The Wings Of Pegasus Part 2

"Justwhatisthis?"TheCommissionerforLawEnforcementandOrderhadriseninindignationfromhispaperfreedesk."MyappointmentwaswithJamesMarshall,notyou,Darrow."

"Iknow.Jimgot.i.tforusbecauseyou'verefusedtosee..."

"Abunchoftearoomcrackpots!"

"Well,we'rehereandyou'regoingtolisten..."

"NotifIhaveanysay..."TheCommissionerwasfumblingwithhisdesksetandsworewhenthetelltalelightsdidnotwinkonathistouch.

"Itwon'twork,CommissionerMailer,"Henrytoldhim."IforgottomentionthatJerry'stelekineticandkeepsclosingtheswitchesa.s.soonasyoupress.Sorry.You'reincommunicadountilyoulisten.Andwatch.Barbara,ifyouwould,please?Here'sthelist.Justsithere.Ready,Molly?"

TheCommissioner'sragingdidhimnogoodsincehisofficewa.s.soundproofed.Hecontinuedtofumblefutilelywithhiscomunit,unabletobelievethat.i.twouldn'tfunctionbecausesomenondescriptyoungmanstaredat.i.t.Hedidn'tnoticethatMollywasquietlyplacingtheelectrodenetonBarbara'shead.ThegirladjusteditintothescalpedspotsinherhairandnoddedtoHenry.

"Igathertheseareinorderofpreference?"HenryaskedtheCommissioner.Henryperchedonthedesk,unperturbedbytheCommissioner'sbelligerenceandprofanity.

"Preference?What'n'h.e.l.lareyoutalkingabout,Darrow?Getyourcircusoutofhere.Thisisalawenforcementandorder..."

"Neitherofwhichyouareabletomaintainwiththecurrentrestrictionsonyourmen,"saidHenry,interruptingwithsuchaforcefultonethattheCommissioner'ssputteringdiedandhestaredatDarrowinamazement.FewpeoplehadaddressedtheLEOmaninthattoneofvoice."That'swhyI'mhere,torendera.s.sistanceyoucan'tgetfromanyotheragency.Nowsitdown,shutup,andlisten.Whodoyouwantustofindforyoufirst?"

"Find?"

"Find!"

ThetwomenlockedeyesandtherewasaqualityinHenry'sthatwroughtasuddenchangeintheCommissioner.

"Allright,"Mailersaidinatighthardvoice,"findmethemantheycallJoeBlow."

"TheJoyPillman?"

"That'shim."

HenryflickedoutthesecondIBMcardandhandedittoBarbaraHolland.

"Enoughforyou,Babs?"

ThegirlstudiedthesketchdrawnbypoliceartistsfromverbaldescriptionsofvictimsoftheelusiveJoeBlow.Shereadthenotationsonhismostfrequentedlocations,hisgeneralmodusoperandi.

ThenshelookedupatHenrywithagrin.

"Thisisn'tareallyfairtest,Henry,"shesaid.

"Ha!"exclaimedtheCommissioner,anunholydelightinhiseyes.

"No,"saidBarbara,"becauseI'veencounteredhimsoit'seasytotrackhimdown."Sheclosedhereyes,claspingthecardbetweenherhands.

TheneedlesontheGooseggbegantowhipacrossthegraphpaper.Hersmilewidenedandsheopenedhereyes."He'sonthecornerof4thAvenueNewEastand197thStreet.He'swearingalongbluedutymac,withwaterproofedshoulders,andalongblondwig.Nomoustachestoday.He'scarryingnothingillegalbuthehasagreatdealofmoneyonhimandsomefoldedpapers."

TheCommissionerwasfumblingwithhiscomunit."ForG.o.d'ssakereleaseitorwhatever.I'vegottoget..."

"Why?"askedBarbara."YouwanthimwithdustoracidortheBrownJoy,don'tyou?"

"Iwanthiminanyway."

"Canyouchargehim?"

"I'veonlygottogethim..."

Suddenlythecomunitcamealiveoneverypreviouslypressedband,b.u.t.theCommissionergot.i.tsortedoutandhadasquadvehicledispatchedtothecoordinates,toapprehendamanansweringBarbara'sdescription.

Thenheturnedback,smilingsourlyatthefourpeople."We'llseewhatwe'llsee.Ifsuchamanisthere,we'llhavehiminthreeminutes.Mypeoplearequickandefficient."

"Soaremine,"saidHenryandlookedexpectantlyatBarbara,whonodded.

"What'sthatallabout?"demandedtheCommissioner.

"I'mkeepingtrackofhim,"Barbarareplied,andsuddenlythethirdbandbegantoshowactivity.

"ThatistheGooseggatwork,CommissionerMailer,"saidHenry.

"Areyoureadingmymind?"Mailerlookedalarmedandangrier.

"Notatall,"Henryreplied."I'mnotatelepath.I'matealeafreaderonagrandiosescale..."

TheCommissionerpursedhislipstohearhisowndescriptionofHenryDarrowthrownbackathim.

"Allright,then,tellmenowifmymen'llsucceed?"

"BarbaracantellyoubetterthanI.Idon'tdealgenerallywithindividuals.Myspecialtyisma.s.smovement.ButBarbaracanfindJoeBlowforyounowandanytimeyouwanttocheckonhiswhereabouts..."

"Theyhavehim,"Barbarasaid,andheldoutherhandforanothercard.

TheCommissionerstaredathersuspiciously.

"Oh,let'slethismentellhim,Babs."

Sheshruggedandsettledbackinherchair.ThenbrightenedandsmiledsweetlyatMailer."Youleftyourpipeinyourskijacket,Commissioner,theblueonewhichyoudon'tusuallywear.Ifyoucallhomerightnow,you'llfindyourwifethere.Andremindherthecoatisunderyourreddressingrobeinthefirstcloset."

Mailerregardedherwithnarrowedeyes."Ithoughtyousaidyouweren'tamindreader."

"Ineversaidthat,"Barbarareplied,thenpointedtoHenry."Hedid.

AndIcanonlygetimpressionsoflostarticles.Youdidlosethepipeandwerejustnowthinkingwherehadyouput.i.t.AndtheonlyreasonIknowaboutyourwifeisbecauseyousayyoucanneverfindherwhenyouneedher."BarbarakeptherfaceverystraightbutHenryknewhertobepossessedofasenseofdevilment,verymuchinevidenceunderthatairofinnocenthelpfulness.

This"finding"wasmakingfarmoreimpressionontheCommissionerthanherlocationofJoeBlow.

Thecomunitbuzzed.

"Theypickedupaman,answeringthatdescription.Whatdotheydowithhim?He'sdemandingrights."

Mailerwasunpreparedforonlyonemoment."Searchhim.There'sbeenalocalrobberyandamanansweringhisdescriptionwa.s.seennearby.

You'resupposedtofindawadofcreditsandpapers.Invokecitizensearchprerogative."

"He'scarryingroughly8000credits,sir,"saidBarbara.

"Theheistwas8000."

Therewasasecondlongtensesilence.

"He'sgot.i.t,sir."

"Bookhim!"

ThefleetingexpressionsonMailer'sfacenowtoldofintens.e.m.e.ntalconflict.Hewasamantowhomamiraclehadbeenofferedandhewastooscaredtoaccept.i.t.

"Barbaraisparapsychic,Commissioner.WebroughtGooseggtoprovetoyouonascientificbasisasreliableasballistics,withoutatealeafinsight,thathermindgeneratesaspecifictypeofelectricalimpulsewhensheusesherparapsychicTalent.Shecan'treadyourmindexceptwhenyou,oranyone,areworryingaboutsomethinglost,strayedorstolen..."

"Stolen"TheCommissionerpouncedontheword.

"Ifyoumeanthathijackedshipmentofcrowdgas,Commissioner,"saidBarbara,"it'sinawarehouse,withasouthsidefeel.It'sverydarkinside,whichhampersme:Ican'tseeinshadows.Icanmakeoutsomewhiteairfreightcontainers,they'veaplasticfeel,ratherthanwoodorsteel.There'sageometricdesignindarkpaintinthelowerlefthandside."ShefrownedandtheGooseggchatteredrapidlyforamomentandthentoneddowntoamild,normalswing."I'msorry.Theresimplyisn'tenoughlightthere."

TheCommissionersnortedbutherinformationhadobviouslygivenhimsomethingtoworkon."Southside...airfreight...white..."Hisfistslappeddownanendkey."Jack...whatairfreightcompaniesusewhitecontainerswithgeometricdesignsinlowerlefthand...Oh,theydo.Now,whatairfreightcompaniesusesouthsidedepots...Oh.

Hmmm.Well,checkyourcontactslikerightnow."Heturnedacolddispa.s.sionatelookonBarbara."Youcan'tbemorespecific?"

BarbaragaveHenryaquickglancebeforeanswering."I'vealreadynarrowedthesearchtoasmallsectionofthecitywithasmanyspecificsasIcansee.Therecan'tbethatmanywarehousesforairfreight!I'vedonemorethanyou'vebeenableto,Mr.Mailer."

"Now,justaminute,younglady..."

"You'vehadmorethanaminute,Commissioner,andmytimeisvaluable."

Barbarawasonherfeet,theelectrodenetinherhand."We'rewastingtimewiththisone,Henry.AndIdon'tlikehim.Miserablevibesfromhim,justmiserable!"

Shelefttheroom.MollyquietlybegantopackuptheGooseggwhiletheCommissionerstaredfirstattheopendoorandthenatHenry.

"Sheoperatesmoreefficientlywithanoccasionalwordortwoofthanks,Mailer.Mostpeopledo."HenrygatheredMollyintothecurveofhisarm,motionedcourteouslytoJerrytotaketheGooseggandwishingMailerapleasantgoodday,left.

"Hey,justaminute..."

Henryturnedatthedoor."AsBabssaid,Mailer,you'vehadmorethanaminuteandourtimeisvaluable."

"DoesCharityhavetobesedatedagain,Gus?"HenryaskedtheCenter'sphysician."We'vegotheratemporarycontracttofindoutthetroublemakerintheArrowShirtCompany."

Gusduckedhishead,hisfacetwistedintoagrimace,wantingtosaynoandhavingtosayyes.HeleanedagainstthenowflaggeddoortoCharityMcGillicuddy'stworoomedaccommodationonthelivingflooroftheCenter'swarehousebuilding.

"Evenwiththeshieldingwe'vegot,Hank,it'snotenoughprivacyfortheempathsandtelepaths.Notenoughphysicaldistance.Nowaytogetoutandawayfromourselves,ifyougetwhatImean.We'resortofallcrammedintothiswarrendespitetheconveniencesandamenities.

Youmightsay,it'stoomuchof.a.goodthing...tocloseabuddybuddyact.Likeanoverdoseofeuphorics.Everyone'shighhereonsheergoodfellowship.Andit'smuchtoomuchforCharity."

Henrylookedtowardsthecorridorwindowwiththeprojectionofsunlightonthegra.s.s,ahugespreadingbeechtree,russetagainstanautumnallybluesky.Thoughitwa.s.sorealisticthattheleavesmovedgentlyandtheangleofsunlightalteredslowly,Henryknewittobeonlyaprojectionandhismindwouldnotacceptthefantasythatdeludedmillionsofwarrendwellers.

"Talentrequirescertainrealitiesnotobtainableinthisage,"Guswenton."Andoneofthemostimportantisphysicalfreedomandelbowroom."Hesnorted,awareoftheimpossibilityoffulfillingthatrequirementinJerhattan'sovercrowdedboundaries.

"We'vebeenofferedthatoldgamepreservein..."

"TooG.o.dd.a.m.nedfartocommuteandmostofusgotta."MolnarwasheadneurologistattheMidtownHospitalCenteralthoughhespentmoretimeastheCenter'sphysician.

"Okay,"Henrysaid,"I'lldowhatIcan."

"Henry?"Guseyedhisfriendsuspiciously."Whatareyouuptonow?"

"Me?Nothing."ThenHenryDarrowa.s.sumedacrouchedstanceandrubbedhishandstogether,chucklingevilly."ButDestiny...hahaHA!Iknowwhenwetwainshallmeet.Soon!"

GusrolledhiseyesheavenwardtodealwithHenryDarrowinthiswhimsicalmood.

"Oh,don'tworry,Gus,"Henrysaidinanormalvoice."Iusuallycall'em,youknow."

Gusnoddedsourly.

"Contentyourself,"Henrycontinued,"withtheenticingthoughtsofdissectingmybrainwhenIdie,andtryingtofigureoutjusthowIdoit."

"Ha!"

"Youcan'tsubpoenaBarbaraHolland,notonthosegrounds,CommissionerMailer,"HenryDarrowsaid."ButyoucanhireherservicesfromtheCenter..."

"WhatCenter?"demandedMailer,lookingscornfullyaroundtheminuscules.p.a.cethatservedasHenry'soffice.

"TheCenterwe'llshortlyacquirewiththewagesyou'llbepayingTalentslikeBarbara,andt.i.tterBeyleyandGilGracieand..."

"t.i.tterBeyley?"TheCommissionerhoveredonthevergeofapoplexy.

"Yes,t.i.tter.Hedranktostopfindingthings.Alcoholaffectstheparapsychicfaculty,sometimesitinhibits,asint.i.tter'scase,sometimesitsharpens."

"Now,justaminute,Darrow..."

"Myminutesarevaluable,Mailer.Ionlyhavesomany.Youwantthingsandpeoplefound:Barbarahasthatfacultyandsodoest.i.tterBeyley.Actuallyt.i.tter'smuchbetterforinanimateobjectsthanBarbara.Hedoesn'tlikepeople.Andthedayyoufindouthe'sbeendrunkonduty,hencomplain."

"Andyoumeantostandthere,youngman,andtellmethatI'mgoingtogetshotatSat.u.r.day?Again!"GovernorLawsontippedhischairbackandroaredwithlaughter:anexercisehebrokeoffabruptlytoglarewithanintensityakintohatredatDarrowandthewraithlikeSteveHawkins."Sowhatelseisnew?"

"ThepredictiveIncidentsaysthata.38slugwillpenetratetherightventricle."Steve'svoiceshookslightly.Henrywonderedifhe'dmadeamistakeinbringingSteve,whowasverynewtohisgiftsandtheCenter'sstaff."Themanwillapproachfromtheleft..."

"Whatdoesitmatterwherehecomesfrom?"TheGovernorsaid,sharply,hostilely."Oh,Idon'tdisbelieveyou,Darrow.Oryou,Hawkins.

I'veheardtoomuchaboutyoupeopletobeskepticalanymore.But,ifIdon'tappear..."

"Youhavetoappear,"Henryreplied."WeranthealternatesthroughaprobabilitycomputationandfindthatyourappearanceatthatForumMeetingmusttakeplacetoswayacurrentlyuncommitted8%ofthepopularvotetoyourparty.Withoutthat8%,youfailtoreceivethecriticalmajorityandifyoufail,theLaboritescan.o.btainthepluralitytheyneedtoeffectacountermeasurethatwouldhavedisastrousconsequencesontheeconomy."

GovernorLawsonbeganachuckle,hisbellyshakingfirstbeforetheamus.e.m.e.ntwa.s.shunteduptherotundabdomentothechestandfinallybecameaudibleintheheadcavity.FinallyLawson'slipspartedtoemitarich,juicylaugh.