"Andtellmejusthow,youngman,"VernonAltenbachasked,skeptically,"youaccomplishedsuchafeat?"
Sticktothefacts,man,thefact$Rhyssasaid,mentallaughterripplinghertone.
"Well,theErasmusneededhelplandingatDaccabecausethekineticsbadtobetheretoreducethedisasterpotential.SoRhyssacalledaGandHthat"saTalentmaydayandIgottousethegeneratorsattheEastSidepowerstation,"Peterreplied.Hekepthisfacestraight,buthewasenjoyingtheincredulityofthenonTalentedinhisaudience;eventheRussiantelempathwasadmiring,andPetersathimselfevenstraighterinthechair.
Dorotea:Wellsaid,Peter!
GordonHavers:Intimesofdoubt,honestyisthebestpolicy.
JohnnyGreene:Youbetterbelieveit,becausethey"renot!
Un.o.btrusively,hepattedPeter"sknee.
"Youhave,Imusta.s.sume,akineticTalent?"Vernoncontinued.
"Yes,sir.I"mintrainingasakinetic,butIcan"tdoasmuchasI"dlikebecausethepeoplewhoshouldbetrainingmearealluponthestation."Rhyssa:Don"tspreaditontoothick,Peter.
Johnny:Nonsense.Theydeservethatkickintheshins.
"Howmuchtraininghaveyouhadthen?"thegeneralasked.
"Well,RhyssaandDoroteadothebesttheycan,b.u.t.they"retelepaths..."Rhyssa,dryly:Thankyou!
Gordon:He"sstickingtothetruth.
"InitiallyRickHobsonwashelpingme,"Peterwenton,"butwe"donlyjustgottenpastthenecessarystuffwhenhegotconscriptedtothestation."
"Talentswerenotconscripted,"GeneralShevchenkoobjectedforcefully.
"Theyvolunteeredtoa.s.sistinthecompletionofthefirstGreatWorldProject."
Petergaveacontemptuouslittlesnort."Ifyou"renotgivenachoice,you"vebeenconscripted."
"AndyouexpectustobelievethatafrailboymanipulatedtheErasmus?"PrincePhanibalShimazshotoutofhischairandstoodbelligerentlyinfrontofPeter,shakinghisfingerathim."I,PhanibalShimaz,princeofMalaysiaWest,knowthatthiswouldhavebeenimpossiblefromsuchasource!Tell.u.s.thetruth,littleboy!"
hedemanded,makingtheadjectivepejorative.
"Heistellingthetruth,"JohnnyGreenesaid,risingtohisfeettolookdownatthemuchshorterprince.DaveLehardtandRhyssajumpedtotheirfeetangrily,readytoleapintothefrayifneedbe.
"AsAndreiconfirmstome,"GeneralShevchenkosaidinahardvoice.
"Youexceedyourauthority,YourHighness."
"AndIshallproveit,"Peteradded,glaringbackattheprince.JustbecausehecoulddogameswithJosephsonjunctionsandtrafficflowpatternsthatnooneelsecoulddodidnotmakehimanauthorityonTalent."Look!"AndPeterraisedhisrightarm,wishinghehadenoughsmallmotorcontroltopointafinger,buthehadnotquitemasteredthatyet.
Actually,itwaseasyenoughwithpowerdivertedfromtheCenter"sequipmenttoraiseandholdthebighelicopterjustoutsideRhyssa"sbaywindowsothatallcouldseeitandseethatthehugerotorbladesmovedidlyinthebreezeofitsascent.
"Dobecarefulwithit,Peter,"JohnnyGreenesaidamiably,oneofthefewintheroomenjoyingthemoment."It"sgovernmentproperty."
"I"malwayscareful,ColonelGreene,"Peterreplied,feelingtheeuphoriaofpotency.HewasalmostsorrythathecouldnotthinkofanevenmoreconvincingdemonstrationofhiskineticTalent.Doroteawasglaringathimsignificantlyinherenoughisenoughlook.Hereturnedthevehiclegentlytotheground.
"Howoldareyou,Peter?"ColonelGreeneasked,justasifheandPeterweretheonlyonesintheroom.
"IwasfourteenontheeighthofSeptember."
"Andyougetaboutnowyourselfunderyourownpower?"thecolonelinquired.
Petercouldseeinhiseyesthatthemanknewthetrueextentofhishandicap.
"Iwasthatmuch"hisfingersmeasuredatwocentimetergap"awayfromparaplegiamyselfafterMissionNumber21,"Greenecontinued.
PeterrealizedthatColonelGreenewasverymuchontheirsideandmakingitverycleartoeveryoneelsethatPeter"sTalentwasofflimits."I"velearnedhowtocompensatejustfine,"hereplied,andaglanceatthecoloneltoldhimthatthatwastherightanswertomake.
"RickHobsonreallyhelpedme.WewerejustbeginningtogoontotougherthingswhenhehadtogotoPadrugoi."
"Soyou"vebeenRhyssa"sskeletoncrew?Allbyyourself?"ColonelGreenechuckledandlookedacrossatthesecretaryofs.p.a.ce.
"I"mnotnearlyasmuchofaskeletonasIusedtobe."Peterextendedhisarmsandlegsandregardedthemdispa.s.sionately."I"llgetsomemuscleonthemyet.I"vegottobuildslowly,yousee,andittakestime."
ColonelGreenerose."Ithinkthat"stheanswer,gentlemen.Ittakestimetobuildmuscle,anykindofmuscle,andyoubuildslowlytolastlonger."
"Nowwaitjustamomenthere,"PrincePhanibalsaid,recoveringfromhisinitialsurprise."ThatisnottheanswerIcametofind.YouhaveindeedconcealedfromtheworldakineticTalentofdemonstratedability.HecantaketheplaceofthoseatBangladesh..."HeleanedacrossRhyssa"sdesk,andPetersawherflinchbackfromsuchamenacingposture.
Petercouldnotstandit.KineticallyhedraggedPrincePhanibalbackwardfromRhyssa,theprince"sfacesetinaparalyzedrictusofamazement.Thedoorthatopenedtoallowhis.e.xitclosedfirmlybehindhim.
"Peter!"Rhyssacouldnotquitedisguiseherrelieforherconsternationathisbreachofcourtesy.
"He"sgotnorighttothreatenyou,Rhyssa!Norightatall!"
Dorotea:Bravo,Peter,thoughIshouldn"tencourageyou!
"Nowseehere,youngman"ShevchenkotookonesteptowardPeterandstopped,blinkinginastonishmentwhensomeinvisibleforcepreventedhimfrommovingfartherforward.
"That"senough,Peter,"Rhyssasaidwithappropriateseverity.Thatwasrathercleverofyou,dear,evenifyouwouldn"trealizeit.Thementalimageinhermindshowedsuppressedlaughter."Thegeneralwillnotintimidateyouanyfurther.General,IthinkPeterhasinadvertentlydisplayedanothercogentreasonwhytheCenterisunwillingtoutilizehisuniqueabilities.e.xceptinacrisis.Atfourteen,hedoesnotalwaysabidebythecourtesiesthatamorematurepersonalityhaslearned."
"IdemandthattheboyapologizetoHisHighnessPrincePhanibalimmediately."
"Youmaydemandallyouwish,General,Rhyssasaidsharply,"butIdon"tevenknowwhyatrafficmanager,royalornot,wasincludedinthisgathering."
EngineerBarchenkainsistedonhisinclusion,"VernonAltenbachremarked,attemptingsomediplomaCY.
IinsistthathebeexcludedfromanyfuturemeetingsInvolvingtheCenterormyself."
Peter:He"saslimeball!
JohnnyGreeneandGordonHavers,simultaneously:Wheredidyoustashhim?
Peter:Hesinthehelicopter,andhecan"tseemtogettheseatbuckleundone.Hecouldnothelpgrinning.Iwon"tlethim.
Johnny:Buckledown,Winsockie,buckledown!
Dorotea:Ididn"tthinkanyoneinyourgenerationknewthatoldsong.
Now,gentlemen,youhave,Itrust,SeentoyourownsatisfactionthatwehaveonlybeenprotectingyoungPeter,notdeliberatelydenyingtheplatformhisTalent.I"msorrythatyouhadalongtripfornothing."
Rhyssasaid,comingaroundherdesktoshakehandswithAndreiGrushkov."However,whenPeterisfullytrainedandwehaveabetterunderstandingoftheparametersofhispotential,wewill,ofcourse,beobligedtoletprospectiveemployersbidforhiscontractualservices."
VernonAltenbacheasedthedisgruntledRussiangeneraltowardthedoor,theNASAcolonelandthetelempatha.s.sistingb.u.t.theotherslingereduntilthefirstgrouphadenteredtheelevator.
"Ms.Owen,"theNASAgeneralbegan."Isitpossible,giventheboysdisplayofincredibleabilitythathecouldfromtimetotime,thatis...Well,wedohaveaSeriouscrisisrightnow..
"Whatkind"RhyssaaskedinanunenCouragingtone.
"NASa.s.supplyscheduleisatastandstillwiththecurrentworldwideweatherconditions..."
Peterzoomedoutofhischair,hoveringbetweenRhyssaandthegeneral.
Pleaseconsiderit,Rhyssa.workingforNASAwouldn"tbethesameasworkingforBarchenka,wouldit?But.i.twouldbealmostasgoodasbeingins.p.a.ce.Heexertedallhismind"spressureagainsthers,beggingherconsideration.Hefelthersternresolvenottoexploithim.
Johnny:It"ssomethingtoconsider,Rhyssa,thoughwewon"tbepushyabout.i.t.Ifyousayno,we"llgoquietly.But.i.twouldgallmepersonally,andprofessionally,tohaveBarchenkasayingthattheAmericanscouldn"tmeettheircontractualobligations.Hec.o.c.kedhisheadatRhyssa,grinningwryly.
PetercouldfeelRhyssabeginningtorelent.
Dorotea:Consideritatrainingdiversion,Rhyssa.
Rhyssa:b.u.t.that"sit!He"shadhardlyanytraining!
Johnny:Repet.i.tionhonesskills,gal,anditsurereducestheglamourquotient.
PeterdidnotunderstandthatbutfeltDorotea"sapprovalbecomemoreurgent.HesensedthatatlastRhyssawa.s.seriouslyconsideringthesuggestion.
"Look,"Johnnysaidaloud,"thisissoimportantthatVernonwouldactuallygethimselfanotherminderforafewweeks.IknowallthetechnicaldatathatPeterneedstounderstandifhe"sflingingshuttlesaboutthestratosphere.h.e.l.l,I"dgetavicariousthrilloutofitmyself,gettingbackintos.p.a.cebyproxy.AndifPeter"sworkingforNASA,Barchenkacan"tsayTalenthasbeen.o.bstructingPadrugoi"stimelycompletion."
"Iknowitappearsthat.i.t"salwayswewhocompromise,"GordonHaverssaid,enteringthediscussion,"butweputawedgeinherworksifsuddenlyweinsuredeliveryofthematerielsheneeds."
"You"dhavetogowithPeter,Rhyssa.I"mnolongeruptothatsortofsustainedeffort,"Doroteasaid."Sascha"stooinvolvedinthepresentcrisisatLinearGtoleavethat.Andfrankly,mydear,youarethestrongertelepathand,Ithink,moretunedintoPeter"smindthanSaschais.Someonehastomonitorhimduringthegestalts.Icanseeyousquirmingtogo,PeterReidinger.Isitwhatyoureallywant?
w.i.l.l.youbehavelikeamatureTalent?"
PetermanagedtocurlhisfingersaroundRhyssa"s."I"llbehave.I"lldojustasI"mtold.Ipromise!AndI"dlearnalot."
"You"dcallthemoves,Rhyssa,"JohnnyGreenesaid.
"Idon"tthinkwehaveanychoiceinthiseither,"RhyssasaidandPeterleanedagainsther,wishingforhernottosoundsodefeated.
Shelookeddownathimandcuppedhisheadwithonehand,smilingtenderlyathim."I"mnotdefeated,Peterdear,butIintenselydislikebeingleftwithnooptions."
"Thinkoftheoptionsthatyou"vecanceled,"JohnnyGreenesaidwithamaliciousnoteinhisvoiceasheliftedhismiddlefingerskyward.
"Putlikethat,"Gordiesaid,grinning,"we"reoneuponBarchenka."RhyssaturnedtoDaveLehardt,herexpressionsevere."AndyoukeepPeter"snameoutofthe"castsandthefax."
"Yourskeletoncrewatworkagain?"Daveasked,pretendingtowardoffanattack.
""Dembones,dembones,demdrybones,andhearthewordoftheLord!""JohnnyGreenesang,doinganintricatebreakdancestep.
Chapter12.
TheblondmanhadanairabouthimthatfascinatedTirla.ShehadneverhadmuchtodowithTalents,andshesurrept.i.tiouslycrossedherwrists.ShehadheardsuchfolkdiscussedintheResidentialoftenenough,infearful,awedwhispersbutshehadnotbelievedhalfofthepowersallegedtothem:findersofpersonsandthings,seersofsouls,readersofsecrets,prophetsoffuturethings,andmoversofmountains.
Shestolealookathimwherehesatwithhisheadleanedbackagainstthepaddedwallandhiseyesclosed;daringtoobservehimmoreclosely,shenoticedthequickflowoffacialmuscles,asifhewerehavinganargumentinhishead.Hisjawtightenedinangerandhislipsthinned.Heshouldhavebeenpleasedwithhisday"swork,Tirlathought.Shewa.s.startledthen,whenhismouthrelaxedintoahalfsmile,acleversortofsmile,andhiseyebrowstwitched.Hadhewonhisinternalargument?Hewasastrangeman,shethought,eventhoughoutwardlyheappearednodifferentfromothers.
HewasnotLEO,andyethewas,andshecouldnotfigureoutwherehefitin,orhowheandhisteamshadappearedsoconvenientlyattheJshuntespeciallywhenshehadjustrealizedthedifficultyofcajolingscaredwhineybratslikeTombiintoridingcargopodsbacktoG.
Withoutthatunexpectedrescue,Ya.s.sim"sladroneswouldsurelyhaverecapturedthem,herselfincluded.Sheshuddered.
SotheyhadbeenrescuedfromYa.s.sim.ButnotfromAuthority.ShewantednopartofAuthority.toomanyconflictingrulesandregulationsandsillyrestrictionsthatonlybeggedtobeignoredorevaded.TheprospectofanewIDbrieflydazzledher,tothepointwhereshecouldfeelthenarrowplasticstripknockingagainstherwristbone.Butshedidnot--quitebelievethatthemanwouldbeabletoproduceanysuchID,nomatterhowwellheseemedinwiththeLEOs.
Nomatter!ShehadcleanfloatersmorethansheneededforthetiedsshehadbeensupposedtolaunderforYa.s.simsoshewaswellaheadinthegame.Thematterofthehottiedsbotheredher,butshewasloathtofaceYa.s.simaslongashewasinthemarketforkids.AnditwasverylikelythattheLEOscouldnotcollarYa.s.sim,andthathewouldgointodeephidingsomewheretowaitoutthefuror.So,morally,shecouldhidethetiedsforawhileanddiscreetlyexchangethem,especiallyifYa.s.simwasoutofcirculation,overthenextseveralmonths.Thiswasthebiggesthitshehadevermade.
Butstillshewasuneasy.Shewastrappedintheclosedcargopodanddidnotreallyknowwheretheyweregoing,thoughshehadbeenkeepingmentalcountoftherailjunctions.Theblondmancouldjustaseasilyleaveheroffatthehostelwiththeothers.
Whowouldbelievethatshehadanarrangementwithhim?Thetrainbegantodecelerate,andTirla,withaspurtofdreadantic.i.p.ation,waitedfortheshuntconnect.TheyweregoingtotheGplatform.Shewasbothcomfortedandconcerned.
"Wherearewenow?"sheasked.
Saschaopenedhiseyes,andshesawthattheywereanunusualshadeoflightblue.Helookedamused."Youknowwe"reatG.Sonowwereturnthelostchildrentotheirgrievingparents.Thatisimportanttoyou,isn"t.i.t,Tirla?ThatBilala,Zaveta,Pilau,andespeciallyMirdaKhanandMamaBobchikknowthatyouhelpedretrievetheirlostones?"
Nowhowcouldheknowthat?Howmuchdidheknowabouther?Whywasheplayingheralongthisway?Hewasasharponeindeed.Whatsortofascamwasherunning?NotallofthisactionhadtodowiththatpervYa.s.sim.
Sherefusedtobedrawnbywhatcouldjustbeashrewdguessonhispart.LEOswerenotaboveputtingsurveillanceonMeetings,evenasillyRIGwiththatLamashaman.Perhapstherehadbeeneyesonherclients,althoughwhysuchagaggleofsillywomenwouldbetheobjectofLEOinterestshedidnotknowunlessithadtodowithsellingkids.
Butnoneofthemhadbeentheretodealkidsmostoftheirsweretooyoungyet.Theyhadallbeenlookingfor"messages"and"salvations."
YetSaschahadidentifiedherclients,andhehadevenknownthatMirdaKhanandMamaBobchikwereespeciallyimportant.
"Itjustpaystobeagoodneighbor,"sheanswereddiffidently.
"Oh,youhavedefinitelybeenagoodneighbortoday,Tirla.Andaverygoodcitizen!"Helaughedsoftly,throwinghisheadbackandshowinglargewhiteeventeeth.Itwouldbeaverynicelaugh,Tirlathought,ifithadnotworriedherthathewaslaughingatall.Perverselyshelikedhim,forhisstronggripandhisdrollwords,butshedidnottrusthimanyfurtherthanshecouldhavethrownBulbar.
Shegavehimaquickstareforcallingher"citizen."Citizenslivedacrosstheriverinthebeautifulhives,luxurycones,platforms,andcomplexes,notinLinears.
"Trustme,Tirla?"Hiseyeswerenotlaughing,norwashismouth,andhisvoicewasgentleandentreating.