"Whyblametheteens?"Madlynasked,bridling.
"Theywon"thavebeenscannedforTalentyet.Okay,"Saschaaddedgraciously,"tryanyonefacedwithasuddenlackofmobility.I"lladdtheprisonsystems,too."HegrinnedatMadlyn"sgroan."Oneofthemostfamouswasaguyescapingas.a.d.i.s.ticjailor."
Madlyn"seyeswidened."CantheCentergetprisonersreleased?"
Budworthchortled."Don"tyourememberyourCenterhistory?Thisplacewa.s.startedbyrejectsfromprisonsandmentalinst.i.tutions"HeshotaslylookatSascha."andallkindsofotherwiseasocialand/oreccentricpersonalities."
"Ifmybrotherwerehere..."SaschawaggledanadmonitoryfingeratBudworth.
"Huh!"Budworthsnorted."I"mnotafraidofyourbrotherevenifheisthehighandmightyLawEnforcementandOrdercommissioner."
"Iwouldbe,"Saschareplied."Whichremindsme,I"mlateforthatappointment.Gettheprogramstartedoncheckinghospitalsandprisons.Andbuddyboy,youcandothementalinst.i.tutions.Iappreciatethereminder."
"Ha!"MadlynsaidtoBudwortha.s.saschalefttheControlRoom.
"HowcantherebethatmanyillegalchildrenintheResidentials?"
JerhattanCityManagerTeresaAiellodemandedofMedicalChiefHarvDunster."Yourpeoplearesupposedtotieoffafterasecondpregnancy."
Harv"sangularfacewasgrim."Onlyifwegettodeliver"em.Youknowthatsomeethnicgroupsstillrefusetopracticecontraception.
Untilwehavetherighttouseinfertilitydrugsinsubsistencelevelfood,there"llbeunreportedbirthsandcontinuedtrafficinpre-adolescentsfors.e.xualperversions,orcheaplaborinillegalfactories.Andtheoneswiththerightbloodfactorsandhealthyorganswillstillbestashedawaybytheveryrichfortransplantsasneeded."HegesturedatthefaxsheetsonTeresaAiello"sdesk.
"Andruthlesspeoplewillstilldisposeoftheusedones,"addedBorisRoznine,commissionerofLawEnforcementandOrder."Evenillegalkidshaverights."Heglancedobliquelyatthefaxesscatteredontheworktop.
Teresainadvertentlyglanceddown.Shewasatoughmindedwoman,butshehadatenyearolddaughter,andthefaxofthebloatedbodiesdiscoveredasflotsamofftheNorthSh.o.r.eofLongIslandsparednoone"ssensibilities.Sheavertedhereyes.Thecoronerreportedthattheoldesthadbeentwelve,theyoungestfive.
BorisRozninehadcontactedherthemomenttheappallingdiscoveryhadbeenmade.ThetemperofJerhattanwasalwaysuncertainwhenfacedwithsuchnews,andTeresahadcalledanemergencymeetingofhercommissionerstoprepareforapossibleeruptionifthenewswasleakedtothemedia.Boris"stwinbrotherSascha,wasduetoarrivewiththeParapsychicCenter"ssuggestions.Toinsurethetightsecurityaroundthetragedy,thefourweremeetingintheshieldedprivacyofthecitymanager"stoweroffice.
"Ah,"BorisinterruptedwhatTeresahadbeenabouttosay,hisrighthandlightlytouchinghistempleinindicationthathewasreceivingatelepathicmessage."PositiveIDofone,theWaddellgirlwhowaskidnappedsixweeksago..."
Teresawincedandletoutagroan.TheWaddellswereacquaintancesofhers,hightechexecutives;thechild,brightandextremelypretty,hadbeenaschoolfriendofherdaughter.Teresahadputatoppriorityontheabduction,andhadofficiallyrequestedthatRhyssaOwena.s.signherbestfindertothecase.
"Twoothersarelistedasrunaways,reportedmissingtwomonthsago.
Oftheothers..."Roznineshrugged,glancingatthemedicalofficer.
"Thebestthelabcandoisgenotypes,andit"sallsorts."
EverycitizenoftheUnitedWorldwaspermittedprovidedtheydidnotcarrytheproscribedgeneticrecessivestoproduceareplacement.Oneparent,onechild.Twoparents,twochildren.ZPGwa.s.stringentlyenforceduntilthepressureofEarth"spopulationcouldbereleasedonthenewhabitableworlds,identifiedbutnotyetattainable.ThePropagationLawswereeasiertoenforceinruralcommunitiesthaninthehugeresidentialwarrensofcitieslikeJerhattan,withitspopulationofoverthirtymillion.
TeresaturnedtotheLEOcommissioner."Youhaven"tstoppedthespotchecks,haveyou,Boris?"
"h.e.l.l,no,butwe"restillnotlocatingtheearlypregnanciesnomatterhowwetry.IfIhadthepersonneltomountsimultaneouslevelsearches,we"dcatchmore."Borisbroughthisclaspedhandstogetherasifclosinganet.Hegaveaghostof.a.grin."WedidprettywellattheResidentials,sixweeksafterthelastbigpoweroutage,b.u.t.thatwasaonceoff."Thenhespreadhishandswide,matchingDunster"sresignation."Youknowoursituation.Wemanagetokeepalidonmostofthetroubleifwe"reallsittingdownashardaswecan.Itisn"tasifweneedmorebodies."
"Theonesthatignorethelegalcontrol,"Harvsaiddejectedly,"areexactlytheoneseducationalandhygieneprogramsdon"treachinanylanguage."
Teresagrimaced."Sothere"snoindicationwheretherestofthosepoorkidsweres.n.a.t.c.hed?"
Roznineshookhishead."Couldhavecomefromanysubsistencelevel."
"Inthelastgruesomechucking,threemonthsbackorso,onlyfourwererecognizableethnictypes,"HarvDunstersaidgrimly."NearEasternersLebaneseandArabic.TwowereTaySachs,tenweredarkskinned,andonewasanHIVcarrierwhichmaywellbewhytheywereall...disposedof."Themedicsighedheavily."IsuspectLabmayalsofindantibodypositivesamongthislatest""Spareme,Harv,"Teresasaidfirmly,andcalledupthemainJerhattanmaponherscreen.
"We"vejusthadagoroundoftheResidentialswithPublicHealth.Wehaven"tgotthefundsavailableforanother.Exactlywherewerethebodiesfound,Boris?"Herfingershoveredovertheterminala.s.shewaitedforananswer.
"WashedupoutbyGlenCove,notfarfromsomeofthemoreexclusiveresidentialhivesborderingtheSound."
"Great!"Teresa"sfrustrationcameouta.s.sarcasm."NoIncidentlogged?"sheaskedBoris,thoughthatwouldhavebeenincludedintheinitialreport.
"Thestorm,yes.Theflotsam,no."
"Shouldn"tyourbrotherbeherebynow?"Teresafrowned,glancingattheclocktickingoffthesecondsinthecornerofthemainscreen.
"Weneedallthehelpwecangetonthis."
ThefocusofBorisRoznine"sblueeyeslockedbrieflyashelinkedmindswithhisyoungerbrother."Trafficsnarl"sbreakingup.Buthesays"hisvoicesuddenlydeepenedastheTalentpeculiartothetwinbrothersallowedonetospeakthroughtheother"Look,Iwanttosavetimeyoursandmine.ThesemurdersG.o.deeperthanthelossofthirtyjuveniles.ForgettheHIVfactorit"sirrelevanthere.Theyweredisposedofbecausewe"dgottooclosetothem,butnotcloseenough,soonenough.Teresa,Carmen"sbeenonsearchandfinddutyeversinceyouhandedustheWaddellkidnapfile.Shegotawhiffortwoofterror,butneverenoughlighttopinpoint.Exceptthatshegotahintofwater."Boris"swidemouthquirkedbriefly,reflectinghisbrother"schagrin."Mostofthosechildrenhadtobeillegals.Weallknowthatthatgroupofpederastsisactiveandsupplieddespiteinternationaleffortstoeradicatethatsortoftraffic.Weknowthatkidsareboughtascheaplaborandshippedwhoknowswhere.Andthatsomearealsosecretedaspossibletransplantdonors.
"Wehaven"tbeenidle,"Sascha"svoicecontinued."Thiscould,infact,bethebreakwe"vebeenwaitingfor.Wegottooclose.It"dbenicetoknow"andatthatwordthedoortoTeresaAiello"sofficeswungopenandSaschaRozninestrodein,smilingateveryone.Ashegavehisbrother"sshoulderagratefulsqueeze,hecontinued,"whereexactlywegotsoclose.We"reworkingonit,andwithyoura.s.sistance,HarvandTeresa,Ithinkwehavealinetothrowouttothosesharks."Hissmiletookineachofhislisteners,buthec.o.c.kedhisheadathisbrotherandwinked.
SlowlyasmilebegantolightenBoris"sfaceashereadthedetailedthoughtsinSascha"smind."Tagkidswithstrandsthroughtheschoolsystem?Thatmightjustwork!Wemightevencatchtheb.a.s.t.a.r.dchildstealersthistime."Borisleanedforwardacrossthetable.
"Youareallfamiliarwiththerestraintfilamentsthatwererecentlydeveloped?Sometimesthosewetanglewiththestrandsescapebeforetheycanbesecured.Asecondapplicationhasbeenmadewithaslightlyalteredformula,andnowthealteredstrandcanbetracedforuptosixmonths.There"recertainanomaliestoberesolved,but.i.t"sworththeefforttotageverychildinthevulnerablegroup."
"Youmean,thissideoftheriver?"Teresawavedatthepanoramavisiblefromhertoweroffice,theuptowncl.u.s.terofbeehive,cone,andsingletowerResidentialbuildingsclearlyvisibleonthisbrightmorning."Butstatistically,it"stheillegalsintheLinearResidentialswh.o.a.remoreatrisk."
"IfwecouldcatchLinearkidstostrand"em,"Borissaid,raisinghishandspalmsupinresignation,"we"dbewayahead.Meanwhilewe"llstrandasmanykidsaswecanonbothsidesoftheriverandhope."
"Hope?"Saschaaskedsoftly.
Rhyssa!SherecognizedthementaltouchofJohnGreene,theTalentedbodyguardofSecretaryofs.p.a.ceVernonAltenbach.
Wegotproblems?sheasked.
Girl,youreallydeservealltheheadachesofadministrationifyoucanguessthatmuchfromjusthearingmespeakyourname.
Noprecogneeded,JG,becauseyouneverbothermeunlessthere"spoliticalp.u.s.s.yfooting.Whatisitthistime?
AbilltodrafttheTalentedintowhateverpositionthegovernmentneedsthem!
Notagain?Rhyssa"sresponsewashalfamused,halfirritated.
Concertedattemptshadbeenmadeinthepastbygovernmentagenciestocirc.u.mscribethefreedomofchoiceoriginallygrantedtotheTalented.
ThatwaspriortothepointatwhichthegovernmentbegantoappreciatetheapplicationsofTalentafterthedayswhenDaffydopOwen,herill.u.s.triousgrandfather,abettedbySenatorJoelAndres,hadfoughttogainlegalimmunityforTalents.e.xercisingtheirabilities.
Immunityhadbeenparticularlyvitalforprecogsbecause,whentheywarnedofdisasterswhichwere,bythosewarnings,averted,theyhadbeensubjectedtoexpensiveandtimeconsuminglawsuits.Therehadbeenattemptssincethen,fromtheridiculoustothedeadlyserious,toregulateorrestrict,allmannerofTalentstomilitary,civilservice,ormercantileuses.
b.u.t.theTalentedhadalwaysmanaged,quitelegallyandwithnountowardexerciseoftheirparticularabilities,tocirc.u.mventsuchattempts.
ManyTalentshadwillinglysacrificedpersonalfreedomstoserveinthepublicsectors,someonalifelongbasis,topreservetherightfortheirpeerstochoose.Rhyssa"sparentshaddonethat,togivehertheopportunitytoachievethepositionshenowheld.
Again,andthisisn"tfunny,Rhyssa,JohnnyGreenewenton,s.p.a.ceisinabind.Theplatformhastobefinishedonschedulebeforeth.e.s.h.eerweightofnumbersonEarthbecomesmoreunmanageablethanitalreadyis.
SoLudmilla"sbeenlobbying?
She"sgotsomeheftyhelp,andVernon"sgottremendouspressureonhim.
I"mtheloudestoftheWashington/Luxembourgvoices,soI"mmakingthecontactwithyoufortherestoftheminders.We"vebeenexcludedfromfarmoresessionsthanweoughttobesessionsthathavebeenattendedbysomeofthemostantagonisticRightMutesthathaveeverbeenlinedupagainstTalents.AndwhenyouthinkthatIhelpedhimdevelophisshieldsagainstunauthorizedpeeking,Icouldspit!Thenerveofhimclosingmeout!
OneofthemoresensitiveprofessionsopentoempathicTalentswasthatof"minding"vulnerabletoprankingofficials.Terrorismwa.s.stillafactofpoliticallife,andalthoughtheproblemofthedisplacedandtheminoritieshadbeensomewhateasedbythema.s.sresettlementsandtheinst.i.tutionoftheLineardevelopmentsneareverymajorurbanarea,andtheincidenceofa.s.sa.s.sinationshadbeendrasticallyreduced,empathswerestillemployedto"mind"thoseofficialswhomightbetargetsforthefanaticswhostilloccasionallyemerged.RhyssacouldhearthehurtinJohnny"svoicethatVernonAltenbachhadbeenshieldinghisthoughtsfromhisminder,especiallysinceJohnnywasalsoVernon"sbestfriend,aswellashisbrother-inlaw.Inhisofficialcapacity,Johnnyservedasundersecretaryinthes.p.a.ceSecretariat.Priortothathehadbeenatrainedetop-earthtoplatformpilotwithtwentysuccessfullaunches...untilthetwentyfirsthadgroundedhimforever.HisTalenthadsavedhiscrewfromdeathbutnothimselffromlosingbothleftlegandarm.Despitestateoftheartprostheses,anewcareerhadseemedadvisable.SofarJohnnyhadalreadypreventedfourattemptstokillorkidnapSecretaryofs.p.a.ceAltenbach.
Johnny:Ishouldabeenincludedintheselatesttalks,butIwasn"t.
Rhyssa:WhichmeansthatTalentwasbeingdiscussed.BarchenkaandDuomlwantmorekineticsontheplatformintheworstway.I"mdoingmybesttohelp...
Johnny,inanuncompromisingtone:AnyonethoughtoftellingBarchenkathatshe"sthereasonwhyTalentswon"tworkupthere?
Rhyssa:LanceBadendid.Hethinkssheha.s.selectiveamnesia.Can"tevengetherreplaced,notwiththeperformancerecordshe"sgot!
Vernon"stried!She"ssob.l.o.o.d.ygoodatwhatshedoesit"sonlyhowshedoesit.I"llkeepintouch,butwefeltyououghttoheforewarned.
Therewasahintofcriticisminhisvoice.
Nothinghascomeupwithanyprecog,Johnny.
Iknow,Iknow.Thatworriesmeasmuch.Thisthingcouldbeveryverybig,andnotevenMallie"sgotawhiff!
Rhyssa:Then.o.bviouslythematterissolvedbeforeitreachescritical.
Shetriedtosoundfirmlyoptimisticevenasalittleshudderrippleddownherbackbone.Someoneshouldhavebeensensingsomething!MallieVadenwasoneofthemostsensitiveprecogstheCenterhadeverproduced,andherlackofforesightifJohnny"sreadingofthesituationwascorrectwa.s.surprising.
I"llbeintouch,Johnnya.s.suredher.I"llevenseewhattheghoststhink.Youknowhowthey"dliketoseeourTalentednosesoutofjoint.
IthinkI"lltryafrontalattack,Rhyssasaid.Mightjogafewbraincellsloose.
When"llIseeyouthen?Johnnyasked,histonebrightening.
Ifpossible,today.RunmethroughVernon"sschedule.WhenJohnnydid,Rhyssastoppedhimatthelunchtimeengagement.Ilikethefoodthere.I"lljustdropin!
Rhyssaalways.e.xperiencedamildshockwhensheencounteredJohnnyintheflesh,forthelighttenorofhismentalvoicewasatvariancewithhisstrongphysicalappearance.Mediumtall,hekepthimselfphysicallytrim,andonewouldneverguesshisseriousinjuriesfromseeinghimwalkormanageeatingutensils.Somelatentkineticabilityhadprovedtobeana.s.setwithhisprostheticlimbs.HeroseashespottedRhyssaapproachingthetablewherehe,Secretaryofs.p.a.ceVernonAltenbach,ExaltedEngineerLudmillaBarchenka,andPadrugoiPersonnelManagerPerDuomlwereseated.Johnny"sbroadsmilewelcomedher,andtheyexchangedtouchandakiss.
WouldyouhavedaredlooksostunningiftheamorousPhanibalhadcome,too?Johnny"sgreenfleckedambereyestwinkledwithdevilment.
Rhyssa:Whydoesn"tthatodiousmangobacktothePacificislandthatsp.a.w.nedhimandattendtothefamily"splantations?
Johnny:Allyouneedisastronghandsomemanwho"llscarehimoff.
Rightnowyou"vegotthislotembarra.s.sedbyyourappearance,andyettheyhaven"tsaidathingoutofline,headded,allinthesplitsecondsofthegreeting.
RhyssagaveAltenbachagenuinelygladsmile,thennoddedpolitelytothefiercelyscowlingBarchenkaandtheblandfacedPerDuoml."JustthepeopleIhopedtosee.WhenIsawyouweretobeinWashington,MadameBarchenka,IrealizedthatIshouldputinanappearancebeforemattersgetoutofhand."
"Now,Rhyssa,"Altenbachsaid,signalingawaitertobringachairandsetupanotherplaceforhisunexpectedguest,"youcan"tdisrupttheestablishedprocedureoflobbying.That"snotthewaytoplaythegame."
"Norisgoingbehindmyback,"Rhyssasaid,smilingtotakethestingoutofhercriticism.SheturnedtoBarchenka."Youhaveascheduletokeep.WhatyouwillnotappreciateisthatonecannotscheduleTalentorlobbyit.Thekineticsyousodesperatelyneedcannotmaterializetohelpyoumeetyourschedule.Thatmanykineticsdon"texist.Talentisarandomandhighlyindividualtrait,notanimposedone.NoonecandictatetoaTalentandexpectthepersontoperformtothebestofherorhisability.ThatdictationinhibitstheTalenta.s.surelya.s.seasicknessinhibitsappet.i.te.Thereisnolegislationintheworldthatmaychainthemind."
"Thereislegislationthatwillrecruitthoseneededtodothejobthattheentireworldhasdecidedmustbedone."Barchenka"sstolidwordscomplimentedheruncompromisingexpression."Theplatformwillbefinisheda.s.scheduled.Thekineticswillpartic.i.p.ate."
Rhyssacaughtanotherstrongemanation,thistimefromPerDuoml,whonoddedsolemnlytosupportBarchenka"sstatement.
"Thereareways,"Barchenkaadded,hercoldeyesscanningRhyssa"swholeappearancefromtheelegantlycoiffedhairandsubtlemakeuptothecoutureoutfit.
"Legal?"Rhyssaaskedwithaslightsmile.
ThesecretaryclearedhisthroatandhandedRhyssaamenu."I"mstilloftheopinionthatthisimpa.s.secanbenegotiatedtothesatisfactionofallconcerned."
Barchenkamadeamonosyllabicnoiseofdisbeliefandresumedherperusalofthemenu.Afteronlyseconds,shetosseditnegligentlytothetable."Iwouldprefernutritiousfoodtothis..."
JohnnyGreenebeckonedtothemaitred",whowasfamousforhispoiseunderthemosttryingsituationsthatWashingtoncouldproduce.
"D"Amato,ManagerBarchenkarequirestheothermenu."
AtasnapofD"Amato"sfingers,anunderlingappearedandhandedhimaslimfolder,whichhepresentedtoBarchenkawithaflourish.Shegavehim,thenJohnny,asardoniclookthatturnedtoagreeablesurprisea.s.shescannedamenucomposedofthefoodstuffsavailableontheplatform.
"Five,twelve,andtwenty,takenwithtea,"shesaidinavoicethatstillvibratedwithcontrolledanger.
Watchit,Rhyssa!Johnnycautioned.Didyoucatchthatfash?She"spoisonsureshe"sgotuswhereshewantsus.
Simultaneouslythreeotherminders,diningwiththeirchargesinthesameroom,sentRhyssasimilarwarnings.ShewasparticularlygladtofeelthementaltouchofGordonHavers,theyoungestSupremeCourtjusticeeverappointed,whoseexpertisemightbeextremelyuseful.
Fine!Nowdiscoverwhat?Rhyssasaidmentallyasvocallyshechoseherluncheonofcoldfruit,soup,andsalad.Gordie,areyouavailableforsomequickscansofobsoletestatutesthatcouldcoversuchacontingency?
Beendrivingmyselfandmyclerksallhourstryingtofndone,Rhyssa,repliedGordonHavers.There"snothinginourconst.i.tution,butsincetheRussianswonthecontractforPadrugoi,theremaybesomethingintheRussiansectionthatdoes!Theirlegalsystemisasconvolutedastheirgrammar!
"Youcan,ofcourse,invokesomeforgottenbutstillactivestatute,"Rhyssaremarkedalltooblandly,waitingforreactions,"toconscriptTalents..."BothBarchenkaandDuomllookedstartled.
Bingo!Gordiecried.I"llconcentrateontheRussianendofs.p.a.celaw.
"But,"Rhyssacontinuedsoothingly,"ithasalwaysprovedunwisetoforceTalenttoperforminanareathatiseitherpersonallyorprofessionallydistastefultothem,andunderpunitiveconditions."
"Wehavebeentoolenientwithyourtemperamentaltricksandtraits,"Barchenkasaid,leaningacrossthetableinanger."Youwilldothis,youwon"tdothat!"Sheaffectedachild"spetulanttone."ManyconcessionsweremadetocatertothewhimsandfadsofyourTalents,andstillnosignificantnumberswillvolunteerforthemostimportantworldprojectofallhistory.Youratt.i.tudeisunacceptable."
"Iamprotectingmycolleagues,notbeingobstructive.Imustrepeat,"Rhyssacontinuedsmoothly,"ithasalwaysprovedunwisetoforceTalenttoperformdutiesunacceptabletothemandunderpunitivelivingconditions."
"Thatwillchange!Willbechanged!Theplatformwillbefinishedonschedule!"Barchenka"svoicehadrisenwitheachsentenceuntilitstoppedconversationthroughouttheopulentdiningroom.Shepushedherselffromherchair,wobblingslightlyashermovements,moresuitedtohalfgrav,broughtherstockybodyponderouslytoanuprightposition.Shekickedthechairawayfromher."Idonottolerateinsubordination!"Andsheclumpedawayfromthetable.
"Iwasdoingmybestforyou,"VernonAltenbachsaidtoRhyssa,hisfaceandmannerresignedasherose,hischairpulledbackbyahoveringwaiter.
"Youdonotunderstandourposition,DirectorOwen,"PerDuomladded,buthemadenomovetoleavethetable."Weareforcedtouseunpleasantalternativestoavertfarmoreseriousdisastersovertakingtheworld!"