AfterwardsSallytoldhimherfeethadtouchedthestepsonlythreetimes.
AmaldaandBruceVadenhadexitedthroughoneofthesidegatesinthegrounds.They"dcomeuponthepicketlinefromoneside,minglingwiththeonlookersuntiltheyweredirectlyoppositethemaingates.Thepicketersweredutifullychantingthesloganstheycarried,thefourLEOmenroutinelya.s.signedapicket,werealmostasboredwiththeproceedings.Apa.s.sengerconveyancesettledtothepubliclandingsomehundredyardsfromthegatesandtheoccupants,carryingcollapsedsigns,descendedinanorderlyfashion.
"Thosearebullyboys,notbonafidepicketers,"BrucetoldAmaldainaquietvoice.
Shenoddedforshe"dunerringlysightedtheonemanwhowasimportant.
"He"swiththem."
"Well,thisisthelastplacehe"dbelookingforus.Areyoushieldingtightly?"
Amaldanoddedagainbutshedidn"ttakehereyesfromRoznine.
Hereallywasattractive,shethought.Therewa.s.somethingproudandfierceinhismanner.Brucewasright:shehadn"treallyseenhimbefore.She"sbeenjustsoscaredofhismind...
ShestoppedthinkingbecauseRozninewa.s.suddenlyglancingoverhisshoulder,atthecrowd,frowningslightly.Hestoodnearthecopter,toonesideofthenewshiftofpickets.Theyweremillingabout...
"WarnDave,Amalda,andgetset.Seehowthey"remaneuvering?"Evenashespoke,Bruceglidedtoamoreadvantageouspositionforteamwork.
Thenewarrivals,foralltheiraimlessmovement,couldnowbeseenaimingforLEOmenandtheCenter"stwoguards,mildappearinggentlemenwhowereinfacttopkineticistsandcouldholdagrownmanimmobileonthegroundwithoutliftingaphysicalfinger.
Theoldshiftbrokefromtheircircuit,groundingandcollapsingtheirsigns,preparatorytoleaving.Someelementsofthecrowdwhichhadwatchedpacificallyfromthefootpathbegantomovetowardthegrounds.
Amaldabegantobroadcast,gentlyatfirst,thefeelingofimmensefatigue,utterboredomandadislikeofthisactivity.
Brucemovedfurtheracrossthestreet,pickingupandincreasingtheintensityofherbroadcast.ButhewatchedRoznine,sawthemanstiffen,hisheadturnslowly,unerringlytowardsAmalda.Thegroupinwhichshehadbeenstandingshiftedandshewasbyherself.
Thesettingoftheconfrontationwa.s.superb,BruceVadentoldhimselfwithacuriousobjectivity.Asifbymagicorcommonconsent,everyonemeltedfromthetwoprinc.i.p.als,leavingaclearpathbetweenthem.
"Don"tgetscared,honeybaby,"Brucetoldherunderhisbreath,fightinginhismindtoholdthebroadcastanddisguisetheinnerreluctanceofsharingAmaldawithanyoneatall.
Suddenlyhefeltbuoyedup,felttheindescribablementalsupportandtouchofDaffydopOwen,speakingthroughhimtoAmalda.Anditwasn"tjustDave,butsomething...no,someoneelse.
TheareawasblanketedwithsilencebyAmalda"sprojectionwhichbegantowaverslightly.Bruceintensifiedit,imaginingashe"dbeentaught,thattheemotionwa.s.somethingvisiblewhichhewasmanipulatingtangibly,asvisibleandtangibleaswaterfallingoveraspecificarea,drenchingeverythingwithitscascade.
Everythingwentathalfspeed.Rozninepulledfirstoneheavylegforward,thentheother,likeamantreadingthroughmola.s.ses,sticky,cloying.Theman"sfacewascontortedwitheffortandconcentration.
Amaldajuststood,herchinslightlyraised,lookingasregalandpoiseda.s.shehadontheE;actstage,sosureofherselfthatshealmostfooledVaden.
Theactionwasallslowmotion:thepicketers,realandbogus,discardingtheiralltooheavysigns,inexorablysinkingtotheground,sprawlinginposesofutterexhaustion.ItaffectedtheLEOmenthoughtheytriedhardtoresistthepressure,fallingtotheirkneesandhands,facesdownontheground.
Thenonlyshe,BruceandRozninewerestanding.ShetookadeepbreathandlookedstraightatRoznine"seyes:thefirsttimeshehaddoneso.
AndBrucewasrightthatVascha(shefoundhisnicknameeasily:thoughhethoughtofhimself,selfimportantly,onlyasVsevolodRoznine,theVaschapersonalitywasthere,too)wasnicelooking,withastrongbodyandsensitivehands.Shelikedlong,wellshapedfingersonamanshelikedtohavesuchhandsonherbody.
"Allright,hereIam,"shesaidoutloudanddaredhiminhermindtooverpowerher.
Hiseyesseemedtoeatherfleshhungrily,asifstarvedfortheessencebeneaththecoveringtissue.
"You"remine.1,VsevolodRoznine,sayyoaremine."Thatwashisthought,beatingawayather.Shewantedtolaugh,tosingoutbecausehisthoughtcouldn"tgoanyfurtherthanhermind.Itcouldn"treachBruce,standingnotmorethanfivefeetaway.Notunlessshewantedittogofurther!
"Well,whatareyouwaitingfor?"sheaskedgentlybecausetheknowledgeofsuchtotalpoweroveranotherhumanbeinghumbledher.
Someofhisbullyboysweregettingtotheirfeetforshe"dturnedoffsomeofherblanketingprojectiontodealwithVascha.ThroughVsevolodRoznineshesentafleetingthoughtofnauseathatinstantlyreducedthemtoretchingbodiesonthegra.s.s.Andasabruptly,shedeflectedtheactualillness.Thensheturnedofftheempatheticalbroadcastcompletely,knowingitscessationwouldleavethevictimsdisorientedenoughtocausenofurthertrouble.
"Ithinkyou"dbettercomewithus,Vsevolod,"shesaidtoRoznineandtookhishand,turningandleadinghimtowardtheCenterasifhehadnootherchoice.Hedidn"tbecauseBrucefellinontheotherside,theirstridesmatching.
Rozninewasdazed,hislipscompressedintoathinline.HeglareddownatAmaldaa.s.sheledhim,atarm"slength,likeamotherdragginganerrantchildhome.
Thegatemannoddedtothetrioastheypa.s.sedintotheCenter"sGrounds.
"What"n"h.e.l.lhashappenedtoyourcommonsense,opOwen?"FrankGillingsdemanded."LettingnotonlyAmaldaandVadenbutRoznineintotheCityCouncil?ForChrissakethat"swhathewantedAmaldafor..."
"Easy,Frank.Theteam"sona.s.signment,completelylegitimate."
"Councilisn"tariotsituation..."
Daffydraisedhiseyebrowsinpolitesurprise."No?AccordingtoRoznine,thetempersgetsohotnoconstructiveworkiseverdone.
Eachethnicgroupinsiststhat.i.tsmembersarebeingdiscriminatedagainstwithaccusationsandcounteraccusationsuntilthemediatoradjournsthehearingwithnothingaccomplishedexceptexhibitionsofparliamentarybadmanners.Sorry.Theteamisgoingtocoolthingslongenoughforcommonsensetoprevail.Roznine"sreasonforwantingAmalda"sTalentinCityHallwasvalid."
Daffydalsoneglectedtoaddthatthatwasthebargainhe"dstruckwithRozninetojointheCenter.Allthemanwantedwastobecertaintheemploymentallotmentswereimpartiallya.s.signed.Well,notall,Daffydamendedtohimself,butRozninehadgoneabout.i.tthewrongway.
Daffydgrinnedrea.s.suringlyatGillings"simageinthecomset."He"spartoftheteamnowandshefollowsorders."
"ButdoesRoznine?"askedGillingssarcastically.
"AsI"veexplainedtoyou,Frank,Roznineisparaphysicallydeadtoanyoneelse.Oh,BruceVadenempathizeswithhimtosomeextentnowthey"vebothhadtraining,butRoznine"sisaonewayTalent,righttoAmalda.She"sthefocusofthegestalt.Youmightsay,he"sbeencheckreined."
FrankGillingsgrunted,somewhatmollified.Then,juttingouthischin,heglaredattheDirector."YougoingtostartlobbyingforarideronthatTalentImmunityLaw?"
"Immediately.Infact,"andDaffyd"ssmilebroadenedwithsheermalice,"SenatorGreenfieldishelpingusgetaninterimriderthroughtheStateSenateonaBillhehascomingupontheAgendanextsession."
"Greenfield?"
"Yes.RoznineinvitedhimhereattheCenterforachat.TheSenatorwasmostamenabletothesuggestion."
TheLEOCommissioner"sfrownwaspartiallyperplexity."What"dyouguysdotoGreenfield?Blankethimwithlovingkindness?"
"Goodheavens,no.ItwasmerelypointedouttohimthattheCenterisnotaminority,butacollectionofminoritiessinceallethnicgroupsarerepresented.Hetookatourofthegroundsandinstantlyperceivedthatthehousingwasbynomeansasluxuriousashe"dbeenpreviouslyledtobelieve,withswimmingpoolsorwasteds.p.a.cethatmighthouseadditionalfamilies.Infact,hecomplimentedusonourplanningandthriftyuseoffacilities."
FrankGillingswasbynomeanstakeninbyDaffydopOwen"sblandmanner.Hegrowledsomethingunderhisbreath.
"WhatdidRozninehaveonhim,Dave?"
"Idon"tknowwhatyoumean,Frank."
TheLEOmanmadeagestureofdisgust.
"Dave,don"tgivemeanymoreproblemsforawhile,w.i.l.l.you?"
"Nothing"scomingupintheforeseeablefuture."
ThescreenwentblankonGillings"sincredulous.e.xpression.
"Daffyd,thatwashighlyimmoral,unethicalanddownrightdirty,"saidSally,halfscoldinga.s.sherosefromthecouchwhereshe"dbeensittingoutoflineofvisionofthecomset.Shewalkedinunderhisarm,linkinghimaroundthewaist.Henuzzledhercurlsandkissedherforehead.
"Probably.Lesisalwaysremindingmethat.i.t"sbadpolicytotellall."
"It"sashameaboutVaschathough."Sallysighed.
"Why?"
"Oh,it"srathersad,hisbeingapsychicmule,herPegasus."
"ThankG.o.dheis,"Daffydsaidsoferventlyshelookedup,startled.
"Withtheambitionanddrivethatyoungmanhas,he"druletheworldinhalfayearifAmaldaandBruceweren"ttheretostophim."
PEGASUSINFLIGHT.
ThisBookisrespectfullyandgratefullydedicatedtoDianaTylerandDianePearson.
PROLOGUE.
Duringthelatetwentiethcentury"s.e.xplorationofs.p.a.ce,amajorbreakthroughoccurredinthevalidationandrecordingofextrasensoryperceptions,thesocalledparanormal,psionicabilitieslongheldtobespurious.a.n.a.lternateapplicationoftheGoosegg,anextremelysensitiveencephalographdevelopedtoscanbrainpatternsoftheastronautswhosufferedfromsporadic"brightspots,"temporarilydiagnosedascerebralorretinalmalfunction,wasinadvertentlydiscoveredwhenthedevicewasusedtomonitoraheadinjuryinanintensivecareunitofJerhattan.Thepatient,HenryDarrow,wasaselfstyledclairvoyantwithanastonishingpercentageofaccurate"guesses."Inhiscase,asthedevicemonitoredhisbrainpatterns,italsoregisteredthedischargeofunusualelectricalenergyasheexperiencedaclairvoyantepisode.Forthefirsttimetherewa.s.scientificproofofextrasensoryperception.
HenryDarrowrecoveredfromhisconcussiontofoundthefirstCenterforParapsychicsinJerhattanandtoformulatetheethicalandmoralpremisesthatwouldgrantthosewithvalid,anddemonstrable,psionictalentscertainprivilegesandresponsibilitiesinasocietybasicallyskeptical,hostile,orovertlyparanoidaboutsuchabilities.
ExtrasensoryperceptionorTalent,asitcametobecalledcameinvaryingstrengthsandforms.Simple,shortrangetelepathywasfairlycommon,onceinhibitionswerediscarded.b.u.t.therewerealsoonewaytelepaths,peoplewhocouldsendtheirthoughtsbutnotreceivethoseofothers,andpeoplewhocouldreceivethoughtsbutnotsend.Otherswereempaths,abletoadjustimmediatelytothemoodsofthosearoundthem,sometimesquiteunconsciously.Telempathscouldsenseandreacttoextremeormoredistantemotions;someofthesewereabletoredirectemotion,bybroadcastingotheremotionsorbyneutralizingthenegativesuchTalentsprovedtobeinvaluableincrowdcontrol,fortheycouldkeepathrongfromturningintoasenselessmob.b.u.t.themostvaluableofthetelepathswerethosewhocouldbothreceiveandbroadcastthought,speakingtoothermindsanywhereintheworld.
TelekineticsTalentswhocouldmovephysicalobjectsbysheermentalpowerwerealsoinvaluable,theirabilitiesrangingfromliftingheavymachinerytomanipulatingonmicrolevels.
Clairvoyantsorprecogscouldseefutureevents,eithercloseathand,oratsomeremovefromtheirpresent.Veryoftentheirvisionsallowedthefuturetobealteredanddisasterstoheaverted.Someclairvoyantshadspecialaffinities:somesensedeventsrevolvingaroundfire,water,orwind;othersweremoreapttoperceivechildren,orviolence,orcriminalintentions.
Findersalsohadaffinitiessomecouldlocatepeopleoranimals,whileotherswereabletosenseinanimateobjectsandtheirabilitiescouldvarygreatlyinrange.
Talentcameinmanyformsandguises,andnotalloftheviabletypeshad,asyet,beenrecognized.Thevariouscenters,worldwide,constantlysearchedforthelessdramaticgiftsbecausetheneedhadnowfaroutstrippedthesupply.Forthosepotentialfew,thetrainingwasarduous,andtherewardsdidnotalwayscompensatefortheunswervingdedicationrequiredbytheirtaxingpositions.
AndyettobefoundTalentedbecametheaspirationofmanyandthetriumphoffew.
Theyhavebeenatagreatfeastoflanguages,andstolenthesc.r.a.ps.
WilliamShakespeare.
Chapter1.
TirlatookaquicklookfromthealleyintotheMainConcourseofResidentialLinearG,thenpulledbackinstantly,flatteningherthintwelveyearoldbodyagainstthepla.s.slabwall.PublicHealthofficialswereswarmingallover,roundinguptheearlymorningcrowdofablebodiedworkerswhohadbeenscanningtheemploymentboardforaday"swork,themotherswiththeirhandicappedkidsmakingtheirwaytotheRehabcenters,andthelegalchildrenontheirwaytotheLinear"sphysical-trainingfacility.
Cautiouslyshetookanotherlook,toseewhatthePHOsweresettingupontheirtables:vialsandthebigcompressedairbottlesthatoperatedthehyposprays.Shewithdrew,havingseenenoughtorecognizeanotherwholesalevaccinationeffort.Strange,shehadn"theardofanynew"muneplagues.Togivethemtheirdue,PHOwa.s.swifterthanrumortoavertdisaster.
RapidlyTirlaranthroughherheadhercurrentlistofthosemothersofillegalchildrenwhomsheshouldinform:first,becausetheywouldpayherforwarningthemtohidethekids;second,becausethosewhocouldaffordtowouldpayherforstealingwhatevervaccinewasbeingadministered.Shecountedonherfingers:Elpidia,certainly;theoldbouzma,Pilau;Bilala,andZaveta,Arisan,andCyotoandshehadbetteraskMamaBobchikiftherewerenewborns,fortheywouldneedtheFiveshotter.Shewouldwantoneforherself,aswell,andcouldpossiblyfinagleabox,dependingonhowthecurrentstuffwas.p.a.ckaged.Italldepended.MirdaKhan,yesshehadbesttellthatoldwagonrightaftershewarnedMama.
Shewouldhavetochangeintocleanclothingissueshehadwashed,b.u.t.thisweek"sissuewasfivedaysoldandlookedeight.PublicHealthwerequicktonoticedetailslikethat.MamaBobchikwasalwaysgoodforfreshwear,especiallyifTirlawenttoherfirstwithhernews.
Thiscouldbeaverygoodday,Tirlathoughtwithariseofspiritsa.s.sheslippedbackdownthealleyforthecentershaftemergencystairsonherwaydowntoMamaBobchik"spad.
MostofTirla"stwelveyearshadbeenspentinscroungingatotallyunofficiallivinginthemultiethnicthirtystoriedcommunityoftheLinears.Shecouldnotaffordtomissasingletrick,liketoday"sunexpectedPublicHealthroundup,toescapethestringentcontrols,cleverobstacles,andlittletrapsingeniouslysetupbytheJerhattanComplexAdministrationCouncilandtheLawEnforcementandOrderOrganizationtoidentifyandcontroleachmemberoftherestlesspopulation.
OfficiallytherehadneverbeenarecordofTirla"sbirth.Shewashowever,thefifthchildborntoDikkaonlythefirst,Tirla"sbrother,Kail,waslegal.Thegovernmenttiedawomanoffwhenshegavebirthtoasecondchild.ConsequentlyFirza,Lenny,Ahmed,andTirlahadallbeenborninDikka"ssingleparentsquatwiththeaidofMamaBobchik,whohadhadanillegalchildeveryyearuntilherwombhaddriedup.KailhadbeenofficialuntilDikkahadsoldhimatten.
FirzahadhadtheuseofKail"swristIDfortwoyearsuntilshewasprofitablydisposedof.Inthenextyear,Dikka,Lenny,andAhmeddiedofoneoftheimmuneplaguesthatsporadicallyflareduptodecimatetheLinears.Inthehasteandconfusionofbodydisposal,Dikka"sdeathhadnotbeenofficiallynoted.SoTirlahadbeenleftwithtwoIDbraceletsafinelegacy.Selfsufficientandresourceful,shehadmanagedtoretainthesquat,drawingtwosubsistencerations,untilDikka"sIDwascanceledafterherfailuretoappearforaroutinemedicalexamination.
Wiseinthewaysofhersociety,Tirlahadnotbeencaughtshortbythelockout.SheknewTenancyArticles,Paragraphs,andSubsectionsbyheart,sofiguringoutthecancellationdatehadbeennoproblem.Twodayspriortotheeviction,shemovedherfewpossessionshotterunit,thebestofthesleepsacks,the"corder,andtheprettiesDikka"smenhadgivenherfromtimetotimeintonewquartersfivelevelsbelowtheMainConcourse,inthemaintenancesegmentofLinearG,rightbesidethechargedsecuritygrillethatprotectedtheengineeringsectionfromunauthorizedentry.OnlyaslightandagilepersonlikeTirlacouldreachtheeyrie,wherema.s.siveductsformedabroadplatformbeforebendinguptheinnerwall.Shepatchedherhotterand"corderwiresintotheoverheadcables,certainthathersmalluseofelectricitywasunlikelytobediscovered,andsettledin.Shedidmisstheallnightinformationalprogramsonthesquat"strid.ThebigpublictridsontheConcoursestopped"castingatthemidnightcurfew.
Tirla,withherclever,shrewd,andorganizedmind,wasthirstyforknowledge.SheevenusedKail"sIDtologintoschool.OneofDikka"smenhadsaidthatonehadtoknowtherulesbeforeonecouldbreakthem.Tirlahadneverforgotten.
Foranothertwoyears,Kail"sbraceletsuppliedhissmallsisterwithdailysubsistence,weeklyclothingissue,andotheramenitiesuntil"Kail"failedtoappearatEvaluationCenterwithinthreeweeksofhissixteenthbirthday.ThecancellationcausedTirlanoproblem,forbythenshewaswellestablished,almostindispensabletomostoftheResidentialclientsandgangbossesintheneighborhoodindustrialcomplexes.HerabilitytotranslateanyofthenearlyninetydialectsandlanguagesusedinthesubsistencelevelResidentialLinearssavedclientshoursatofficialtrans-speechcenters,orworse,misunderstanding.Sheknewwhentobeingratiatingorstandfirm.Sheknewwhatcourtesieswereduewhomandneverfailedinperformingthem.
Everyonewhoknewherknewverywellthatshewasillegal.Becauseshewa.s.sousefultotheresidentsofLinearG,a.s.shewouldbetodaywithherwarningaboutthePublicHealthers,andbecauseofficiallyshedidnotexistanyway,therewasnoprofityetinreportingherillicitexistence.
Thevariouserrandsshedidandshewa.s.scrupulouslysilentaboutthemoftenbroughtin"floating"creditchips.FloaterswerelegaltenderPaytoBearer,untraceablechipsthatchangedhandsfrequently.
JerhattanTreasuryandallthemerchantandbankinghouseswiselyignoredthecirculationofminoramountsoffloaters,justastheyignoredthepettysmalltradersaslongastheymadenotroubleandtheirmerchandisewasharmless.Tirla,andotherslikeher,reliedonfloaterstosupporttheirillegalexistencesintheLinears.
LinearGthrustthirtyma.s.sivelevelsabovethesquat,featurelessFandHcommercialblockswhereresidentsofLinea.r.s.e,G,andIworked.
Once,onaFreeDay,whileTirlastillhadherbrother"sID,shehadgonewithMamaBobchiktotheGreatPalisadesPromenade,wherethousandsuponthousandsofpeoplehadswarmedtoenjoyabrilliantspringday,tooverlooktheexclusivehives,platforms,andgreatconecomplexesofManhattanIsland,andtooohandaahatthemonorailcars,largeandsmall,thatzippedalongthetrackswhichgarlandedthebuildingslikecoloredtinselstrands.ThatwasthefirsttimeTirlahadseenshipsfloatingonwaterorthegreatpleasureskycars.Therehadevenbeenaspecialissueofholidayfood,yardsabovethestandardfare,atdispensingbanks.Buril,Mama"sson,hadatripperkeythatheusedonthedispers,sotheyhadmanagedtostuffthemselvesbeforethemechanism"smalfunctionalarmwastriggered.IthadbeenasuperdayforTirla.Shehadneverdreamedthattheworldwasthatbig.
ThatwasthesamedaythatBurilexplainedtoherallaboutthes.p.a.ceplatformthatwasbeingbuilt,whichneededsomanyworkers.Whenitwascompleted,hesaid,allthepeoplelivingonManhattanwhohadenoughcreditandwerethe"rightkind"wouldbeabletogooffintos.p.a.ceandfindotherworldstoliveon.Thenallthosebeautifulbuildingswouldbeemptyandtherewouldbeenoughs.p.a.ceforeveryonecrammedintoLinearsquatstoliveinproperbigapartmentswithabedroomforeachfamilymemberandnomorePublicHealthorLEOmenandwomentyingmenandwomenoff,shamingavirileman.
Thismorning,asTirlascratchedonMamaBobchik"sdoortotellherofthePHpresenceintheLinear,sheheardtheoldwomangaspingandgroaninga.s.shestruggledoffthebedshelf.
"Ktostuchitsya?Perestan"teudaryat"sya.Okh,kakbolitgoloua!"