The Wings Of Pegasus Part 17

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.