"So!ThatleavesuswithAmaldainhibitingRoznine?"
"Heshould"vebeenhereotherwise."
Daffydwasturningoverthisinterestingpossibilityinhismindwhenthecomsetbeeped.
"Boss,wegotpicketsoutinfront,"saidLesterinathoroughlydisgustedtoneofvoice."Payyourfairshare.Everyoneelseistaxed.Whynotyou?NoMinorityprivileges."
Daffydsighedlonganddeeply.
"Pete"sonreceptionandhesaysthey"vegotlegalpoliticalplatforms,theirIdsareupstateandthey"reregisteredpartymembers.Legally,underthePoliticalPlatformAct,theycanpicketthegroundsbecausethereislegislationconcerningourtaxstatusbeforetheStateSenaterightnow."
"DidyouinformGillings?"
"Hah!Theyinformedusaboutthetimethefirstpicketersforegatheredonourgatestep.What"n"h.e.l.lhappenedtoyourMachiavelliannonsenseofyesterday?"
""There"smanyasliptwixtcupandlip!"
"Daffydreplied.Sallygaspedandsignaledsurrender.
"Huh?"Lesterwantedanexplanation.
"ImustaskGillingsifRoznine"shadavisitfromAaronGreenfieldsincethehearingyesterday,"wasDaffyd"sreply.
"Didyougoof,boss?Nowwhatdowedo?"
"Keeptabsthattheonlookersremainquiescent,andalertriotcontrol.
""AmaldaandRed?"
"No,plunkHaroldinthegatelodgewithPete.AskGillings..."
"Askhimyourself:Charliesayshe"sjustcalledthrough."
BeforeDaffydcouldrequestadefermentofthatcall,CharliehadpatcheditthroughandDaffydhopedhisflinchingwasn"tapparenttotheLEOCommissioner.
"Yougottroubles?"Gillings"sfacewasimpa.s.sive.
"Nothingwecan"thandle..."
"Oh,thetrap"ssprung?"Gillingslookedalmostpleased.
"Hmmmm...butI"dlikeafewofyourriotmobilesaround."
Gillings"s.e.xpressionchangedrapidlytosourdiscontent.
"Likethat,huh?IthoughtRozninewa.s.supposedtocomelikealamb?"
DaffydshotaglanceatSallywhowas.m.u.tteringsomethingaboutmetaphorsbeingillegal.Herlevitywasnotappropriatetothegravityofthepresentsituationandyet...ithelped.
"Roznine"sastrongpersonality...""I"mgoingafterhim..."
Gillingsnowlookedlikeatrapsprung.
"Gillings,"andDaffyd"stoneofvoicewasfarsternerthanpeoplewereapttouseinaddressingtheLEOCommissioner,"don"tgoafterRoznine.
We"veexertedallthepressurepossibleunderthecirc.u.mstances.
He"llcome..."
TheCommissionerregardedtheDirectorforalongmoment.
"Youbetterknowwhattheh.e.l.lyou"redoing,opOwen."
"Ido."
"Well,yousoundasifyoudo,"Sallysaidwhenthecallwasdisconnected.
"IreallythinkIdo,Sally."DaffydlookedoutofhiswindowtowardthebuildingwhichhousedAmaldaandRed."Twobirdsinonebush,twobasketswiththesameeggs,twomindswiththesamegreatthought..."
"Spareme!Uncle!Iyield!"
"Good,thenlet"sfigureouthowtounwindAmalda.IdidnotsuggesttoRozninethathebringGreatBirnamWoodtoDunsinane."
"IshouldhaveguessedthatShakespearewouldbenext."
"ConsideringmypropensityforquotingAlexanderPope,Iwonderyoudared."
"He"scomingforme,"saidAmaldawhensheandRednoticedthecirclingpicketersandthegatheringofcuriousbystanders.
BruceVadenthrewbackhisheadandroared.Hewasn"tcounterfeitingtheamus.e.m.e.ntthoughithadabitternote.Butherwoebegoneexpressionwasludicrousandhislaughterwasnotthesympathyshe"dexpected.
"Mydearchild,ifRozninehastosalvehisSlavicegobyresortingtothatkindofsubterfuge..."
"Whatonearthdoyoumean?"
"ImeanthatRozninesimplycan"twalkinhere,nomatterwhatsuggestionopOwenplantedinhismindwhenhewasunconscious."
Herirritationwasreplacedbyashudder.VadencouldfeeltherepugnancesheexperiencedwhentouchingRoznine"smind.ButherimpressionnolongerdominatedhisreactiontoRoznine.NotafterseeingthemaninCourtyesterday.
"DidyoureallylookatVsevolodRoznineyesterday?"
Amaldagavehimthatwideeyedinnocentstareandhefelthergoing"dead"onhim.AtfirstBrucethought.i.twasbecauseshewasafraidofRoznineandcensoredanyreferencestohim.Nowheknewdifferently.
"Mallyhon,"andhetookherbytheshoulders,forcinghertolookhimintheeye."IlookedatRoznine.Ilookedhimovergoodandstrangelyenough,IlikedwhatIsaw."Thatgotherwhereshelived,andRedtookadeepbreath,openinghisowninnermindsoshecouldn"tfailtoseethesincerityofhiswords."He"sthekindofguyI"dtrustandrespectevenifIcouldprobablytakehimapartinafairfight.Oh,Iknow.I"veheardallthisstaticabouthissewersinkmindandhispowerinthecityandIdon"tknowasmypublicmindwouldbeallthatcleanandpure.I"velearnedtodomyimproperthinkingcarefullybutnoone"swarnedRozninethatthere"reguysaroundreadinghimnowandagain."
Amaldawa.s.staringupathim.Hereyeshadgoneallbigandherlipswereparted.Hewantedtokissher,toloveandrea.s.sureher,butnotjustthen.
"Mindyou,Idon"tthinkRoznine"sacrusadingsaintbutf.e.c.kitall,Mally,he"supagainstCityHallandwhenyou"refightingCityHallyouuseeveryadvantageyoucanbeg,borrowor,"heclippedherlightlyonthejaw,"kidnap.NotthatIblamehimforflippinghisnutoveryou."Hecouldn"tkeephisvoicesteadyandheknewhewasplayingbacktheirinitialmeeting."IfyouaffectRozninethewayyoudome,I"md.a.m.nedsorryforthepoorguy.Itmustbeh.e.l.lforhimtowantyouandnotgetyou."
Amaldadiscardedallrestraintandnowremorse/love/appreciation/agreement/understanding/pride/loyaltywashedoverhim.
"Don"tdothat,Mally.I"vegottothink."
Shebitherlipapologeticallyand"b.u.t.toned"heremotionsup.
"Thanks.Now,wherewasl?Yeah.Asofyesterday,Idon"tthinkRozninecoulduseyou.Notnow.Oronlyifyoulethim.Andyouwon"t.Ifthat"swhat"sbuggingyou,forget.i.t.Ordon"tyourememberhoweasilyyouknockedhimout?Yougottatakeiteasyontheguy,hon.Helovesyouevenifhedoesn"tknowit."
"It"syouI"mworriedabout,Bruce,"shesaidinaverylowvoice,hereyeswideandfulloftears.
Soheembracedher,pressingherslenderbodyagainsthim,soshe"d"feel"allhecouldn"texpress.Hisknowledgethatyouaren"tselfishwithTalent,whateverkindyoupossessed:thattheyhadarelationshiptoostrongtobebrokenordiminishedbytheacceptanceofathirdparty:thatTalenthadobligationsbeyondthepersonalandthiswasoneofthem,forbothAmaldaandBruce.
Shereacheduptenderlytostrokehisface,herfingersenjoyingthetactilecontactwiththesilkyhairofhisbeard,lettingherfingers.e.xpresswhatshedidn"tarticulate.a.s.shehadlearnedtoacceptBruce"srighttodecideforthemboth,sheacceptedhisdecisionnow.
"Thestageisset,honey,"hesaidfinally."Extrasallmillingabout,waitingforthedirector.Areyougoingtolethimcome?"
Shegaveanimpatientlittleshrug,thensquaredhershouldersandsmiledathim,readytomovemountains,fromthelookofher.HelikedthataboutAmalda,amongathousandotherthings.Heconveyedthatapprovalwithagentle,mindblownhug.Talenthasadvantages,too.
Rozninerubbedathistemples,wonderingwhatkindoffakepowderthemedichadsoldhimasaheadacheremedy.
Theyhaddonesomethingtohimwhenhewasunconscious.Justashe,VsevolodRoznine,knewthattheyhadcausedhimtoblackoutatthehearing.No,not"they"!Her!
Theconvictionthathehadtogettoher,bewithher,returnedwithrenewedandirresistibleforce.AndRozninefought.i.tagain,fought.i.tashisheadthrobbed,andhishandsclenchedintofistsofefforttowithstandthecompulsion.
Heflunghimselffromthetable,catchingthelegwithhisfootandupsettingtheuntouchedmeal,halfstumblingagainstthedoorandstrikinghistempleontheframe.Hehithisheadasecond,athirdtime.Andclutchingthemolding,threwbackhisheadinbitterlaughter.
"Rozninehastobeathisownhead,becauseitfeelssogoodwhenhestops!"
Hisfingersdugintotheframeuntilhisnailsbentagainstthedurableplastic.Hisheadturnedslowly,asifhecouldseestraightthroughconcreteandplastic,acrossthemilestotheCenterinwhichdirectionheunerringlyturned.
"NO!"Thistimehisfiststhuddedintoplastic."Rozninedoesnotcomeatawoman"scall.Shecomestohim!"
Howhadtheydonethistohim?Howcouldshecallhim?Oncehe"dknownhernameandthatshewasattheCenter,he"dhadhispeoplefindoutalltheycould.Shewasregisteredasatelempath.Rozninehadlookedthatupandtheanswerhadonlyconfirmedwhathe"dguessedhimself:shecouldtransmitemotionsandprobablyreceivethem.
Rozninepoundedthewallviciously,transmittingsuchhatredanddiscontentasboiledupinhimfromthefrustrationofnothavingherandthehumiliationofbeingknockedunconscious...infullviewofhisconst.i.tuents...byaslipof.a.girlhecouldbreakintwopieceswithonehand.
Andwhowastheredbeardedmanwhoworkedwithher?Howclosedidheworkwithher?
JealousywasaddedtotheseethingemotionsofVsevolodRoznine.Andtheskinofhisskullpulsedwithasurfeitofhisangryblood.
TheintensityofhisdesiretoseeAmaldareachedanotherpeak.Hefought.i.t.Hewouldnotgotoher.Shemustcometohim!Hecouldnotgotoher.Shehadtocometohim.She,whocouldreadhisthoughts,letherreadthatone.Letherreadhisfeelings.
"No!"
Rozninestopped.Everythingabouthimstopped,hisheart,hislungs,theoxygenmoleculesinhisblood.Thenhetookadeepbreathandexhaled,hiswidemouthforminganoddsmileinasuddenlycalmface.
Nowondershehadnotcometohim,thelittleone.Shecouldreadhisthoughts.Shewouldbeterrifiedofhim,Roznine:terrifiedoftheangerhehadfelttowardhislittlebird.Hehadfeltherfearbefore,feltherspiritflutteringawayfromhim.ThatwaswhyshehadrunfromtheFact.Butsheshouldn"tfearhim,VsevolodRoznine.Everyman,boyandadultsheshouldfearbutnotVsevolodRoznine.Hewouldgotoher.Hewouldexplain.
Chortvozmi!Wouldhisheadneverstopaching?
Hiscomsetbuzzed.Thenoisestabbedpiercinglythroughhisskull.Hegrabbedfranticallyforthesettostopthenoise,answeringinasavagetone.
"Everyone"sinposition,Gospodeen."
"Position?"Roznineshookhisbatteredhead,unabletorecollectwhichpositionandwhere.
"ThepicketershavebeencheckedbytheCenter"sguards,wh.o.a.retwooldmen:nothingtoworryabout."
Picketers?Pickets?AttheCenter?Oh,yes.He"ddiscussedthatwiththelittlemanfromupstate.Howcouldhehaveforgotten?
"Andtheriotsquad?"
"Parkedatorworkingconvenientlynearby.Thedisposalmen..."
"Goodenough!"Hisheadpoundedlikeadrillpressbutheremembered.
Howcouldhehaveforgotten?Soshewasariotcontrolteam,wa.s.she?
Well,lethercontrolthisriot!MenwouldpourintotheCenter"ssoprivate,sosecluded,sosacrosanctgroundsfromalloverthecity:menfrommanyethnicgroupssoitcouldn"tbeblamedonhissection.
Ithadmeantcancellinghalfthefavorshewasowedbut,justlethimgethishandsonthatlittleriotcontrollerand...
Hethrewopentheillegallyunsealedwindowandsliddowntheairshaftontheescapeline.Heopenedthewindowintherearflat,whichconvenientlybelongedtoarelativewhowasblindanyhow,andexitedthroughthebackdoor.Foundtheironprybarandflippedupthesewerlid,snaggingitdeftlybackoverthemanholewhenhewaswithin.Hewalkedbrisklyoverthethinstreamwhichtrickleddownthepipesatthistimeofday.Tworightsandaleftbroughthimtoawidersectionconduitwithacatwalkononeside.Twomorerightsandtwoleftsandheclimbedaladder.ThemanholehadbeenshieldedandaDisposaltruckwasjustdrawingup.Swiftlyhewaswithinthetruckandissuingorderstothedriver.
ThesensitivesignalledLEOheadquartersthatRozninehadlefthisquarters.ImmediatelyGillingswarnedtheCenterandcirculatedthealerttoallstations.
CharlieMoorfieldranthroughtoDaffyd"squarters.
"RingAmaldaandtellherI"monmywayover."
Sallywa.s.strugglingintohercoverall,excitementmakingherfingersfumblesothatDaffydheldthecollaruntilshecouldfindthearmholes.
"Heiscoming.Youweretoomuchforhim."
"Possibly."
DaffydcouldalsoseeanotherinterpretationofRoznine"ssecretexit,particularlywiththepicketersoutsideandtheobserversformingalargerandlargerraggedsemicirclebeyondthegatestotheCenter.
"Yes,Iseewhatyoumean,Dai."
"Let"sreinforceAmalda."
Thebuzzersoundedagain."Boss,IgetnoanswerfromAmalda."
"TellGillingstogetallriotunitshereonthedouble.AlertOurs."
DaffydopOwensworeashegrabbedSally"shandandpulledheroutthedoor.Shortofteleporting,he"dneverbeendownthestairssofast.