The Wings Of Pegasus Part 19

"WetriedtolocateyouattheFactlastnight,"Daffydsaid,turningtoAmalda.Hissecondimpressionwasthatthegirlwasabouttoimplode.

Atthatpoint,SallygaspedandmadeamovementtowardsAmaldaastheimpactoffear/confusion/hatred/love/horror/revulsion/affectionlappedoverthetwoTalents.

"That'sjustasampleofwhatIcando."Despiteasouthernsoftness,thegirl'svoicegratedintheirearsandwasechoedbyanintens.e.m.e.ntalshoutthatcausedbothDaffydandSallytoshaketheirheads.

"Idon'twantthis.Itdoesn'tmatteranymoreifRedisinoroutoftheroom.Itworksanywherenow."Shewasdrenchedinbitterness,b.u.t.therewaspityaswella.s.satisfactiontobereadfromherglancea.s.shewatchedSallybeginningtoshakewithreaction.

DaffydcurtlygesturedSallyfromtheroom.Sheresisteduntilhereinforcedtheordermentally,tellinghertogetJerryFramesoverhereonthedouble.Hedulynotedthatshewasrebelliousandnotbotheringtohidethefactinherpublicmindorherexpression.

Daffydwincedslightlya.s.sallyslammedthedoorbehindher.

"You'reanempath,"DaffydtoldAmalda,tryingtoreachthroughherbroadcasttosootheherstampedingemotions.

"Idon'tcarewhatIam.Iwantyoutostopit.Now!"

"Ican'tstopit,mydear,"hesaidinhiskindestvoice,buthehadavisionofabridlelesswingedhorseboltingacrosstheheavens.

Amaldarose,inasinglefluidmovement,hereyesblazing."ThenIwill!"Herwordsrosetotheedgeofascreama.s.shelaunchedherselfatthewindow.Daffydmovedtointerceptherphysicallyandmentally,butnota.s.swiftlyasRedVaden.Notthatshecouldhaveachievedherend,sincethewindowwasunbreakable.Soshehittheplastichardandcrumpledintothearmsoftheredhead,sobbinghystericallyandbroadcastingsuchconflictingandpowerfulemotionsthat,outofpity,Daffydreachedforthetrankguninhisdeskandshother.

TherewasabsolutesilenceoneverylevelintheroomasthetwomenstareddownatthelimpfigureinVaden'sarms.

"Isupposethatwasnecessary,"themansaidinableakvoiceasheswungherupinhisarms.

Daffydcouldreadthereliefintheman'smindwhichhadbeenbruisedbyconfusion,fearandanunquestioningdevotiontothegirl.OpOwengesturedtowardsthecouch.

"Allright,opOwen,whatnow?"VadenaskedafterhehadarrangedAmaldagentlyinacomfortableposition.Theman'seyeswereacold,troubledblue.

Daffydreturnedthegaze,probingdeftlyandfindinginVaden'souterthoughtsthattheirvisitherehadbeenhissuggestion,alastpossibilityofa.s.sistance,sinceAmaldahadbeendeterminedtoendherTalentevenifitmeanttakingherlife.

"FirstwehavetheCenter'sdoctorprescribesedation,"andDaffydnoddedtowardsthepainfullythinarmoftheunconsciousgirl,"andadecentdiet."

Vadensnortedasifpracticaladvicewasthelastthinghe'dexpectedfromopOwenbuthetookthechairDaffydindicatedtohim.

"ThentheCenterteach.e.s.h.ertocontrolthisTalent."

"Talent?"Vadenexploded."Talent?It'saneffingcurse!Aftertheothernight,she'sscaredtogooutofthehouse.She'llneverperformagain...Shewon'teven..."andheclenchedhisteethoverwhathe'dbeenabouttoaddbutnotbeforethethought,"audible"toDaffyd,madehimpitythetwomore.

"AnyTalentisatwoedgedsword,Vaden,"opOwensaid,swinginghischairalittle,asoothingmotion.

"Whatkindofafreakisshe?"

"She'sbynomeansafreak,"Daffydansweredinratherseveretones.

"She'sabroadcastingtelempath..."

"AndI'mtheboosterstation?"

"Ithinkthatwouldbeagooda.n.a.logy."

"Look,opOwen,I'vereadagoodbitaboutyouTalentsandnothingwa.s.saidaboutwhatAmaldadoes..."

"Quitelikely.We'rejustbeginningtoappreciatethemutationspossibleintheparapsychic.Wehaveonlyonetruetelempathhere.Heunfortunatelyhasnomoremindthanarabbitandheonlyreceives.

Amaldacanapparentlytransmitexactlywhatshechooses.Igatherthephenomenononlybeganwhenshemetyou?"

OnthetopofVaden'smindwastheactualfirstmeeting:asortofdazedcomprehensionthattheywere"meantforeachother."Theirfirstlovemakinghadbeenarevelationtotheblase,s.e.x-weariedVadenandeachsucceedingdayhadstrengthenedtheirinterdependence.

"Shewasdownandout,"Vadensaidaloudinanexpressionlessvoice.

Whathewasn'tsayingwasvividlyandpictoriallyflashingacrosshismind,elaboratingwitheveryshadeoftheemotionalspectrumadryrecitaloffact."ThankG.o.ditwasmesheapproached..."andbeyondtheflashesofmemories,DaffydsawthatVadenhadneverallowedhimselftheluxuryoflovingorcaringforanyoneforfearofbeinghurtandused.Inatransientprofession,constantlybesiegedbystagestruckyoungsterswhothoughtaPAlicensewas"all"theyneededtoachievefame,hehadbeeninvulnerabletophysicalcharmsandordinaryploys.ButhehadabsolutelynodefenseagainsttheimpactofAmalda'smindinhis.Nowherannervousfingersthroughhiscrispredhair."Wewenteverywhere."He'dbeenhauntedwiththefearthatshe'dleavehimorbetakenfromhim."Eventorehearsal.ThenthegirlwhowastoplayCharmianwaslatesoIaskedAmaldatofillinandreadit'tilshecame.I'veneverheardabetterfirstreading.Sheevenlosteverytraceofherregionalaccentandbecamethehard-voicedtrollop.Weallloathedher.Itwa.s.suchatotalcharacterization!I'veneverseensuchathinginalltheyearsI'vebeenaPA.I'dexpectsuchexpertisefromsomeonelikeMathesorCrusada,butanovice?Anexcanary?"Vadenlookedtowardtheunconsciousgirlandgaveasortofincredulousshrug."Shewa.s.sopleasedtothinkshedidhaveability.She'dtriedoftenenoughtoqualifyasavocalist."Vadenmadeanexasperatednoiseinhisthroat."ThefirsttimeshesangformeIcouldn'tcreditthatshe'dbeenrefusedalicense."HeturnedbacktoDaffyd."Itjustdidn'tmakesense."

"I'dhazardthatyouwerethemissingfactor."

"AmodernSvengali?"Vadenwasbitter.

"Notexactly.b.u.t.thebraingenerateselectricalcurrents.Andinthesamewaythatareceivermustbetunedtoacertainwavelengthtogetamessagebroadcastonthatsamewavelength,mindsmustbebroadcastingonthesamefrequency.YoursandAmalda'sare.Wereeitherofyoureverparapsychicallytested?"

"NotthatIknowof."

"Well,wecansortoutthepuremechanicslaterduringtestingb.u.t.thereisoneotherpressingquestionImustask."

VadendidhaveTalent,whetherithadblossomedthroughcontactwithAmaldaornotwasimmaterial,forheinstantlyperceivedwhatwasonDaffyd'smindandstiffened.Daffydcontinued,feelingitwisernottoletVadenrealizethathewasinthepresenceofastrongtelepath...

atleastnotyet.

"GrantedyouserveinthecapacityofanamplifierforwhatevermoodAmaldacreates,whathappenedtheothernightattheFact?Whatterrifiedhersothatshefledfromwhatobviouslywasasmashsuccess?

Shehadthataudienceinthepalmofherhand."

AnexpressionakintoterrorcrossedVaden'sface,ruthlesslysuppressedinasecond.

"Youwereintheaudience?"Vadenasked,temporizing.

"Yes,SallyIselinhadheardAmaldatwonightsbeforeandwantedmetoconfirmhersuspicionthatAmaldawasahighgainempathist.WhatscaredAmaldaoffthatstage?Andsentbothofyouintohiding?"

TherewasnothinghelpfulinVaden'smindexceptarepet.i.tionofwhatDaffydandSallyhadfeltinAmalda'sprojection.Instead,Vaden'sthoughtsbecamedespairing.

"That'swhyyou'vegottohelpus,opOwen.TurnAmaldaoff!"

Vadendidn'tattempttodisguisehisfearnow.Andhedidn'tstrikeopOwenaseasilyfrightened.Hewastough,abletotakecareofhimselffromthelookofhisbearlikebuild.Andhadtakencareofhimself,tojudgebythescarsonhisknucklesandface.

"Fortunately,noonecanturnAmaldaoff.NordoIyetseethenecessity."OnlyanebulousbutoverwhelmingfearinbothVadenandAmalda.

"You'dbettersee,"Vadencried,leaningurgentlytowardopOwen.Hiseyeswereblazingwithanger,fearandasenseofimpotencewhichwouldbemorefrighteningandhumiliatingtoamanofVaden'stemperament.

"You'dbetterseethat.i.t'scrushingAmaldatothepointwhereshewaswillingtocommitsuicideratherthanlivewithwhatshe'sbecome!"

"Youhaven'ttoldmewhatfrightenedherandwhat,ifImayspeakcandidly,isbotheringyouaswell."

Vadengotagriponhisfearandanger."Therewa.s.someoneelseinthataudience,"hesaidinaharshcontrolledvoice,"whosuddenlylinkedupwithus.Someonewhowastryingtodominate.WhowasdeterminedtocontrolwhatAmaldacando.Shegotthebruntofit,ofcourse,thenIcaught.i.t."

OpOwenwascertainthen,withanawfulinstinct,thatRozninewasthethirdperson.Andtheramificationsofthatpremiseweredecidedlyunsettling.Hemanagedtosmilerea.s.suringlyatBruceVaden.Heswunghischairidlyfromsidetosidewithcounterfeitunconcern.HehadlostSolangeBoshebuthewouldn'tloseAmalda...andVaden...andRoznine.

"That'sveryinteresting,"hetoldVaden."DoesAmaldahaveanyideaoftheman'sident.i.ty?"

"Howcouldshe?"RedVadenaskedscornfully.Hewasmakinganotableefforttocoverhisinnerperturbations.Hecouldn'tbeareventhenotionofsharingAmaldawithanyone."Theminutesherealizedwhatwashappening,howstrongtheguywas,andwhathewantedhertodo,shemadeasifshewastakingashortbreak.Andtoldmetofollow.

Butshewon'teversingagain.Youdon'tknowwhat.i.tdoestoyou..."

"Iprobablymorethananyman,"Daffydsaidwithaslightsmile.

Vadendiscreditedthestatementwithacuttingsweepofhishand.

"You'vegottounderstandthatAmaldamustbeturnedoff."

Therewasanedgeinhisvoicenow:hewas.h.i.ttinganemotionalhigh,too.Daffydreachedsurrept.i.tiouslyforthetrankgun.

"Don'tyoudare!"VadenmovedwithsurprisingspeedandgrabbedopOwen'shand.

"Ithoughtyou'dunderstand,opOwen.Whoeverthatguyisis...o...b..edangerous!"

"You'llhaveeverybitofprotectiontheCenterandeveryotherCenterintheworldcanofferyou,Vaden,"Daffydreplied,allowinghisvoicetotakeonstrengthwithoutvolume."Whichisnotinconsiderable,Ia.s.sureyou.Whatyoudon'tunderstand,Vaden,isthatAmalda'smainproblemissimplylackofcontrolofherratherbreathtakingability."

"Youdon'tunderstand."Vadenwasdesperate."Shecancontrolma.s.sesofpeople.ThosesubbiesintheFact...shecouldhavemadethemdoanything.That'swhat'sterrifyingher.Andme.Andthatotherfreakedoutmind...hewantedtousehertocontrolthatkindofadangerousmob.G.o.d,man,Iknowwhatriotis.I'veseenthem.I'vebeencaughtinthem.Iknowwhathappens.Shecouldcauseone.Sheevenstartedonebynotbeingthere.ShecouldincitetheentireG.o.dd.a.m.nedJerhattancomplex..."

"How?"askedDaffydblandly.

"By...by...doingwhatthatmindwantedhertodotheothernight."

"But,"andDaffydmatchedRedVaden'surgencywithhisown,"shedidn't!Andshecouldn't!Andnothingonthisworld,notevensomefreakedoutmindwithamegalomaniacalbentcouldmakeher.Andonceshe'slearnedtocontrolthis...wingedhorseofhers,Ithinkyou'llallfindthisnotsocursedaTalent."

"Idon'tbelieveyou."

"HowoldisAmalda?"

"What?Whathasthatgottodo?"

"Howold?"

"She'stwentytwo...."

"Twentytwo.Andratheryoungfortwentytwo,Ishouldimagine.That'sstillatenderage."Daffydcould'vewishedforsomeofAmalda'sempathicstrengthbuthewasgettingthroughtoVaden'sbasicreasonableness."Andshehasbecomeemotionallyinvolvedwithyou...

Nooffense,please,Mr.Vaden.Fromaratherhumdrumfrustratingexistence,shehaseruptedontothestage,intoprominence...Evenamaturepersonalitycouldbedazzled.ThensheisthrownintoahighlychargedsituationtheconcertattheFact.i.twasunnervingformeasan.o.bserver,andI'mwellincommandofmyemotionalresponses.Sheisfrightenedandruns!ForwhichIdon'tblameheratall.Inshort,Amaldahasbeenoperatingonhighforsometime.Wearestillfrailmastersofourpowers,Mr.Vaden.Andthatreceiver/broadcasterunitwhichisAmaldaisovercharged.

"No,Mr.Vaden,wecan'tturnheroff.Wedon'twantto.ButwecanteachherhowtochannelherTalent,howtodisciplineitsoitwon'trunawaywithherasithasjustdone.Weca.n.a.lsoshowyouhowtohelpherputonthebrakes.On,yes,youcanapplywhat,toallintentsandpurposes,arecircuitbreakers.Shewillneedyourstrengthandaggression,Mr.Vaden.Infact,andthisisbetweenus,Amaldaisnotasimportantasbothofyou.SoIwillconsideryouateam,becausethat'swhatyouare."

"Thenyoucanhelp?"askedVaden.Hedidn'tquitebelieveopOwenb.u.t.theauraofbelligerentdesperationwasfading.

"Ijustsaidso."

"No,"andVadenshookhisheadangrilyasifhe'dthoughtDaffydwould"know"his.e.xactreferents.

"Emotionisasmuchatoolasapenorapneumaticdrill..."

Vadenstaredathim,andthenunexpectedlychuckled."AndAmalda'sbeenswingingthedrill?"

InwardlyopOwencheered.ThankG.o.dthemanhadasenseofhumor.

"Exactly.Amaldahasallthefinesseofatyro.Ifyouhadbeenthefocusinsteadofthisratherimpressionableandpreviouslyfrustratedyoungwoman,Ithinkmattersmighthaveprogressedmorecirc.u.mspectly.

Asitwas..."

"Idon'tthinkAmalda'sgoingtobelieveyou,opOwen,"Vadensaid,lookingsadlydownattheunconsciousgirl.

"Idon'tthinkshe'llhaveanyalternative,"Daffydrepliedseverely.

Vadenfrowned,hiseyesnarrowing,butopOwenreturnedthelook,addingamentalreinforcement."Sheis.e.xhaustedfromthelookofher,whichiswhathappenswhenyourunanengineonfullpowerforanylengthoftime.We'llsedatehersufficientlytoletherbodyandmindrest.Andwe'llkeephersedateduntilshebeginstorealizethatshecannotcontroleverythingaroundherwiththegripofatyrant...forthatseemstobehermainfear.Rathercommendable,actually."

"And?"Vadensaidinaflat,noargumentvoice.

"And,inthemeantime,youwillhavetolearnhowtoaidher.You'vebeenmoreorlesspa.s.sive.Shallwesay,"andDaffydsmiledslightlyashebowedtoVaden,"youarebothengagedforalong-termcontractwithnooptions."

ThedoorburstopentoadmitJerryFrames,theCenter'sphysicianandSallyIselin,whoglaredherwaybackintotheoffice.DaffydsmiledashesteppedasidetoletthemthroughtoAmalda.

"Whattookyousolong?"heaskedSally.

"Whatd'youthinkIam?AlousypopTalent?"

Shesabletocovercompletelynow,Daffyd,"Sallysaidwithunderstandablepride.

TheywerewatchingthroughtheonewaymirrorasAmaldafedHaroldOrley.Thewitlessempathwasneatlyeating,withappet.i.te,andoftenasmallsmileofpleasureonhischildlikefeatures.

"Neverthoughtwe'duseHaroldasaninstructor,"saidopOwen.Sallygrinnedathim,hereyessparkling."Harold'sausefuloldtool."

DaffydthoughtfleetinglyofSolangeBoshe.

"Don't,Dai!"Sally'sonewordwasreinforcedbyhermentalcommandbehindwhichDaffydsensedsympathy,pityand,oddlyenough,annoyance.

"She'soffalltranksnow?"heasked,gratefultoher.

"Heavensyes.She'sgottoconcentrateonHarold,youknow."

"Thenlet'sstartthemmovingaboutoutside."

"IwouldifIwereyou.TheRedBear'sabouttogostircrazy."

"RedBear?"