"Ah,Iunderstandthatwordformyself!Iwillpayyounothing,b.i.t.c.h."
Tirlawasfuriousatthatthreat.FuriousattheRIG.Shewouldtranslatewhenhesaidsomethingtranslatable.Shewaspinchedandtweakedandslapped.Inselfdefenseshecaughtthepatternofhisbabbleand,involuntarilymimickinghisstanceanddelivery,rattledoffthenonsensicalsoundsinanundertone,translatingtheoccasionalrealwordintoasmanylanguagesa.s.shecouldbeforepickingupthegibberis.h.a.gain.
Thenthemanstoppedtalkingandspreadhisarms,hisbeatificsmileradiantinthefloodoflightpickinghimout,seeminglyafloatintheairabovethestage.ThenTirlarealizedthathewa.s.staringinherdirection.
Inagesturethatstartledheraswellasherclients,helungedforward,eyesflashing,facecontorted,hisaccusingfingerpointingstraightather.
"Unbelievers,profaningasacredmomentwithchatter.Hear,learn,obey,repentyoureviluncaringways.Betakenintothelightoftheworld.Beadmittedintotheholysepulcher.Beonewithhumanityandallloving,caringcreatures.Bepurified.Besaved!Be!"Hisaccusinghandliftedandspreadopenasabeamoflightcaughthisfingersandspilleddownhisraisedarm.
Tirla,translatingasrapidlyaspossibleinthedramaticpause,wasthankfulforsomecoherentphrases.Herclientsmightbelisteningtoher,b.u.t.theireyeswereonhim.Hehadthecrowd"sraptattentionnow.Tirlawasfairlysurethatnooneoutsidethecirclecouldseeher,butdarednotstoptalking.Shekeptspewingoutthegibberish,worryingthatsuchnonsensewouldnotbeworththemoneypromisedher.
Theymightnotpayheratall.Shewasalreadyregrettingthatshewouldmissthetasteofthecrispgreenpeppershehadhopedtopurchasewithherfee.JTheLamashamana.s.sumedanotherdramaticpose,armsout,1palmsupturnedinentreaty.;"Bringmeyoursick,yourweary,yourwretchedsouls.Letmehealthem.Atouchwilleasethetorturedmind,thefeveredbody,thetwistedlimb,theblurredsight.
Approach!Benotafeared.Allthingscometothosewhodeserve.AllcreaturesdeserveLove.ForitisLove,Love,Lovethatheals!"
Tirlarattleditalloffeasily,tryingtopeerthroughtheshieldingbodiestoseewhowouldbeworkingthescam.Barneywithhislizardeyelidsoneblink,andhiseyesweremilkywhiteblind;another,andhecould"seeclearonceagain,hallelujah!"MaybeMahmoudwithhis...o...b..ejointsalltwistedoutofshapeonetouchoftheLamashaman"shealingtouchandtheywouldstraighten.OrwoulditbeMariawithherweepingsores?
TheLamashamanthrewbackhishead,hishandsturnedgoldinthenarrows...o...b..ams,glitteringfromsomesortofpainthemusthaveused.Herclientsinhaledwithaweatthesight,theirfacesraptashemademysticpa.s.seswithhismagicalhands.Glisteningstrandsandbitswhirledfromhisfingertips,disappearinginbriefsparksastheyleftthelightbeams.Thatwasanewtrick,Tirlathought.Notbad.Pilautriedtocatchastrand,but.i.tdisintegrated,leavingnotraceinhergrubbyfingers.
Justthenanotherstrand,stronger,shotfromthestageandfellontheheadofabemusedman.Hewaslessbemusedwhen,withanothergrandflourish,theLamashamanbegantoreelhimin.
"Youhavebeenchosen,brother.Cometome!Embraceme!"Arampextrudedfromthestage,straighttowardthechosenone,whoglancedaboutwithapprehensionashewaspushedontotherampbythosebehindhimandpropelledforwardbythoseoneitherside.
"Kneel,brother,"theLamashamanintoned,andappearedtoglidedowntheair.
Tirlacouldfeelthefaintvibrationofthestagemechanismthatsuppliedtheeffect,butshedidnotpauseinhertranslations.Itwasaprettygoodgimmick.Shewonderedwherethecontrolwas.Themarkappearedgenuinelystunnedatbeingchosen.Hekneltobediently,adazedexpressiononhisface.
"RallamadamothuriasticalligomahnozimithioapodociamoturialistashadioalisymquepodialOmathurtodispasionatusimperadomusigenalliszweigenpolastonuchevaliskyrielisonandia.Mosspirialistusquandoruulabetodomoarigatoimustendiationallamegrachiatus..."theReveredVenerableintoned,holdinghishandabovethemark"shead.
MoresyllablesandalmostwordsthatTirlacouldnotantic.i.p.ateenoughtomimic.ShecouldappreciateandadmiretheVenerable"strulyrespectablebreathcontrol.Why,hesoundedasifhecouldgoonforever!
"Whatdoeshesay?"Mi,dapinchedhersharply.
"HowcanIhearwhenyoubabbleatme?"Tirlarepliedandmadeupsuitablephrases,whichshethentranslated."Woops!"
Strangethingswerehappeningabovethechosenone"shead.HowdidtheLamashamandothatwithsleevessotightathiswrists?Tirlawondered.Hair,face,andthroatofthemarkwereshimmeringwithgold;theman"s.e.xpressionwasfirstludicrousandthenecstatic.
TirlawonderedwhattheVenerablePraymancouldbeusing.Shewasbeginningtoenjoythespectacle.
TheReveredslowlyturnedbacktotheaudience,hisfacealsogoldenhued,thewhitesofhiseyesvisible."Thepoweriswithme.
Whomelsewillittouch?"
Raisinghisarmsagainandextendinghishandsforward,hegavetheaudiencesufficienttimetoseetheeffectthe"power"hadhadonthefirst"chosen."Withatwistofhiswrists,hispalmsturnedoverandstrandsshotoutinalldirections.BeforeTirlacouldduck,oneofthefilamentslandedonherhead.Whateveritwa.s.stucktightlyinherhairdespitequickeffortsonherparttogetridofit.Herhandswerecaughtbytheadhesive,boundtoherheadnow.Shebegantopanic.Therewasnowayshewishedtobehauledupinpublic.NotwithYa.s.siminthehall.Notwithtiedsonher,creditsshehadnorighttopossessunderanycirc.u.mstances.
Thechoirbegantochantforthechosentocomeforward,toreceivepower.Theaudiencecaughtuptherefrain,andTirlacouldheartheominousovertoneofenvyfromthosewhofeltthemselvesmoreworthyofsuchanhonor.
"She"sbeenchosen!"BilalaandPilaushrieked,burstingintoanululationthatshotpanicthroughTirla"sheartastheytriedtopushherforwardtowardtherampnearestthem.
"No,she"sgottostay.She"sgottotellus!"MamaBobchikandMirdaKhanwerenottobecheated.TheypulledTirlaback.
"Breakit,Cyoto.Helpme,Laow.a.n.g.Elpidia!Zaveta!"Tirlabeganstrugglinginearnest,terrorstartingtochillherguts.
Alltheothernewlychosenweremakingtheirwayuptothestage.Thestrandtightened,pullingatherhair.Shetwisted.Thensuddenlyshewa.s.snappedfree.Shecaughttheglintofaknifebladea.s.shefellbackagainstthesolidMamaBobchik.ZavetaandMirdalockedwiththescreamingBilalaandPilau,whowereattemptingtoregaincontrolofTirla.
a.s.shehaddonebeforeinsuchsituations,Tirladroppedtothefloorandplungedtooneside,trippingsomeone,whofellheavilyonherleftfoot.Sheignoredthestabofpainandcrawledon,herbreathcominginsobs.Sherolledfreeofherencirclingclientsandscrambledtoherfeet,plowingthroughthechanters.Someonesawthedanglinggoldenstrandandgrabbedit,nearlyjerkingheroffherfeet.Tofreeherselfshewrenchedthetangledhairfromherhead,leavingthebitofscalpdanglingintheman"shand.
"Grabher!"Thechantwasinterruptedtosetupthecry.Shesqueezedpastseveralgraspinghands,frantictogettothelobbyandthenearestemergencyexit.
"Here,Igotcha!"Shewasencircledbyma.s.siveforearms.Sheliftedherarmsandslithereddown;akickwasaimedatherbelly,butdespitebeingwinded,sherolled,tooaccustomedtosuchdirtytacticsnottohaveselfpreservinginstincts.ShehadaglimpseofoneofYa.s.sim"ssa.s.sins,facewreathedinawitlessgrinofsuccess,beforeshelandedagainstthefarwall,andsuddenlytwopairsoftrouseredlegsshieldedher.
Shewashelpedtoherfeetbykindhandsandmadeconsciousofsoothingthoughtsofa.s.sistance,understanding,andsympathy.Sherecognizedtheaurajustashersplayedfingersfeltthedoorframe.Managingtoeludethehands,shewhippedoutthedoorandspedacrossthefoyer,payingnoheedtopleastostop.Anincrediblemult.i.tonedbellowrosebehindher,anangryfrustratednoisethatgaveimpetustoherpumpinglegs.a.s.shepoundeddowntheaccessaisle,sheheardafamiliarthumpingthudintheairabove.
LEOs!Hadtheybeenonhand?Orhadtheybeencalled?But.i.ttooktimeforLEOshipstoa.s.semble.Shefoundthesmallsquareductsheneeded,whippedoffthecover,crawledinside,and,withsomedifficultyintherestricteds.p.a.ce,snappeditbackintoplace.Shecrouchedinthedirtandgrime,tiltingherfaceawayfromthelightasherlungsfoughttorepayherheartforthestrain.
Sheheardpeopleracingby,heardtheirexclamationsastheyreachedthedeadend,heardthemturnandcomeback,andheardtheirstepscontinueonpastherrefuge.Despitethenoise,Tirlafellasleep.
Rhyssa!"Thealarmedvoiceofthedutyofficerwasaccompaniedbyanimpulsethroughherheadnetthatrousedherinstantly.
"Yes?"
"Majordisasterprecog,"Budworthsaid.
Great!Rhyssathoughtsleepily.TwomajortroubleprecogsinnotquitetwodaysandnotatrembleaboutmatterswhichurgentlyconcernedallTalents.
"RecordedallacrossAsia,"Budworthwenton."LookslikeKayankira"sgoingtogetanothermonsoonoverload.Theyhaven"trepairedtherestrainingdamsfromthelastone.How"rewegoingtocope,withallthestrongkineticsonthestation?"
"Istheretimetobringanydown?"
"That"sthepanic!There"stimeenough,butweatherconditionsallacrosstheworldarefreaky.EvenifaPadrugoishuttlelaunched,thenearestclearlandingsiteisWoomera.Thekineticshavetobeonsitetobeeffective."WhatBudworthdidnotsay"ifBarchenkawouldallow"emtoleavethestation"flashedlikeaneonsigninRhyssa"smind.
"GetSaschaupforme,w.i.l.l.you,Buddy?"
Hedid,Saschaa.s.suredher.AreyouconsideringPeter?Hismentaltonemixedeagernesstotryandawarenessofthemultiplerisksinvolved.
ImustconsiderPeter"suniquecapabilitiesinasituationascriticalasthis,shetoldhim.
How?WithoutcompromisingPeter"ssecurity?
Theybothslappedupinternalshieldsastheyfeltthearrivalofotherthoughts.
Kayankira:Rhyssa,I"vegottohaveallthekineticsyouhaveleft.Iunderstandthere"snochanceofgettinganyofthemdownfromPadrugoi?
Rhyssa:That"smyunderstanding.
VsevolodGebrowski:Ishallinsist!IshalltakethistotheWorldCouncil.TheyhavedeploredthesituationinIndia.Letthemputwordsintoaction.ReducingthedensityofpopulationinthatareaofBangladeshalsodiminishedtheavailableworkforce,andthenecessaryworkhas...o...b..encompletedontime.Nowwepayforthat.
MiklosHorvath:NotifwedraftthekineticsonPadrugoidowntohelp.
Andthecleanupeffortwillbereducedbykinesisnow!
Rhyssa:Ifwecanforcetheweathertogiveusabreak!
BessieDundallatCanberra:TheprecogsallindicatetheworstfloodingeverinBangladesh.Thenewleveeshaven"tbeencompletelyrestored,sofloodwaterswilldrownthisyear"sharvest.Thebarrierswon"tworkforsomereasonIsuspecttheirerectionwillprovethatonceagaincorruptionandbriberyhavebeenwidespread.Wehavetodosomething!
Alparacin:Rhyssa,whataboutthatteamofyoursIhearabout?
Rhyssa:They"renotwellenoughtrainedforadisasterofthismagnitude,dearfriend.They"dbeburnedout.
Peter:No,Iwouldn"t.
Quiet!Sascha,Rhyssa,andDoroteaorderedasone.
Peter:Iwas,thatwasjusttoyou.
Rhyssaheldherbreath.ButnoTalentqueriedtheunknownvoice.
NaturallyEasternwilldowhateverwecan,shetoldtheothers.Maywehavecopiesoftheprecogs?ButIa.s.sureyouthathighlyskilledkineticsaregoingtohavetroublecopingwiththissortofthing,andallIhaveareahandfuloffourteenyearoldtraineekinetics.
Madlynhere...
Sascha:Honey,you"reonevoicethatneverhastoidentify.Whathaveyouheard?HeimagedtoRhyssaavisionofMadlynLuvaro,handstohermouthtomakeamegaphone,leaningoutofanairlockandshoutingdowntoawincingEarth.
Madlyn:LancehasbeenarguingwithBarchenkasincehegottheprecog.
Sheabsolutelyrefusestoriskashuttleorapilot.Yougottaadmittheweather"sprettyfreakyalloverrightnow.Icanseeitclearasday:lotsofturbulence,andnotjustovertheIndiancontinent.LancesaystherehastobeonesafeplaceonEarththeycanland,andthey"vegottohelp.He"scitingherforcontractualviolation.Shesaysit"stoodangeroustorisksomanyTalentsnowshe"sdoingthematriarchal,protectingyou-againstyourownaltruism.Ha!
Andthereisn"tapilotwe"vetalkedtowho"llriskadropintothesoupkettledownthere,shewenton.Wait!LancesaysMadlyn"smentaltonealteredtoaroterecitallevelnow"sthetimetotry.Hesaysyou"llknowwhathemeans.Heacceptsthat.i.tcouldbearisk,butifevertoput.i.ttothetest,now"sthetime.Haveyougotallthat?
Shesoundedmystified.
Sascha:You"vecomethroughloudandclear,Madlyn,andwecopy.
Lancesaysthattheprecogindicatesevenmorehorrendousdamagethanthelastmonsoonfloodcaused,soTalenthasgottogivekineticsupport.He"sdragoonedapilotintocoming,b.u.t.theguy"sscaredofattemptingtolandanywhere.Lancehasa.s.suredhimthatallthekineticsonboardwilldothelandingokay.IsLancegones.p.a.cecrazy?
Allright,I"mtellingthem.Hesayshe,andacontingentoftheheavydutykineticsenoughtoeffectfloodcontrolwillbeontheshuttleErasmusinHangarGat0800.They"reokayins.p.a.ce,b.u.t.they"llneedthehelplanding.Thatdoesn"tmakesensetome,b.u.t.that"swhatI"msupposedtotellyou.
SaschacamestormingintoRhyssa"sroom.Hehadpulledhispantsonbutwascarryinghisshirtinhishand.HereallydidhaveasupeRbbody,Rhyssathoughtprivately.Whyisn"ttherethenecessarychemistrybetweenus?We"dmakebeautifulchildren.Helookedsomagnificentangry.
"LanceisoutofhiswigifhethinksPeter"suptoacontrolledlandinginDaccaweather,"heannounced."Landingpalletsinawarehouseisaconsiderablydifferentcanofwormstoashuttlefulloflivefolkwecan"taffordtosmearacrossagalestruckconcreterunway."
RhyssafedadirectrepeatofLance"searlierconversationonPeter"spotentialandasimilarsituationintoSascha"smind."Hewasonlyjokingatthetime,"shesaidruefully."Quitealegitimateextrapolation."
"Wejustcan"triskit,"Saschasaid,pacingupanddowntheroomwhileRhyssauntangledherselffromherpastelcoveredduvetandstarteddressing."Asneatasolutiontothelackofkineticsasitis."
Rhyssa,withineffablesadness:Saschabear,you"rehalfwaytofiguringoutjusthowhecandoit!
Theywerebothstartledbyatimoroustaponherdoor.
"Yes?"SheandSaschaexchangedglances.
"It"sPeter.CanIcomein?"
Saschathrewhisarmsupdramatically.
"Yes,yes,"Rhyssasaid,shootingacomprehensivewarningatSascha.
Inhisdistress,Peterfloatedratherthanwalkedintotheroom.
"Noonebotheredtochanneltheirthoughts,"hesaid,bothapprehensiveanddefensive."Icouldn"thelphearing."
"No,ofcourseyoucouldn"t,Peter,"Rhyssasaid.
IsPeterthere?Dorotea"sanxioustonestartledthem.
I"mhere!
Youngman,ifyoueverleavemeagaininthatabruptfashion,I"lltanyourbottom!
RhyssaandSaschahadneverheardthatparticularnoteinthetelepath"svoicebefore.
Iwastryingtoexplaintheproblemtohimwhenhezippedoutofheresofastlthoughthe"dactuallyteleportedhimself:Iknowtheproblem,Dorotea,Petersaidinaverypatienttone.TolandtheshuttlesafelyatDacca.And,withenoughpower,it"dbenomoredifficultthanthatcontainerwas,orthesteelIsenttoSanFrancisco.
"Theturbulenceofamonsoonistotallyunpredictable,"Saschabegan.
Peter"s.e.xpressionwasoneofabusedpatience."It"dbethesameprincipleinspiteofturbulence.Andbetter,becausetheshuttlewon"tbepowered,sothatwon"tthrowoffthes.n.a.t.c.handgrabofmygestalt."
"Simplewhenexplainedinthatfashion,"Saschasaidathisdriest.
ThenheflunguphishandsinexasperationandturnedtoRhyssa.
Shetookareasonablestance."Thedistance,thema.s.sinvolvedeventheturbulencearenotfactorsyou"vedealtwithbefore.Wecan"t,andwon"t,riskburningyouout."
Petergrinned."Youwouldn"t.ThoughI"dneedmuchmorethanfourpointfivekpm.Tobesafe,I"dneedsomerealpowerlikethecity"sturbos.TheymightseizeupbutIwouldn"t."
"Wedon"tknowthat,Peter,"Rhyssasaidgently,permittinghimtosenseheranxiety.
"ButIknowthataboutme,"Petersaid,andlevitatedtothebed,whereheperchedbesideher,uprightenough,butwithhisarmsandlegsdrapedinunnaturalpositions.HemadeadjustmentswhenhecaughtRhyssa"slook."Instinctively!"
Thenshehuggedhim,feelingtearsofpridefortheshiningself-confidencethathademergedinthepastfewweeks.Sheheldhislaxnarrowbodyforalongmoment;then,sensinghisembarra.s.sment,sheruffledhishairandreleasedhim.
"Peter,"Saschasaid,hunkeringdownbytheboy,"thisisdifferentfromtheexerciseswe"vehadyoudo.Andthisgestaltabilityofyoursisunique!Wejustcan"triskit."
"DoroteasaidIshouldtrustmyinstincts,"PetersaidsofirmlythatbothSaschaandRhyssaregardedhimforalongmoment."Ialsoreadtheprecogreport.Iftherearen"tenoughkinetics,manypeoplewilllosetheirlives,aswellaseverythingthey"vebeenstrugglingtobuildoverthepasttwoyears.There"llbema.s.siveecologicaldamage,moreplague,starvation.YoukeepfeedingmeallthisstuffabouttheresponsibilityweTalentshavetotherestoftheworld,howwe"resupposedtoreducedeathanddamage.IfI"mwillingtotakealittlerisk,I"dbearealTalent.
"IalsoheardwhatMadlynsaidtoyou."Petergrinnedingenuously,wincingasifavoidingaloudnoise."Mr.Badenmeansme,doesn"the?
That.i.t"stimetoreallytryme."