Doroteatwistedherheadbackwardsoverhershoulderandburbledmoistlyathermother.
"Loveatfirstbite,"Lajossaidinamutterofmocksurliness.
"There"saconspiracyoffemalesagainstthispoorlonemale."
Doroteaimpartiallygurgledathim,hereyesbrightandwideandhappy.
"Youneverhaditsogood,"saidRuth.
AndLajosprivatelyadmittedthetruthofthat.Ruthwa.s.soenthralledwithherdaughter,theirapartmenthadanoticeableatmosphereofbenevolence.Hewasmorerelaxedthanever,anddespiteanincreaseinIncidents,extendingbeyondhisusualaffinity,hesufferedlessfromthedepressionsandexhaustionsthatweretheinevitablepostlude.
ThedayDorotea"sTalentblossomed,DaffydopOwenwasreviewingtherecordsobtainedovertlyandcovertlyfromtheHorvathapartment.He"dhadLesterWelch,hiselectronicchief,rigaburiedwebinRuth"smattress,incasethebabyinstinctivelycontactedhermotherfirst.
However,LesterhadpointedouttheslightvariationinRuth"sreadings.Itwasmoreasiftheneedlehadsnaggeditselfonanimperfectioninthegraphpaper.Therewasnosuchvariationonthebaby"srecordings.WelchhadbeenabouttodiscredittheoccurrencesuntilhecheckedthemagainstLajos"sanddiscoveredthattheminutevariationsinRuth"schartalwaysoccurredexactlyattheonsetofLajos"Incidents.
"Shemightwellbealatent"receiver,""opOwensaidtoWelch,"onlynowbeginningtodevelopfromcontinuedproximitytoherhusbandandtheadventofthechild.Ican"tpresentanotherexplanation."
"That"dbenice,Dave.Ruth"sagoodlittleperson:cheerful,intelligentandcrazyforherhusbandandchild.Justthesortofwell-balanced,understandingparenttohavefora..."
LesterwasabruptlystaringatopOwen"sretreatingback.Themanhadleapedtohisfeetandraceddownthehalltotherecordingroom.
LesterWelchwasnotTalented,althoughhiselectronicengineeringwasoftensheerinventivegenius,butopOwendidn"treactlikethatwithoutgoodcause.WhenWelchreachedthedoorway,hesawthatCharlieMoorfield,thedayengineer,washunchedovertheconsole,unconscious,butopOwen"sattentionwasforagraph.
"TakeacloselookatDorotea"sgraph,"opOwensaid,grinningfittopophisjaw,andthenhepa.s.sedhisa.s.sociateonhiswayout.
CommonsensetoldopOwenthat,despitetheurgencyofthesummons,therecouldbenodangerthreateningthebaby.Yethecouldnotdisregardthatcall.Whatcouldhavehappened,hewonderedasherandownthefrontsteps.Suddenlyhenoticedthatthereseemedtobeama.s.s.e.xodusfromallpartsofthebuilding.Andeveryonewasheadedinthesamedirection.Asabruptlyasthecallhadbeenissued,itceased.Peoplesloweddown,stopped,lookedaround,grinningfoolishly.
"Whatwasthat?"
"Whocalled?"
"Wothoppened?"
"It"sallright,"opOwenfoundhimselfrea.s.suringthem."Anewtechniqueimproperlyshielded,"hesaidtothetelepaths.AndgrinnedathisowndissemblingashecontinuedtowardstheHorvaths"apartment.
Iherewasacrowdinthehallbeforetheirapartment.OpOwenpolitelypushedhiswaythroughthedisturbedresidents.Doroteaherbabyfacestilltearstreaked,washeldhighinhermother"sarms,cooingandchortlingatthesmilingfacesaroundher.OpOwen"sarrivalsignaledthecrowd"sdiscreetdispersalandshortly,hewasalonewiththemortifiedmother.
"I"msoembarra.s.sed,sir,"Ruthsaid,jigglingherbabya.s.shewalkednervouslyupanddownherlivingroom."Ifellasleepwiththetaperecorderblaringaway.AndIjust...didn"thearDoroteawakeup...
I"veneverdonesuchathingbeforeandwe"veneverpermittedhertocrylong..."
"NooneisremotelysuggestingthatyoumistreatDorotea."OpOwensmiledasthebabyflirteddelightfullywithhim."Infactalittlehonestfrustrationisveryuseful.ItcertainlyplacedherTalent."
"Ooooooooh,"andRuthcollapsedonthesofa,staringwideeyedatDaffydopOwena.s.sheabsorbedtheimplication,whichshehadbeentoopreoccupiedwithcalmingDoroteatosee.
"Shebroadcastaveryloudsignal.Ishouldn"tbeatallsurprisedifeveryTalentinthecityheardher."
NosoonerwerethewordsoutofhismouththanLajoschargedthroughthedoor.
"Whathappenedtoher?Howdidshegethurt?Myheadissplitting!"
Lajoss.n.a.t.c.hedDoroteafromhermother"slaptoexamineherfirsthand.
Shebegantowhimper,catchinghisanxiety.
"Onlyherfeelingswerehurt,"Ruthreplied,suddenlyverycalm.OpOwennoticedthatwithapproval:shewasdampeningherowndistresstosoothetheothers."I"dfallenasleepwiththetaperecorderblastingawayandjustdidn"thearherwhenshewokeuphungryandalldamp."
Shetookherdaughterback,rockingheruntilthebabybegantobeamagain."Shewashurtbecauseshefeltshewasbeingignored,isn"tthatright,sweetie?"
"Well,goodG.o.d!"Lajossankontothecouch,moppinghisforehead."1neverheardanythinglikeitbefore.Sir,"andheturnedtoopOwen,"look,thiscan"t...Imean,canthissortofthinghappeneverytimemydaughter"supset?"
"Oh,I"msureshe"slikelytoprotestmanya.s.sumedindignities,Lajos.
Babieshavetosuffersomefrustrationstogrow.We"lljustmoveyoualltoashieldedapartmentanddampendownthatlovelyloudyoungvoice."
"You"renotsurprisedaboutDoroteaatall,"Ruthsaid,regardingopOwenwithround,suspiciouseyes."Sothat"swhyeveryonewa.s.soexcitedaboutherinthenursery."
"Well,yes,"theDirectoragreedslowly."ShewasheardbytheTPnurseatbirth."
"But.i.thoughtpsionicTalentsdon"tusuallyshowupuntiladolescence..."
"ConsciousTalent,"opOwensaid,correctingher.
Ruthlookeddownatthedroolingbabyinherarms.Astrainedlookcrossedherprettyface."ButIwantDoroteatohaveanormal,happychildhood!"
"Andshewon"tbecauseshe"sTalented?Isthat.i.t,mydear?"OpOwenknew,sadly,thathisinstinctaboutnottellingRuthatoncehadbeenalltoowellfounded."Exceptforthisability,whichmightaswellbedrawingfreehand,sheisanormal,healthychild,totallyunawarethatsheisinanywayremarkable..."
"ButIknowyou"llwanttotesther,andallthat,withstimuli..."
Ruth"sdistresswa.s.soacutethatshecouldn"tgoon.
"Ruth!"Lajosbenttocomforther,surprisedbyherreaction.Sheclutchedherdaughtertightlytoher.
"MydearRuth!"opOwensaidgently,"testingandstimuliareforpeoplewhocometousaftertheyhavesubvertedandsuppressedtheirTalents.WeknowwhatDoroteaisalready,averystrongtelepath.Andwe"vebeen"testing"her,asyoucallit,already.
Asforstimuli,Ia.s.sureyou,"andtherewasnothingforcedinopOwen"schuckle,"she"sapplyingtheonlystimuli...tous."
Lajoslaughed,brushinghishairbackfromhisforeheadasherememberedhisfrantichomewardflight.Beneathhisarm,hecouldfeelRuthrelaxing.Aslightsmiletouchedherlips.
"Doroteawillhaveanunusualopportunity,mydear.OnedeniedyouandLajos,andmyself,andsomanyotherpotentialTalents.ShehasthechancetogrowupinherTalent,learningtouseitasnaturallya.s.shelearnstowalkandtalk.Wewillallhelphertounderstandit...asmuchaswedoourselves,"headdedwithawrysmile."Tobecandid,Ruth,weareinmuchthesamepositionasyourdaughter.Wearealllearningtoactinapubliclyacceptablefashionwiththisnewfacetofhumanevolution.PsionicTalentsareintheirinfancy,too,youknow.
"Youmightevenextendthea.n.a.logyalittletoincludetheAndresBill,whichwehopewillaffordallTalentsprofessionalstatusandlegalprotection.We,ineffect,mustprovetothepublic,ourparentbody,ifyouwish,thatwearenot"bad,""naughty"or"capricious"children.Doroteahasalreadycontributedsomethingtothatend,"andopOwencaughthimselfbeforeheexplainedhisownrevelation.
"Doroteaneedsloveandrea.s.surance,disciplineandunderstanding.
She"llpickthatupfromyou,Ruth,withyourwarmthandsweetness.Iwanther,possiblymorethanyoudo,tohaveanormal,happychildhoodsothatshewillbeanormal,happyadult."
Herose,smilingatthebaby"sinfectiousgaiety.
"See,sheknowshowpleasedwearewithherrightnow,thelittlerascal."
OpOwenleft,a.s.suringthemnewquarterswithintheweek.Ruthwa.s.soquietandthoughtfulthatLajosremainedhometherestoftheday.HefoundtherevelationofDorotea"sTalentasmuchashockasRuthapparentlydid.However,bymorning,hewasconsumedwithapaternalprideand,inthesucceedingdays,discoveredanoverweeningtendencytomaunderonabouthisdaughter"sprowess.Bythetimetheymovedtothelarger,shieldedapartment,hewasaccustomedtothenotionand,sinceDoroteamadenomorefranticsummonses,succeededinignoringit.UntilhenoticedthegradualchangeinRuth.Atfirst,itwasnomorethanasuddenfrown,quicklyerased,oranervouslooktowardsthebaby"sroomifshesleptlongertha.n.u.sual.ThenhecaughtRuthlookingatherchildwiththatwaryexpressionhehadonceprivatelycalled"thefreakLook,"whichuntalentedpeopleoccasionallydirectedathimwhentheydiscoveredhisaffiliationwiththeCenter.
"You"vegottostopthat,honey,"heblurtedout."You"vegottokeepthinking...strongly...thatDoroteaisjustlikeotherkids.Oryou"llprejudiceher.Whichistheonethingwehavetoavoid."RuthvehementlydeniedtheaccusationbutsheturnedsowhitearoundthelipsthatLajosgatheredherquicklyintohisarms.
"Ah,sweetie,shehasn"tchangedjustbecausewe"vefoundoutshe"sTalented.Butsheisperceptiveandshecansenseyourfeelingstowardsher.Youstartsuppressingthat"freakfeeling"rightnow.Youthinkpositivelythatshe"sourbeautifulbabygirl,sweetandloving,kindandthoughtful.She"llhavethatopinionofherselfanditwon"tmatterthatshe"sastrongTPaswell.She"llmerelyconsiderthatpartofthewholebit.It"swhenshesensescriticismandrestraintandhypocrisythatwe"llbeintrouble.Ihadtogetusedtoit,too,Ruthie.Say,"andhetiltedherchinupandgrinneddownatherrea.s.suringly,"whydon"twegetalittlehelpfromopOwen?Talkthisoverwithhim.Hecanputablockonifyouneedone."
Theverysuggestionthatshecouldn"tloveandunderstandherownchildmadeRuthindignant.She"dhadyearsofparenttraining.Sheunderstoodeveryphaseofearlychildhooddevelopment.SheadoredDoroteaandshecertainlywouldn"tdoathingthatmightjeopardizeherdaughter"shappiness.Theybothfeltbetteraftersuchacandiddiscussionandtheproblemwa.s.shelved.
"Sir,IthoughtyououghttoseetheHorvathcharts,"LesterWelchtoldopOwen."AvariationkeepsappearinginRuthHorvath"s.See?"AndWelchunrolledthepaper,pointinghereandtheretothealmostimperceptiblealterationinRuth"snormalpattern."See,hereandhere,it"sacoupleofmicrosecondslongerandbroader.Itbeginstobroadenminutelyuntilithitsthisframewhichhasremainedconstant.
Now,comparehertimesequencetoLajos"s...andrememberwe"repickingupherpatternanywhereinthenewapartmentjustaswepickuphisfromtheoffice."
OpOwensawthecorrelationimmediately.
"He"sfinishednoprecoginsixweeks?"
WelchcontentedhimselfwithanodasopOwenstudiedthegraphs.
"IfIdidn"tthinkitwasimpossible,I"dsayRuthwa.s.suppressinghim.
Buthow?"
"Don"tyoumeanwhy?"
"That,too,ofcourse,but"how"isthebiggerquestion."
"Ifyoumeanthetypeofpattern,Dave,Ican"tgiveyouthat.Thereisn"tenoughtoidentifyitasaknownvariation."
"Thatwasn"texactlywhatImeant,althoughIwouldlikeamagnificationofthistostudy.Canyouputonamoresensitivegauge,orafasterneedle,tolengthenthestroke?"
"Hmmm."Welchconsideredthesuggestion."I"llrigupsomething,Iguess."
OpOwenchuckled."Oneofthecomfortingthingsaboutyou,Les,isyourunfailingrisetothechallenge.Idon"tbelieveyouknowwhatfailureis."
Welchregardedhissuperiorwithsomesurprise."Failureisaninabilitytoconsiderwhatisnotpresentlyknown.LikeRuthHorvath"svariation?"Thenheadded,"OrSenatorZeusman"sstrategy?"
OpOwendismissedthatwithawaveofhishandandcontinuedtoscantheHorvaths"readings."Dorotea"sfirstIncidentrockedhim,didn"t.i.t?"
"Yes,itshowsupinhissleeppatternasunusualrestlessnessthefirstnights,butsee,he"scalmingdownbythethird."
"It"sfromthatdatethathisprecogsbegintodwindle."
"ByG.o.d,you"reright.Ithoughthe"dbetoostableforadeviationlikethat."
"Yes,he"sbeentooconsistentaprecog.IthinkI"llcallhiminanddropafewleadingquestionstoseewhatreactionIget."OpOweninitiatedthecallthenandthere.
"There"snothingwrongwithDorotea,isthere,sir?"Lajosaskeda.s.soonasheenteredtheoffice.
"Goodheavens,no,"DaffydopOwensaid,gesturingLajostoachair.
"It"saboutmydropinIncidents,then,isn"t.i.t?"
OpOweneyedhisyoungcolleagueforamoment,savoringtheperipheralemotionsthemanwasgenerating.IttooknoTalenttorecognizethedefensivenervousnessinLajos"satt.i.tude.
"Notexactly.Therearealwaysperiodsofrestforprecogs,causedbyanynumberofvalidreasons,includingtheabsenceoffires.However,yourgraphsshowanonsetofIncidents,brokenoffjustastheybegin."
"Onceortwiceintheoffice,I"vefeltasifsomethingwaspreventingme..."
"Preventingyou...?"OpOwenpromptedLajosgentlyashehadbrokenoff,startledbyhisownphrasing.
"Yes,sir,"Lajoswentonslowly,"it"sasifsomething"spreventingmefrompreviewing.Sortoflike...glancingintoastrangeroomandhavingthedoorslammedinyourface."
"Aptlyput.Couldyousuggestwhy...orperhapswhat...ispreventingyou?"
"Youthinkit"sapsychologicalsuppression,don"tyou?"
"That"smyfirstthought."
IndignationanddisbeliefwereLajos"sinstantreactions.
"WhywouldIwanttosuppresssuddenly?"
"Somethingyouyourselfdon"twanttosee.PrecogisnottheeasiestofTalents,Lajos,"opOwenreplied."Oftentheprecogimposeshisownblock,asarelieffromthepsychologicalpressures."
"Ifyouthinkthere"sachancethatI"mdevelopingtheCa.s.sandracomplex..."Lajoswasheatedlyprovokednow.
"No,thatfollowsanentirelydifferentpattern."
"Dorotea"spreventingme?"
"Ifthisoccurredonlyinyourhomeenvironment,we"dhavetoseriouslyconsiderthepossibility.But.i.t"simprobableforavarietyofreasons:theprimeonebeingthatherroomisshieldedtoprotectherfromovertonesofyourprecogsasmuchastoprotectusfromherblatantcalls."
"Ruth?"Lajos"shushedquestionhadthepowerofashout."SheisTalentedafterall.Butwhysuppressme?Shelovesme.Iknowshedoes.She"salwayshelpedwithIncidents.Itmadeherfeelapart..."LajosstaredatopOwen.Thenshookhishead,violentlydisagreeingwiththenaturalconclusion."No!Idon"tseewhysuppressingmewould...doheranygood."
"Ha.s.somethingelseupsether?ThesuppressionstartsnotlongafterDorotea"sfirstIncident."
Lajoscoveredhiseyes,groaningdeeply.Hecollectedhimselfalmostimmediatelyand,lookingupatopOwen,recountedRuth"scuriousuncertaintyaboutDorotea.
"Yes,Iseenowwhathaspossiblyhappened.She"smadeyouherwhippingboy."
"Nowwaitaminute,sir.Ruth"snotpettyorvindictive."
"I"mnotforamomentimplyingthatsheis,Lajos.Letusbothtrytoseeherconflicts.She"shadtomakesomanyadjustments.Shehadsuchhopeswhensheenteredthetrainingprogram.rememberhercheerfulnessandvivacitysowell.Itwasdifficulttohavetodisillusionher.Youtwomarriedandshehas.e.xhibitedskillina.s.sistingyou.Buteventhemostgeneroussoulexperiencestwingesofenvy.Shelookedforwardtomaternityasanoutletforhernaturalinclinationandthea.s.suagementofherfailures.
SuddenlyshefindsherselfwiththeextraordinarydaughterwhomakeseventheDirectoroftheCenterjumpatherwhim."LajosweaklyreturnedopOwen"ssmile."IthoughtatthetimeshewasverymuchdistressedatthethoughtofrelinquishinganyofDorotea"scaretoourimpersonaltoils.Idon"tbelieveweentirelyrelievedherfearthattheCenterwillusurpherroleinherdaughter"supbringing.Canyouseewhyshemaybeindirectlypunishingyouforcirc.u.mstancesthatthreatenherhappiness?"
"Yes,Ican."Lajos"sadmissionwasdejected.