Saschabentoverhershoulder,studyingthereelsasifhecouldglowertheriddleintotheopen.
Sascha:Righernet.
Madlyngaspedandstaredathim.Sirikitblinked,sighed,andthen,risingfromherstool,wenttothemainboardtoenablethenecessaryprogram.
"SomeearlymorningjoyseekerhastobeoverflyingtheCenter.Seta.n.a.larmthroughhernet,andwecancatchtheb.u.g.g.e.rintheact."
Sascha"svoicewasvindictive.
Madlynshothimaworriedglance.Shecouldfeelthewaveofhighnegativeenergyheexuded.
Chapter3.
Barchenka,Duoml,andHisHighnessManagerPrincePhanibalShimazarrivedpromptlyfortheirmeetingwithParapsychicCenterDirectorRhyssaOwenattheJerhattanCityManager"sTower,ama.s.sivestructureinthecenterofCentralPark,thelastvestigeofnineteenthandtwentiethcenturyManhattan.Thetower,risingabovethetallestofthemercantilebuildings,wascrownedbyzigguratsofcommunicationdishes,givingitanappearancefromanydistanceof.a.grotesquebunchofstiffdaisiesrammedintoanimmensegla.s.sbrick.Skycarsofvaryingsizesatthelandinglevelstuckoutlikeafringeofangular,multicoloredleaves.
s.p.a.ceStationConstructionManagerLudmillaBarchenkaenteredfirst,heroddbouncinggaitindicatingthatshewaswearingherantigravboots.Herinfrequentvisitsbacktosurfacegravityweredifficultforherb.u.t.theytendedtobeworseforthosesheconfronted.Thewoman"sappearancedidnothingtomitigateherabrasivepersonality:shewa.s.stocky,bigbonedthoughnotfleshy,withaflat,broadfaceandunexceptionalfeatures.Paleblueeyesandshortcroppedhaironlyaddedtotheimageofatoughpersonacold,inflexibletenacity.Totopthatoff,Ludmillainvariablyworeathinmetalskullcap,ashieldingdevicethatwasalmostaninsulttoRhyssainhercapacityasdirectoroftheEasternCenter.RhyssawasnotsureifBarchenkausedtheshieldmerelyoutofconcernforsecurityorbecauseshewaspathologicallywaryoftheTalentswhoseservicesshedesperatelyneededevena.s.shedeploredtheirabilities.SaschawasconvincedthatBarchenkahadsomesortofTalent,evenifitcouldnotbescanned,andthatsherefusedtoacknowledgethepossibility.
Despitehertotallackofsocialgraces,theExaltedEngineer"sdedicationcouldnotbefaulted.PadrugoiStationwasduetobecompleted,andonbudget,attheendofthecurrentyear.
Withinterstellarvoyagesnowpossibleandhabitableplanetslocatedintwonearsystems,thepressuretoimplementthecolonizationprogramwasincredible.ButfirstthePadrugoiStation,theessentialspringboardtothestars,hadtobecompleted.TheprojecthadworldwidepriorityandtheenthusiasticsupportofeverypoliticalandeconomicfactiononEarth.
Consideringthatthefirstlaboratorystationhadgoneoverbudgetbytrillionsandhadbeenfiveyearslateincompletion,Barchenka"sachievementssofarwereconsiderable.ButRhyssaknewthetruth:thattheExaltedEngineerwasbeginningtofallbehindscheduledespiteallherefforts.Itwasrumoredthatthewomansleptnomorethanfourhoursanightanddailyaccomplishedaprodigiousamountofworkb.u.t.thatsheexpectedthesamededicationfromeveryoneontheproject.
Unfortunatelyshedidnothavethecharismaorleadershipabilitytogenerateeitherloyaltytoherselfortotheproject.InitiallymanyTalentshadvolunteeredtoa.s.sist,butoneafteranothertheydeclinedtorenewtheircontracts.ThemanyenticementstoreturnwiththeiruniquecapabilitiestoworkonPadrugoiStationhadmetwithfailure.
PersonnelManagerPerDuoml,cominginbehindLudmilla,movedwiththeheavinessofsomeoneaccustomedtolightergravity,buthemanagedwithouttheantigrava.s.sists.AFinn,ascapableanddedicatedasBarchenka,hewa.s.slightlyeasiertodealwith.Andthoughhe,too,tendedtowearametalshield,theTalentshadlikedworkingwithDuoml:hewasfair,competent,andhadsucceededinpersuadingafewTalentstoreturnforspecial,short-terma.s.signments.Butstillmosthaddeclinedtoextendtheiremployment,andtheycouldnotbeconscripted.AndthoughRhyssahaddutifullyaskedthedirectorsofeveryCenterintheworld,shehadnotakerstoofferDuoml.
ProgramManagerPrincePhanibalShimazpouncedinbehindPerDuoml,andhispresencewasneitheressentialnorwelcometoRhyssa.Peculiarlyarrogantandimpervioustohercontinued,andlatelyovert,distasteforhiscompany,heusedanyexcuseavailabletopresshissuitonher.
Rhyssaoftenwonderedwhyhehadbotheredtodevelopanimpenetrablemindshieldwhenhisfacerevealedallthatmostmenwouldhavehadthecourtesytohide.Theprincewasacomputergeniussomesaidhehadthoughtinbinarycodesinhiscrecheandteethedonchipsandwhenhewasbarelyoutofhisteens,hehadmasteredtheuseoftheJosephsonjunctionsinwhathetermedan"idiotproof"applicationtoregulatewithcompletesafetythevastflowofskycarsanddronesinandoutofmajorLineardepotsandoverdenselypopulatedareas.Hewascurrentlyapplyinghiseffortstocreateasimilarbasicandsafeflowofspatialtraffic.
Rhyssacomposedherfaceandhermind,smilingwithawarmthshedidnotfeelasthethreesettledthemselves.
"Idonot,"Ludmillabeganwithnopreamble,herdeepvoicegutturalwithonlyaslighttraceofhernativelanguage,"havetherequiredpersonnel."HerpaleeyesaccusedRhyssa.
"AsIhavetoldyourepeatedly,Manager,IcannotandwillnotordertheTalentedintos.p.a.ce."
Ludmillabroughtherfistdownwithawincethatrevealedthat,inherfrustration,shehadforgottenthegravitationaldifferences.Shebroughtthebruisedhandupinagesturethatinthes.p.a.cestationwouldhavebeenflamboyantbutwaslessgracefulonEarth.
"Youmustinsist""Icaninsist,b.u.t.theycanresist,"Rhyssarepliedequably.
"HowcanImaintainscheduleswithoutthepersonneltoperformthenecessarytasks?Daybydaywefallminutesbehind:minuteswhichyourdiffidentworkerscouldmakeupinseconds.Iwillnotfallbehindtheschedule.Wewillmakeourcompletiondeadline.
Wemusthavethesuitablepersonnel.Youtoldmethatyouhavethem,andIhaveheretheproof."TriumphantlyLudmillaextractedapencildiskfromhertunicandbrandisheditatRhyssa.
"InthatreplyIsaidthatIwouldcertainlyapproachallCenterswithyourspecificrequirements.Imostcertainlydidnotpromisetofillthevacancies."
Barchenkanarrowedherpaleeyesintoabasiliskstare."Yourecruitconstantly.ItispublicknowledgethatyoufindnewTalents""Itdoesnotfollow,"Rhyssainsertedsmoothly,"thatthosewerecruitarethekineticsthatyouspecificallyrequest.CertainlyIcouldnotaskuntrainedTalentstogointothehazardsofs.p.a.ce."
"Whynot?"Ludmilladismissedthatconsiderationwithabroadwaveofherhand,insertingthepencilfilebackintoitspocketattheendofthegesture."Wewilltrainthemonthejobtobeuseful,tobecareful,tobespecialists.Theywillloves.p.a.ce.Theywillmakemanycreditsandbewealthy."
"TheTalenteddonotacc.u.mulatewealth,Manager,"PerDuomlstatedinhisflat,nearlytonelessvoice,hispatienteyesnevermovingfromRhyssa"sface.
"Nonsense!Everyoneacquireswealth."Ludmillahadmorethantheusualcontemptforaltruists."InthebeginningwehadmanyTalentsworkingforus."
"Wewishedtoa.s.sisttheworldproject,"Rhyssasaid."Butyouwouldnotaccepttheirstipulationswhentheircontractscameupforrenewal."
"Stupidclauses,untenableforus.Shiftsofnomorethansixhourswhenweworktwentyfourontheplatform.Specialshieldingfornoise.
Thereisnonoiseins.p.a.ce."HerscornfulgazerestedhotlyonRhyssa.
"Nonoisewhichisaudibletoyou,MadameEngineer,butwhichis.e.xtremelyunpleasanttosensitives."
"Bah!Sensitive!"OnceagainBarchenkasummarilydismissedthatconsideration."Spoiled,pampered,cateredto."
"No,MadameBarchenka,notpamperedorspoiled,butyes,cateredto,"Rhyssaflashedback."TheTalentedareskilledpersonnelandrequiresomeminorconsiderationstoenablethemtoperformattheirbestinthehostileenvironmentofs.p.a.ce."
Barchenkaplowedonasifshehadnotheard."Itisincrediblethatsuchaminoritycanexertsomuchinfluenceontheeconomiclifeofourworld.Intheairport,inthes.p.a.ceport,inindustrywhere,whileIordermateriel,IseetheveryTalentsImusthavetocompletethemostimportantprojectoftheworld,aprojectwhichhasuniversalapproval,whichmeansmankindmayreachbeyondthelimitsofthissolarsystemandexploretheverystarsthemselves.YetyouandtheotherCentermanagersdonotpermitmetohirethespecialistsIneed."
"ItisnotthepermissionoftheCenterdirectorsthatisrequired,b.u.t.theconsentoftheemployed,"Rhyssaremindedtheengineer."Centerdirectorsnegotiatetheindividualcontractswiththenecessarysafeguards."
"Icanbuythecontracts."Barchenka"schallengewasalsoathreat.
"Suchcontractscannotbesold,EngineerBarchenka,andifyouwouldacceptthenecessarysafeguards,youmightbemoresuccessfulinattractingTalent!"Rhyssarepliedsternly,beginningtolosepatiencewiththewoman"sdogmaticpursuit.ShecouldignorePerDuoml"smournfulexpressionandevenkeephergazeavertedfromPrincePhanibal"shoteyes,slightlywetlips,andnostrilsthatflaredslightlyfromhisrapidbreathing;butallthreeglaringatherwereanunnervingcombination.Shekeptasmileonherlips,deliberatelyincreasingtheflowofherlimbicsystem.
"Youcaninsist,"Ludmillarepeated."Itisinallyourcontractsthat"itcanbevoidedatthediscretionoftheCenterinemergencies."
"RhyssasuppressedarushofangerthatBarchenkahadbeengivenaccesstoaParapsychicContractandhadtoremindherselfthatsuchcontractswerepublicknowledge."Myfellowdirectorsdonotconsiderthatyouhaveatrueemergency,EngineerBarchenka."ForthefirsttimeBarchenkaflaredangrily."Isaythisisanemergency!IsayImusthavealargerworkforcetocompletethisworldpriorityproject."
"Youhaveunlimitedaccesstotheconscriptablepoolofworkers."
"Bah!Theyareuselesssterile,uneducated,untrainablegrunts!Icannotbuildas.p.a.ceplatformonlywithgrunts.IwillhavethekineticsIneed.Ipromisethat,Director!"Withthatshewheeledand,inadangerousimbalance,madealurchingexit,PrincePhanibalfollowingher.
PerDuomltookonestepforward,bowingslightlyatthewaist."Evenhalfadozenkineticswouldimprovethesituationtremendously."
"AsIhaveexplainedrepeatedly,PerDuoml,insuretheTalentsshieldedquartersandasixhourmaximumshiftandtheywillbeamenable.Surelyifthere"screditenoughinyourbudgettosupportthenumberoftripsbacktoEarththathavebeenmadeforthepurposeofrecruitingTalents,thefundscanbefoundtosupplytheirbasicneedsonPadrugoi!"
"EngineerBarchenkamustadheretothebudget.Noalterationscanbemadetoexistingstaffaccommodations."
"ThenEngineerBarchenkaisstuckwiththeresult."RhyssaferventlywishedthatPerDuomlwouldrelaxhismentalshieldlongenoughforhertoplacedirectlyinhismindtheinformationherwordspatentlydidnotconvey."Yourequirekineticstoshiftobjectsofma.s.sproportionsinthea.s.semblyofPadrugoi.Youalsoneedkineticswhocana.s.semblechipsofthemostcomplexdelicacyinthetotalvacuumofs.p.a.ce.Thekineticenergyrequiredbybothtasksisthesameandexhausting.TheyneedquiettorestoretheirstrengththeyaresensitivetothemetallicvibrationsofPadrugoiitself,theinhumanlyclosequartering,thelackofprivacy,andtheappallinglybadrationswhichareinsufficienttoreplenishtheirbodiesandminds."
PerDuomlnoddedimpa.s.sivelyandthenshrugged,unwillingtocommentbeforehe,too,turnedtoleave.
HisdepartureleftRhyssawithanuneasysenseofforeboding.ShedirectedaquerytoSirikitondutyintheControlRoomoftheCenter.
Anyprecogsinjustnow?
Sirikit:None.You"reexpectingone?"
RhyssaprojectedanimageofLudmillaBarchenka"sgrimvisage:Possibly!
Chapter4.
Theboyblinkedthreetimes,andthechannelontheceilingscreenchangedagain.Hesighed.Yetanotheroldiehehadalreadyseenoftenenoughtohavememorizedthegoodparts.Heblinkedtheswitchsignalagain,andrealizedthathehadbeenthroughenoughofthechannelstobesurethattherewasnothingontocatchhisattentionnotevenaneducationalprogramunfamiliartohim.Thefirstfewweekshehadbeeninthewardithadbeenlotsoffun,watchingthetridsallthroughthelongnights.Kepthismindoffthingsafterhisheadacheshadeased.Sometimeshealmostmissedthoseheadaches,becauseatleastthenhehadbeenfeelingsomethinginhisbody.
Hesighed.Hecoulddothat,too,heremindedhimselfthinkingpositivelya.s.sue,thetherapist,saidhemust.Hedidn"tunderstandalotofwhatshetoldhim,likeimagininghimselfwalkingandrunning,thinkinghardofhowheusedtodoitbeforehehadrunalongsidetheruinsandthatbrickwallhadcollapsedonhim.
Why?Theagonizingquestionmadehimgasp.Hehadthoughthehadstoppedthinkingaboutthat.Asking"why"wasdefinitelynegativeandalwaysdepressedhimterribly.Whyhadthatwallcomedownjustashe,PeterReidinger,hadbeenrunningpast.i.t?Hadhekickedastonethathadbeenenoughtotriggerthecollapse?Hadoneoftheboyschasinghimlobbedastoneatthewall?Why,sinceithadbeenstandingforfiftyorahundredyearsallbyitselfwhyhaditpickedthatmomenttocomedown?Threesecondslater,hewouldhavebeensafesafefromboththewallandtheboyschasinghim.Whyhadheturnedintotheforbiddenarea,anyhow?He"dhadachoiceattheendofthealley:overthewall,onlyitseemedveryhightohimandhehadnothingtogivehimalegup;totheright,onlythattookhimbackintotheAlleyCats"territoryandpossibleambush;ortotheleft,weavinghiswaythroughtheruins,makingitmoredifficultforthemtoknowwhichwayhewouldgo.Why?
Negative!Negative!Peterscrewedupallhisfacemusclesandthenmadethemrelax,groupbygroup.Thenhesmiled,slowlyandconsciouslyspreadinghislipsandbringingthecornersofhismouthup,stretchingthemuntilhischeekslifted,hischindropped,andhislipspartedoverhisteeth;willingthenerveimpulsesinhisfacetochangethelimbicsystem.a.s.suehadtaughthim,hepulledhismosthappymomentoutofhismind:hiseleventhbirthday,whenhisfatherhadcomehomeonleavefromthes.p.a.cestationintimefortheparty.
Plantingthatmemoryfirmlyinfrontof"why,"Peterrehea.r.s.edthedetailsofthathappyexperienceuntilhecouldrelivetheentirescenefromthemomentthedoorchimehadannouncedthathisfatherhadmadeithomeuntilDadhadtuckedhimintohisbunk.Hehadgottensohecouldevenfeelthetouchofhisfather"shandonhisforehead.
GoodthingDadhadtouchedhimthereoneoftheonlyplaceshestillhadfeeling.Petersighedagainandrefeltthetouch.Thenheclosedhiseyesand"heard"hisfatherleavetheroom,"heard"themutedsoundsofhisparentstalkingandlaughing.Heexpelledanotherdeepsigh.
Hewaslucky.Hecouldbreatheonhisownnow.Suehadbeensoproudofhimwhenthatautonomicreflexhadreturned.Hefilledhislungs,knowingthathischestwasrising,hisdiaphragmtightening.Hecouldfeeltheairinhiswindpipe.Heheldhisbreathuntilspotscameinfrontofhiseyes;thenheexpelledit.
Immediatelyheheardthestepsofthedutynurse.MizAllendidnotliketobedisturbed,especiallywhenheknewthattheyhadacriticalcaseonPie12.Hecountedtenstepsandthenshewaspeeringdownathim,makingeyecontact.Shethenpeeredatthewallpanelthatdisplayedthereadingsfromhismonitors.
"Whywastherearespiratoryfluctuation,Peter?"
"Aw,Iwasjustdoingmybreathingexercises."
"Youwerenot."MizAllenglaredathimamoment,andthenherlongthinfacerelaxed.Shelaidalighthandonhisforeheadandthendrewonefingerdownhischeektopressitagainsthislips."Youwerefooling.Don"tfoolwithyourbreathing,Peter.Yourbrainneedsoxygen.Anditneedssleep,too.It"squarteroffour.Youshouldsleep.Youknowhowtoachieverelaxation,Peter.Doyourprogressives,there"sagoodboy.
"Theybothheardthesuddenwhimperingoftheburngirlontheothersideofthecircularward.
MizAllen,reprovingsmileandall,disappeared,andPetercountedhersteps,twentyone,togettothecriticalcase.Thenhecountedtothirty,andthewhimperingceasedHeknewburnshurt.Hewishedhefeltsomething,evenburns!
Heimmediatelyputhismindtothefewprogressivesavailabletohim:therelaxationofeverymuscleinhisface,bead,andneck.Hecouldnotmovehishead,buthehadsensationinhisneck.Hereachedtotalslackandthoughtcarefullyofhisplace,feelingthespringofgra.s.sunderhisfeet,hearingtheshimmerofleavesasawindsoughedthroughthem,smellingthefragrancesofthegarden,gazingupattheskyabove,thesunwarmonhisback.Hebegantofloatagain.Hebadthesensationofdriftingup,outofthesupinebodyrestingonitscushionofair,amazedandannoyedatthevarioustubingsandwiresshuntedintohimthatheneverfelt.
ThegardenofhisdreamswasmilesawayfromJerhattan.Ithadbeenpartofthevacationfarmtowhichhisparentsbadtakenhimwhenhewaseight.ForsomeoneraisedinLinearJerhattan,surroundedconstantlybythenoiseandsmellofpeopleandmaintenancemachineries,hehadbeentotallyentrancedbythefarm.PeterknewthatthereweresmallgreenbeltsthroughouttheJerhattancomplex;hehadevenbeentoseveral,tryingtorelivethatvacation,butnonebadevokedthesameresponseinhim,beingtoosmallandcrampedtocloseouttheeternalnoiseofthecity.
Hehadfoundaplace,though,wherehecouldfloatwhenhegottotheproperstateofrelaxation.Ithadgra.s.sandtrees,barelyvisibleintheeeriepredawnlight.Andhewa.s.strangelyattractedbyotherinexplicablestrands,comfortingwispsofthought,enticinghimtolinger.Oneinparticularintriguedhim,andhehoveredasclosetoitashecould,tantalizedbyasenseoftranquilfamiliarity.
Allofasuddenhewasnearlyblindedbypowerfullightsthatfloodedthescene.Hefeltamomentofterror.Hecouldnotsuppresshisscream,steadyingonlywhenheheardMizAllen"ssteps.Hedidnotopenhiseyesuntilhefeltherbandonhisforeheadandknewhewa.s.safebackinBed7ofPieWard12.
"What"sthematter,Peter?"MizAllenalwaysknewifapatientwa.s.shammingandshedidnottoleratefalsealarms.Hereyesflickedtothewallpanel."Baddream?"
"Yes,baddream."Despitehimselfhisvoicequavered,andherexpressionsoftened.
"Yes,yourendorphinlevelshotup.Ithinkyou"llhavetohavesomesleep."Peternodded,relievedatherdecision."I"vegotMRtomorrow..."Hebegan,b.u.t.thendarknessoverwhelmedhim.
Youscaredhimoff!RhyssaaccusedRagnar,fumingthatsomeonehadtriggeredhernettoalerttheCenter"ssecurityforcesifherpatternspikedduringthenight.Thefieldlightshadblazedup.Momentslatershehadheardthethrumbleoftheskycars,shootingoffinalldirections.Sascha!sheroared.Hewastheonlyoneempoweredtosetsurveillanceonher!
Sascha:We"llcatchtheb.u.g.g.e.r!
Notthatway!Rhyssaforcedcontrolsonherselftodispersethewhitehotfury.Saschahadexceededhisauthorityeventheboundariesoffriendship.
Sascha:Ihavenot!
Sheinhaleddeeply,awarethatshewa.s.stilltremblingwithanger.Sheexpelledthebreathrightdowntohertoes,continuingtopressdownwarduntilherbellymusclesweretaut.TherewasNOthreat!
Therewasintrusion!Hismentalpatternbrokebrieflyasherespondedtosomeexteriorstimulus.That"sb.l.o.o.d.ystrange,hesaidamomentlater.Therewasnointrusion.Notaphysicalone.Notabliponanyscreenthatcan"tbeaccountedfor.Andnothingreadthatnothinginourairs.p.a.ce.
Anemergent!Rhyssacoloredthethoughtwithsatisfaction.Thatis,ifyouhaven"tscaredhimoutofhisTalent!Shesentanimageofherselfturningbackontoherstomach,haulingtheduvetinitspastelprinttightlyaroundherself,anddraggingamatchingpillowfirmlyoverherheadwhichwaswhatshedid.
"Anemergentfromwhere?"wasthequestionthatcirculatedtheControlRoom.
"Who"sawakeatfouro"clockinthemorning?"Saschaasked.
"Icandoaprobabilitycurve,"Madlynsuggested,"eliminatingalltheobviousshiftworkers."
"Whyeliminatethem?"Budworthasked.
"Ifthey"reworking,they"renotdoingo.o.b.,"shereplied.
"Andwhosaysthisisanoutofbodyjob?"Saschaasked,turningonMadlynwithsurprise.
"Whatelsecoulditbe?"
Saschagrinned."Youmayverywellberight,Madlyn,andit"s...o...b..iousIwondernoneofusthoughtofitbefore.Okay,whowouldgoo.o.b.?"Itwasaleadingquestiontowhichhealreadyhadananswer.
"Someonewhodoesn"tlikethebodthey"restuckwith,"shereplied.
"Buto.o.b."ingisTalent,"Budworthsaid,"andallof"emareregistered,sotheyhavebetterthingstodothano.o.b."
"Ifthey"reregistered,"Saschapointedout.
"Isee,sowerunacheckonnewones."
"That"sright.Withthehospitals."
Madlyngroaned."D"youknowhowmanyhospitalsthereareinJerhattan?"
"Notintimately,"Saschasaidwithagrin,andpointedanindexfingerather."Thinkofitasasurveyquestioninyourtraining.Askforparalyticcases,teen,preteen,insomniacs..."