"Healsosaidthatafterhewasdead,"andthelawyerfaltered,embarra.s.sedbytheinadvertentrhyme,"hesaidthepartywastobegin.Thatthiswastobeconsideredajoyousoccasion..."
"Hewasglad,"DaffydopOwensaid,andhisratherhomelyfacelitwithhappiness."Thatwa.s.soastonishing.Hismind,thethoughtswerehappy,sohappyatthemomentofdeath.Hewashappy.Itellyou.Iknowhewasglad!"
"ThankG.o.d!"wasHenryDarrow"sferventprayer.Heraisedhisuntoucheddrink."Atoast,ladiesandgentlemen."Gla.s.sesobedientlywerelifted."Tothosewhoridethewingedhorse!"
Oneafteranotherthegla.s.sesfollowedHenry"sintothefireplaceofBeechwoodstopreservethetributetoGeorgeHenner"smemory.
PARTTWO
AWOMANLYTALENT.
"Ifyouwereonewhitlesshonorable,DaffydopOwen,"exclaimedJoelAndresheatedly,"youandyourwholeCentercouldgo...goflyakinetickite."
Thepa.s.sionatesenatorwasoneofthoserestlesslyenergeticmenwhogavetheappearanceofcontinuousmotioneveninraremomentsofstasis.JoelAndreswasrigidnowwithaggravation.Theobjectofhisfrustration,DaffydopOwen,DirectoroftheEastAmericanParapsychologicalResearchandTrainingCenter,washisant.i.thesis,physicallyandemotionally.Bothmen,however,hadthesameindefinablestrengthandpurposefulness,qualitieswhichsetthemapartfromlessermen.
"Ican"twinsupportformyBill,"Andrescontinued,tryinganothertackandpacingthethickpiledgreencarpetingofopOwen"soffice,"ifyouconsistentlyplayintoMansfieldZeusman"shandswiththisirrationalcompulsiontotelleverythingyouknow.Ifonlyonthegroundsthatwhatyou"know"isnotgenerallyacceptableasreliable"knowledge."
"Anddon"ttellmethatfamiliaritybreedscontempt,Dave.Theuntalentedarenevergoingtobecontemptuousofthepsychicabilities,they"regoingtocontinuebeingscaredstiff.It"shumannaturetofearanddistrustwhatisdifferent.Surely,"andAndresflunghisarmswide,"you"vestudiedenoughbehavioralpsychologytounderstandthatbasicfact."
"MyTalentpermitsmetolookbelowthesurfacerationalizationsanduncoverthe..."
"ButyoucannotreadthemindsofeverysingleoneofthemenwhomustvoteonthisBill,Dave.Norcanyoualtertheirthinking.Notwithyourthinkingandyourethics!"Joelwasalmostderisiveashepointedanicotinedfingeraccusinglyathisfriend."Anddon"tgivemethatwheezeaboutlawmakersbeingintelligent,thoughtfulmen!"
OpOwensmiledtolerantlyathisfriend,unaffectedbytheyoungerman"shistrionics."NotevenwhenSenatorZeusmanstealsamarchonuswiththatsoaptquotationfromPope?"
Andresmadeastartlednoiseofexasperation,thencaughtthelookintheother"seyesandlaughed.
"Yeah,hesurecaughtmeflat-footedthere."Hedeepenedhisvoicesomewhattomimictheaffectedba.s.sofMansfieldZeusman: ""Whoseeswithequaleye,asG.o.dofall,Aheroperishorasparrowfall...""
"Whatarallyingcrythatis!Whydidn"t.i.thinkofitfirst?Mindyou,"andAndreswasdeadlyseriousagain,"thatquoteispuregenius...fortheopposition.Spikesourpitchinadozenplaces.Theironyisthat.i.twouldbejustaspowerfulforusifwe"donlythoughtofitfirst.Dave,won"tyoureconsider,"Joelasked,leaningacrossthetabletothetelepath,"eliminatingtheprecogsfromtheBill?That"swhat"shangingitupnowinCommittee.I"msureIcouldget.i.tputon..."
"Theprecogsneedthelegalprotectionmostofall,"opOwenrepliedwithunusualvehemence,amomentaryflashofalarmcrossinghisface.
"Iknow,Iknow,"andAndrestossedahandceilingwardinresignatiOn.
"b.u.t.that"sthefacetoftheparapsychicthatscaresandfascinatespeoplemost."
"Andthatis.e.xactlywhyIinsistwebeascandidaspossibleonallphasesoftheextrasensoryperceptionTalents.Thenpeoplewillbecomeasusedtothemasto"finders,""ports"and"paths."HenryDarrowwa.s.sorightaboutthat."
JoelAndreswhirledbacktothedesk,grippingtheedgesfiercely.
"TheprophetDarrownotwithstanding,youdon"ttellsuspiciousfrightenedpeopleeverything.Theyautomaticallya.s.sumeyou"reholdingsomethingbackbecausetheywould.Noonedarestobesohonestanymore.Thereforetheyaresurethatwhatyou"rewithholdingisfarworsethanwhatyou"vereadilyadmitted."HecaughttheadamantgleaminDaffyd"seyeandunexpectedlycapitulated."Allright.Allright.
ButIinsistthatwecontinuetoemphasizewhattheotherTalentsarealreadyabletodo...intheirnarrowspecializedways.OncepeoplecanstomachtheideathattherearelimitsonindividualpsionicTalents,thatallTalentsarenotmindreadersc.u.mweightthrowersc.u.mfiredowsersc.u.mcrystalball-seers,allrolledupintoonefrighteningpackage,they"llstarttreatingthemasyouwantTalentstreated:asprofessionalspecialists,trainedinoneareaofavariedprofessionandent.i.tledtoprofessionalimmunityinthatareaiftheyarelicensedandregisteredwiththeCenters.Don"t,"andthehandwentupagainasDaffydtriedtointerrupt,"tellthemyou"reexperimentingtofindouthowtobroadeneveryTalentedmind.Don"askforthewholepieceofbreadwithjamonit,Dave!Youwon"tget.i.t,butyouwillgetprotectionforyourpeopleinthepracticeoftheirspeciality,evenyourprecogs.I"llbeardownheavilyonthescientificcorroborationofauthenticforesights,"andAndresbegantopaceatightrectangleinfrontofopOwen"sdesk,hisdarkheaddown,hisgesturesincisive,"theuseofcomputerstocorrelatedetailsandestimatereliabilityofdata,thefactthatsometimesthreeandfourprecogscomeupwiththesameincident,seenfromdifferentangles.
AndmostimportantlythattheCenterneverissuesanofficialwarningunlessthecomputeragreesthatsufficientdatacoincidesbetweenIncidentandreality..."
"Pleaseemphasizethatweadmittohumanfallibilityandusecomputerstolimithumanerror."
JoelfrownedatopOwen"sdrollinterjection."ThenI"llshowhowtheforesightpreventedoravertedtheworstoftheIncidents.ThatMontereyQuakeisaheavensentexample.Noheroesperished,evenifafewsparrowsdidfallfromgasdischarges."
"Ithought.i.twasthemeddlingwiththesparrow"sfallthatperturbsSenatorZeusman,"Daffydremarkedwryly."Forwantofthatseed,thegrainwon"tsprout..."
"Hmmm,yes,itdoes!"Whatwillbe,willbe,""andAndresmimickedZeusman"svoiceagain.
"SinceheinitiatedPope,"saidopOwen,"I"dreply"Whateveris,isright."""YouwantmetoturnPapistnow,huh?"Joelgrinnedwickedly.
Daffydchuckledashecontinued,"Popealsoadvises,"BecandidwherewecanbutvindicatethewaysofG.o.dtoman!""Thegentlydeliveredquotehadaninstanteffectonthesenator,comparabletotouchingamatchtoaonesecondfuse.Midwaytoexplosion,Andressnappedhismouthshut,sighedextravagantlyandrolledhisslightlyyellowedeyesheavenwards.
"Youarethemostdifficultmantohelp,DaffydopOwen!"
"That"sonlybecauseI"mawarehowcarefullywemustmoveinthepromulgationofthisBill,Joel.Idon"twant.i.tbackfiringatthewrongtime,whensomeofthebasicresearchnowinprogressbecomesdemonstrable.TheTalentscan"tbehamstrungbyobsoletestatutesimperfectlyrealizedonascrabblingcompromisebasis."
"Dave,youwanttorunbeforeyoucanwalk?"
"No,b.u.t.troublehasbeenforeseen."
"Darrowagain,huh?Orareyouhoistonyourownpetard?"Joelwaggledafingertriumphantly."Troublestemmingfromcurrentnonprotection.GocastupaprecogaftertheBillispa.s.sed."
"Ahha"andDaffydmimickedJoelnow,"butwedon"tseetheBillpa.s.sing!"
ThatrenderedAndresspeechless.
"Andwearehoistonourownpetard,"thetelepathcontinuedwithahintofsorrowfulresignationinhisvoice,"becauseallourpreventivemethodsareaffectingthefuture,unfortunately,mucha.s.senatorZeusmanpresentedthesyndromeinhisSparrow"sFallperoration.Thatwa.s.suchamasterfulspeech,"opOwensaidwithruefulenvy."Valid,too,fora.s.surelyastheCenterissuesawarning,allowingpeopleachancetoavertorpreventtragedy,theyhavealreadyprejudicedtheeventsfromhappeningastheywereforeseen.That"stheparadox.Yethow,bowcananethicalmanstandasideandletaheroperish,orevenasparrowfall,whenheknowsthathecanpreventunnecessaryorprematureloss."
"TheMontereyQuakecouldnohavebeenprevented,"Joelremindedhim,thenblinkedinamazement."You"renotholdingoutonme,areyou?
Youhaven"tfoundakineticstrongenoughtoholdtheearth"ssurfacetogether?"
Dave"slaughterwasaspontaneousoutburstofdelightathisfriend"sdiscomposure.
"No,no.Atleast...notyet,"hesaidjusttowatchtheoutragedexpressiononAndres"smobileface.
TherewerefewpeoplewithwhomDaffydopOwencouldrelaxorindulgeinhisflightsofhumorandhyperbole."Seriously,Joel,theMontereyQuakeisaspectacularIncidentandaprimeexampleoftheconcerteduseofTalent,minimizingthelossoflifeorproperty.Wehaveneverhadsomanyprecogsstimulatedintheirseparateaffinities.Andit"sthemostconcreteexampleofwhyprecogsneedlegalprotection.DoyourealizethattheWesternCenterwasdelugedwithdamagesuitsforthetsunamithatfollowed?
""Thatwaspredictable."
"Butweissuednowarnings.Andit"sagainstsuchirrationalatt.i.tudesthatprecogsneedlegalprotectionmorethananyotherTalent.Theirsisstimulatedbymentalperceptionsaserraticasasmellinthemorningair,aglanceataphoto,thesoundofaname.Inasense,precogistremendouslyunreliablebecauseitcannotbeusedasconsciouslyastelepathy,teleportationandtelekinesis.AndtoprotecttheTalentaswellastheCenter,weinsistoncomputercorroborationwhendetailsarecoherentlyspecific.Weneverissueapublicwarninguntilthecomputeradmitsreliability...andwegetd.a.m.nedbecausewehave"heard"andnotspoken.Ofcourse,anumberofourprecogshavebecomeabsorbedintobusinesswherepeculiaraffinitiesplacethem.Forinstance,"andDaffydheldupatapefile,"thisyoungman,who"sapplyingforprogenyapproval,isafireconscious.Buthe"sonereasonthiscityha.s.suchlowfireinsurancerates:hisTalentpreventsthemablessingindirectlypa.s.sedontoeveryresident..."
"Hmmm,butscarcelyspectacularenoughtoregisterwiththeaverageegocentricJoeCitizen,"saidAndressourly.HewasrestlesswithDaffyd"searnestreviewoffactsheknewwell."However,everylittlebithelps,Dave,andthepublicmovesalotfasterprobonapocketbook."
"True,exactlytrue,andtheygetrathernastywhenwetrytosavethemmoneyandwillnotunderstandthatalegitimateforewarningautomaticallyaltersthefuture,eventothepointofpreventingtheforeseenIncidentwhichwillhavecostoldpublicanmoney,ortime,orefforthethenfeelswasunnecessary."
"Andthereweare,rightbackatsquareone,"saidJoelinflatdisgust."ThatiswhatMansfieldcalls"meddling"andwhatmakeshimfightthisBillwitheveryounceofhisoutragedmoralistic,neoreligious,mockethicalfibre.Remember,he"sbackedbythetransportlobbies,andeverytimeoneofyourprecogs.h.i.tsthatjollylittlebrotherhood,causingdelays,hurriedinspections,thewholejazzyougotanumberoneheadache.Because,whenthepredictionsdon"thappenaspredicted,Transportswearsyourmeddlingissuperst.i.tiousinterference,uncalledfor,unnecessaryandnothingwouldhavehappenedanyway."
Daffydsighedwearily."Howmanytimeshavewefoundbombs?Fuelleaks?Avertedhijacks?Metalfatigue...mechanicaljustifications?"
"Doesn"tsignify,Dave,notifittouchesthepocketbookoftheTransportCompanies.Remember,everyprecogimpliesfault:humanormechanical,sincetheCompanieswillnotrecognizeProvidenceasaforce.Andhumanormechanical,thepubliclosesfaithintheCompanythusstigmatized.WhenCompanyprofitsarehit,Companygetsmad,suestheprecogfordefamationofcharacter,interference,etcetera."
"Thenwearetoallowthetravelingpublictofryintheirownjuiceorbespreadacrossthefieldsbecauseaprecogha.s.seenacrashbutdoesn"twanttooffendaCompany?Forwantofascrewthenailwaslost!"opOwen"susuallysoothingvoicewasroughwithasperity.
"d.a.m.nit,Joel,wehavetopreserveimpartiality,andwarnanyoneoranythingthatistouchedbytheprecognitiveTalent,orwedousurpthepositionoftheAlmightybywithholdingthatevidence.Idon"tcareifthetransportationcompaniesthendecidetodisregardthewarningthat"stheirproblem.ButIwantmypeopleprotectedwhen,ingoodfaithandbasedoncomputer-accepteddetail,theyissuethatwarning.Wehavenoaxtogrind,commercially,thankstotheDarrowendowmentandmembersupport,butwemustcontinuetobeimpartial."
"Ihopeyouraltruismisnotgoingtobeyourdownfall,"saidJoel,hismannerunusuallygrave.
"There"sbeennowarningthat.i.twill,"Daffydreplied.Ahintofirritationinhisvoice.
"You"retoohonesttobeupagainstuscrookpoliticians,"Joelsaid,grinning,thenglancedathiswatch."Wup.Gottago."
"Youpushyourselftoohard,Joel.Youdon"tlookwell."
"Abitliverish,that"sall,andnosnooping."
"Notwithoutpermissionandyouknowit."
"Hah!Amongfriends,Idon"ttrusttelepaths.Say,how"stherecruitingprogram?"Joelaskedasheswoopeduphistravelcapeandcase.
"Wegethopefulseveryweek,"thedirectorrepliedasheescortedthesenatortotheelevator."Sometimesweevencatchafewyoungones,beforetheylearntosuppressaperfectlynormalability."
"That"sanotherphraseyoushoulddeletearoundZeusman,"Joelsaid.
"HewillnotbuyyourpremisethateverymindhaspsionicTalent.""But,Joel,thatisscientificallyvalid.WeknowthatthosewhopossessTalenthavestrong,healthytwentyfirstchromosomepairs.Itiscertainlyadmissibleevidencethatwhenthetwentyfirstisblurredordamagedtoanydegree,brainfunctionisinhibited.And,withtheDowns"sSyndrome,youhavementalr.e.t.a.r.dation."
"Don"tbeleaguerme,"Joelsaidwithwidenedeyesofinnocence,"Ibelieve!"Helaidahandonhisheart."Icouldn"tdoubtnotafterthat"finder"locatedmybrotherinthemineshaftbeforehebledtodeath.IfwecouldonlysubjectMansfieldZeusmantosuchanexperience,hewouldn"tbesoskeptical.Can"toneofyourpetTalentsdosomethingaboutthat?Ithoughttheyalwayskeepaneyeoncontroversialmentopreventa.s.sa.s.sinationandstuff."
OpOwengaveasnort."WouldSenatorZeusmanhonoraprecogforeseeinghisowndemise?"
"Hmmm.Probablynot.Say,you"renotfundedontheGovernmentResearchProgram,areyou?"
"No,thankG.o.d.TheHennerBequestwasreservedforthat.Why?"
"Hmmm.JustthatZeusmanis.e.xtendingthisargumentagainsttheBilltoall"specious"ashetermsitformsofresearch,governmentfunded.
Andspringisappropriationstime,youknow."
"Fortunately,we"veneverhadthatkindofpressure."
"Talentedofyou,"Joelsaidwithagrin.
Behindhimtheelevatordoorslidopenandayoungwoman,obviouslyinahurry,ranout,rightintothemuscularframeoftheyoungSenator.
Sheblurtedoutanapology,flushingwithembarra.s.smentasAndresreachedouttosteadyher.Thenhereyesopenedwidera.s.shesawopOwenandonehandflewtohermouth."I"mawfullysorry,sir."
JustasDaffydrecognizedRuthHorvath,healsoidentifiedthecombinedemotionsofshameatherprecipitousarrivalintoadistinguishedchampionoftheTalented,regretforherimpulsivenessincomingtotheToweratthishour,andtheunderlyinghopeandapprehensionthathadcompelledhertocome.Instinctively,Daffydtouchedherwithsoothingrea.s.surances:butJoelAndres"samiableandadmiringglancewasthetonictheprettywomanneeded.
"Noharmdone,Ia.s.sureyou,Miss...?"
"Mrs.Horvath...SenatorAndres,"DaffydsaidandwatchedJoel"s.e.xpressionchangefromdelightedinteresttoflatteringchagrin.
"Idoapologize,Senator,"Ruthrepeated,hercheeksblushstainedagain.
"AndIapologizeforbeinginthewrongplaceatthewrongtimeand..."anextravagantsigh"...toolate."HeboweddeeplytoRuth,reluctantlysteppingasidetoletherpa.s.s.
Insteadshefumbledwiththeelevatorb.u.t.ton.
"I"monmylunchbreak,"shesaidwithastammer."I"vegottogetback."
ThepanelslidopenandAndressteppedinbesideher,onefingerjammingthe"hold"b.u.t.ton.
"Me,too,"hesaid,grinningdownather.
"Yourfileisonmydeskrightnow,Ruth,"Daffydsaid,suddenlycomprehendingthereasonforhervisitandherhesitancyinmentioningthesubjectinAndres"spresence."I"llcallyoutomorrow."
Herfacelitup,hereyesbecameeagerand,a.s.sheglancedaway,Daffydthoughthesawtheshineoftears.
"Takecareofyourself,Joel.You"reworkingtoohard."
"Apleasure,Ia.s.sureyou."Joel"slaughwascutoffbytheclosingdoor.
DaffydopOwenstoodlookingattheindicatorpanelforafewmomentsbeforeheturnedslowlybacktohisisolatedtoweroffice.Hehadmuchtothinkabout.Notthathewoulddeflectonecentimeterfromhiscourseofaction.Onlyhisfirmbeliefssustainedhimforitdidn"trequireprecog,onlyintelligentextrapolationwhichsomeuninformedpeopleinsistedwastheessenceofprecogtodeterminethedifficultiesstillfacedbytheTalentedallovertheworld.TheBillwa.s.sovitalaforwardstep,raisingtheTalentsfromtheonerouscategoryof"mentalchiropractors,"(SenatorZeusman"sphrase,thoughchiropractictreatmenthadlongbeenanaccreditedbranchofmedicine),toacreditablepositionamongprofessionalabilities.MansfieldZeusmanhadalreadystalledtheBillinCommitteeformonths,wascapableofstallingitthroughthesummer,andkeepingitofftheagendanextyear.ThesenatorwashopingtofindsomediscreditingIncidentthatwouldforeverbanishhopeoflegalprotectionfortheTalented.
Th.e.s.h.eergeniusofthatPopequotationwasameasureoftheiropponent"sworth,opOwenmusedasheturnedtothema.s.sofadministratedfilesawaitinghim.ThepityofitwasthatthequotewouldhavebeenmuchmoreapplicabletotheTalentsideoftheargument.Cometothinkofit,muchofPope"s"EssayonMan"wastothepoint.
Otherpertinentlinescameeasilyoutofmentalstorage.NotmuchthatDaffydopOwenhadonceseencouldeludehisrecall...ablessingaswellasahandicap.
WithtoomuchknowledgefortheSkepticside,WithtoomuchweaknessfortheStoic"spride,Hehangsbetween,indoubttoactorrest:Indoubttodeemhimself.a.G.o.dorBeast:IndoubthismindorbodytopreferBornb.u.t.todieandreas"ningb.u.t.toerr...
"Enough!"andopOwenrousedfromintrospectiontodirection.Heflippedopenthenearesttapecaseandslappeditintotheplayback.
Itseemedsomehowmeetthat.i.twastheHorvaths"progenyapplication.
WereopOwenasuperst.i.tiousmanhecouldhaveaccounteditagoodomen:afavorableauspicefortheworkheandhisfellowdirectorsaroundtheworldwereinaugurating.Breedliketolike,strengthenstronggeneticTalenttraitsanddevelop,notthesuperraceofomniscient,omnipotentsuperpeopleZeusmanbasicallyfeared,butpeopletrainedandconditionedfromchildhoodtousetheirTalentsforthebenefitofman.And,bysuchservice,forcetheWorldtorecognizethetreasurethatcanbeunlockedintheunused,untappedportionofthehumanbrain.
Aflaming,shatteringprecogcaughtLajosHorvathatthemomentwhenREMsleepwasoverandhisunconsciousmindwasrousingfromthatphaseofrest.
Hisgroanofanguishawakenedhiswifeinstantly.Withthereflexoftraining,RuthflippedtherecorderandpulledtheretractableelectrodeGooseggnettohishead,expertlyclampingthemetaldiscsonthecirclesofhisscalpthathadbeenpermanentlydepilated.
Blinkinghereyestoseethereadinginthedawndimroom,RuthwatchedthedefinitepatternofanIncidentemerge.Centerwasalreadypickingitupforauthentication.TheIncidentlastedascantelevensecondsbeforethebrainwavessettledbacktoacalmreading.Shelayback,goingthroughthedisciplinethatwouldrelaxherandpreventherfromimposingherhasteurgencyreactiononLajos.a.s.soonasheroused,shemustbecomposedenoughtoquestionhimforaverbalreport.
Sheachievedtheproperreposequickly,suppressingthethrillofsatisfactionathersuccess.ShewasnolongerastroubledbyflashesofenvythatLajospossessedavalidTalentwhileherswa.s.sonebulousastoeludeidentification.Nowitwasenoughforhertoknowthat,bytheexerciseofthedeepempathywhichexistedbetweenthem,byherwomanliness,shemadehisdevelopmentmorecertain.Lajosneededherasabuffer,asourceofsolacefromthesharpedgesofTalent.Eventhestrongestpersonalitycouldsucc.u.mbtotheCa.s.sandracomplexthatdestroyedthesanityoftheunwaryprecog.Whywasit,Ruthmusedinaquietinnervoice,thattragedyha.s.suchaviciouswayofreachingoutofthemistsofthefuture:likeafallingman,blindlygrabbingatanythingtorestorebalanceandaverthisfall?