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Websterranouttocontrolthevehicles.Peopleturnedcuriously.
Stoppedandstaredafterthetrio.
"Don't,"opOwensaidashesawGillingsmoveahandtowardsthebullhorn."There'snothingwrongwithherhearing."
Orleybegantomovefasternowthathehadreachedthefartherside.
Hewantedtogorightthroughinterveningbuildings.
"Guidehimlefttothesidewalk,Heis,"opOwensaid."Ithinkhe'sstillamenable.Heisn'trunningyet."
"He'sbreathinghard,Mr.Owen,"Heissoundeddubious."Andhisfaceischanging."
OpOwennoddedtohimself,alltoofamiliarwiththestartlingphenomenonofwatchingtheblanknessofOrley'sfacetakeonthecla.s.sicmaskofwhateveremotionshewasreceiving.Itwouldbeaparticularlyunnervingtransitionundertheseconditions.
"Whatdoesheshow?"
"I'dsay...hatred,"Heis'svoicedroppedonthelastword.Thenheaddedinhisusualtone,"He'ssmiling,too,anditisn'tnice."
TheyhadeasedOrleytothesidewalkheadingwest.HekeptpushingWebstertotherightandhis.p.a.ceincreaseduntilitwasclosetoarun.WebsterandHeisbegantogesturepeopleoutoftheirwaybut.i.twoulds...o...b..obvioustotheneighborhoodthatsomethingwasamiss.
Woulditbebettertolandmorepolicetorea.s.surepeopleandkeeptheiremanationsdown?Orwouldtheybroadcasttoomuchsuppressedexcitementatpoliceinterference?She'dcatchthat.ShouldhewarnHeisandWebstertokeeptheirthoughtsonHaroldOrley?Orwouldthatbelikewarningthemagainstallthoughtsofthecamel'sleftknee?
Orleybrokeintoarun.WebsterandHeiswerehardputtokeephimtothesidewalk.
"What'sinthenextblock?"opOwenaskedGillings.
TheCommissionerconsultedthemap,holdingitjustabovethescannersohecouldkeeponeeyeonthetriobelow.
"Residencesandanareaparkingfacilityforinterstatetrucking."
GillingsturnedtoopOwennow,hisheavyeyebrowsraisedinquestion.
"No,she'sstilltherebecauseOrleyishominginonherprojection."
"Lookathisface!MyG.o.d!"Heis.e.xclaimedoverthehandunit.Onthescreen,hisfigurehadstopped.HewaspointingatOrley.ButWebster'sfacewasclearlyvisibletothesurveillersandwhathesawunnervedhim.
Orleybrokefromhisguides.Hewasrunning,slowlyatfirstbutgatheringspeedsteadily,mindlesslybrushingasideanythingthatstoodinhisway.HeisandWebsterwentafterhimbutbothmenwereshakingtheirheadsasifsomethingwerebotheringthem.
Orleytriedtoplungethroughabrickstorewall.Hebouncedoffit,sawtheunimpededviewofhisobjectiveandchargedforward.Websterhaddartedaheadofhim,blowinghiswhistletostoptheoncomingtraffic.Heisalternatelyyelledintothehandunitandatstartledbystanders.Nowsomeofthemwereafflictedandweregrabbingtheirheads.
"Putusontheroof,"opOwentoldthepilot."Gillings,getmentocovereveryentranceandexittothatparkinglot.Getthecopterstohoverbytheopenlevels.Themen'llbesparedsomeofthelash."
Itwouldn'tdomuchgood,opOwenrealized,evenashefeltthefirstshockofthegirl'sawarenessofimminentdanger.
"Closeyourmind,"heyelledatthepilotandGillings."Don'tthink."
"Myhead,myhead."ItwasHeisgroaning.
"ConcentrateonOrley,"opOwensaid,hishandsgoingtohistemplesinreactiontotheknottingpressure.Heis'sfigureonthescannerstaggeredafterOrleywhohadnowenteredtheparkingfacility.
OpOwencaughtthementalpressureanddispersedit,projectingbackrea.s.surance/help/protection/compa.s.sion.HecouldforgiveherGilGracie'sdeath.SowouldanyTalent.Ifshewouldinstantlysurrender,somehowtheCenterwouldprotectherfromthelegalaspectsofheract.Onlysurrendernow.
Someonescreamed.Anothermanechoedthatpiercingcry.Thecopterbuckedandjoltedthem.Thepilotwasgroaningandgasping.Gillingsplungedforward,grabbingthecontrols.
OpOwen,fightinganincrediblebattle,wasblindtophysicalrealities.Ifhecouldjustoccupyalltheattentionofthatoverchargedmind...holditlongenough...pain/fear/black/red/moiledorange/purples...breathing...shock.Utterdisbelief/fear/lossofconfidence.Franticphysicaleffort.
Concretesc.r.a.pedopOwen'scheek.Hisfingersbledasheclawedatalockedsteelexitdoorontheroof.Hecouldnotenter.HebadtoreachherFIRST!
Somehowhisfeetfoundthestairsashepropelledhimselfdownthefireescape,deliberatelynumbinghismindtotheintensivepoundingreceived.Apoundingthatbecameaudible.
Thenhesawher,fingersclawingforleverageonthestairpost,footpoisedforthestepfromthelanding.Atoothinadolescentfigure,frozenforasecondwithindecisionandshock;strandsofblackhairlikeviciousscarsacrossathinface,distortedanduglyfromthetremendousphysicalandmentaleffortsofthefranticwill.Herhugeeyes,blackwithinsanefuryandterror,bloodshotwithdespairandthesaltysweatofherdesperatestrivingforescape,lookedintohis.
Sheknewhimforwhathewas;andherhatredcrackledinhismind.
ThosewordsafterGilGracie'sdeathhadbeenhers,nothisdistressedimagining.Shehadknowhimthenasherrealantagonist.Onlynowwasheforcedtorecognizeherforwhatshewas,allshewasandregrettably,allshewouldnotbe.
Hefoughttheinexorabledecisionofthatsplitsecondconfrontation,wantingmorethananythingelseinhislifethat.i.tdidnothavetobeso.
Shewasthewiser!Shewhirled!
Shewa.s.suddenlybeyondtheheavyfiredoorwithoutopeningit.HaroldOrley,chargingupthestairsbehindher,hadnosuchTalent.Hecrashedwithsickeningforceintothemetaldoor.Daffydhadnoalternative.Shehadteleported.Hesteadiedthetelempath,depressedthelockbarandthrewthedoorwide.
Orleywasaftertheslenderfigurefleeingacrossthedimlylit,lowceilingconcretefloor.Shewasheadingtowardsthedownrampnow.
"Stop,stop,"opOwenheardhisvoicebeggingher.
Heiscamestaggeringfromthestairway.
"Shoothim.ForChrist'ssake,shootOrley,Heis,"opOwenyelled.
Heiscouldn'tseemtocoordinate.OpOwentriedtopushasidehisfumblinghandsandgrabthetrankgunhimself.Heis'strainedreflexesmadehimclingallthetightertohisweapon.Justthen,opOwenheardthegirl'sdespairingshriek.
Twomenhadappearedatthetopoftheramp.Theybothfired,thedullreportsoftrankpistolsaccentuatedbyherchokedgasp.
"Nother.ShootOrley.Shoottheman,"opOwencriedbut.i.twastoolate.
Evenasthegirlcrumpledtothefloor,Orleygrabbedher.Grabbedandtoreandbeatatthesourceoftheemotionswhichsodisturbedhim.
Beatandtoreandstampedherphysicallya.s.shehada.s.saultedhimmentally.
Orley'sbodyjerkedastranks.h.i.thimfromallsides,but.i.ttookfartoolongforthemtooverridetheadrenalreactionsoftheoverchargedtelempath.
TherewaspainandpityaswellashorrorinGillings'seyeswhenhecamerunningontothelevel.Thepolicestoodatadistancefromthebloodspatteredbodies.
"Gawd,couldn'tsomeonehavestoppedhimfromgettingher?"thecopterpilotmurmured,turningawayfromtheshapelessbloodiedthinghalfcoveredbyOrley'sunconsciousbody.
"ThedoorwouldhavestoppedOrleybuthe,"andHeisgrimlypointedatopOwen,"openeditforhim."
"Sheteleportedthroughthedoor,"opOwensaidweakly.Hehadtoleanagainstthewall.Hewasbeginningtoshudderuncontrollablyfromreaction."Shehadtobestopped.Now.Here.Beforesherealizedwhatshe'ddone.Whatshecoulddo."Hiskneesbuckled."Sheteleportedthroughthedoor!"
UnexpectedlyitwasGillingswhocametohisaid,aGillingswhosemindwasnolongershieldedbutbroadcastingcompa.s.sionandawe,andunderstanding.
"Sodidyou."
ThephrasebarelyregisteredinopOwen'smindwhenhepa.s.sedout.
"That'sallthatremainsofthelateSolangeBoshe,"Gillingssaid,tossingthefilereeltothedesk."Asmuchofherlifeaswe'vebeenabletopiecetogether.Gypsiesdon'tstaylonganywhere."
"There'resomeleft?"LesterWelchasked,frowningatthethree-inchcondensationoffifteenyearsofahumanlife.
"Ohthereare,Ia.s.sureyou,"Gillingsreplied,histonesouringslightlyforthefirsttimesincehehadenteredtheoffice."ThetapealsohasalengthyinterviewwithBillJones,thecousinthesocialworkerlocatedafterSolangehadrecoveredfromthebronchialpneumonia.Hehadnoidea,"Gillingshastilya.s.suredthem,"thattherewasanyreasonotherthanaroutinecheckonthewhereaboutsofarunawaycountyward.Hehadahunch,"andGillingsgrimaced,"thatthefamilyhadgoneontoToronto.Theyhad.Healsothoughtthattheyhadprobablygiventhegirlupfordeadwhenshecollapsedonthestreet.TheTorontoreportsubstantiatesthat.SoIdon'timagineitwillsurpriseyou,opOwen,thathertribe,accordingtoJones,aretheonlyonesstillmakingalivingatfortunetelling,palmreading,tealeavesandthatbit."
"Now,justaminute,Gillings,"Lesterbegan,bristling.HesubsidedwhenhesawthathisbossandthePoliceCommissionerweregrinningateachother.
"So...justasyoususpected,opOwen,shewasafreakTalent.Weknowfromthewardnursesthatshewatchedyourpropagandabroadcastsduringherhospitalization.Wecana.s.sumethatshewasawareofthesearcheitherwhenGilGracie'found'thecoat,orwhenthedefinitefixwasmade.It'snothardtoguesshermotivationinmakingtheheistinthefirstplace,norherinstinctivedesiretohide."
Gillingsgavehisheadanabruptviolentjerkandstoodup.Hestartedtoholdouthishand,rememberedandraiseditinafarewellgesture.
"Youarecontinuingthosebroadcasts,aren'tyou?"
LesterWelchglaredsobalefullyattheCommissionerthatopOwenhadtochuckle.
"Withcertaindeletions,yes."
"Good.Talentmustbeidentifiedandtrained.TrainedyoungandwelliftheyaretousetheirTalentproperly."GillingsstaredopOwenintheeye."TheBoshegirlwasbad,opOwen,badclearthrough.ListentowhatJonessaidaboutherandyouwon'tregretTuesdaytoomuch.
Sometimestheyoungareinflexible,too."
"Iagree,Commissioner,"Daffydsaid,escortingthemantothedoorascalmlyasifhehadn'theardwhatGillingswasthinkingsoclearly.
"AndweappreciateyourhelpinthecoveryarnsthatexplainedTuesday'soddoccurrences."
"Acaseofmutualunderstanding,"Gillingssaid,hiseyesglinting.
"Oh,noneedtoseemeout.Icanopenthisdoor."
ThatdoorwasnosoonerfirmlyshutbehindhimthanLesterWelchturnedonhissuperior.
"Andjustwhowa.s.scratchingwhosebackthen?"hedemanded."Don'tyoudarecomeoverinnocent,either,DaffydopOwen.Twodaysagothatmanwasyourenemy,bristlingwithenoughhateanddistrusttoantagonizeme."
"RememberwhatyousaidaboutGillingsTuesday?"
"There'sbeenanawfullotofidlecommentaroundherelately."
"FrankGillingsistelepathic."ThenheaddedasLesterwaschokingonthenews:"Andhedoesn'twanttobe.Sohe'ssuppressedit.
Naturallyhe'dbeantagonistic."
"Hah!"
"He'snottooold,buthe'snotflexibleenoughtoadapttoTalent,havingdenieditsolong."
"I'llbuythat.Butwhatwasthatpartingshot'Icanopenthisdoor'?"
LestermimickedtheCommissioner'sdeepvoice.
"I'mtoooldtolearnnewtricks,too,Les.Iteleportedthroughtheroofdoorofthatparkingfacility.Hesawmedoit.Andshesawthememoryofitinmymind.Ifshe'dlived,she'd'vepickedmymindclean.AndIdidn'twanthertodie."
OpOwenturnedabruptlytothewindow,tryingtoletthetranquillityofthescenerestorehisequilibrium.ItdiduntilhesawHaroldOrleyploddingalongthepathwithhisguide.Instantlyawhite,wideeyed,hairstreakedfacewa.s.superimposedovertheview.
Theintercombeepedandhedepressedthekeyforhissanity'ssake.
"We'vegotaliveone,Boss,"andSallyIselin'sgayvoicerestoredhim."Astrongprecogwithkineticpossibilities.Andguesswhat?"
Sally's.e.xcitementmadehervoicebreathless."Hesaidthecoponhisbeattoldhimtocomein.Hedoesn'twantanymoretroublewiththecopssohe..."
"WouldhisnamebeBillJones?"
"Howeverdidyouknow?"
"Andthat'snoprecog,Sally,"opOwensaidwithaghostofalaugh,awarehewasbeginningtolookforwardagain."Asurething'snoprecog,isitLes?"
PARTFOUR
ABRIDLEFORPEGASUS.
JulianPennstrak,JerhattanCityManager,DaffydopOwen,DirectoroftheEastAmericanParapsychicCenter,andFrankGillings,CommissionerofLawEnforcementandOrder,hadgatheredinthelatter'soffice:anappropriatesettingasthefoursidesofthetowerofficeweretoughplexigla.s.ssotheoccupantshadafullpanoramicviewofthecitytheymanagedorforesawandprotected.
"TheMaggieOaffairwasnotwithoutsomereward,"DaffydopOwenremindedtheothertwo."Her...relation...inwhateverdegreeofcousinshipBillJonesstood...isprovingtobeasoundprecog."
Gillingsgruntedandrubbedthesideofhisfleshynose,registeringskepticism.
"Halfacitysemiparalyzedwithblindingheadaches,twodead,andalotofpubliclyingandyousaytherewa.s.somereward!"
"Youdotendtoadoptanegativeatt.i.tude,don'tyou,Frank?"theCityManagerremarked,halfamused.HewaswatchingopOwenfromthecornerofhiseye.HeknewthattheDirectoroftheParapsychicCenterhadbeendeeplyshakenbythedeathsofGilGracieandSolangeBoshe,a.k.a.MaggieO.AndthecurioussparringbetweenGillingsandopOwendatedfromthatincident:theonegrudgingadmirationandtheotherexhibitingwistfulregret.Well,Pennstrakpossessedacertainempathyhimselfwhichtoldhimnottodelvetoodeeplyintothedenouementofthatincident.Sufficeittosay,thetruthaboutMaggie'ssuddenriseanddemisehadbeensuccessfullyobscuredfrompublicnoticeand,ifDaffydweresatisfiedthatsomeprofitexistedontheblacksideoftheledger,theCityManagerwouldbecontent."Nonetheless,"JulianPennstrakcontinued,"theProfessionalImmunityLawisnow,asofyesterday,programmedintoFederalBooksandStateLawMachinery.
What'syourproblemnow,Frank?"
"It'sthis:ifrenegadeslikeSolangeBoshecanexist,howdowesmell'emoutbeforetheycausetrouble?Now,"andhehelduphishandasDaffydopOwenopenedhismouthtospeak,"Iknowyou'vegotasubliminalTRIDprogramgoing,Dave,butjusthowsuccessfulisitinroutingouttheoddb.a.l.l.s?"
