The Wings Of Pegasus Part 12

OpOwenwastakenbysurprise."I'membarra.s.sedtosayIdidn'tthinktoinquire."Hefelthimselfcoloring.

"Wecan'tthinkofeverything,canwe?"Ruthasked,herlipstwitchingwithamischievoussmile.

OpOwenburstoutlaughingand,afterastartledpause,Lajosjoinedhim.

"I'llbet.i.twillberestored,"Ruthwenton,"andthat'snoprecog:justplainjustice."

"How'sDorotea?"opOwenasked.

"She'sasleep,"andtherewasnothingbutprideandpleasureinRuth'sfacea.s.sheglancedtowardstheclosednurserydoor."It'sfascinatingtolistentoherfiguringouthowtogetoutfromunderthetable."

Lajosechoedherpleasure.OpOwenrose,suddenlyconsciousoftheripplingundercurrentbetweenthetwoyoungpeople.Hispresenceconst.i.tutedacrowd.

"IwantedyoutoknowaboutJoelAndres,Lajos."

"Thankyousir,Idoappreciateit."

"Itwasgoodofyoutotellus.Youmustbesotired,"Ruthsaid,linkingarmswithherhusbandandstandingveryclosetohim.

"Saveyourmaternalinstinctsforyourchildren,Ruth,"hesaidkindlyandleft.

Onceagaininthesoftnightair,opOwenfeltextremelypleasedwithlife.Obeyinganimpulse,heglancedoverhisshoulderandnoticedthatthelightsintheHorvathapartmentwerealreadyout.Hehadinterruptedthemafterall.Sometimes,shieldashecould,thestrongeremotions,s.e.xbeingoneofthem,seepedthrough.

Hetookhistimewalkingbackthroughthegrounds,permittinghimselftherareluxuryofsavoringthehappyaurathatpermeatedtheCenter.

Hestoredupthefragranceofthejoyfulnight,theexuberancethatpenetratedthedark,thehopefulnessthatsoftenedthechillofthebreeze,againstthosedesperatehoursthatarethecommonerlotofman.

Thesetimesofharmony,concert,attunementcamealltooseldomfortheTalented.Theywererare,glorious,treasured.

Habitmadehimstopinatthehugecontrolroom.SurprisepromptedhimtoenterforLesterWelch,adressingrobethrownoverhisnightclothesandadrinkinonehand,wasbendingovertheremotegraphpanels.Hisatt.i.tude,aswellasthatofthedutyofficer,wasofintenseconcentration.

"Neverseenanythinglikethatbeforeinacoitalgraph,"Welchwas.m.u.tteringunderhisbreath.

"Turnedgraphicvoyeur,Lester?"Daffydaskedwithtolerantamus.e.m.e.nt.

"Voyeur,h.e.l.l.Takealookatthesegraphs.RuthHorvath'sdoingitagain.Andatatimelikethis'Why?"

Welchwa.s.scarcelyaprurientman.Stiflinghisowndislikeofsuchanunwarrantedinvasionofprivacy,opOwenglancedatthetwographs,needlesreactingwildlyinresponsetothes.e.xualstimulimutuallyenjoyed.Lajos'sgraphshowedthenormalagitatedpattern:Ruth'smatchedhis.e.xceptforthefreneticactionoftheneedle,tryingvaliantlytorecordthecerebrallyexcitedandconflictingsignalsitssensitivetransistorspickedup.Theneedlegougeddeepintothefragilepaper,flingingitstipbackandforth.Yetthepatternofdeviationemergedthroughoutthefinalhighatight,intense,obviouslykineticpattern.

Abruptlythefranticactivityceased,thelineswanderedslowlybacktonormalfatiguepatterns.

"Thatwasmostincredible.ThemostprodigiousperformanceIhaveeverwitnessed."

OpOwenshotWelchasternglance,onlytorealizethatthemanmeanttheelectronicrecord.Hewasmomentarilyembarra.s.sedathisownthoughts.

"Whatdoesshedo?"Welchcontinuedspeakingandthetechnicianglancedupquickly,startledandflushing."Thekineticenergyis.e.xpendedforwhatreason?Notthatshe'dbeabletotellusanyhow."

"Forwhatreason?"opOwenaskedquietly,answeringthesafestquestion."Fortheexerciseofaverywomanlytalent."Hewaited,thensighedattheirobtuseness."Whatisthefundamentalpurposeofintercoursebetweenmembersoftheopposites.e.x?"

"Huh?"ItwasWelch'sturntobeshocked.

"Thepropagationoftheirspecies,"opOwenansweredhisowninquiry.

"Youmean...youcan'tmean..."Welchsank,stunned,intoachairashebegantocomprehend.

"Ithadn'toccurredtomebeforenow,"opOwenwentonconversationally,"that.i.tisratheroddthatabrowneyed,blackhairedfatherandagreyeyed,brownhairedmothercouldproduceablue-eyedblonde.Notimpossible.Justquiteimprobable.NowLajosisprecog,andwehavetograntthatRuthiskinetic.Sohowdothesegenesproduceastrong,strongtelepath?"

"Whatdidshedo?"Welchaskedsoftly.HiseyesknewtheanswerbuthehadtohearopOwenvoiceit.

"Sherearrangedtheproteincomponentsofthechromosomepairswhichserveasgenelocksandtooktheblueeyedgenesandtheblondehairedonesoutofcellstorage.AndwhateverelseshewantedtocreateDorotea.Thatwouldbemyeducatedguess.JustthewaysheunlockedtheRNAmessengersfor..."OpOwenhesitated:no,notevenLesterWelchneededtoknowthatbitofRuth'stinkering"whateveritisshehasinmindforthischild."Welchhadnotapparentlynoticedhishesitation."It'llbeinterestingtoseetheendproduct."

Welchwa.s.speechlessandthetechnicianpretendedgreatindustryatanotherpanel.OpOwensmiledgently.

"Thisiscla.s.sified,gentlemen.I'llwantthoserecordsremoveda.s.soonasyoucanbreakintothedrums,"hetoldthetechnician,whomanagedtorespondcoherently.

"I'mgladofthat,"Welchsaidwithopenrelief."I'mgladthatyou'renotblabbingallthistotheworld.AreyougoingtotellLajos?"

"No,"Daffydrepliedwithdeliberation."Heobviouslyintendstocooperate.Andthey'llbehappierparentswithoutthatknowledge."

Welchsnorted,himself.a.gain.

"Yousoundlikeyou'regettingcommonsense,Dave.ThankG.o.dforthat."HefrownedasthedrumwoundthelastofthatIncidentutofsight."Shecanactuallyunlockthegenes!"Hewhistledsoftly.

"'Onescienceonlywillonegeniusfit.

Sovastisart,sonarrowhumanwit!'""How'sthatagain,Dave?"

"AsnitchofPopery!"opOwenremarkedasheleft.

PARTTHREE

APPLE.

Thetheftwastheleadmorning'castandruinedDaffydopOwen'sappet.i.te.Ashelistenedtothedescriptionofthepricelesssablecoat,thesapphirenecklace,thecouturemodelgownandthejewelstrapslippers,hefeltasifhewerecongealingtohischairashisbreakfastcooledandhardenedontheplate.Hewaited,numbed,forthecommentatortomaketheobviousconclusion:aconclusionwhichwoulddestroyallthattheEastAmericanParapsychicCenterhadachievedsoslowly,sodelicately.Fortheonlywayinwhichsuchvaluableitemscouldhavebeenremovedfromastoredummyinascanned,warded,verypublicdisplaywindowinthefiveminuteperiodbetweenthefixedTVframeswasbykineticenergy.

"Thepolicehaveseveralleadsandexpecttohaveasolutionbyevening.CommissionerFrankGillingsistakingchargeoftheinvestigation.

"'IkeepmycontractualobligationstotheCity,'GillingsisreportedtohavetoldthepressearlythismorningashepersonallysupervisedtheexaminationofthedisplaywindowatColes,MichaelsandCharnyDepartmentStore.'Ihavereducedstreetandconsensualcrimesandcontainedriotactivity.Jerhattanisasafeplaceforthelawabiding.Unsafeforthelawbreakers.""ThebackshotofGillings'ssternfacewa.s.sufficienttobreakopOwen'sstasis.Heroseandstrodetowardthecomunitjustasitbeeped.

"Daffyd,youheardthat'cast?"Thelong,unusuallygrimfaceofLesterWelchappearedonthescreen."G.o.ddammit,theypromisednoprematureannouncement.Mediamen!"His.e.xpress...o...b..dedillforthefirstunwaryreportertoapproachhim.OverLes'sshoulder,opOwencouldseetheequallysavagefaceofCharlieMoorfield,dutyofficerofthecontrolroomoftheCenter.

"Howlonghaveyouknownaboutthetheft?"OpOwencouldn'tquitekeepthereprimandfromhisvoice.Leshadadevotedhabitoftryingtosparehissuperior,particularlythesedayswhenheknewopOwenhadbeenspreadinghimselfverythinintheintensivepubliceducationalcampaign.

"TedLewissnuckinacautiousadvicea.s.soonasHeadquartersscannedthedisappearance.Healsocan't'find'athing.And,Dave,therewasn'tawrinkleorapeakbetween7:03and7:08onanygraphthatshouldn'tbethere,witheverysingleTalentaccountedfor!""That'sright,Boss,"Charlieadded."NotasingleIncidenttoaccountforthekinetic'lift'neededfortheheist."

"Gillingsisonhiswayhere,"saidLes,s.c.r.e.w.i.n.ghisfaceupwithindignation.

"Why?"DaffydopOwenexploded."Didn'tTedclearus?"

"Christ,yes,butGillingshasbeenatCole'sandhisinitialinvestigationprovesconclusivelytohimthatoneofourpeopleisalarcenist.Oneofourwomen,tobeprecise,withasecretyenforsable,silkandsapphires."

Daffydforcedhimselftonullifytheboilingangerhefelt.Hecouldnotaffordtocloudreasonwithemotion.Notwithsomuchatstake.

NotwiththeBillwhichwouldprovidelegalprotectionforTalentsonlytwoweeksawayfrompa.s.sing.

"You'llneverbelieveme,w.i.l.l.you,Dave,"Lessaid,"thattheTalentedwillalwaysbesuspect?"

"GillingshasnevercaviledattheuseofTalents,Lester."

"He'dbeaG.o.dd.a.m.nedfoolifhedid."Lester'seyessparkledangrily.

Hejabbedathischest."We'vekeptstreetandconsensualcrimelow.

Talentdidhisjobforhim.Andnowhe'souttonailus.Withpublicitylikethis,we'llnevergetthatBillthrough.

Christ,whatluck!Twob.l.o.o.d.yweeksawayfromprotection."

"Ifthere'snoIncidentonthegraphs,Les,evenGillingsmustadmittoourinnocence."

Welchrolledhiseyesheavenwards."Howcanyoubesonaive,Dave?Nomatterwhatourremotesprove,thatheistwasdonebyaTalent."

"Notoneofours."DaffydopOwencouldbedidactic,too.

"Great.ProveittoGillings.He'sonhiswayherenowandhe'souttogetus.We'veallbutruinedhisspotlessrecordofenforcementandprotection.Thathitshiscredit,monetaryandpersonal."Lesterpausedforaquickbreath."Itoldyouthatpubliceducationprogramwouldcausemoretroublethanit'sworth.Letmecancelthemorning'cast."

"No."Daffydclosedhiseyeswearily.Hedidn'tneedtoresumethatbattlewithLesnow.Inspiteofthisdisastrousdevelopment,hewasconvincedofthenecessityforthecampaign.ThegeneralpublicmustlearnthattheyhadnothingtofearfromthosegiftedwithaparapsychicTalent.Theseriesofpublicinformationprograms,socarefullyplanned,servedseveralvitalpurposes:toshowhowthemanyfacetsofTalentservedthecommunity'sbestinterests;toidentifythosepeculiartraitsthatindicatedthepossessionofaTalent;andmostimportant,togainpublicsupportfortheBillintheSenatewhichwouldgiveTalentsprofessionalimmunityintheexerciseoftheirvariousduties.

"Ihaven'tavestigeofTalent,Dave,"Leswentonurgently,"butIdon'tneedittoguesssomedissidentinthecommonma.s.sofhave-notslistenedtoeverywordofthose'castsandputwhatyoushouldneverhaveairedtogooduse...forhim.Anddon'tcomfortmewithhowmanyhappyclodshaveobedientlytrippeduptotheClinictohavetheirminorTalentsidentified.Onerenegadeapple'sallyouneedtosourthebarrel!"

"Switchthe'casttothestandardrecruitingtape.Topullthewholeserieswouldbeworse.I'mcomingrightover."

DaffydopOwenlookeddownattheblankscreenforalongmoment,gatheringstrength.Itwasnoprecogthatthiswouldbeaverydifficultday.Strange,hemused,thatnoprecoghadforeseenthis.

No.ThatveryomissionindicatedawildTalent,actingonthespurofimpulse.WhatwasitLeshadsaid?"Thecommonma.s.sofhavenots?"

Evenwiththebasicdignitiesoffood,shelter,clothingandeducationguaranteed,theappet.i.teofthehavenotwascontinuallywhettedbytheabundancethatwasnothis.Inthiscase,hers.DaffydopOwengroaned.IfonlysuchaTalenthadbeenmovedtocometotheCenterwhereshecouldbetrainedandused.Wherehadtheirsocarefullywordedprogrammingslippedup?Shecouldhavehadthefurs,thejewels,thedressesonovertpurchase...andenjoyedthemopenly.

TheCenterwaswellenoughendowedtosatisfyanymaterialyearningofitsmembers.SurelyGillingswouldadmitthat.

OpOwentookadeepbreathandexhaledregretandsupposition.Hemustkeephismindclear,hissensitivitieshonedforanynuancethatwouldpointadirectiontowardsuccess.

AshelefthisshieldedquartersatthebackoftheCenter's.e.xtensivegrounds,hewasinstantlyawareoftensionintheatmosphere.MostTalentedpersonspreferredtoliveintheCenter,inthespeciallyshieldedbuildingsthatreducedthe'noise'ofconstantpsychicagitation.TheCenterpreferredtohavethemhere,asmuchtoprotectastohelptheirmembers.Talentwasadouble-edgedsword;itcouldinciseevilbut.i.tneatlyseparateditswielderfromhisfellowman.

Thatwaswhythesebroadcastsweresovital.Toprovetothegeneralpublicthatthepsychicallygiftedwerebynomeanssupermen.Researchhadindicatedthereweremorepeoplewiththeabilitythanwouldadmit.i.t.Therewere,however,definitelimitationstomostTalents.

TheParapsychichadbeenraised,inDaffyd'slifetime,tothelevelofasciencewiththedevelopmentoftheGoosegg,ultrasensitiveelectroencephalographswhichcouldrecord,andidentifythetypeof"Talent"bytheminuteelectricalimpulsesgeneratedinthecortexbytheapplicationofpsychicpowers.DaffydopOwensometimesthoughttheword"power"wasthevillaininperpetuatingthepublicmisconceptions.Powermeans"possessionofcontrol"butsuchsynonymsas"domination,""sway,""command"leaptreadilytotheaveragemindanddistortedtheactualdefinition.

DaffydopOwenwasrousedfromhisthoughtsbytheheavybeatofacopter.HeturnedontothepathleadingdirectlytothemainadministrationbuildingandhadaclearviewoftheCommissioner'smarkedcopterlandingontheflightroof,totheleftofthecontroltowerwithitsforestofantennaldecorations.

Immediatelyheperceivedareactionofsurprise,indignationandanxiety.SurelyeveryTalentwho'dheardthenewsonthemorning'castandrealizeditssignificancecouldnotbesurprisedbyGillings'sarrival.OpOwenquickenedhis.p.a.ce.

"Orley'sloose!"Thethoughtwasasloudasashout.

Peoplepaused,turnedunerringlytowardsthelonglowbuildingoftheClinicwhereapplicantsweretestedforsensitivityandtrainedtounderstandandusewhatTalenttheypossessed:andwheretheCenterconducteditsbasicresearchinpsionics.

Atall,heavyfigureflungitselffromtheClinic'sbroadentrance,chargeddownthelawn,inadirectlinetothetower.Themanleapedtheornamentalgarden,plungedthroughthehedges,swungoverthehoodofaparkedlawntruck,straightarmedtheoverhangingbranchesoftrees,andbrushedasideseveralmenwhotriedtostophim.

"Projectrea.s.surance!Projectrea.s.surance!"thebullhornfromthetoweradvised."Projecthappiness!"

"Getthosecopsinmyoffice!"Daffydprojectedonhisownashebegantoruntowardsthebuilding.HehopedthatCharlieMoorfieldorLesterhadalreadydoneso.Orleydidn'tlookasifanythingshortofatranquilizerbulletwouldstophim.Whohadbeendimwittedenoughtoletthetelempathoutofhisshieldedroomatatimelikethis?ThemoronwasthemostsensitivebarometertoemotionDaffydhadeverencounteredashewasphysicallydangerousifaroused.Bythespeedofthatberserkercharge,hehadsoakedupenoughfear/anxiety/angertodismembertheobjectshewashominginon.

TheonlysoundsnowinthegroundswerethoseofopOwen'sshoes.h.i.ttingthepermaplastofthewalkandthethudthudofOrley'sprogressonthethicklawn.OneadvantageofbeingTalentedisefficientcommunicationandtotalcomprehensionofterseorders.

b.u.t.thewaveofserenity/rea.s.surancewasnotpenetratingOrley'sblindfury:theopennessdissipateditseffect.

Threemenwalkedpurposefullyoutoftheadministrationbuildinganddownthebroadap.r.o.nofsteps.Eachcarriedslimbarreledhandweapons.

Themanontheleftraisedandaimedhisattheaudiblypanting,fastapproachingmoron.TheshottookOrleyintherightarmbutdidnotcausehimtofalter.Instantlythesecondmanaimedandfired.Orleyloststridefortwopacesastheshotpenetratedhisthighbutincrediblyherecovered.ThethirdmanopOwenrecognizedCharlieMoorfieldwaitedcalmlyasOrleyrapidlyclosedtheinterveningdistance.InafewmorestepsOrleywouldcrashintohim.Charliewa.s.swingingoutoftheway,hisgunslightlyraisedforachestshot,whenthemoronstaggeredand,withahorriblegroan,felltohisknees.Hetriedtorise,oneclenchedfiststrainingtowardsthebuilding.

InstantlyCharliemovedtopreventOrleyfromgouginghisfaceonthecoa.r.s.etexturedpermaplast.

"Hetooktwodoublestrengthdoses,Dave,"Moorfieldexclaimedwithsomeaweashecradledthemoron'sheadinhisarms.

"Hewould.How'n'h.e.l.ldidhegetsuchanexposure?"

Charliemadeagrimace."Sallywasfeedinghimontheterrace.Shehadn'theardthenews'cast.Saidshewasconcentratingonkeepinghimcleananddidn't'read'hisgrowingrestlessnessasmorethanresponsetoheruntilheburstwideopen."

"Toomuchtohopethatourunexpectedguestsdidn'tseethis?"

Charliegaveasourgrin."Theycausedit,Boss.Stoodthereontheroof,givingLesahardtime,broadcastingbasichateanddistrust.

Youshould'veseenthedialonthepsychicatmospheregauge.NowonderOrleyresponded."Charlie'sfacesoftenedasheglanceddownattheunconsciousman."Poord.a.m.nedsoul.Whereisthatmedteam?I'called'themwhenhegotoutside."

Daffydglancedupatthebroadthirdfloorwindowsthatmarkedhisoffice.Sixmenstaredback.Heputaninstantdamperonhisthoughtsandemotions,andmountedthesteps.

Thevisitorswerestillatthewindow,watchingthemedteamastheyliftedthehugelimpbodyontothestretcher.

"Orleyactsasahumanbarometer,gentlemen,reactinginstantlytotheemotionalauraaroundhim,"Leswa.s.sayinginhisdriest,downeasttone.ToopOwen'swideopenmind,heemanatedaragingangerthatalmostmaskedtheauraprojectedbythevisitors."Hehasanintelligencefactoroflessthan50ontheNewScalewhichmakeshimuneducable.Heis,however,invaluableinhelpingidentifythedominatingemotionofseriouslydisturbedmentalandhallucinogenicpatientswhichcouldovercomearationaltelepath."

PoliceCommissionerFrankGillingswastheprimesourceofthefurywhichhadsetHaroldOrleyoff.OpOwenfeltsorryforOrley,havingtobearsuchanger,andsorrierforhimselfandhisoptimistichopes.