"Afterallyoujustfinishedeating?"Saschademanded.
"Thatwasthetreat.Don"tIgetsupperafteratreat?"
"Ofcourseyoudo,"Doroteaa.s.suredher,glaringatSascha.
Ifyou"dseenthethreehuge,gooey,sickeninglysweetthingssheconsumedonlyahalfhourago,youmightnotbesoquicktostuffherwithsupper,Saschacautioned.
"Washyourhands,Tirla,andI"llserveimmediately.Areyoustaying,Sascha?"
"No,thanks,"hesaid,managingtosoundpolite.Peterwasrightaboutherbeingtelepathic.Butshedoesn"tknowsheis.
Hmmm.Yousee,yodidlearnsomethingfromhertoday.Whatdidshelearnfromyou?
Howtospendmoney,Sascharepliedsourly,andleft.
Iftheofficialspectatorsatthelaunchevennoticedtheyoungsterseatedtoonesideintheuppercontrolroom,theywouldhavesupposedhimtobeachildonaspecialtour,hisyouthaccordinghimatreat.
Themencertainlynoticedthewomanwhosatbesidehim,forshehadanarrestingbeautyandanunusualsilverstreakinherdarkhair.
However,herattentionneverstrayedfromtheboy.Equallyinvolvedinhimwasthetalldarkhairedmaninfatigueswithacolonel"seagleononecollartab.Sofewsparedthetriomorethanapa.s.singglance.
Therealactionwastakingplaceoutbythema.s.sivetoweringgantry,wheregaleforcewindswhippedthesteamfromtheshuttle"srocketend.
Allrecentlauncheshadbeenprettytricky,thebadweathercausinghavocwithallairtransportbutnonemoresothanthecriticalfirstminutesofashuttlelaunch.
Thecountdownechoedthroughtheshieldedroomatthecountofeight,thespectatorswerejockeyingforpositionforanunimpededviewthroughthetreatedslitwindows,eagerforignitionandtakeoff.
Fingersweresurrept.i.tiouslycrossed,forthiswasthethirteenthsuccessiveshuttleflight.
"Wehaveignition!"Asoftenasthatphrasewasuttered,itwasalwayssaidwitharingofquiettriumph.
Astheshuttleenginesbegantheirfullthroatedroar,noneofthespectatorswouldbeabletohearanothernoise,thatofpowergeneratorspulsingateverincreasingspeed:asubtlewhinethatbuiltandthenleveledoffjustastheshuttle,oneofthemajesticnewRigelcla.s.s,beganitsfirstimperceptibleupwardthrust.Thefinallinktothelaunchtowerfellaway.Everyoneheldhisorherbreath.
Then,despitethehowlingwindandthelashingrain,theshuttlecreptupwardfromthereinforcedconcretewithoutdeviatingacentimeterfromtheoptimumtakeofftrajectory.Liftbecameobviouswithincreasingacceleration,andsuddenlythebirdwasupandrunning,disappearing,exceptfortheradianceofitsrockets,intotheloweringceilingofdarkgrayswirlingclouds.
Immediatelyalleyesturnedtothenewlyinstalledinfraredmonitorsthatcontinuedtotracktheshuttleonitsunswervingpaththroughtheatmosphereandsafelyabovetheturbulence,wellonitswaytoPadrugoiStation,whereitspayloadwasurgentlyneeded.
"Thepilothastheconn,"PeterReidingersaid,openinghiseyes.HeglancedfirstatRhyssaandshenodded,smilingrea.s.surancea.s.sheremovedherhandfromhis.Helikedhertobetouchinghiminthesemoments,evenifhecouldnotfeelit.
"Youhavetheconn,Crosbie,"thecontrollersaid,lettingoutasmallsightofrelief."Goodthrust,Pete.You"reworkinglikeacharm.
Gotthewholethingdowntoascience."
"Itis,"JohnnyGreeneremindedhim,grinning.
"YouknowwhatImean,Colonel,"thecontrollersaid,flappinghishand.
"He"steasingyou,"Petersaid,turninghisattentiontothemonitor.
Hedidnotreallyneedithecouldfollowtheascentoftheshuttlelikeapulseinhisvein,atingleofpowerrunningupanddownhisbones.
Hecouldfeelthat.
"Veryeconomicalthrust,Peter,"Johnnysaid,perusingtheprintoutonthegeneratorcontrolpanel."That"sthethirdoneinarowatthatlevelgestalt.IthinkwecannowestablishcertainparameterstopowerusageinbadweatherlaunchesevenifIstillcan"ttellhowyoudoit."Hemadeadisgruntlednoiseinhisthroat.TheexetoppilothadbeenhopingthathecouldlearnPeter"sgestaltlinkbyfollowinghismindduringalaunch.HeandRhyssahaddecidedthatthefactthathehadonlylatentkineticTalentmightbealltothegoodforapurekineticmightbeunabletoadapttoPeter"sways.ButhehadhadnomoreluckthanSaschaatdiscerningtheboy"smethod.
"Maybeyou"retryingtoohard,JG,"Petersuggested."IkeepasopenasIcan..."
"Iknowyoudo,lad.Wideopen.I"mjusttooclumsytogetthroughthedoor.Ithinkit"sgoingtohavetobeatrainedkinetic."
"Secondstageignition,"thecontrollersaid,alertedbyhisboard."Onitsway!Youdogoodwork,Pete.Goodwork."
"C"mon,timeforyourswimminglesson,Pete,"Johnnysaid"Gottakeepyoufitenoughtolaunchthesebirds."
"Can"tIstay?Tobesureitdocksokay?"Peterwouldnotadmit,evendeepinhisskullwhereRhyssamightsee,thathedidnothaveenoughenergyleftimmediatelyafteralaunchtomovefromthecouch.Hegraspedatanyexcusetogainthefewnecessarymomentstoreenergizehimself.
"Thebird"sokay,"thecontrollera.s.suredhim.
"Lookallyouwant,"Johnnysaid,reseatinghimself.IfhehadguessedPeter"ssecret,heneverleton.
Thespectatorsbelowwerebeginningtofileoutofthegallery,hunchingintowetweathergear,bracingthemselvesforthestiffwinds.
Withawink,thecontrollerturnedontheintercom.
"Itellyou,Senator,itisameasureofthestateoftheartins.p.a.cetechnologythatwe"renowabletolaunchdespitetheweather."
"IfIhadanickelforeveryholdI"vehadtowaitthrough,m"boy,I"dbeabletobuydrinksfortheentirebase.Justhowmuchdidyousaythisnewtechnologycostus?"
ThefigurementionedbythecongressmanwasthreetimesasmuchasPeter"scontracthadactuallycost.Andnearlyonehundredpercentmorethanthegenerator.
Petergrinnedbroadly,thoroughlyenjoyingtheeavesdropping.HehadbeenappalledathowmuchabiggeneratorcostthoughColonelGreenea.s.suredhimthat.i.twasapittancewhencomparedtootheritemspurchasedforCanaveralandhecouldnotbelievethecontractfigureforhisshorttermservices.Nottomentionthebonusesforeverysuccessfullaunch.HehadbeenevenmoredelightedwhenRhyssasuggestedthattheCenterincreasethepensionthatwasbeingsenttohisparents.
Talentsweregenerallynotcontracteduntiltheywereatleasteighteenyearsold,b.u.t.thecirc.u.mstancesandhisunusualabilityhadbeenconstrueda.s.sufficienttomakeanexceptionabriefexception.
Vernon"sadvicetotheCenterhadbeenthatifthetechnologycost,itwasboundtobeconsideredmoreefficientthansomethinginthemediumrange.ThedifferencebetweenfactandfictionwentintotheCenter"sresearchfund.
Atthat,ithadtakensomefinaglingonAltenbach"sparttogettheCanaveralstafftoconsiderthe"newtechnology,"evenwiththeenthusiastica.s.sistanceofGeneralHallowayandColonelStraub.Peterhadnotbeenmentioned;thegeneratorshad,plussomeveryodd"instrumentation."Peter,infact,hadbeenhiddenbehindascreenwithRhyssawhenthe"newtechnology"hadhaditsfirsttest.HehadkineticallyflownadronefromCanaveraltoEglinFielddespitegaleforcewindsandaceilingof100meters.Hehadlandeditrightonthetargetpaintedontherunwaytoshowtheprecisionofthe"newtechnology."Hewasthenallowedtolaunchaloadeddroneintoorbit,whereitcouldberetrievedbyaPadrugoibasedcraft.Hisprecisionagainwasthedecidingfactor:somanydroneshadwanderedoffcoursethatthedroneprogramhadbeendrasticallycurtailed.
Twodayslaterapropershuttlelaunchwasgrudginglypermitted.Therewasnoforeseeablechangeintheterribleweatherpatterns,andshipmentshadfallenweeksbehinddelivery.Thatfirstmorning,Peterhadbeenatrifleanxious,andtheshuttlehadascendedatsuchanastonishingratethatthecontrollershadthoughtthatamisfirehadoccurred,andtheyhadbeenabouttoabortthemission.Peter,withJohnnytelepathicallya.s.sistinghim,hadreducedthethrustandthemissionhadcontinued.Thepilotlaterwasheardtomentionthathisinstrumentationhadregisteredagforceof11forthefirstfewmomentshehadbeenscareds.h.i.tlessthinkinghewouldnotevenbeabletoactivatetheescapepodcontrolonhisarmrest.
The"newtechnology"improvedinfinesseovertheensuinglaunches,andNASAbreathedacorporatesighofreliefthat.i.tcouldcompletealltheprogrammedsupplyrunstoPadrugoi.
RhyssaandJohnnywatchedtheexpressionontheboy"sraptfaceashefollowedthecurrentshuttle"sprogress.ThecontrollerhandedthemcoffeeastheywaitedthroughPeter"sabsorption.
"Okay,"theboysaidfinally,asthescreenshowedtheshuttlenearingitsdockingrendezvousandhehadrecoveredsufficiently."Thenewtechnologyisreadyforitsswim."Thoughstillabitweak,hemanagedaproperdescentfromhischair,raisinghisrighthandinacreditablewavetothecontrollerashemaneuveredthestepstothegroundexitoftheroom.
Ithadtakenfourlaunchesbeforethemissionlaunchcontrollerwascomfortablewith"newtechnology"andPeter"speculiarpartinitsschematics,buthehadcometoliketheyoungsterandhadgivenuptryingtofigureouthowhedidwhathedidwhateveritwas.
"Getyourslickeron,Pete,"Johnnysaid.
Peterhaddiscoveredthathecouldkineticallykeeprainfromsoakinghim,buthetriedtoresistthetemptationtoshowoffunnecessarily.
Dutifullyheflippedtheslickeroverhim.Exitingtheconcretebunker,theyallmadeadashfortheirwaitingaircar.
TwoweeksafterRhyssaandPeterwenttoFlorida,BorismadeoneofhisrarevisitstotheCentertoappriseSaschaofthefactthatundercoveragentsbelievedmorechildrenhadbeensold.TheagentshadnoticedalotoffloatersbeingspentinLinearsA,B,andC.SoCa.s.sandSuzweresentona.s.signmenttoLinearE.AsthetwowomenfrequentedalltheJerseyLinears,theywereknowntotheinhabitants.Ca.s.s"spregnancymadeherevenlesssuspicious,andshepretendedillhealthtoaccountforSuz"scompany.Sofartheyhadnothingtoreport,notevenarippleofexpectation.Whenevercontactpermitted,theystuckalocatingstrandinthehairofeachchildtheyencountered.
SimilarteamswerestrandingLinearchildrenthroughouttheJerhattanarea.Scanteamsworkedaroundtheclock,waitingforastrandtoshowupinanunlikelyarea.
BorismadeoneofhisrarevisitstotheCenter."Youknow,Bro,"hesaid,"we"vegotnothingbutstopgaptechniques.Plantingatelempathwon"tstopkidsbeingabducted."SaschawasinRhyssa"soffice,attendingtoroutineadministrationdetailsashetookabreakfromformulatingnewtestingprocedures.Boriswa.s.standingatthewindow,lookingoutonthepeacefulscenebelow.
"No,no,no,andno,Bro,"Saschasaidwithoutlookingupfromthemonitor.Hemadearapidmotionacrossthekeyboard,thenswiveledabouttogivehisbrotherahardstare."ThereisnowayinwhichI"llpermitTirlatobeusedasbait!"
"Butshe"sanatural,"Borissaid."SheknowshowtodecipherLinearrumorsthewaynootheroperativeavailabletouscan."
"YouthinkI,"Saschajabbedhischestwithhisfingers"wouldriskher?"
"Candidly,Idon"tthinkTirlawouldbeatrisk,"Boriswenton,beginningtopace."WecouldputherinwithCa.s.sandSuz,setherupwitheverytelltaleknowntotechnology.SheknowsLinears,shecanspeakanylingo,she"scleverascanstare,and""She"stwelveyearsoldandyou"renotusingherasbait,"Sascharoared,notbotheringtodampenhisoutrageandfury.
Borisregardedhimwithsurprise."Thatkidwasnevertwelve!Andwhat"sthematterwithusingtheoneadvantagewe"vefoundindealingwithLinearabductions?She"sgotauniqueTalent,anaturalcamouflage,andanabilityforthissortofthing.LookhowshemanagedinLinearG."
"LinearGwasaonceoff.I"mnotputtingheratrisklikethatagain."
"Shewasneveratrisk.Exceptmaybefromyou!"Borisglaredrightbackathisbrother."AndthiswasCa.s.s"sidea.Ithinkithaspotential.Onethingsure,Brounlesswecangetatthemastermindbehindthisdespicabletraffic,we"regoingtobelosingkids.KidswhomightwellbeTalented,too."
"Youstepupyoursearchandseizes,Boris.LeaveTirlaoutofyourcalculations.Thereareotherways,ethicalandtechnologicalways,tosolveLEOproblems."
"Sascha,ifIhadthepersonneltodoitthehardway,Iwould,"Borisreplied,hisfacereddeninginanefforttokeephistemperinthefaceofhistwin"sintransigence.
"UsesomeoftheLinearGkidsasbaitthen.They"dloveachancetogetoutofthehostel!"
Borisgavehisbrotheronelonglook."Youknow,that"snotabadidea.I"llcheck"emout."Withthathestrodeoutoftheroom.
Chapter14.
Despitethework,thoselastthreeweeksinFloridahadbeenalmostvacationtimeforRhyssa,JohnGreene,andPeter.LaunchingthirteenoftheeighteensupplyshuttlesoccupiedtwoorthreehoursofadayatthemostforPeter.
WhenJohnnyGreenestartedtoexplainthemechanicsoflift,trajectory,orbiting,andothersuchmatterspertainingtothejobathand,heandRhyssadiscoveredthattherewerewoefulgapsinPeter"seducation.Hehadnotevenhadbedsideschoolingduringhismonthsinthehospital.Soatelempathictutorwasimmediatelyhired.
AlanEtonquicklydiscoveredthatPeterhadtheusualboyishdisregardforgrammar,spelling,andsyntax,thoughhisvocabularyskillswere,intechnicalareas,beyondhisagegroup.Hismathematicswerewellintofirstyearuniversity,andhisunderstandingofcertainaspectsofphysicswascuriouslyadvanced.Withthecolonelashisrolemodel,Peterwaseagertoprogressinthosesciences.Takingadvantageoftheboy"sadmiration,JohnGreenesuggestedthathehadbetterimprovehiscomputerandEnglishskills,aswell,evenifhewaskineticallysuperior.WhilePeterunderstoodsomechemicalandbiologicalconceptsparticularlythosethathadabearingonhisaccidenthehad,naturally,hadnolaboratoryexperience.Acourseofstudywasinitiatedandregularschoolhourskept,withAlanguidingPeterdeftlyintoindependentstudyofwhatevertheboywantedtolearnwhilefillinginthemoreobviouslacks.Auniversitydegree,bachelororadvanced,wasnotatissueforPeterReidinger:hiscareerwaswellunderway,butifhewastodeveloptohisfullpotential,itwasessentialforhimtohaveanoverallunderstandingofmanydisciplines.
Occasionally,ashestruggledthroughhislessons,hewonderedhowTirlawasdoingandwhatsortoftrainingSaschawasflushofpleasureatthenews."Howdoyouknow?Youcan"t"hear"himifIcan"t."
"Isawhimgetoutofthecar.He"scomingaroundthroughthehouse."
ThegleaminJohnny"seyeswasintolerabletoher.
"We"rejustworkingfriends,"shesaid,andheardamentalhaha.fromJohnnyasDaveLehardtstrodeintothepoolroom.Johnny.chuckledagainasDave"sglancerestedonherjustthatmomentlongerbeforehegreetedtheothers.
"Hithere,Skeleteam,"DavecalledtoPeter,whohadanarmloopedaroundthepoolstairrail."Needahandout?"
"Ithinkyou"dbetter,Pete,"Rhyssasaid."Yourlipsareblue,andyourskin"swrinkled.Hi,Dave."
Johnny,onatightband:You"dmakeagoodteam,youknow.Hisbeautyandyourintelligence!.
RhyssaprojectedanimageofherselfchasingJohnnywithanoutsizedhunkofwoodwiththewords"bluntinstrument"carvedonit.
Johnny:Doroteathinksso,too.
Rhyssa:Youguysletmedomyownthinking.
Johnny:Davewill,becausehecan"thearyou.Andthat"sabouttheonlydrawback.Hel.u.s.tsafteryou,youknow.
"Reallyimpressivelaunchtoday,Pete,"Davewenton,haulingtheboyoutofthepoolbyonearmanddeftlycoveringhimwithahugetowel.
"Hegetsbettereverytime,"Johnnysaid,latchingontoaspareloungerwithhisartificialfootandhaulingitclosertowhereheandRhyssaweresitting.
Rhyssa:Youwatchyourself;JohnGreene.I"vemyownminder,sherecalledwithamus.e.m.e.ntPeter"shandytreatmentoftheannoyingPrincePhanibal,andI"lltellhimtodunkyouifyoumisbehave.
Johnnysentheranimageofwideeyedinnocence.Me?Stepoutoflineespeciallyifyouthreatentoshortcircuitmycyberneticlimbsinalousypool?D"youknowwhatsalt.w.a.terdoestomyspareparts?Heimagedaviolentshudderthatsentbitsandpiecesspinningoffhisartificialarmandleg.
"Actually,thelastthreeshootshavebeenwithinajogofthesamepowersettings,"Rhyssasaidtothenewarrival.
DaveLehardtperiscopedhisleanlengthtoseathimselfonaloungerandgrinnedatRhyssa.Wa.s.sheimaginingthathiseyeswerewarmerwhenhelookedather?d.a.m.nhimfornothavingaTalent!d.a.m.nhimforhavingsuchanaturallydens.e.m.e.ntalshield!Shehadnorealclueexceptinblueeyesshewantedtodrownintogoon.Nowondertheuntalentedregularlybungledrelationships.Andyet...
"NASAisdelightedwiththeeffectivenessofitsnewguidance-andtrackingsystem,"Davewa.s.saying,lookingwellpleased,"andthey"requitehappytoleaveitinthe"needtoknow"category.
MorequeriesfromPadrugoi,requestingdetailsofthistopsecretGandTasapossibleadjuncttotheirsystems."
"And?"Johnnyqueried,flippingoveronthesunbed,eyesnarrowedtoslitsandhisbodyrelaxinginthewarmth.
"GeneralHallowayhemsandhawswiththebestofthemaboutatrialmodel,withaformidabletestscheduleaheadofit,bynomeansatotallyprovensystem..."
"Iamtooaprovensystem,"Petersaid,lookingdisgruntledashefloatedover,aneerielookingmaneuversincehisfeetwereinvisibleundertheswathingoftowelthathewastryingtokeepoutofthepuddlesaroundthepool.Histeethchattered.
"Ohhere,"Rhyssasaid,makingroomforhimonthesunbed.ShewouldhavefallenoffifDavehadnotquicklypreventeditwithhandsandknees.Shefeltwarmwherehetouchedher,awarmththatwasnothinggeneratedbyasunbed.ThenshesettledPeterbesideher,adjustinghislimbs."You"reuptofifteenminutes"sunningtoday,aren"tyou?"
"Tellyouonething,"Davewenton,stillsupportingRhyssa"sbody.
"I"mgoingtohavetochangethenicknameSkeleteam.Youdon"tlooksomuchlikeoneanymore."
"AllthisgoodwholesomeFloridasunshine,"Petersaid,grinningatDave.HehadfinallygottenoverhisjealousyofthePRman:itwasdifficulttobejealousof.a.guyhelikedsomuch,whocouldthinkupneattreatsandfoundthebestplacestoeat.JohnnyoftenarguedtoRhyssawhenDavewasnotaroundthatthemanhadtohaveTalentb.u.t.that.i.tsimplywasn"tmeasurable.Thenhediscussedthingsliketraumaticbreakthroughsandpsychologicalreluctances,andRhyssarepliedthatsometimesitwasnicetoknowsomeonewhocouldalwayssurpriseyou.
"Ifyouseeanyofthatwholesomesunshine,letmeknow,huh?"Daveremarked,referringtothefactthattherainhadliftedonlybrieflyinthepastthreeweeks."WhenareyouguysgoingtodevelopareliableWeatherTalent?"