"Pleasedtameetcha!"Petermanagedtogetout.MizAllenclearedherthroatwarningly.
"Thankyou,Mrs.Allen,I"lljustchatabitwithPeter,"DoroteaHorvathsaid,pullingachairtoPeter"sbedsideanddismissingMizAlleninamannerthatastoundedtheboy."MizAllendoesn"treallybelieveintelepathyandTalents.Andwejusthaven"thadthechancetogoaroundthepediatricwardslately.Sowemissedyou."
"Missedme?"
Doroteasmiledagain,asmilethatwasmagicalbecauseitseemedtoenvelopPeterwithwarmthandcaring.Thehardknotofself-pityandresentmentthathadbeenbuildingupatthethoughtofanotherbodybracesessiondispersed.
"Thatis,untilyoustartedvisitingRhyssa."
"Rhyssa?"
Intohismindcameanewtouch.I"mRhyssa.IsentDoroteatoyoubecauseyourunawayfromme.Doroteasaysyoucan"trunawayfromherrightnow,PeterReidinger.PleasecomelivewithuswhereIknowyoulongtobe.
"Nowthatyou"vehadanofficialinvitation,w.i.l.l.youaccept?"Doroteaasked,br.i.m.m.i.n.goverwithamus.e.m.e.ntathisstunnedreaction.
"ButIcan"t.I"mcrippled.Ican"tgoanywhere..."
Ahahahaha!Doroteachidedhim,stillsmiling.AboywhocangooutofbodyontoursofJerhattanatthreeinthemorningisnocripple!
"ButIcan"tusethebodybrace!"Peterwashorrifiedtohearhimselfblubberingandtofeeltearsstreamingdownhisface.Hehadnotcriedinmonths.
Crying"sanaturalreleaseforemotionalpressures,Doroteasaida.s.sheblottedhischeeksmatteroffactly.AllthatmanlyrepressionhasalsobeenblockingTalent.Idobelievethatthebracealsoposedaninhibition.Ithinkitshortcircuitednaturalability.We"llsort.i.tout.OfthatI"mpositive.
AndsuddenlyPeterhadnodoubtatall.
"First,ofcourse,wehavetogetyourparents"permission."Doroteawasalwayspractical."Doyouthinkthey"llmind?"
"Mind?"Peternearlyshouted.Heknewthatthehospitalfees,evenwiththehugecompensationthecitywasforcedtopaysincehehadbeeninjuredoncityownedproperty,hadbeenaterriblefinancialdrainonhisparents.Hismothercametoseehimregularly,buthisfather"svisitsgrewfewerandshorter.HismotheralwayshadsomeplausibleexplanationforDad"sabsence,butPeterhadnotbeenfooled.
SuddenlyDorotea"seyeswidenedinpleasedsurprise."Idon"tthinkyou"llneedmuchtrainingafterall,"shesaid,pointingathim.
"What?"AndatthatmomentPeterrealizedthathewashoveringabovehisbedandthata.n.a.larmjustbeneathithadgoneoff.
Rhyssa!Dorotea"smentalshoutwasaverywelcomediversionforRhyssa.
TheEasterndirectorhadnotbeenabletomakethatfirstcontactforseveralreasons,theforemostonebeingthePadrugoipriority.TheotherreasonwasthatDoroteawa.s.stillthemostaccurateTalentdivinerintheentireworld,withthedeftesttouchtoallayfearandsuspicion.
Rhyssa,PeterReidingerreeksofTalent.Ican"timaginewhytheresidentdidn"ttumbletoitalongtimeago,despitethefactthatPeter"sbeensuppressinghisnaturalfeelingstobeconsideredabraveboy.Beinginahospitalsituation,he"dhavetoblankoutallperipheralstaticorgetwoundupineveryoneelse"spain.Thoughhe"snotyourgardenvarietykineticortelepath.Infact,I"venevertouchedanyonequitelikehim.Onething"ssure,henomoreneededabodybracethanyouneedavideophone.
Canyouexpeditehisreleasetous?Rhyssaasked.
Inmybestgrannymode!Idon"tantic.i.p.ateanytroublewiththefamilythey"vebeenstrugglingunderthemedicalcosts.Igatherthefatherhastroublevisitinghis"crippled"son.TheyshouldregainsomeperspectivenowthatPeter"llbeabletopayhisownway.
Howmedicalishe?
Doroteagaveamentalsnort.Withalittlehelpfromhisfriends,hewon"tbemedicalpastthegateoftheCenter.Whoops!We"vejustbeenchargedbyanirateelectricianandastupefiedconsultant,andmyG.o.d!
Doroteabrokeoffcontact,startlingRhyssaDoroteausuallyhadnotroubledoubletalking.Rhyssawaitedfortheoldwomantocomebackandexplainherabruptdisappearance.Afterthreeminuteswithnofurtherwordfromher,Rhyssareluctantlyresumedherimmediatetask.
WorriedaboutDoroteaandtheboy,itwasdifficultforhertokeephermindontherea.s.signmentofkineticTalents,b.u.t.thematterhadtobeclearedupa.s.soonaspossible.TheEasternCenterwouldbeleftwithjusttentodotheworkofthirty,alongwithfivetraineeswhocouldbeslottedintosomeoftheless.e.xactinghoistwork.Airshuttleclients,pa.s.sengersorcommercial,werejustgoingtohavetowaitlongertocollecttheirluggage;allconstructionfirmswouldlosekinetics,savethoseontwonearlycompletedprojectswherekinesiswastheonlywaytosafelyinstallheavyequipmentontheuppermoststories.
SheandMiklosHorvath,Dorotea"sgrandsonontheWestCoast,alsohadtoarrange"fetchandcarry"teams,telepathsandkineticswhocouldworkintandemandatlongdistance.Butsuchskillswereexhaustingandwouldhavetobereservedforemergencies.
DaveLehardthadcomeupwithyetanothervalidsuggestionthatmightnotimproverelationswithBarchenkaandDuomlbutwouldcertainlymakemoreeffectiveuseofthefourhourshiftofeachkinetic.
"Ilookedatsomeofthemotionstudies,"hehadtoldher,"andsomevideosofanactualworkingday.SamjanmentionedthathespentagoodportionofeveryshiftonPadrugoidoingnothingwaitinguntilmaterielwasorganizedfromthestorageyardorbins,orwhiletheengineerssortedoutminordiscrepancies.SoIgotSamjanandBelaRondomanski,whowa.s.s.p.a.ceLabdesigner,togetherwithLanceBaden,who"satrainedengineer.Belasaidalotofthedelaysons.p.a.ceLabwerecausedbyachronicdisorganizationinSupply.Lancesaidthattheproblemshadn"tbeencompletelysolvedwhenhedidtwotoursatPadrugoi,butoneofBarchenka"sstrengthsisherorganizationalskills.Takethemonemorestepforward,and,inafourhourshift,akineticcangeteverythinginaspokesectionlinedupsothatallthegruntsneedtododuringthenexttwentyhoursofshifttimeisgiveatinyshoveandtheelementswillfallintoplace.
"Ofcourse,it"llmeanagooddealofreorganizationinthestoresandmaterielalreadyupatPadrugoi,andmaybesomeshipmentrearranging,lightingafireunderthetardysuppliers,b.u.t.thetimespentdoingthatwillcutdownonthemanhoursupstairs."
"Duoml"sreturnedtothestation,"Rhyssasaid.
"We"lljustborrowHangarQagainforanotherhandylittledemonstration.I"llworkoutthedetails.Hey,you"relookingmightygoodtoday.Newhairstyle?Sureshowsoffyourskunkstreak."Herscreendiffusedonanotherofhisfamousconfidenceinspiringgrins.
Skunkstreakindeed,shethought,herfingerssmoothingitback.Atleasthehadnoticed.Withasigh,shewentbacktohera.n.a.lyses,untilsherealizedthatshehadnotheardanothersqueakfromDorotea.
Then,asabruptlyasthecontacthadbeenbroken,Doroteareturned.
Well,IsaidI"dcomebacka.s.soonasIcould.It"stoosoontobesurewhathedoesdo,Rhyssa,butheapparentlytapsintoelectricalsources.He"sbeenglitchingthehospitalcircuitsfittodrivetheelectricianandahighpricedconsultantbarmy.Anditalsoexplainswhyhecouldn"tcopewiththebodybrace:theimpulseswhichwerefeddirectlyintohissynapseswereshort-circuitinginherentabilities,sothepoorladwastryingtocopewithanoverload.SueRomeroisinbitsthinkingofallshe"sbeendoingtoPeter,andhe"sinastatebecausehehadnowayofexplainingwhythebodybracewasallwrongforhim...andtheheadnurse,MizAllen,isoneofthoseby-thebookersandcompoundedtheproblem.Oh,hisfamilyaredelighted,especiallytoknowthatPeterwillnotbe"handicapped"b.u.t.theirheadsread"crippled,useless,financialdrain."It"llbestandardcontractuntilhe"seighteenandfullytrained.Here"sonekineticBarchenkawon"tgethers.p.a.cegloveson!
Whencanyoubringhimhome?
We"reonourway!Dorotearepliedtriumphantly.GetRoddy"sroominmyhouseready.SheshotRhyssaamentalglimpseofs.p.a.ceForcepostersoneverywall,modelsofs.p.a.ceshuttles,ma.s.spa.s.sengerhotols,stealths,s.p.a.celabs,andgenerationshipsdependingfromtheceiling,andabunkbedwithdesks.p.a.cebelow.Nothingcouldbemoredistantfromtheantisepticenvironmenthe"sbeenlivinginformonths.
ThephysicalmeetingbetweenRhyssaOwenandPeterReidingerwasnotquiteananticlimax.DoroteahadwarnedherthatPeter"smotherandoldersisterwereaccompanyinghimintheheliamb,excitedbutslightlyapprehensiveathisnewcirc.u.mstances.
IlsaReidingerwasapleasantenoughwoman,terriblyconcernedforandcertainlyextremelyproudofherPetey.Shestruggledwithalessthancongenialjobinordertohelpmeetthemedicalbills.Thesixteenyearoldsister,Katya,waswhatDoroteacalled"pushy,"tryingtofigureouthowherbrother"sgoodfortunemightspilloveronheranddisgruntledthatPeterhadTalentandshehadnone.DoroteasaidthatKatyaresentedPeterbecausethecostofhishospitalizationhadkeptherfromhavingmanyofthethingsthatshe,theelderchild,oughttohavebeenabletoenjoy.
Perfectlyunderstandablereaction,DoroteatoldRhyssaasthewomendeftlymaneuveredPeter"sgurneyintoDorotea"shouseandonthroughintoRoddy"sroom.
BothtelepathscouldfeelPeter"sspiritliftingashesawtheunmedicalfurnishingsandartifacts.
"Buthow"llyoudoallthathastobedoneforhimallthetime?"IlsaReidingerbeganinsurprise.
"Oh,Peter"llonlyneedalittlehelpinthebeginning,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteasaid.HermentalAlleyoopwasthesignalforRickHobsonto"lift"Peterupintothebunkbed."Now,let"sallclearoutandlethimsettlehimselfin.And,"Doroteaaddeda.s.sheshooedeveryonebeforeher,"theheliambiswaitingtotakeyouandyourdaughterhome.Here"sthevidnumber.Asyousaw,Peterhasasetintheroom.Callhimanytime.Unlikethehospital,hereyoucanseewhatmischiefhe"sgettinginto.Allright?"
Dorotea"spositivemannermaderefusalimpossible,andsoontheheliambwasthunkingitswayupoutoftheCenter"sgrounds.
Rick,hookmeupalinefromthe4.5kpmgeneratorinthegardenshedandbringitrightintotheroomwithPeter,Dorotearequested.
Whatisthisallabout?Rhyssademanded.
Itoldyou,Doroteasaid,thenaddedaloudsincetheywerenowalone,"heseemstotapintotheelectricalsystemandusethatforpower.
Somesortof.a.gestalt.IwantsomeofourengineerTalentstolinkwithmewhenhe"srestedenoughforustodosometesting.But.i.t"llhavetobeyouandmeforawhile,Rhyssa.He"shadsuchaterribletime."
Dorotea"seyeswelledwithtears,andautomaticallyRhyssagatheredtheolderwomanintoherarms,smotheringherwithlove,affection,andadmiration.
"I"msorry,dear,"Doroteasaidwithalittlesniff,pullingherselfaway."You"vehadalottocopewithnow,andyoudon"tneedmeturningintoawateringpot,but"ShepouredintoRhyssa"smindthejumbleofpain/despondency/anguish/guilt,theselfaccusation,andthesouldestroyingterrorthatPeterhadbeenenduring.
EasingDoroteatothecouch,Rhyssasatbesideher,shakenbythataccountingdespiteyearsofdealingwiththebizarrementalstatesofemergentTalents.
"IthinkaspotofteawouldG.o.downwellrightnow,"Doroteasaid,andRhyssagaveaweaklittlelaughatDorotea"severpracticalmind.
Peter?Acupoftea?Lemon,milk,sugar?
Yes,please,wasPeter"sanswer,surprisingRhyssa.
Yousee?Heneededonlyalittlehelptoprojecthisthoughtsinsteadofsquashingthemdown.Dorotea"sfaceworeanexaggeratedlysmugsmile.
TheywereallenjoyingacupofteawhenRickHobsonbouncedin,festoonedwithanelectrician"sbeltandheavydutycable.
"Idon"tknowwhatkindofanoutletorreceptacleyouneedDorotea,"hesaid,winkingather,noddingtoRhyssa,andthenwavingahandatPeter,whowaswatchingitallfromhisbunk"Well,Peter,whatdoyouthinkyouneed?"Doroteaasked."He"djustbeensortofhookingintotheelectronicgadgetsofthebed,"shetoldRick.
BothwomencaughtPeter"shesitationandconcern.
"Oh,well,it"saseasytosortthespecificsoutlater,"Ricksaideasily,catchingRhyssa"swarninglook."Atanyrate,thegenerator"srightoutsideandpoweredup.Anytimeyouneedit,it"sthere."Withacheerywavetoall,heleft.
"It"sallabitmuch,isn"t.i.t,Peter?"Rhyssasaidgently.
"Idon"tknowwhatIdidthatmakesyouthinkI"manygoodatall,"Petersaidinavoiceaspaleashiscomplexionjustthen.
"Doroteathinksyouusedavailableelectricalpowertoa.s.sistthosedawnvisitsyoumadetome,"Rhyssatoldhim.Shegavehimamischievoussmiletorea.s.surehim."I"mhonoredthat.i.twasmymindyoulinkedwithtobringyouwhereyouwantedtobe."
"Youare?"PeterturnedhisheadawayfromthedrinkingstrawinhisteacupsothathecouldlookdownatRhyssa.
"Idon"tgetmanymeninvadingmybedroom,Ia.s.sureyou."
SubtlyDoroteawa.s.supportingher,increasingforPeterthesensethathisintrusionhadbeencleverandoriginal.Bothwomengeneratedsubliminalthoughtstobolsterhisperceptionofhimselfreversingthelowselfesteemthatwascurrentlyinhibitinganyforwardprogress.
"Ididn"tmeantointrude."
"Youwillsoonunderstandthatamongtelepathsamidnightknockonthedoorisn"tconsideredanintrusion."
"Butallthoselights..."
Rhyssaletherthoughtsechotheannoyanceshehadfeltatthatproprietarysupervision."Youdidn"thearmechewingthemoutforscaringyouoff,either."
"Ooooh,Rhyssawasangry,"Doroteaadded.
"Youweredoingwhatmanyhavetriedandfailedatmiserably,"Rhyssawenton.
"Iwas?"
"It"swhatwecallanoutofbodyexperience,"Rhyssawenton."Veryfewpeopleeverachievethatdegreeofmentalcontrol."
"Theydon"t?"Peterwaswideeyedinawe."But.i.t"snothard."
DoroteaandRhyssaexchangedamusedglances.
"Nothing"shardwhenyouknowexactlyhowtodoit,Peter,"Rhyssasaid,"andyou"veapparentlymasteredtheart.DoroteaandIarebothhopingyoucanteachus.Idon"thavemuchkineticability..."
Sascha:Andaren"tyougladofthatrightnow?Hesentanimageofas.p.a.cesuitedRhyssawhirlingaboutPadrugoichasedbyawhip-wieldingBarchenka.
Rhyssa:Don"tyoudareinterfere,Bearman!Thisistrickyenoughasitiswithoutyouinmymind!Ob,myG.o.d!AndsuddenlyRhyssabegantofathomthepotentialoftheboy.GiveyoungPeterReidingeraccesstosufficientlypowerfulelectronicsources,andhiskineticTalentmightbogglethemindofthemostoptimistictheorist.Why,hisTalentwasasfarfromspoonbendingasmodernprecognitionwasfrompriestlyauguriesdivinedfromoxintestines!
TherewasaninstantresponsefromSascha,Dorotea,Sirikit,Rick,andMadlyn.Dampitdown,Rhyssa.Haveaheart!
Dorotea:Well,you"veallgotthepicturenow,soleaveusalonewiththeboy.Wecan"tmessthisoneup.
Rhyssahadtotakeadeepbreath,hopingthatthesuddenrevelationshehadbeenunabletokeepfromotherstrongtelepathsintheCenterhadnotalsobeenpickedupbyPeterReidinger"sstill-emergingskill.Hewascertainlynotreacting.
Dorotea:Iblockedhim,Rhyssa.Getaholdofyourself"So,Peter,"Rhyssamanagedtogoon,"ifIcouldgetthehangofwhatyou"redoingwiththegenerators,itcouldbeanextremelyvaluableaddedwhammy."
Dorotea:Icouldn"thaveput.i.tmorediscreetlymyselfRhyssa:Thanks.
"Idon"tknowwhatI"mdoing,"Petersaidsadly.
"It"sthesortofthingyoudon"tthinkaboutdoing,Peter.Youjustdoitbecauseyouwantto,becauseyouneedto.AndDoroteaandIwillhelp."Rhyssagrinnedathim."Communicationiswheretelepathyexcels.Thespokenwordsometimesisn"tasclearasitshouldbe:wordscanbemisused,inappropriatelya.s.signedmuddymeanings.You"reaccustomedtoawordmeaningonething;someoneelsewillthinkitmeanssomethingelseentirelyandmisunderstandwhatyoujustsaid.
Speakingmindtomindclearsupalotofsuchconfusions.OrhaveIjustconfusedyoumore?"
Peterbegantosmilesuddenly."LikehowIcouldn"texplaintoMizRomerojustwhyIhatedthebodybrace."
"That"saveryaptexample,Peter.Youjustdidn"thavethewordsfortheconceptofthatsortofinterference."
"Buthow"llImovewithoutabrace?"
"Bythepowerofyourmindalone,whichis.e.xactlywhatyoudidwhenyouweregoingoutofbody.Onlywe"llteachyouhowtotakeyourbodyalongwithyou!Ana"managemostofyourdailycare.Youwon"tbedependentonnursesororderliesoranyone.InonesenseitwaswhatSuewastryingtogetyoutodomakeyourmindmotivateyourbodytorememberwhat.i.toncecoulddo.Onlyyoutookitonestepbeyondthat,andneitherofyouknewyouhadlatentkineticability.So,ofcourseyoucouldn"tdowhatshewanted.Youwereagoodjumpaheadofher."
Hewa.s.stillskeptical."I"mkinetic?"
"Doyouknowwhatthewordmeans?"
"Sure.ButIdidn"tthinkIwas."
Rhyssarose."Well,youare.Sothinkabout.i.t."
Dorotearetrievedhiscup."Youtakearestnow,dear.ThenI"llshowyouaboutthehousesoyou"llknowwhereeverythingiswhenyouwant.i.t."
Chapter7.
AlthoughSaschausuallyhandledtraining,theaffinityestablishedbetweenPeterandRhyssamadeitsensibleforhertoguidehisinitiation.