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Hedidtapea.n.a.llTalentalertonthecity'sclimate.Thegreatmindswouldnowhaveasinglethought.Perhapsthey'dalsohaveananswer.
WhenhepickedSallyIselinupatnineattheClinicdoor,shegavehimaquickappraisinglook.Thenheranxiouspuppyexpressionchangedtoaradiantsmile.
"Iknewit.Iknewit."Andsheallbutwardancedacirclea.s.sheinspectedhiscostume.
"What?"heasked,turningtokeepherfaceinview.
"Youdressedjustright.How'dyouknow?I'msureIdidn'tclueyou.
Areyoupositiveyou'renotaprecog,too,Daffyd?"
"I'drathernotbe."
Hervivacityfadedinstantly.Sheputahandout,abortingthesympatheticgesturebeforesheactuallymadeacontact.Hetouchedherfingerslightlyinrea.s.surance.
"Nottoworry.Ijusthadatediousday.Feltlikewearinggladthreads."
Sally'seyescrinkledandhermouthtiltedupa.s.shec.o.c.kedherheadtooneside."Youareindeedjoyous,"shesaidsaucilyasherglancetookinhisroyalblueblacktrimmedcoverall.
"Lookwho'stalking,"andDaffydgrinneddownatSallyinlimegreenandblackswingtunicandmatchinghighboots.Sally'spuppycharmwasatonicandhewondered,asheoftendidinhercompany,whyhedidn'tmakemoreopportunitiestoenjoyit.
Asheputahelpinghandunderherelbowtoa.s.sistheruptothepa.s.sengersideofthetwospotcopter,shegavehimastartledsidewaysglance.Hecaughttheechoofmentalastonishmentbeforeshestartedtochatterabouttheday'shopefulapplicants.
"Theycome,Daffyd,swearingoathsthatthey'dhadthisorthatperception.Doroteadoesn'ttapaone.Wegothroughtheroutinebutevenwithmaximumperceptol,theycomeoverdeaddumbandstoneblind."
SallywasacompulsivetalkerbutDaffydbecameawarethatherpresentgarrulitywasashield.HewonderedwhatSallywouldneedtoobscure.
Proprietyprohibitedhismakingaquickprobebutundoubtedlythere'dbeclueslateron.Sallywasentirelytooopentobedeviousforverylong.
ShedirectedhimtoSectorK,northwestoftheCenter,wherethewornhillsstruggledupfromoldswamplands:notasalubriousareadespitereclamationandrenovationefforts.Therewerestillruinsofearlytwentiethcenturyfactoriesanditwasbyonesuchstructure,asprawlinghalfgla.s.sandbrickaffair,thatSallydirectedhimtoland.
"Theplaceseemspopularenough,"Daffydsaidashehadtocircleseveraltimestofindasiteforthecopter.
Sallywinced,eyeingtheranksofcitycrawlersandthepresenceofbothprivateandpublictransportcopters."Doesn'ttakelong,doesit,forthema.s.sestolatchontoanewthrill!"
"Oh?Thisisnew?"He'dcaughttheworrytoneofherthoughts.
"Crowdbadfortheproject?"
"Idon'tknow."Shewasmorethanworried."Ijustdon'tknow.It'sjustthat..."Shebrokeoff,firmlypressingherlipstogether.
Theystoodinashortqueueforbillets,payingacreditapiecetogetin.
"Milkingthegoldencow,"Sallysaidwithuncharacteristicbitternessastheypa.s.sedthebilletsinatma.s.siveslidingdoorswhichseparatedtheouterhallfromthevastfactorys.p.a.cebeyond.
"Guardingit,too,"Daffydsaid,notingthestrongarmtypesinmesheddutyalls.
"Thatmightmakemoresensethanyou'dguess,"Sallysaidinaverydarkvoice.Hermindwaspracticallyshouting"trouble."
"Willweneeda.s.sistance?"heaskedher,estimatinghowmanyempathicTalentsmightbeneededtocontrolacrowdthissize.
Sallydidn'tanswer.Shewaslookingaroundtheenormousopenareawhichwasfillingrapidly.Itdidn'trequireTalenttoappreciatetheauraofexcitedantic.i.p.ationthatemanatedfromtheaudience.Thehallwasbynomeansfullyet;halfthetableswerestillempty,butmostofthecouchesoftheinnercircleswereoccupied.Daffydhadneverseensuchana.s.sortmentofstyles,agesandconditionsoffurnishings.
"TheymusthavebeenscouringtheSector,"Sallysaid.Thensheindicatedatableontheouterrim:atable,Daffydnoticed,whichwasconvenienttooneoftheluminescentexitdoors.
Theywerebarelyseated,DaffydonQueenAnne,SallyonSwedishtubular,beforeawaiterinquiredtheirpleasure.
"What'savailable?"Sallyasked,simulatingboredindifference.
Daffydwa.s.surprisedthatshefelttheneedtodissemble.
"Younameit,"repliedtheconcessionaire,impatient.Histableswerefillingup.
Sally"told"Daffydthatthis,too,wasaninnovation.
"Trysomethingsimple,schatzie,"Daffydsaid,managingtheverbalslursoftheira.s.sumedroles."TheMedboardwarnedyouandI'mnotcoptingyoutothedrainbrainagainthismonth."
Sallyaffectedpetulance,thenwithdutifulresignation,askedforamildcaffeine.Daffyd,incharacter,askedforanesotericblend.
"NoramIcoptingyou!"
"Makeittwomildsandbringthepot."
Astheconmanleft,DaffydleanedtowardsSally."Isthisareadisaffected?"
Shewrinkledhernose."WegetalotofhopefulsfromthisSector."
Soundhadcomeon,morefrequencydronethanactualnote.Thedimlightsonthegirderswerebeginningtofadecompletely,andgroundspotslitup,addingtheireeriemoietytotheambience.Sallylookedtowardthehalfcircleofstagewhichhadremainedsemilit.Theauraofexpectation,ofvoraciousemotionalappet.i.teincreasedperceptibly.
Sallyshiveredandfoldedherarmsacrossherb.r.e.a.s.t.sbutDaffydsensedthatthecreatedatmosphereirritatedmorethandistressedher.
Sheshiftedinherchairnervouslywhenthewaiterappearedwithcupsandthepot.Heservedthemdisdainfullyhedidn'tmakeasmuchcommissionfromthemilderbrewsandhurriedoff,grimacingthanksforthecarefullygenerousgratuity.
TheauditoriumwasalmostfullnowandtheconversationalmurmurimpingedonDaffyd'ssensesasthesnarloftheunfed.Yestheclimateofthecitywasveryuncertainindeed.Hecouldfeelthetens...o...b..ildingrapidlynow,withsomanyfeedingit.Henoticedthemuscleboysspreadingthroughthetablesandcouches,andheworriedharder.
Thepsychologyofacrowdwastheoreticallyunderstoodb.u.t.therewasalwaysthatgapbetweentheoryandrealitythatdangerousgapwhichcouldbebridgedbythemostinsignificanteventwhencrowdexplodedintoRiot.DaffydandSallywerefartoofamiliarwiththe"tone"ofRiottobeverycomfortableinapregnantsituation.
Infact,DaffydwasleaningacrossthetabletowarnSallythattheymighthavetoleavewhenthelightingofthestageareaalteredandagirlsteppedintothecenter.Sheworeawhitecaftantypeunadornedrobeandcarriedanoldfashionedtwelvestringguitar.IthadnoumbilicalamplifierwhichsurprisedDaffydasmuchasthegirl'sregalpoiseandsimpleappearance.
Acamouflagedhanddepositedathreeleggedstoolandthegirltookherplaceonitwithoutabackwardglance.
Daffydfrownedatthedarknessabovethestage,wonderingwherethesoundamplificationwashidden.Shecouldn'tpossiblyhopetoreachandholdthiscrowdwithoutelectronicboostingofsomekind.
ThenDaffydsawtherelievedandpleasedsmileonSally'sface.
Thegirlsettledherself,tossedbackhermaneoftawnyhairand,withouttakinganynoticeoftheaudience,begantoplaysoftly.Therewasnoneedformechanicalamplificationofthatdelicatesound.Forthefirstnotefellintoavoracioussilence,themosteffectiveconductor.
NoandDaffydsatupstraighteverynerveinhisbodyawareofasubtle,incrediblepulsethatpickedupthegentlemelodyandexpandedittelepathically!
Andthis,too,waswhatSallyhadhopedhe'dfeel,whatshe'dbroughthimheretoconfirm.Hesawthehappytriumphinhereyes.Thegirl'svoice,awarmlyricsoprano,intensifiedthepulse,"sounded"offtheechoa.s.shefedthemult.i.tudewithatenderethnicadmonitiontoloveoneanother.And...everyonedid.
Daffydlistenedand"listened,"stunnedphysicallyandemotionallybytheunusualexperience:unusualevenforamanwhoselifehadbeendedicatedtotheconceptofunusualmentalpowers.Onanintellectualplane,hewasincredulous.Hecouldn'tdeducehowshewaseffectingthetotalrapport,thisaugmentedpulse.Itwasnotmechanical,ofthathewascertain.Whythissensationof"echo"?
Thegirlwouldhavetobeabroadcastingempath:anintelligentempath,unlikepoorHaroldOrleywhohadn'tanyintellectatall.Thisyoungwomanwasconsciouslychoosinganddirectingtheemotionshebroadcast...Wait!Thatwasit...shewasconsciouslydirectingtheemotions...atwhom?Nottheindividualmindsofthelisteners:theywererespondingb.u.t.theycouldnotaccountforthe"generation"ofemotionthatenvelopedeveryone.Therehadtobesensitivemindstogenerateemotionlikethatandthesepeoplewereparapsychicallydead.Yetshewasmanipulatingtheminsomeway,usingsomemethodthatwasnonelectricalandnonsonic.
ThegirlcontinuedwithamorecomplicatedtunefromsomeearlynineteenthcenturyreligiousminoritywhichhadsettledintheeasternUnitedStates.Andthe"message"ofthesongwasasoothingstatementofacceptance.Shewasdeliberatelytakingtheaudienceoutofthetechnocratictrap,transferringthemtolesscomplexdays,lullingthemintoamoodofevengreaterreceptivity.NorwasDaffydimmunetothechargedatmosphere...exceptforthatpartofhisbrainwhichcouldnotperceivehowshewaseffectingthisdeft,ma.s.scontrol.
Thesingerfinishedthatsongandpluckedthestringsidlychordingintoadifferentkey.Thethirdsong,whilenomoreintensethanthefirsttwo,wasarollickinghappyballad,aspirit-lifter,aworkdoer.
Shewaspreparingheraudience,Daffydrealized,deftlyandcarefully.
Hebegantorelax,orrather,theintellectwhichhadbeenalerted,respondedtothebeguilingcharmofherperformance.
Daffydwa.s.suddenlyfrightened.Adeeppang,coveredinaflash,overladenwithworrythatwaslyricinspired.Onlyitwasn't.Sallyhadfeltthepang,too,glancingnervouslyaroundher.Therestoftheaudiencedidn'tseemtocatchalarm:theywereintheyoungsinger'scompletethrall,caughtupintheillusionofunpressuredtimesandways.
Thefearwasthesinger'sanditwasnotpartofhersong,Daffydconcluded,becausehecoulddetectnootherinfluence,nonewcomerinthehall,nochangeoflightingoraura.Sallywasconcentratingonthegirl,too.
Whywouldshebefrightened?Shehadtheaudienceinthepalmofherhand.Shecouldturntheminanydirectionshechoseto:shecould.
Hersongendedand,inafluidmovement,sherose,proppedherguitaragainstthestoolandcasuallydisappearedintotheshadowyrearofthestage.
SallyturnedanxiouseyestoDaffyd,andtheysharedthesameknowledge.She'stheonewho'sfrightened.She'sleaving.
Andthat'sthemostdangerousthingshecoulddo,Daffyd"told"Sally.
NooneintheaudiencemovedandDaffyddidn'tdare.Thelightingalteredsubtly,brighternow,andpeoplebegantoshakeoffthedeepentrancement,reachingforcigarettesordrinks,startingsoftconversation.
"Theydon'tknowshe'snotcomingback.Whentheydo..."
DaffydsignalledtoSally.Itwasimperativetheyleave:theycouldn'triskthepsychicdistortionofariotand,oncethiscrowddiscoveredthatthesingerwasn'treturning,theircontentmentwouldturntosoursavageresentment.CautiongovernedDaffyd.
Theycouldn'tjustleave.b.u.t.theyhadto...
Hereachedacrossthetablecasuallyanddeftlytippedthecaffeinepotover.
"Ofallthestupidjerks,"Sallycried,irritably,gettingtoherfeetandholdingherflaredskirtfromher.
Daffydrose,too,withmanyapologies.Theyreceivedmildlyirritatedglancesfromnearbycoupleswhosepleasantmoodwasdisrupted.AsDaffydandSallymovedtowardthemaindoor,Sallykeptuparunningdiatribeastoherescort'sawkwardnessesandfailings.Theyreachedtheslidingdoors.TheaurageneratedbythesingerwasfainterinthelobbyandthecloseknotofmenbytheboxofficewindowinterruptedtheirdiscussiontostaresuspiciouslyatDaffydandSally.
"Ican'tsitaroundinthisdampdress,"Sallysaidinanasalwhine.
"It'llstainandyouknowit'sonlythisweek'sissue."
"Honlove,it'lldryinafewmoments.Itwasonly..."
"Youwouldbeclumsyandrightnow..."
"Let'sjuststandoutsideabit.It'swarmer.You'lldryoffandwewon'tmissanyofthesinging."
"IfyoumakememissanyofAmalda'ssongs,I'llnever,neverforgiveyou..."
Withsuchdriveltheygotoutthemainentrance.ButnotbeforeDaffydexperiencedawashofsuchfrightfullewdthoughtsthathehastilyclosedoffallawareness.
"Sally,howmanyminoritiesdidyounoticerepresentedthere?"
"Toomany,inviewofyourmemorandumthismorning.Daffyd,I'mscared.Andit'snotAmalda'sfearthistime!"
"I'mcallingFrankGillings."
Sallypulledfromhim."I'llfindthegirl.She'sgottohaveprotection..."
"Canyoufindher?"
'I'mnotsure.ButI'vegottotry.Oncethatcrowdrealizesshe'sleft..."Sallyturnedtotheright,towardtherearofthefactory,slippingpastthelittlecitycrawlersuntilshewasoutofDaffyd'ssight.HemadeforhiscopterandopenedtheemergencychanneltotheCenter.
CharlieMoorfieldwasondutyandheinstantlypatchedDaffydthroughtotheofficeofLawEnforcementandOrderashewasrousingtheCenter'sriotcontrolpeople.Iftheycouldgetenoughtelepathstothesiteintime,theymightdampentheincipientriotbeforeLEOneededtoresorttotheunpopularexpedientofgascontrol.
"TellFrankGillingsthatRoznineishere,too,"Daffydtoldtheofficerontheline.
"Roznine?What'nh.e.l.lwouldhebedoinglisteningtoasinger?"themanasked.
"Ifyou'dheardtheeffectthissingerhasonpeople,you'dunderstand."Theofficerswore,atalossforotherwords.Daffydwishedthatswearingwereastherapeuticforhim.
"Keepthebandopen,Charlie..."
"Dave,youcan'tstaythere..."Charlie'svoicereachedDaffyd'sea.r.s.evenseveralyardsfromthecopter.Daffydwishedhe'dbequiet.Hehadtoconcentrateon"listening"forthegirl.HecouldsenseSally'sdirectionbuthewasusedtoSally'smind,hecouldhave"found"heratafargreaterdistance.b.u.t.thesingerwasunknown:alarminglyunknown,Daffydrealized,becauseheoughttobeableto"find"her.
He'dbeeninherpresence,in"touch"withherforoverhalfanhour,longenoughforhimtoidentifymostmindsandcontactthemagainwithinamileradius.Shecouldn'thavegotveryfarawayinsuchashorttime.
Thebeatofheavydutycopterswasaudiblenow:cominginwithoutlightsandsirens.Daffydlookedeast,willingtheCenter'sfasttransportstogetherebeforetheriotcontrolsquads.Itwasgenerallyimpossibletogetenoughtelepathsduringthedaytoquellanimminentriotunlessthere'dbeenaprecogoftroubleBut,ofanevening,therewastheentireCenter'stelepathicpopulation...Now,if...IHeheardthebeginningofasubduedmurmurfromthebuilding.
Thecustomersweregettingrestless.Hehopedtheyhadn'tyetrealizedthatthesingerwasn'ttakingashortbreak.
Someoneopenedasectionofthebigmaindoors,stoodframedintherectangleoflightforamoment,peeringout.DaffydidentifiedthestockyfigureasRoznine's.Suddenlythefigureoftheethnicleaderfroze.Hesteppedout,intothenight,headup.Theman'scursesfloatedtowardDaffydasheslammedbackintothebuilding.DaffydhurriedinsearchofSally,wonderingwhatRozninewoulddonowheknewaLEOsquadwasontheway.Only...andDaffydfalteredmidstridehowcouldRoznineknow,ifhedid,thatthebigcopterswereLEO.Cargofirmsusedthesametype.YetopOwenknewwithunarguablecertaintythatRozninehadproperlyidentifiedtheaircraft.
Daffydcameroundthecorneroftheoldfactoryjustasthepersonnelhatchinthehugereardooropened.Hecountedfiveofthemuscleboys,eachtakingoffinadifferentdirection.Thenasixthman,Roznine,whoseharshurgentvoiceorderedthemtofindthoseeffingcopoutsorthey'dbesubsistenceliversfortherestoftheirbreathingdays.
"Copouts."Plural,thoughtDaffyd.WhobesideAmalda?Notimenowforspeculation.DaffydsentaquickwarningtoSallytoleaveoffthesearchandgetbacktothecopter.Shewastherewhenhereturned,easilyeludingthesearchingmusclemenwhowereasnoisymentallyastheywerephysically.
"Thataudienceislosingpatiencefast,"Sallysaid,staringattheominousblackbulkofthebuilding.Shewashuggingherself.a.gainstshiversoffear.
Daffydlookedeastward,sawtherunninglightsoftheslimCentertransports.
"Notlongnow."
b.u.t.toofaraway.Disappointmentandwhettedappet.i.terocketedtoexplosiveheights.Allalongtheirsideofthefactory,exitsburstopenaspartoftheaudienceswarmedout,infutilesearchofthesinger.Insidethefurnishingswerebeingthrownaboutandbroken,peopleweresluggingandslugged,trampledandhurtasuncertaintemperserupted.
Daffydwastednotime.HehalfthrewSallyintothecopter,jammedintherocketlift,warningSallytohangon.TheheadLEOcopterblareditssummonsbeforehecouldturnonhisdistinctiveident.i.tylights.
