The Wings Of Pegasus Part 21

Sallygasped.

"GillingssaidtheattemptandthearrestwerehandledsoquicklythatnooneatthetablewithAmaldaandHaroldknewwhathappened,"Charliewenton."WaitersUnionisscreamingoverthequoteunwarrantedunquotearrestofthreemembers.There'sh.e.l.ltopay."

"Notnecessarily,"saidLesterbuthewasgloweringashewalkedintotheroomandcarefullyclosedthedoorbehindhim."Thisisaclearcaseofprofessionalimmunity."

"Howdoyouconstruethat?"Daffydasked.

Lestersighedasheregardedhisbosswithatolerantexpression.

"AmaldaisaregisteredTalent,right?ShewaspresentattheLuncheoninaprofessionalcapacity.Thereforenoone,notanybody,hastherighttointerfere.Thewaitersdid,bytryingtoremoveherfromthehall.Theybrokethelaw.Amaldahasn't.NeitherhasHarold.Evenifhewasalittleoverzealous,heisnowprotectedfromtheconsequencesofhisTalent."

"Waitaminute,Lester,"Charliesaid,"thatImmunityLawonlymeansthatyoucan'tgetsuedwhen..."

"Italsomeans,"andLesterwaggledabonyfingeratCharlieandDaffydinturn,"accordingtothewaySenatorJoelAndresandourlegaleaglesinterpretedittome,thatanycitizenattemptingtointerferewitharegisteredTalent'sperformanceofhisdutyisviolatingthatlaw."

"Thiswouldbethefirsttimewe'vehadtoinvokethelaw,"Daffydsaid.

Lesterraisedhiseyebrowsinsurprisedalarm."Sowhat'swrongwiththat?Ordidyoubreakyour..."heglancedabruptlyatSallywhostifledherlaugh..."yourbonesarrangingprotectionnottouseit?"

OpOwenmadeacutoffgesturewithonehand.LesterWelchmutteredindisgust.

"Ithoughtbythistimeyou'd'velearnedthecostofidealism,Dave.

WesweatedoutthatBill:itd.a.m.nednearcostusJoelAndres'slife;wehaveaclearcaseofaninfractionandbyG.o.d'slittlechickens,you'regoingtoinvokeit.IfGillingshasn'talready."

ThecomsetonDaffyd'sdesklitup,flashingred.Hepushedthetoggledown.

"CommissionerGillings,sir,urgently."

Daffydnoddedacceptance.

"OpOwen,we'regettingalotofstaticfromtheWaitersUnion,aboutAmalda,falsearrestandallthatc.r.a.p,"Gillingsstatedwithnopreamble."SofarI'veplayeditthattheirmemberwaspushingal.u.s.tactandgottoldtobugoff:thattheladyinquestionissufficientlyupsettoinvokefemalecitizen'srights.Thenwegotthehonestemployees,goodunionmenwithcleans.e.xrecordsandshe'sapervertafterthedamagesclaim."Gillingssighedwithheavydisgust.

"Youknow,theusualconventionstatic.Now,wecanclearallthisupbyinvokingtheProfessionalImmunityActbut..."andGillingswaggledathickfingeratDaffyd."I'mnotallthateagertobreaktheteam'scover.BruceVadentoldmymenthatsomethinghadscaredAmaldaandtheonlythingIknowshe'sscaredaboutiswhathappenedattheFact.WastherearepeatattheMorcam?"

"Ihaven'ttalkedtoAmaldayet,Frank,"Daffydsaid."Ia.s.sumeshe'sonherwaybackherewithVaden?"Gillingsnodded."Givemealittletime."

"Don'ttaketoomuch.ThatWaitersUnionpacksquiteawallop."

a.s.soonastheCommissioner'sfacehadfadedfromthescreen,DaffydaskedforTedLewisintheLEOBlock.

"Ted,youheardaboutthes.n.a.t.c.hattemptonAmalda?"

"It'sallovertheplace.Say,whydon'tyoujustinvoketheImmunityAct...No?"TedwasasperplexedasLester.

"IsRoznineinvolvedinanywayintheWaitersUnion?"

"h.e.l.lyes.Thereisn'toneUnionheisn'tinvolvedwithrightnow."

"AnychanceoffindingoutifhewasattheMorcamConventionHotelthisafternoon?"

TedLewisheldupahand,flickedonanotherswitch,hiswordsandthereplyindistinct,beingoffthereceiverlimitofthecomscreen.Helookedmoreconfused.

"We'vehadCronersortofkeepinghimundertheeye/ear.Cronersayshe'sataTRIDonMarketandHall.Huh,how'sthat,Croner?Hey,boss,RozninehasbeenwatchingalotofTRIDlately."

"Thenhesuspectshe'sbeenundersurveillanceandisduckingouttheotherexitoftheTRID.Fine."ThiswasanunsettlingdevelopmentbecauseitcouldmeanthatRozninewasdevelopingasaTalent.Ifhegotpushedtoohard....opOwenshuddered."Let'sgoseeAmalda."

"Itwashim,"AmaldatoldDaffyd.Shelookedwhite,shakenandsmalla.s.shehuddledagainstRedVadenonthecouchinthelivingroomoftheirsuite.

"Howclosetoyou?"

Sheshookherhead."Hewasn'tintheroom.I'd'veseenhim.Buthewasnearenoughtorecognizeme.Mymind,Imean."Shegaveadelicateshudder.Hadherecognizedherbecauseshe'dbeenthinkingthosethoughtsabouthim?ShewantedtoaskDaffydbutshedidn'tdare.She'dlethimdownenoughalready.

"Wereyouawareofanything,Red?"Daffydasked.

"Notatfirst.ThenonlyAmalda'ssurprise.Ilookedupandsawthewaitersgrabbingher.ButbeforeIcouldgetacrosstheroom,Haroldhadacted."TherewasadmirationonVaden'sfaceforthemaneuver."Ishouldapologizetotheguy.Ithinkwegotthingsquieteddownbeforeanyoftheconventioncrowdgotwise."

"Aftertheattempt,wereyouawareofRoznine'smind,Amalda?"

"Notuntilwewereleavingthehall."Sheclosedhereyes."Hesaid'I'llgetyou.ThenexttimeI'llgetyou."

"DaffydlookedquestioninglyatRedwhoshookhishead.

"Hadyoueverreceivedwordsbefore,Amalda?"Daffydasked.

Amaldalookedathimstartledandthenshookherhead,smilingshyly.

"Onlyfromyou.Beforenow."Shewasawareofhisconcern."That'sbad,ain't.i.t?"sheasked,hersoftsoutherninflectionintensifyingherregret.

"Notnecessarily.Wehaveaproblem,"hebegan,choosinghiswordscarefully."WeknowthatRozninewouldliketo...getyou,Amalda,toaccomplishhisownendswhich,knowingyourcapability,mustbeillegalcontrolofmen'semotions.Wehavetoa.s.sumehe'sbeentryingtolocateyou.Wemustalsoa.s.sumethathemaynotrealizethatBruceispartofyourability.Andthat'salinkthatcanandwillprotectyou,Amalda."Daffydreinforcedthatnotionwithasterntelepathicvoice.

"Rozninecouldn'tsucceed.i.n.kidnappingyoutoday,couldhe?Well,hed.a.m.nedwellwon'tbeabletoanywhereelseeither."

"Youcan'tbesureofthat,Daffyd,"shesaidinaverysmallscaredvoice.

"Idon'tintendtoput.i.ttothetest,Amalda,"Daffydcontinuedsmoothly,smilingattheapprehensivegirl,"butkindlyrememberthatyouhavesuccessfullyeludedhimtwicenow.Oncebyrunningawayandhidingsuccessfully.Andtodaybydirectactionagainsthisagents."

Amaldaslowlynoddedherheadinagreement.

"Now,whileRoznineiskeentogethishandsonyou,we...andIincludetheCommissioner...areveryanxioustogetRoznine."ItwasBruceVadenwhostiffenedandlookedwithanintensityclosetohatredatDaffydopOwen.Thetelepathreturnedthatlookcalmly,knowinginthatexchangethatVadenunderstoodtheimplicationevenifAmaldadidn't.

"RoznineisobviouslyalatentTalent.WeknowhefitsmindswithAmalda.Wedon'tknowwhatelsehecando,andheisinapeculiarlysensitivepositionintheethnicsituationofthiscity:inapositiontodoalotofdamageoralotofgood.Wecan'tpushhimtoofarandwecan'tlethimgo.Wedowanthim,preferablyonhisowninitiativeasyoudid,tocometotheCenter.Youknowwhat.i.t'sliketohaveanunmanageableTalent..."

Daffydwa.s.speakingmoretoBruceVadenthanAmaldabut.i.twasthegirlwhoanswered.

"It'sawful...awfullonely,awfulwonderful."ShegaveDaffydasmile,tremulous,andthoughsheheldherchinupinanatt.i.tudeofconfidence,hecouldseetheindecisionandfearofhermind.

"Now,"hewentonbriskly,"inusingtheWaitersUniontosnagyou,Rozninehasputusinadifficultposition:wecaneasilyusetheProfessionalImmunityActtoprotectyoub.u.t.thatwouldnecessitateyourappearanceincourt.Andbelieveme,everyoneinterestedinourcoveragentswouldbetheretoidentifyyou.Yourteamusefulnesswoulddecrease..."

"DoesAmaldahavetoappearincourt?"askedRedsuddenly.

"Well,yes.Oh,Iseewhatyoumean,"andDaffydstartedtogrin.HemanagedtokeephissmilenormaldespitewhathehadreadinBruceVaden'smindunderthecoveroftheconstructivesuggestion."Verygoodpoint.Twoways.Yes,IsupposewecouldmakeAmaldauptolookdifferent...orwecouldhaveastandinforher.Inthatcase,AmaldawouldhavetobephysicallypresentbecauseRozninewouldbethereandhe'dknowifsheweren'tpresent,whichcouldscoreagainstusifanEEGreadingisrequestedbytheprosecution.Hmmm.Goodnotion."

"WhatcanRozninehopetoachievebyforcingusintocourt?"askedRed.HewastryingtocoverhisearlierthoughtsbeforetheycameapparenttoDaffyd.Presentnowwasathreadofhopelessness,apresentimentthattheintensehappinessandrapportthatBruceVadenhadenjoyedwithAmaldawastobesundered:toogoodtolast.Daffydcouldonlyanswerthespokenquestion.

"Nowthathasmestumped,"hesaid,andmeant.i.tonseverallevels.

"Standin?"Gillingsappearedtorejectthestratageminstantlyandjustasabruptly,hefrownedthoughtfully."Why?Youdon'tthinkanyonewouldbecrazyenoughtotryands.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaincourt,doyou?

Although..."heglancedoveratthewindows,"theatmosphereisd.a.m.nedunstable..."

"Iknow,"Daffydagreed.Evenduringtheshortcopterflightto:theLEOBlock,he'dbeenawareofthepervasive"darkness"ofthecity'semotionalaura.Theweatherhadbeenmiserable,whichdidn'thelp;generalemploymentwasdown;there'dbeentheusualcomplaintsaboutthesubsistencelevelfoods;gripesabouttheTRI-Dprogramming;nothingoutoftheordinary...yet.Theremightindeedbethemakingsofamajorblowup.

Itwouldtaketwoweeksforanimprovementinthefoodtohaveaperceptibleeffect:TRIDprogrammingwasundoubtedlybeingalteredbuteventhemostperceptiveTalentscouldbefooledoverwhatthepublicreallywantedontheb.o.o.btubes.Thevarietyof"circuses"availablewasalmostasinfiniteasfoodtastesandyetoneneverknewpreciselywhatwouldsatiatethepublicappet.i.te.OpOwenmadeamentalnotetocheckallprecogrumblings.Strangetherehadn'tbeenanydefiniteIncidentbyanyonewhensuchalargepopulationunitwasinvolved.

"Look,opOwen,"Gillingswa.s.saying,"I'vegottohavetheteamavailableforriotspotting.Particularlyrightnow.AndIcan'thavethemidentifiable."

"ThenwesendAmaldatothehearingmadeup."

Gillings.m.u.tteredunderhisbreathaboutfancydressandsow'searsandthensuddenlyswungroundtofixopOwenwithastartledglare.Daffydhadn'texpectedtokeepGillingsinthedarklong.

"Okay,opOwen,what'sbehindallthisp.u.s.s.yfooting?Whowastryingtos.n.a.t.c.hAmaldaattheMorcamLuncheon?WasitthesameguywhowasattheFact?Becauseifitwas,let'sgethimandcoolhim.Ineedthatteamoperating.Andthere'sthatopenchargeofriotprovocation..."

OpOwentookadeepbreath."Idon'tthinkitwouldbeadvisabletocoolRoznine."

"Roznine?"Gillings.e.xplodedfromhischairwithallthefrustratedastonishedexasperatedimpotenceofthestrongmansuddenlydiscoveringhimselfinanuntenableposition."Roznine!Christ,opOwen,doyouknowwhatwouldhappentothiscity,inthepresentmood,ifIarrestedthePanSlavicleader?"Hefumedon,inmuchthesamevein,formomentsmoreuntileitherDaffyd'splacatorythoughtsorhisownlackofbreathbroughtastoptotheflowofrecriminations.

"Ihaven'tsuggestedyouarrestRoznine.Infact,thatwouldnotonlybeimpoliticbutdangerous."

Gillingsglaredathim,snappingoutoneshortexplosiveword.

"How?"

"BecauseRoznineisalatentTalent.That'swhatscaredAmalda."

Gillingseruptedagain,thoroughlyenraged.ThistimetheshieldofhispublicmindslippedsufficientlyforDaffydtoseepasttheangertothepanichisconfessionevoked.

"No!"Daffyd'snegative,forciblementalaswellasaudible,carriedweightoneverylevelandblockedthoseavenuesofactionwhichhecouldperceiveGillingsalreadyplotting."Roznineiscontained...atthemoment.b.u.t.thistimewedon'tforcealatentintoapositionwherehecanbecomedangeroustoanentirecity.IwanttoavoidanotherMaggieOfar,farmorethanyoudo!"

GillingshadnoescapefromDaffyd'smind,soopOwendidnotrelentinthepressureuntilhewascertainofGillings'suneasyandresentfulcooperation.

"Roznineisnothreattous...yet.ButhedoesthreatenAmalda,"Daffydwenton."Thatthreatisreal.Itwouldbestupid,"andhepausedtoletthatwordbeabsorbed,forGillingswasnotastupidman,"togetRozninesofrustratedthatadditionalfacetsofhisTalentwhateveritisarestimulated."

Gillings'sfacewasastudyoffrustration.HegaveventtoastreamofprofanitywhichsodelightedandenlightenedopOwenthathecouldignorethefactthathewasthevictimofthespiel.But,withtheavalanche,Gillingsrecoveredhismentalequilibrium.

"ItoldyouacoupleofmonthsagothatwhatyouguysreallyneedisalawthatmakesitillegaltoconcealTalent."

Daffydlaughedwryly."RozninemaybeunawarethatwhatheusesisTalent!"

"Unaware?Myeffingfoot.WithallthepublicityyouguyshavebeenlardingtheTRIDswith,he'sgottoknowwhatheisespeciallyifhe'sbeenplayingmentalpattycakeswiththatAmalda.OpOwen,Idon'tneedaRoznineinthiscity!YouTalentsputhimwherehebelongsandbridlehimorlobotomizehimorsomething.OrI'llinvokewhateverlawonthebookssuitsmeandcoolhimpermanently.Ican'thavethiscityturnedintoabattlefield.OrhaveyouforgottenBelfast?"

Hisbuzzerwinkedtheurgentred.Gillingsraisedonefistasiftosquashtheunitandthen,swearingviciously,slappedthetoggleopen.

"Well?"

Therewasamoment'shesitation.Daffydcouldalmostseethecallerswallowinghastily,probablywishinghedidn'thavetocontinue.

"Commissioner,thelawyersfortheWUareherewithbailfortheirmembers.Dowereleasethem?"

"Iwanttoscanthem,"Daffydsaidinaswiftundertone.

"Delay'em.Someone'sonthewaydownfromthisoffice.Thenpermitbail."

Gillingstossedanoddlydesignedcoatb.u.t.tontoopOwen.

"This'llgetyouanywhereinthebuilding.Andkeepit."

DaffydthankedtheCommissioner,andleft.ProwlingtheLEOofficeswouldnotbeafrequentpastime:the"neural"noiselevelwasmorethanatelepathofDaffyd'ssensitivitycouldbear.

TheWaitersUnionhadsentabatteryoflawyerstoprocurethereleaseoftheirincarceratedmembers.Theyhadbeenshownintoawaitingroom,justoffthemainadmissionshalloftheretentionsectionoftheLEOComplex.

Daffydsaunteredby,scanningeachman'smindquickly.Whathe"heard"hedidn'tlike,but.i.tconfirmedthefactthatRozninewasorganizingtheproceedings.Noneofthes.e.m.e.nknewmorethanhisowna.s.signment.

Buteachwasmovedbyanintensedesiretocompleteitexpeditiouslyandsuccessfullyor...The"orelse"helddark,direandfearfulconsequences.

DaffydreturnedasquicklyaspossibletotheshieldedcalmofGillings'sprivateeyrie.TheCommissionerwasabsent.Daffydusedthefewmoments'respiteforsomesolidthinking.

Thereweretimes,hefinallyconcluded,whenamanhadtooperateonthe"feel"ofthingsalone.Hewasnot,G.o.dforfend,aprecog,b.u.t.therewerealsotimeswhenamansimplyhadtodispensewithrationalthoughtanditsconsequences.ParticularlywhenfacedbyafreeagentlikeRozninewhocouldnotbeexpectedtohavepredictableresponsestostimuliandpressures.

ThesimilaritiesbetweenRoznineandMaggieOwereinescapable,b.u.t.thistimeDaffydhadatoolandaresolve.

"We'vebeenfightingfirewitholdfashionedwater,Frank,"hesaidtotheCommissionerwhenthemanstalkedbackintohisoffice."Fromnowonweusemodernmethods,foamandtranquilizers."

"Whatareyoujibberingabout?"

"Ican'texplain,butw.i.l.l.youtrustme?"

Gillingsglaredbackathim,buthistightnaturalshieldleakedconflictingemotionsofdesiretobelieve,distrust,andirritablefrustration.

"IG.o.dd.a.m.nwellhaveto,don'tl?But,G.o.dd.a.m.nit,Dave,ifyouTalentsdon'tcontainRoznine..."

"Wecan,"andDaffydopOwenbegantogrinwithuttermalicefortheunderhanded,immoral,unethicaluseofTalenthewasabouttoinvoke.

Lesterwouldn'tapproveeither,b.u.t.then,hedidn'tplantotellLesterWelch.

ThestratagemdidrequiretheinvocationoftheImmunityAct.WhatDaffyddidn'tcountonwasthehueandcrywhenthenewsofthehearingwasannouncedonthemedia.SuddenlyAaronGreenfieldvociferouslysupportedtheWaiters'UnionintheiroutragedcryagainstTalentabusinguntalentedpeopleandhidingbehindthelaw.TheMorcamConventionCommitteetriedtoevadeanyresponsibilitybyclaimingthattheyhadnothiredaTalentteamfortheirLuncheon...theirdefensebeingthattheirconventionmemberswerelawabidingpeacefulpeoplewithnorecordofviolence,soaLEOteamwasunnecessaryandaninsulttotheirgoodname,etc.Greenfieldmadepoliticalhayofthisaswell.He'dneverbeeninsupportoftheImmunityLawbecause"obviouslyitwasascreenforillegal,immoral,unethicalinvasionofprivacy:onemoreinstanceofestablishmentarianismandtotallyunwarrantedminorityprivilege."

"RepealtheImmunityAct;noextraordinaryprivilegeforminorities!"