The Wings Of Pegasus Part 20

Sallywrinkledhernose."That'swhatIcallVaden."

"ThenAmalda'sGoldilocks?"

"Goodheavens,no.She'sCinderella,remember?"

"CinderellaandtheOneBear?"

"Cinderella,theOneBearand...theWolf!"

Daffydfrowned."IthoughtIwasabettertherapistthanthat."

"Oh,it'sjustabackofthemindworry.She'snotgoingtotrustherselfuntilshedoesmeetandvanquishtheWolf.Andthenweca.n.a.lllivehappilyeverafter."

TherewasatingeofbitternessinSally'sbrightvoicethatmadeDaffydlookatherclosely.Hewastemptedtoprobeb.u.t.thatwasn'tethical,particularlysinceSallywouldbeinstantlyawareoftheintrusion.SoheobservedAmaldaforafewmoremomentsbeforeleavingtheClinic.

InthemonthAmaldahadbeenattheCenter,theoverthin,intensegirlchildhadbeenreplacedbyastillslenderbutcomposedyoungwoman.HerfearshadslowlybeeneasedbyDaffyd'sadroittherapyandbyherownabilitytodisciplineheremotions,tochannelthevitalenergiesdeftly.

ThefirstsessionswithHaroldOrleyhadbeenconductedwithAmaldafairlywellsedated.ThegirlhadbeenrevoltedbyHarold'switlessness.Therecouldhavebeennoclearermirrorforherreaction.

PityforthemoronicempathhadbeenquicklysuppressedbecauseHaroldwoulddisconcertinglyburstintotears.AtfirstAmaldahadrebelledatbeingforcedtoworkwithHaroldbutshecouldnotrefutethefactthathewouldreactinstantlytoheremotionsanduntilshecouldcontroltheminhispresence,shecouldn'texpecttobeabletocontrolthemsufficientlyinpublic.

InthefirstdaysattheCenter,shehadalsodemanded,evenunderheavysedation,tobelobotomized:anoperationwhichAmaldaerroneouslysupposedwouldsuppresshergratuitousTalent.ThenshemetHaroldandrealizedthatthepsionicportionofherbrainwouldnotbeexcisedbysuchanoperation.StepTwoinAmalda'srehabilitationwasherintroductiontotheCenter'sstaryoungTalent,twoyearoldDoroteaHorvath.Itdidn'ttakeAmaldalongtorecognizethelessonwhichwasthusdemonstratedtoher.

SmallDoroteawasplayingcontentedlywithsixsidedblocks.Whentheytumbled,herfuryexploded...tobechecked,unconsciouslybutfirmly,byhermother.Theyoungtelepath'sthoughtsweresoloudandclearthatAmaldacouldn'tfailtorecognizethea.n.a.logy.

"SoIdiscoveredabrightnewtoyinmymindanditwon'tplaywithme,isthat.i.t?"

"YouhavetolearntobalancethetoyjustasDoroteadoes..."Daffydsaidgently.

"Sotheywon'tallfalldownandgoboom?"

"Withyouunderneath,"addedSally."LikethenightattheFact."

Despitesedation,Amaldapaledandshuddered.

"Hecan'tfindme,canhe?"

"Nothere,behindshieldedwalls,mydear,"Daffydrea.s.suredher.

OnceAmaldacouldcontrolheremotions,Vadenbegantotakepartintheexercises.ItwasduringthesesessionsthatthephenomenonofthesecondFactconcertwasharnessed.Amalda,withRed,coulddominatetheemotionalatmosphereofanylargeroom,couldproject,eventothemindsofsensitives,anyemotionshechose.b.u.t.theforcethatDaffydandSallyhadfeltattheFactwasabsent.

"Theteamrightnowislimited,"DaffydsaidtoSally,somewhatruefully.

"Limited?"Sallywa.s.surprised.

"Yes.Aslongastherearenodarkemotionsbeingcounterbroadcast,shecanprojectwhatshewantsofthelighterones.ButIwasratherhopingthatsheandVadenwouldbestrongenoughtogethertocounteract..."

"Anincipientriot?"

"Yes,"andDaffydleanedforwardeagerly."ThatwouldplacateFrankGillingsandwipeoutthatRPhe'sstillgotagainsther.Andthinkwhat.i.twouldmeaninriotcontroltechniques:twopeopleinsteadoftwentysensitives,ifwehave'emavailablewhenweneed'em,orinsteadofthegas."

"Well,sothat'swhatyou'vehadinmind."

"Asitis,Ithinkwe'llletthemoperateasateaminthosegatheringsthattendtodevelopbrawls:conventions,fairs,industrialshows."

"AndwhatabouttheWolf?"

"Ah,yes,butyousee,Iwanthimtocomeoutofthewoods."

"AndAmalda?"Sally"sounded"furiouswithhim.

"Whichwouldyouwageron?AWolforaBear?"

DaffydopOwenwasbynomeansascallousofAmalda'ssafetya.s.sallymightthink,forhe'dcirculatedawarningtoallsensitivesforanyinquiryaboutAmaldaorBruceVadenandanyunusualactivityonRoznine'spart.TedLewis,thechiefpoliceTalent,gavethemtheirfirsthintofinterest.AwellknownandrespectedPerformer'sAgentwhojusthappenedtobePolish,askedfora.s.sistancefromCentralCastingtofindamissingPA,Bruce"Red"Vadenwhowasreportedlyemployedbutwhohadobviouslynotappearedwithanyworkingcompany.

"Nowthatcouldbelegit,"TedLewistoldDaffyd."TheguyreallyisformingupavarietyshowfortheBorschtcircuitbutforthathedoesn'tneedastagedirectorwithVaden'srating."

"Whataboutanunamplifiedfolksinger?"

TedLewisshookhishead."NowRozninemayhavefoundoutthatAmaldaisVaden'sbirdbut.i.t'salsofairlycommonknowledgethatGillingsisstillafterthefolksingerwhostartedtheriotattheFact.StupidRoznineisn't.Devious,yes."

ItsuitedDaffydthatGillingshadnotyetdroppedthatcharge,forwhileAmaldawasrecoveringherselfandlearningtocontrolherabilities,thechargewouldprovideherwithacertainprotection.

WhatdidpuzzleDaffydwaswhatRoznineintendeddoingwithAmaldaif,as,andwhen,hegotpossessionofher.Tobesure,thepublicwasinformed,inbroadterms,aboutthecapabilitiesoftheTalentedbutnothinghadeverbeenreleasedaboutthemorebizarrepossibilitiesofpsionicpowers.CertainlynothingrelatedtoAmalda'sabilityfortheverygoodreasonthatuntilAmaldahadmetBruceVaden,suchaTalentcouldn'tevenhavebeenconjecturedaspossible.Therefore,whatcouldRoznine'sactiveimaginationhavesuggestedtohim?Didherealizethathe,Roznine,wasTalented?Sincehehaddominationoverhisethnicgroup,didheplantodominatetheentireCitythroughAmalda?

"VsevolodRoznineisnoman'sfool,boss,"TedLewiswa.s.sayingtoDaffyd'sfurtheragitation."He'sgoteverysingleemploymentandpatronageplumavailableforhisSlavs.Oh,allverylegal;abitdiceyifyou'relookingat.i.tfromsomeotherethniccorner,butlegal.Andhe'sfastmovingoutofhisownbailiwick.He'sbeengettingcooperationwherenoPanSlavhasevergot.i.tbefore.How,why,whathedoes,wedon'tknow.HemayuseacommongardenvarietyofblackmailorhemayevenhaveagenuineTalent.ThoughGillings'llflipifhe'sgottodealwithaTalentedethnicleader!"

"Therecouldbeworsethings,"Daffydsaid,thoughobviouslyTedLewiswouldn'tagree."HaveyougottheLEOprecogssensitivetobothRoznineandAmalda?"

TedLewisshothissuperioradisgustedlook."They'reallsleepingonpaperedpillows."

"And?"

"Boss,youknowyoucan'tforceavalidprecog."

"NoIncidentsatall?"

"Naryaone.Onlyvaguefeelingsofuneasiness."Hewasevidentlyrepeatingafrequentlyreply,whichsatisfiedhimnomorethanitdidDaffyd.

"KeepanopenmindonRoznine.Anddon'tletGillingsknowwesuspectRoznineisTalented.I'mgoingtostartusingAmaldaandVadenasateam.SoonerorlaterRozninewilldiscoverheragain."

"Youwantthat?"

"Verymuch."AndinDaffyd'smind,asheleftTedLewis,wasthememoryofSolangeBoshe'swilddementedfacebeforesheteleportedthroughasteeldoorintheparkingbuilding.

GillingswasdelightedtouseAmaldaandBruceVadenasriotprevention.HeevenofferedtotakethechargeoffthebooksbutDaffydsuggestedthat.i.tremainawhilelonger.Theteamwasinstantlya.s.signedtoaroundofrallies,meetings,conferences,andconventions.

Suchgatheringswereencouragedtodivertapopulationwithtoomuchunoccupiedtimebutanyoneofthemmightexplodeintoariot,giventheproperstimuli.Decibelalarmswerelegallyrequiredineverymeetinghall,includingchurches,butcleveragitatorscouldandhadsabotagedthemsothatthesuppressantgaseswerenotreleasedwhenthe"noise"levelreachedthesharppitchofincipientriot.Theprofessionalagitatorshadalsolearnedhowtomodulatetheirvoicesbelowthedangerlevel,carefullygoadingtheirvictimsintothespontaneous...o...b..stionwhichneithergasnorwaterjetscouldcontrol.

Andwhichnoprecogcouldbeexpectedtoaccuratelypredictuntiltoolateforeffectiveaction.

Fortuitously,asAmaldalearnedtocontrolherself,shelearnedtoreadHaroldwithanaccuracyandperceptionthatsurpa.s.sedSally's.Haroldcouldservewiththeteam,Daffyddecided,asagaugeforthegeneralatmosphereof.a.groupandas,inanemergency,abodyguardforAmalda.(Youlearnedthings,evenfromdisasters,Daffydtoldhimselfpositively.)Partneredwiththeempath,Amaldawouldsitinthecenterofanaudienceorcirculatethroughacrowd.Vadenwouldbeontheperiphery,readyto"broadcast"ifitbecamenecessary.TheycouldalsobeexpectedtokeepuparunningprojectionofwhateverauratheLEOauthoritiesorthesponsorsoftheoccasionrequested,ifthiswerenotacommercialaffair.Subliminalpressuresformercantilepurposeswere,ofcourse,anillegalandunethicaluseofTalent.

Theteamwas.e.xtraordinarilysuccessfulinunexpectedways.TheMotorboatshowhadthelowestincidenceofpettypilferinginitshistory:theHomeShowreportednolostchildrenandaremarkablyquiet,wellbehavedquotaofsiblingsfollowingtheirparentsthroughtheexhibits.Twoconventions,notedfortheinebriationoftheirmembers,hadtheirdamagedepositsreducedasaresultofgenialbutundestructivebehavior.

AndAmaldabegantogainconfidencetothepointwhereSallyremarkedthatevenBruceVadenhadbeenseentosmileoccasionally.

Iwa.s.surelyrightaboutthemenutoday,Amaldathoughtasthewaiterplunkeddownthemockchicken,lumpyreconst.i.tutedpotatoesandshrivelledsnapbeans.Oh,well,allpartofLife'sRichPageant,sheaddedandstartedbroadcastingrecklesslyintensedelicioustastefeelings.Haroldbegantobeambesideher,attackinghisfoodwithrelish.

Sheglancedcasuallyaroundathertablemates,aspompousacrewofconventiongoersa.s.she'deverseenandshewasnowanauthority.(Didtheyalwaysusethesame"masks"atconventions?OrcoulditbethesamegroupofpeopleasthePlasticContainerManufacturerslastweek,andtheFabricFinishersa.s.sociationonTuesdayweek?)TheyrespondedtoherpromptingasrapidlyasHarold,allgruntingwithpleasureastheyatetheircardboardfood.Amaldasighed.ToobadsheandBrucecouldn'tgetakickbackfromthecateringstafffor"improving"theirfoodbeyondthecallofduty.

NowthereIgoagain,shethought,but.i.tdoesseemthattheTalentedwerelettinganawfulgoodthinggothewayofDutyandHonor.

Shewasratherpleasedwithherbroadcastingtoday.Shehadbeguntobotherwithsuchfinepointsintheira.s.signments,moretoamuseherselfatfirstlikestoppingallthosekidsfromwhiningattheBoatFair.But.i.thadsoundedlikehome,allherbrothersandsisterswhiningatonce,beforethey'dtiedMaoff.Ifsheneverheardanotherchildwhineitwouldbesoonenough.Andmakingfoodatleast"seem"tastywasindefenseofherpoorabuseddigestion.Accordingtospecifications,allthenutrientsandvitaminswereinthefoodandwouldbeabsorbedbyhersystem.Butshe'dcometoprefer"tasting"things.Itmadetheseconventionluncheonsbearable.Whatawaytoearnaliving!

Andyet,Amaldareluctantlyadmitted,shedidn'tdislikeit.Ifonly...Shewouldn'tthinkaboutthat.It'druinherappet.i.te.Afterall,nowshe'dgotthehangofthistrickmindofhers,shecouldmakewholebunchesofpeoplefeelwhatshewantedthemto.Whenthetimecame,shecouldcontrolhim,too.Brucewasneverfarfromher.Shesmiled,thewarmthofhisinfiniteloveapresencetocounteractanynibbleoffear.SometimeswhenBrucemadelovetoher,shewantedtoembracethewholeworldwithitsbeauty,b.u.t.thatsortofbroadcastingwasn'tevenmoral:thatwasprivatebetweenherandBruceand...He'dthoughtthingsatherthatnight...Thingsshedidn'tevendaretothinkabout...

Haroldwasgettingrestless.Shecurbedherreminiscences.

Andthen,thejab.Sosharpshegasped,soharditwasphysicalyettheprodwasinhermind...andalltoofamiliar.Hewashere.

Haroldwhimpered,empathizingwithher.Shehastilydampeddownhershockoffearfulsurprise.Hewasasabruptlygonefromhermind.Sheshivered,unabletosuppressthelingeringsenseofrevulsionthatthatrecognitiontouchevokedinher.Sheovercamethefeeling,smilinginanelyaroundathertablemates.ShepattedHaroldsoothinglyonthearm.Hegrinned,restoredtoequilibrium.Good,shemustkeepthistoherself.

Butshecouldn'tkeepfromglancingaroundforBruce:hewasattable4,nearthedignitaries.Heglancedup,noddedather,andwasthenrequiredtomakesomeanswertohispartner,afemalewhosimperedupathim.

Sometimes,Amaldathought,Redhastheharderroletoplay.

Partofhermindwantedtosearchforhim,butherstrongestdesirewasnevertobetouchedbyhimagain,ever.Shescannedtheroomnow,certainshe'dbeabletolocatehisevilself.She'dcertainlystudiedhisIdslongenoughtospothimphysicallyanywhere.Waiterswerecomingandgoingfromthekitchens.Hewasn'toneofthem.Hewouldn'tbeoneoftheconventioneers.She'd'veidentifiedhimlongbeforenow.Sheopenedhermind,makingit,asDavehadsuggested,likethelensofacamera,slowlywidening.Shedidn'treallywantto:toomuchofanappallingandrevoltingnatureseepedin.ShewonderedhowDave,whowasafulltelepathand"heard"actualthoughts,notjustemotionsa.s.shedid,couldbearit.Shewonderedhowmuchhehad"conditioned"hermindtoacceptherTalent.Sheknewhehad:he'dtoldherso.Shedidn'tmind...probablyDavehaddonethat,too.

Buthewa.s.sokind.Nowifonlyhe'd...

No,shetoldherselfsternly,thesethoughtsyoumaynothave.SallylovesDaffydopOwen.Shegrimaced.ForaperceptiveTalent,Davecouldbeawfullydense.FortheLord'ssake,youdidn'tevenhavetobeatelepathtoseeSallyIselinwasmadlyinlovewithhim.OrmaybeDaveknewandcouldn'tdoanythingabout.i.t?Couldn'tsomeoneconditionDave?Mmmm.MaybeI'llgettoworkonit.No,andAmaldagaveherheadalittleregretfulshake,thatwouldbetamperingandthat'snotethical.

Shesighed.BeingaTalentimposedcertainrulesandregulationswhichabsolutelycouldn'tbebroken.Inthefirstplace,yougotfoundouttoofast.NotmuchofabridleonthatwingedhorseDave'salwaystalkingaboutbut.i.tkeptyoufromfallingoff...

morallyThewaiterwasbendingoverher.AmaldaleanedtowardHaroldtopermitthewaitertoremoveherplate.Insteadhemumbledsomething.

"I'msorry.Ididn'thearyou,"shesaid,smilingupathim.

Hegaveherastareandsaidsomethinginthesameunintelligiblemumble.Shecould,however,sensehisurgency.Hehadsomethingshemustdo?

"I'mreallyverysorry,butwouldyourepeatyourquestion?"Shegesturedatthechatteringdinersbywayofexplanation.

Thelittlemanlookedangry.Inaclearvoice,heaskedthewaiteratthenexttabletojoinhim.

"Iaskherasimplequestionandshegivesmethissosorryroutine,"hesaid.Buthewasincensedaboutsomething.Andhisurgencyintensified.

"Really,there'ssomuchnoise,"Amaldasaid.

Thesecondwaiter,aburlyman,gaveherafiercescowl.

"What'syourproblem,miss?Yougotdelusions?Ain'tyouconventioneerssatisfiedwithnothing?Dolikehesaysandthere'llbenotrouble."

"Icertainlydon'twanttocausetrouble."AndAmaldabegantobroadcastsoothingthoughts.

Suddenlyathirdmanwaspullingherchairfromunderherandthefirsttwohadherbythearms.

"Youjustcomewithus,miss.Youjustcomewithus."

Theywerescared:theywerepromptedbyanurgencywhichwasunnaturalandartificiallyinduced.Hehadinstigatedtheiractions.

ShegotHaroldtohisfeet.Thepoorwitlessfoolwasmomentarilyasconfuseda.s.shewas.ShefeltBrucereacting.Butshewasbeingphysicallymanhandledawayfromthetablebythetwowaiters.Iftheydidgetheroutofthehallitwasn'tthatfartothekitchenentranceAmaldatriedtokeepfrompanicking.ThenextthingsheknewHaroldreachedoutandgrabbedthewaitersbytheshoulders,hadtorntheirhandsfromherarms,andbangedtheirheadstogether.

ThenBruceandtwoofficialsclosedinontheknotofpeopleandsomehowtheunconsciouswaiterswerebeingwhiskedfromthebanquethall."Calm'em,Mally,"Brucehissedatherandshebegantopouroutsuchsweetnessandlightthateveryoneathertablestoppedeatingtobeamateachother.Shemodifiedthebroadcast,gotHaroldandherselfreseated.SheevenmanagedtokeephertremblingreactioninwardsothatnoneofitboiledovertoerasetheidioticsmilefromHaroldOrley'sface.

Bythetimetheluncheonended,however,theeffortbegantotellonherandwasreflectedinHarold'snervousness.Shefeltphysicallydrained.WhatifhehadbeenabletogetherawaybeforeHaroldcouldreact?BeforeBruce,ontheothersideofthehall,hadbeenabletogettoher?Supposinghehad...

Brucewasatherside,hisfacesetanddetermined.Sheknewthatlook.Butnowshewasafraidofleavingthesemiprotectionofsomanypeople.Ifhehadactuallytriedtokidnapherinthemiddleofaconvention...

AplainclothesLEOmanwasbearingdownonthem.Sherose,smilingbrightly.Haroldtwitchedhishulktohisfeet,buthisbrowwascloudingwithchildlikeanxiety.

DisgustatherspinelessnessbuoyedAmalda'sweakeningknees.TheinstantRedputhisarmaroundherprotectingly,shealmostcrawledintohim.

"Let'sgetheroutofhere,"RedsaidandgesturedtheLEOmantoleadHarold.

"Comethisway,"theLEOmansaid,gesturingtothedraperiesatthesideofthehugebanquethall.Adoorinthepanelinggaveontoasmallanteroom."TheWaitersUnionisscreamingoverthosebustedskulls.Wegottogetyououtofherequietly.What'n'h.e.l.ldidhappen,Amalda?"

"Idon'tquiteknow,"shemurmured,awarethatexhaustionwasovercomingmentalresolve."Isitallrighttoleave?"Shelookedbackoverhershoulderatthedinersdispersingslowly.

"Theh.e.l.lwiththem,"Brucesaidinasavagevoice.

"I'msosorry.Sosorry."Amaldahadasenseoffailure.Thefirsttimeshecameupagainsthimshehadfallenapart.Shewantedtocry.

Shewasafailure.AfterallDaffydandtheothershaddonetohelpher...toswoonlikeanyvapidfemale...

"I'llgetyou.I'llgetyouthenexttime."ThevoicewasasloudinherearsasBruce's.e.xclamation.

"Bruce..."CharlieMoorfieldcamethroughDaffyd'sdoorwithoutbotheringtoknock.

"Theydidit,"hecried,haltinghisforwardmomentumjustshortofgouginghisthighsonthedeskedge.

DaffydpickeduptheimagessovividinCharlie'smind,anddespitethefactthathecouldalsoperceivethattheemergencywasover,hesprangtohisfeet.

"Whodidwhat?"demandedSally,excitedly.Shewasn'taccurateenoughto'paththesequence.

"Theytriedtos.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaattheMorcamConventionluncheon,"Daffydtoldher.

"OnlyshegotHaroldtobashtheirskullsin."