweeksforanimprovementinthefoodtohaveaperceptibleeffect:TRIDprogrammingwasundoubtedlybeingalteredbuteventhemostperceptiveTalentscouldbefooledoverwhatthepublicreallywantedontheb.o.o.btubes.Thevarietyof"circuses"availablewasalmostasinfiniteasfoodtastesandyetoneneverknewpreciselywhatwouldsatiatethepublicappet.i.te.OpOwenmadeamentalnotetocheckallprecogrumblings.Strangetherehadn"tbeenanydefiniteIncidentbyanyonewhensuchalargepopulationunitwasinvolved.
"Look,opOwen,"Gillingswa.s.saying,"I"vegottohavetheteamavailableforriotspotting.Particularlyrightnow.AndIcan"thavethemidentifiable."
"ThenwesendAmaldatothehearingmadeup."
Gillings.m.u.tteredunderhisbreathaboutfancydressandsow"searsandthensuddenlyswungroundtofixopOwenwithastartledglare.Daffydhadn"texpectedtokeepGillingsinthedarklong.
"Okay,opOwen,what"sbehindallthisp.u.s.s.yfooting?Whowastryingtos.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaattheMorcamLuncheon?WasitthesameguywhowasattheFact?Becauseifitwas,let"sgethimandcoolhim.Ineedthatteamoperating.Andthere"sthatopenchargeofriotprovocation..."
OpOwentookadeepbreath."Idon"tthinkitwouldbeadvisabletocoolRoznine."
"Roznine?"Gillings.e.xplodedfromhischairwithallthefrustratedastonishedexasperatedimpotenceofthestrongmansuddenlydiscoveringhimselfinanuntenableposition."Roznine!Christ,opOwen,doyouknowwhatwouldhappentothiscity,inthepresentmood,ifIarrestedthePanSlavicleader?"Hefumedon,inmuchthesamevein,formomentsmoreuntileitherDaffyd"splacatorythoughtsorhisownlackofbreathbroughtastoptotheflowofrecriminations.
"Ihaven"tsuggestedyouarrestRoznine.Infact,thatwouldnotonlybeimpoliticbutdangerous."
Gillingsglaredathim,snappingoutoneshortexplosiveword.
"How?"
"BecauseRoznineisalatentTalent.That"swhatscaredAmalda."
Gillingseruptedagain,thoroughlyenraged.ThistimetheshieldofhispublicmindslippedsufficientlyforDaffydtoseepasttheangertothepanichisconfessionevoked.
"No!"Daffyd"snegative,forciblementalaswellasaudible,carriedweightoneverylevelandblockedthoseavenuesofactionwhichhecouldperceiveGillingsalreadyplotting."Roznineiscontained...atthemoment.b.u.t.thistimewedon"tforcealatentintoapositionwherehecanbecomedangeroustoanentirecity.IwanttoavoidanotherMaggieOfar,farmorethanyoudo!"
GillingshadnoescapefromDaffyd"smind,soopOwendidnotrelentinthepressureuntilhewascertainofGillings"suneasyandresentfulcooperation.
"Roznineisnothreattous...yet.ButhedoesthreatenAmalda,"Daffydwenton."Thatthreatisreal.Itwouldbestupid,"andhepausedtoletthatwordbeabsorbed,forGillingswasnotastupidman,"togetRozninesofrustratedthatadditionalfacetsofhisTalentwhateveritisarestimulated."
Gillings"sfacewasastudyoffrustration.HegaveventtoastreamofprofanitywhichsodelightedandenlightenedopOwenthathecouldignorethefactthathewasthevictimofthespiel.But,withtheavalanche,Gillingsrecoveredhismentalequilibrium.
"ItoldyouacoupleofmonthsagothatwhatyouguysreallyneedisalawthatmakesitillegaltoconcealTalent."
Daffydlaughedwryly."RozninemaybeunawarethatwhatheusesisTalent!"
"Unaware?Myeffingfoot.WithallthepublicityyouguyshavebeenlardingtheTRIDswith,he"sgottoknowwhatheisespeciallyifhe"sbeenplayingmentalpattycakeswiththatAmalda.OpOwen,Idon"tneedaRoznineinthiscity!YouTalentsputhimwherehebelongsandbridlehimorlobotomizehimorsomething.OrI"llinvokewhateverlawonthebookssuitsmeandcoolhimpermanently.Ican"thavethiscityturnedintoabattlefield.OrhaveyouforgottenBelfast?"
Hisbuzzerwinkedtheurgentred.Gillingsraisedonefistasiftosquashtheunitandthen,swearingviciously,slappedthetoggleopen.
"Well?"
Therewasamoment"shesitation.Daffydcouldalmostseethecallerswallowinghastily,probablywishinghedidn"thavetocontinue.
"Commissioner,thelawyersfortheWUareherewithbailfortheirmembers.Dowereleasethem?"
"Iwanttoscanthem,"Daffydsaidinaswiftundertone.
"Delay"em.Someone"sonthewaydownfromthisoffice.Thenpermitbail."
Gillingstossedanoddlydesignedcoatb.u.t.tontoopOwen.
"This"llgetyouanywhereinthebuilding.Andkeepit."
DaffydthankedtheCommissioner,andleft.ProwlingtheLEOofficeswouldnotbeafrequentpastime:the"neural"noiselevelwasmorethanatelepathofDaffyd"ssensitivitycouldbear.
TheWaitersUnionhadsentabatteryoflawyerstoprocurethereleaseoftheirincarceratedmembers.Theyhadbeenshownintoawaitingroom,justoffthemainadmissionshalloftheretentionsectionoftheLEOComplex.
Daffydsaunteredby,scanningeachman"smindquickly.Whathe"heard"hedidn"tlike,but.i.tconfirmedthefactthatRozninewasorganizingtheproceedings.Noneofthes.e.m.e.nknewmorethanhisowna.s.signment.
Buteachwasmovedbyanintensedesiretocompleteitexpeditiouslyandsuccessfullyor...The"orelse"helddark,direandfearfulconsequences.
DaffydreturnedasquicklyaspossibletotheshieldedcalmofGillings"sprivateeyrie.TheCommissionerwasabsent.Daffydusedthefewmoments"respiteforsomesolidthinking.
Thereweretimes,hefinallyconcluded,whenamanhadtooperateonthe"feel"ofthingsalone.Hewasnot,G.o.dforfend,aprecog,b.u.t.therewerealsotimeswhenamansimplyhadtodispensewithrationalthoughtanditsconsequences.ParticularlywhenfacedbyafreeagentlikeRozninewhocouldnotbeexpectedtohavepredictableresponsestostimuliandpressures.
ThesimilaritiesbetweenRoznineandMaggieOwereinescapable,b.u.t.thistimeDaffydhadatoolandaresolve.
"We"vebeenfightingfirewitholdfashionedwater,Frank,"hesaidtotheCommissionerwhenthemanstalkedbackintohisoffice."Fromnowonweusemodernmethods,foamandtranquilizers."
"Whatareyoujibberingabout?"
"Ican"texplain,butw.i.l.l.youtrustme?"
Gillingsglaredbackathim,buthistightnaturalshieldleakedconflictingemotionsofdesiretobelieve,distrust,andirritablefrustration.
"IG.o.dd.a.m.nwellhaveto,don"tl?But,G.o.dd.a.m.nit,Dave,ifyouTalentsdon"tcontainRoznine..."
"Wecan,"andDaffydopOwenbegantogrinwithuttermalicefortheunderhanded,immoral,unethicaluseofTalenthewasabouttoinvoke.
Lesterwouldn"tapproveeither,b.u.t.then,hedidn"tplantotellLesterWelch.
ThestratagemdidrequiretheinvocationoftheImmunityAct.WhatDaffyddidn"tcountonwasthehueandcrywhenthenewsofthehearingwasannouncedonthemedia.SuddenlyAaronGreenfieldvociferouslysupportedtheWaiters"UnionintheiroutragedcryagainstTalentabusinguntalentedpeopleandhidingbehindthelaw.TheMorcamConventionCommitteetriedtoevadeanyresponsibilitybyclaimingthattheyhadnothiredaTalentteamfortheirLuncheon...theirdefensebeingthattheirconventionmemberswerelawabidingpeacefulpeoplewithnorecordofviolence,soaLEOteamwasunnecessaryandaninsulttotheirgoodname,etc.Greenfieldmadepoliticalhayofthisaswell.He"dneverbeeninsupportoftheImmunityLawbecause"obviouslyitwasascreenforillegal,immoral,unethicalinvasionofprivacy:onemoreinstanceofestablishmentarianismandtotallyunwarrantedminorityprivilege."
"RepealtheImmunityAct;noextraordinaryprivilegeforminorities!"